Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats #1)(7)
Author: Shanna Hatfield

Thinking she had found a way to not only better her future but also Ilsa’s, Aundy’s hopes and dreams were once again in tatters, along with her heart.

Swiping at the tears she could no longer hold back, mingling with raindrops on her cheeks, Aundy nodded at Pastor Whitting as he finished the service and looked her direction.

“Come on, honey, let’s get you out of this rain,” Nora said, steering Aundy in the direction of their canopy-topped surrey. Numbly, she followed Nora and accepted Garrett’s help into the back seat.

His father, J.B., sat on the front seat, unable to walk in the mud to the graveside service, but wanting to pay his respects to his neighbor and friend.

Thrown by his horse the previous year, the injuries to J.B.’s back and leg had been so severe, he’d spent months in bed, unable to move. Recently, he’d shown improvement, getting up and walking short distances with the help of a cane.

Garrett, who moved to Portland after graduating from college, wanted to experience life in a bigger city while working for an agriculture export company. Learning of his father’s accident, he hurried home to take over management of the ranch and decided to stay.

Helping Nora into the surrey next to Aundy, Garrett sat beside his father and picked up the reins to the team, wishing there was something he could say or do to ease the worry and sorrow he read on the young widow’s face.

She’d proven repeatedly in the last few days that she was tough and resilient. Aundy barely left Erik’s side as he lingered after the accident, holding his hand and reading aloud to him for hours until her voice grew hoarse.

Garrett and Nora, along with Dent, took turns staying in the house, making themselves available if Aundy should need them. There seemed to be a steady stream of visitors, coming to pay their respects as news of the accident traveled throughout the community.

Fortunately, their mean-spirited and conniving neighbor Marvin Tooley was out of town. Garrett hated to think what sort of trouble the man would stir up for Aundy once he arrived home and heard the news of Erik passing on to glory.

Admiring his newly widowed neighbor for her inner fortitude and bravery, Garrett wished he knew something he could do or say to make her feel better. It would take time for her to get used to living in a new place, for her heart and arm to heal, and for life to move forward.

Looking behind him, Garrett watched as she brushed at her cheeks with a handkerchief already soggy from both the rain and her tears. Taking a snowy-white square from his pocket, he reached behind him, handing it to her.

“Thank you,” Aundy said, between sniffles.

Nora patted her shoulder and wiped at her own tears.

“The ladies from church fixed a nice lunch,” Nora said, as Garrett stopped the horses in front of the church. “We’ll eat and let everyone express their condolences then take you home.”

Aundy nodded her head, knowing whether she wanted to or not, she was going to have to draw on every reserve of strength she possessed and get through the next few hours.

Losing Gunther had shattered her heart, watching Erik die had pierced her spirit. As she followed Nora into the church, she knew love or marriage would never be part of her future.

She couldn’t bear the thought of going through this sort of pain and anguish again.

Chapter Four

Sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea as she stared out the window, Aundy released a deep sigh.

A week ago, she smiled and graciously accepted all the condolences from Erik’s neighbors and friends as they laid him to rest. Nora or Garret, along with Dent, checked on her daily to make sure she was fine and Doc had been by once to look at her arm.

Rising from the table, Aundy wandered through the house, admiring the gleaming china in the cupboard in the dining room. Nora told her it belonged to Erik’s mother, and now her. She loved the dainty blue flowers on the creamy porcelain background and wondered if she’d ever feel like it was truly hers to use.

Walking into the front room, she looked around at the comfortable furnishings, purchased new by Erik when she agreed to marry him. Nora said Erik hired someone in town to make the curtains and throw pillows that finished the room.

Thinking about all the effort Erik went to on her behalf, all the money he spent to make sure she felt comfortable and welcome, was almost more than she could comprehend. Erik had been a generous and caring man.

Glancing at the closed door of what had been Erik’s room, Aundy couldn’t bring herself to venture inside, not when losing him was still so fresh. Turning back toward the kitchen, she walked down the hall to her bedroom.

According to what Nora shared with her, Erik and Garrett finished the room just a few weeks before her arrival. Wanting to make things as nice as possible for his bride, Erik added a large bedroom next to the newly constructed bathroom. Although he hadn’t moved his belongings into the room, it was clear he intended it to be the bedroom they shared.

Looking around the bedroom, she took in the big bed with a soft mattress, the rich, cherry wood furniture, and a large closet designed for two.

A padded rocking chair sat by the window and Aundy noticed the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains covering the glass. A small table next to the chair held an oil lamp and a stack of books, making a cozy place to sit and read.

With Nora’s help, her trunks had been unpacked, her belongings put away, and Garrett hauled the empty trunks out to the attic of a storage shed near the barn.

Thoughts of Garrett made Aundy’s stomach flutter with a nervous feeling that left her unsettled, so she pushed them aside.

Leaving the big bedroom, Aundy wandered into the third bedroom that had obviously belonged to Erik’s parents. A photo of a handsome couple sat on the dresser and their clothes still hung in the closet.

Wishing she knew more about Erik’s family, Aundy returned to the kitchen where additional evidence of her husband’s thoughtfulness and care was evident in the shiny new cook stove, a refrigerator, and the new silverware he purchased just for her. Out on the back porch she’d found a new washing machine that would be a huge help for doing laundry once Aundy could use both hands.

Rinsing out her teacup, Aundy wiped the already clean counter. Tired of sitting around the house, wondering what to do, she was ready to move forward as the owner of Erik’s farm. It had taken her a week to get used to the idea of owning it and the fact that Erik was truly gone.

Grief still weighed heavy on her heart. Although she didn’t know Erik intimately, she knew enough about him to realize she had lost a friend. Someone who would have cherished her, cared for her, and supported her even if love never filled either of their hearts.

It was no secret to her people were wondering what she planned to do with the farm. Returning to Chicago was out of the question. What she really wanted to do was stay and pick up where Erik left off. She might even succeed, because she was just stubborn enough to try and determined enough not to quit.

Aundy had no intention of selling and just as soon as she figured out what she was doing, she planned to send for Ilsa.

Between the two of them, Aundy knew they could make a go of things. At least after she got the cast off her arm and regained full use of both hands. Limited as she was, she could barely comb her hair and dress herself each day.

Nora asked her to stay with them until her arm healed, but Aundy felt like she’d already taken so much from the Nash family. Erik said they were good people and he’d been correct in that statement.

Aundy didn’t know what she would have done without Garrett and Nora’s support and guidance since she arrived in Pendleton. J.B. had been a comfort as well, although he was unable to do much more than offer encouragement and words of wisdom.

In the past few days, Aundy had read all the documents Erik’s attorney gave her multiple times. Erik had truly left her everything he owned.

Relieved the farm was doing well and there was money in the bank, Aundy knew if she lived frugally, even if she never made another penny in income, she’d survive.

Knowing how hard Erik worked to make his farm prosperous, though, Aundy wasn’t content to sit by and do nothing. She wanted to finish what Erik and his parents started, as a way of honoring him, of thanking him, for offering her hope and a future.

Hating the tears that stung her eyes at thoughts of Erik, Aundy hastily wiped them away when a knock sounded at the kitchen door. Pulling it open, Aundy smiled at Dent standing on the step, hat in his hand.

“Morning, Missy,” Dent said. He started calling her Missy somewhere between the first day they met and Erik’s funeral service. Since he was old enough to be her grandfather and had been nothing but kind, Aundy didn’t mind.

“Good morning, Dent. How are you today?”

“Fair to middlin’, but I can’t complain,” he said, stepping inside when Aundy motioned for him to come in.

“May I make you a cup of coffee?” Aundy asked, knowing Dent preferred it to the tea she liked to drink.

“No, thank you. I…um…” Dent said, waiting for Aundy to sit at the kitchen table before taking a seat. “The fellas are wondering what your plans are for the place.”

“Plans? For the farm?” Aundy asked, wanting to make sure she understood what Dent was asking.

“Yes, ma’am. They want to know if you’re gonna sell it or keep it. We’re all a little curious as to what exactly you’re gonna do. It’s almost calving time and Erik usually hired on more help as we headed into spring. We’re shorthanded without him as it is and we really need to hire some help if you’re of a mind to keep the farm going.”

Dent worked for Erik’s parents for years, then for Erik when his folks passed away. He could run the farm with his eyes closed, but there were some young bucks on the payroll who didn’t like the notion of a woman being in charge.

Getting to know Erik’s bride, Dent thought the girl had spirit and sense, a combination he greatly admired.

“I see,” Aundy said, taking a breath and looking Dent in the eye. No time like the present to put her thoughts into action. “I have no intention of selling the farm, Dent. My plans are to continue where Erik left off. Obviously, I have a wealth of information to learn, but I’m willing and able. At least I will be as soon as my arm heals. I was hoping you could teach me what I need to know about the livestock and crops and such.”

“That’s a lot to learn in a short time, Missy,” Dent said, looking at Aundy. He was glad she was staying, even if it was going to annoy some of the men in the area to have a woman running the place. “I’m happy to help you learn, but I’ve also got to be out there supervising the rest of the men. Maybe Garrett and J.B. could be of assistance with some of that learning. Between the three of us, we can teach you what you need to know.”

“Oh, well, I don’t want to be a bother to anyone,” Aundy said, thinking she’d already monopolized enough of Garrett’s time. Besides, she found it hard to concentrate when he was near. Her thoughts grew tangled in his silvery gaze, engaging smile, dark hair, and broad shoulders.

“It won’t be a bother,” Dent said, getting to his feet and walking to the door. “Come out to the barn after lunch and you can have a lesson in getting to know the horses.”

“Okay. I will,” Aundy said, smiling at the foreman who was quickly becoming a friend. Dent was hardworking and loyal, and right now that was more than she dared hope to have.

“Use that telephone thing and call Mrs. Nash. She’ll let you know if Garrett has time to help with your lessons or not. And tell her you need to learn to shoot while you’re at it. There’s plenty of varmints, both two and four-legged, you need to learn to take out if they pose any danger.”

Aundy looked at him with wide blue eyes as he tipped his head, slapped on his hat and hurried out the door.

She’d never even held a gun in her hand before, but she supposed if she wanted to become a true Westerner, she’d have to put aside her fears and embrace her new lifestyle.

Sitting down at the desk in the front room, Aundy wrote a long letter to her sister, describing what had transpired in the last week and asking Ilsa to come to Pendleton as soon as possible. Knowing spring balls and parties would keep demand for her aunt’s creations high, she assumed Ilsa probably wouldn’t be able to get away anytime in the near future.

Finishing the letter, Aundy picked up a book on animal husbandry she began reading days ago. The information in the book made her take stock of how much she really needed to learn. Absorbing a chapter at a time, she was feeling a little more confident in her abilities to be a help on the farm.

Making herself a simple lunch of bread and jam with a slice of cheese, Aundy tried to eat slowly, taking time to savor another cup of tea.

Washing her plate and cup, she wiped the table, glanced at the clock and started out the door when the phone jangled on the wall.

The sound still startled her even though she should be used to it by now. It seemed at least one person called every day, whether it was Nora, the doctor, or Pastor Whitting.

“Hello,” Aundy said, speaking into the phone on the kitchen wall.

“Aundy, dear, how are you today?” Nora asked in her usual cheery voice.

“I’m fine, Nora. How are things at the ranch?”

“Wonderful. Our first two calves dropped last night. You should come over and see them,” Nora said, realizing Aundy probably wouldn’t know what she meant. “That means two of our cows had their babies.”

“Thank you for clarifying,” Aundy said, the smile on her face evident in her voice. “I didn’t think you’d really drop the calves.”

Nora giggled and chatted a few minutes, then invited Aundy to come for supper.

“I’ve more than worn out my welcome with you all,” Aundy said, reluctant to impose further on the Nash family. “You’ve done so much for me already.”

“Oh, that’s a bunch of flapdoodle,” Nora said. “Now, I’m going to have someone bring you over for supper and you can spend the evening before we take you back home. You know you’re welcome to spend the night.”