Free Daniel's Desire by Callie Hutton Page A

doing some kind of sign language thing with me, but I figured out what he was sayin’.”
    Rosemarie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
    Can’t talk? Doing sign language?
    “Well, I declare. I never met anyone who did the sign language thing.” Susan turned to Rosemarie. “How do you manage to get him to work?”
    Rosemarie kept her gaze from Daniel, knowing she’d burst out laughing if she looked at him. “It’s not hard, actually, I just sort of point to things, and he knows what to do.”
    Daniel gave the woman a small salute, and turned toward the barn. Susan followed him with her eyes. “I don’t know that I could be around someone who didn’t talk.”
    “No worry, you would do enough talking for the both of you.” Jacob turned and shouted for his children, who raced around the yard, chasing Missy, Amelia’s barn cat.
    “No, David, leave my kitty alone.” Amelia ran after the ten-year-old boy, her arms outstretched.
    Daniel stopped and squatted. The cat ran to him, and he scooped her up. He glared at David as he handed the cat to Amelia and ruffled her hair.
    “Well, your children certainly seem comfortable. Him being a stranger, and all.” Susan sniffed and headed to the wagon where four children scrambled up, pushing and shoving each other.
    • • •
    Within a few days, Rosemarie could hobble around well enough to do most of her chores. Daniel did quite a bit of hunting, skinned rabbits and deer, cut the larger animals into chunks, and stored them in the smokehouse. More than once, he found it necessary to revisit the tunnel under the house when Captain Nelson made what was becoming his routine visit.
    With the help of the two younger children, Rosemarie managed to do laundry. Daniel set up the tubs for her in the mudroom, heated the water, and carried it. The children gathered all the dirty clothes, and Rosemarie sat while she washed and rinsed them. Then Daniel would hang them on the clotheslines Hans had strung up years ago, joking with Chandler about how important it was for men to do women’s work when they needed to. Somehow, she couldn’t picture Hans doing laundry, no matter how far behind she got.
    Daniel took Chandler hunting with him, and her son stood tall when they returned with two rabbits that he’d shot. “I told you I could take care of ya, Ma.”
    “Yes, I see that.” She held back her laughter, enjoying the moment with Daniel as he smiled behind Chandler’s back at the boy’s pride.
    Now that they had plenty of meat, supper was the time Rosemarie enjoyed the most. With chores completed, Daniel and the children would wash up, then they all hurried to the table, hankering for food.
    • • •
    The early spring sun dipped behind the barn, casting the yard and small house in dusky shadows. It had been another long day, but Rosemarie was happy with her accomplishments. Each day she grew stronger, and as thankful as she was for her health, the niggling thought in the back of her mind that Daniel would soon leave them dampened her spirits.
    “Can I help you finish up?” Daniel stood at her back, watching her scoop stew into a bowl. His nearness, and the smell of the soap he’d used to wash up, wafted over her. Her stomach did funny little jiggles every time he came near.
    “If you want to pour milk for the children that would help.” She took a deep breath as he moved away. Rosemarie chided herself. This was crazy, she was an older, widowed mother of three. There was no place in her life for these feelings. Lt. McCoy had merely helped them over a rough spot.
    Since when is he Lt. McCoy? Since I know he’s leaving. Very soon.
    After placing the large bowl of stew in the center of the table, Rosemarie returned with the loaf of fresh baked bread and butter from the cold pantry. Daniel poured the milk for the children and cold water from the pump for both adults.
    As they all settled in, hands joined, heads bowed, they thanked the Lord for their food.