Free Westward Promises by Zoe Matthews Page B

how.   
    He was starting to understand her a little better.  He had been alone too long, living as a bachelor too long.  He was starting to see that it wasn’t easy to learn another’s point of view of life.   
    He looked at the table, noticing all she had done to please him.  The dishes were placed neatly before each chair.  She had carefully folded the napkins at each plate.  A cup of steaming coffee had been set at his place.  There was a platter of pancakes, eggs, and bacon in the middle of the table, along with some biscuits.   
    He choked back the words that he wanted to say, that he didn’t require her to work too hard.  He knew he needed to say something else.  He set the pail of milk on the counter and then looked at her.   
    “You have set a very fine table.  I am excited to eat what you have prepared.” 
    He knew he had said the right thing when her face lit up, as if he had given her the sun, moon and stars.   
    “Go ahead and eat while the food is hot.” 
    They both took their places and Chase again offered a short blessing.   
    “You look like you feel better than you did yesterday,” Chase commented as he started to fill his plate.   
    “Lucy gave me some tea that I tried this morning and it made a great difference.  My stomach is much calmer this morning.” 
    “You don’t need to worry about cooking for lunch or dinner.” He broke apart a steamy buttery biscuit and added some jam.  He took a large bite and nearly groaned.  One thing he could give her, she sure could cook.  Neither of them were ever going to starve.   
    “Why not?” Hannah asked as she took a sip of her tea. 
    “It’s Sunday.  I am closed for business.  We will go to church, and then we have been invited over to my Pa’s house for dinner.  Lucy has been singing your praises and the entire family wants to meet you.” 
    “I guess it is good I was planning on wearing my new green dress today.”  
    ****
    Hannah had mixed feelings about the plans for the day.  It wasn’t that she disliked going to church.  She just hadn’t had much experience with it and it seemed like a useless activity to her.  She felt that most people who went to church, did it out of duty or obligation to society.  She wasn’t even sure she believed in a God.  If there was one, He hadn’t helped her much in her life so far, in her opinion.   
    And then there was the dinner with Chase’s family.  She knew that if all of Chase’s family showed up, there would be a large group of them.  She had never felt comfortable being around a lot of people.  That was when the judging and gossiping began.  Were they really anxious to meet her, or was Chase just saying that in order to get her to want to come?   
    Of course, she would go to church and to his Pa’s for dinner.  She had promised she would do her best to be a good wife.  If going to these types of events pleased him, maybe he wouldn’t keep expecting love from her.   
    Hannah finished the final touches to her hair as she stood in front of the mirror in their bedroom.  She set her brush down as Chase leaned against the doorway.   
    “You look very nice, Hannah.” 
    “Thank you,” Hannah told him with a small smile.  Of course, he would want her to look her best.  She was glad she decided to go ahead and accept the new clothes he had bought her.  Without him knowing, she stored her faded dress, shoes and coat in the bag she had brought with her and shoved it under the bed.  If something happened and she needed to leave, she still would have her old clothes, and she wouldn’t need to take what Chase had given her.   
    Hannah turned away from the mirror and took a good look at her husband as he leaned against the doorway, watching her.  Her heart skipped a beat as he looked at her intently, a sensation that was foreign to her.  He had combed his hair and it was brushed back away from his face.  He had on a red plaid shirt and what