Free A Lesson in Patience by Jennifer Connors Page B

you're still pretty young. There's plenty of time for marriage and babies.” Ginny finished her breakfast and asked if there was anywhere to wash up.
     
    “The bathroom is right behind that door,” Georgia said while pointing to a door in the back of the kitchen. Walking her over, she opened the door to reveal a wash basin, toilet and tub. “The water is connected to the stove and should be very warm now. We usually wait until evenings to use the tub, since the hot water is more plentiful, but there you could fill the sink and clean yourself up if you wish.”
     
    Ginny stared at the toilet. It had been a long time since she'd seen one and wondered if it flushed. She couldn't imagine it did, since there was no sewer system around here.
     
    “There are clean towels in the cupboard,” Georgia stated as she pointed to a cabinet in the corner. “Why don't you clean up, and I'll go collect Nate for our tour. Will ten minutes be sufficient?”
     
    Staring at the bathroom as if it were plated in gold, Ginny murmured her affirmation. She entered the bathroom and closed the door. There was no lock, so she would just have to take her chances. Opening the lid to the box like toilet, she saw that she was right. It was essentially a deep hole. Ginny wondered if there was something that was emptied occasionally or if they had made an extremely large hole. She didn't care, since it was clean and she didn't have to use the woods.
     
    After using the lukewarm water from the water pump, Ginny left the bathroom feeling much better than she did before hand. She found Georgia and Nate in the parlor, waiting for her. Georgia smiled and Nate looked somewhere between pissed and annoyed.
     
    “I don't see why I have to go and all. It's not like I don't know where everything is myself.” Nate's statement confirmed Ginny's impression of his mood.
     
    Before Georgia could say something, Ginny replied, “It's because you are so knowledgeable of the ranch that I need you to show me around. You undoubtedly know where all the most interesting sights are.” Ginny smiled and batted her eyelashes at the boy.
     
    Nate took the bait. “Oh, yeah. I can show you the special fishing spot at the stream, and where Frank and I like to hide our treasure, and where Nicki and Joey hide when there's thunder...”
     
    “That sounds great,” Ginny responded before he could continue. At that rate, their tour would take all day just waiting for Nate to finish his commentary.
     
    The group set out, and Nate narrated the entire tour. He offered little tidbits of information that, at times, Ginny didn't even think Georgia knew about. Although she grew up on the same land, she grew up a girl, with different priorities and imaginings. The water hole to her was a moat around a fairy tale castle. Where to Nate and Frank, it was a vast sea where pirates ruled.
     
    Ginny met their horses, their dogs and even their barn cat, Reggie. After seeing everything there was to see of the ranch, Nate offered to take her out on horseback to see the rest of the land.
     
    “Maybe another day, Nate. I just got here and I believe Eloise is coming by soon to visit.”
     
    “You met Eloise?” he asked. The look on his face spoke of pure, unadulterated, puppy love.
     
    Smiling, thinking about her early crushes, she answered, “Yes. I met her last night when we dropped off Tim at home. I only got to speak to her for a few minutes before we left to come here.”
     
    Slightly dazed looking, Nate said, “She is so pretty, isn't she?”
     
    “Yes, she is. She wanted to discuss where she left off with your lessons. I hope that I can teach you as well as she did.”
     
    Georgia snorted at this, and Nate shot her a dirty look. Ginny decided that she didn't want to get caught up in whatever scandal was brewing, so instead suggested they get some water.
     
    “Nizhoni probably made some lemonade. If Colby went through Cheyenne, he would have picked us up some lemons.” And