Free Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland Page A

home.
    She eventually braved her way into the kitchen to see if Flo had started supper. The housekeeper was standing at the sink chopping something green, and she refused Sarah’s help when she offered it.
    â€œTwo is one too many in the kitchen,” Flo said.
    â€œI just thought I should be cooking for Walker on our first night together.”
    Flo paused, giving Sarah an exasperated look. “I’ve got most of it done, but if you insist, you can make the corn bread. Be sure to watch that it don’t burn. I’m going to see if the men are back before I set supper on the table.”
    Sarah opened the back door for her, bidding Flo a pleasant goodbye. A minute later she was dumping cornmeal, flour, eggs, buttermilk, salt, pepper, and a wad of bacon grease into a ceramic bowl. Blending the thick mixture, she scraped it into a hot skillet and carefully slid the pan into the oven. Then she hurried upstairs to freshen up before Walker came home. She only had the one calico dress, but she could send for all her clothing once she informed Papa…she paused. She’d been so caught up in wifely duties she hadn’t made a trip into town to send Papa a wire.

    Walker strode into the parlor, stretching his aching shoulder. He thumped loudly across the room, leaving a trail of boot scuffs across the freshly polished floor.
    Engrossed in a letter, he headed for his favorite chair, toeing off one boot and then the other as he walked. It had been a long day. He and S.H. had worked on both fences in the back field. The cattle were being moved to greener pastures, so today he’d had one problem after the other. After hours of hard work, the coolness of the wooden floor felt good to his sore feet.
    He held the spring issue of his favorite seed catalog tucked under his arm. One of the ranch hands had picked it up at the mercantile just this morning. He’d read it through after dinner, but first he’d peek inside. Pausing in front of the fireplace, he folded the letter, flipped open the catalog, and sat down. Before he could read the first ad, he was flat on his back and seeing stars. The seed catalog flew into the fireplace, where it rested on ashes. Not yet able to grasp what had happened, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs two at a time.
    Sarah appeared in the doorway. “Walker? What happened?”
    â€œWhere’s my chair?”
    â€œBy the window.”
    Walker struggled to sit up and Sarah hurried to assist him.
    â€œGoodness. Are you injured—”
    â€œWho moved my chair? Flo!”
    â€œDon’t yell at Flo. I moved your chair. I thought you’d enjoy more light when you read, so—”
    â€œI want my chair left where it was—Flo!” He shot Sarah a disbelieving look. “Does Flo know you’re moving furniture?”
    Sarah nodded. “Change does a body good. You need—”
    â€œI want my chair right here.” He pointed to the spot where the chair had previously sat. “Not by the window.”
    Sarah bristled at his tone.
    â€œWhere’s my seed catalog?” he demanded. Sarah’s eyes switched to the fireplace and his followed. He grunted and reached for the flyer.
    â€œYou’re getting everything dirty!” she cried, trying to intercept the sooty catalog before he ruined a whole day’s work.
    Snatching it free, Walker started to shake it clean.
    Irritated, Sarah took it back and swiped it across the front of her dress, leaving a black powder mark but saving the rest of the room.
    Walker glared at her for a moment before proceeding to move the chair to its original spot. When he turned back, he saw tears hovering in her eyes as she clutched her dirty dress, and his anger cooled. “Look, I’d rather you leave things as they are.”
    Blinking, she lifted her chin. “I’m sorry. I was trying to be helpful. I just thought you might enjoy more light.”
    Walker uttered something under