Free Dorothy Garlock by Homeplace

the length of him and saw that he wore no shoes. He was still dressed in his dark trousers, but his shirt was open at the neck. The high stiff collar was gone and his hair looked as if he had run his fingers through it. He looked tired.
    “We’ve getting ready to sit down to supper.”
    “I couldn’t eat a thing.”
    “You ate hardly anything at noon.”
    Ana shrugged and pulled on the yarn she was wrapping into a ball.
    “What are you doing?” Owen took a few steps into the room, his eyes on the fluffy white bundle in Ana’s lap.
    “I’m unraveling this cape so I can make booties, a cap and a cloak for Harry.”
    “We can buy yarn. You needn’t destroy something you’ve put hours of work into.”
    “It’s mine, Mr. Jamison. I don’t need your permission to unravel it.” Ana clenched her jaws to keep from crying.
    “Suit yourself.” He looked about the stark room. Her towel was on the rack above the washstand, her shoes sat on the bare wooden floor beside her trunk. The windows were bare of curtains.
    “Would you rather use the downstairs bedroom?”
    “Whatever for? For the time I’m here, this room will do. I’ve never seen lovelier furniture than this.”
    “I suppose you’ve seen plenty.”
    “I have. I’ve worked in some of the finest homes in Dubuque.”
    The baby awakened and began to cry. Ana put the shawl down on the end of the bed and picked him up. Making a cradle of her arms she clucked to him softly. He continued to cry.
    “I’ll bring up the cradle,” Owen said.
    “He’s hungry. It’s time for his bottle. I’ll have to fix it.”
    “I can do it if you tell me how.”
    Ana looked at Owen gratefully for she had dreaded going down to the kitchen.
    “All right. The bottle is there on the bureau. Fill it with one third milk and two thirds water from the jar in the warming oven.”
    “Is that all there is to it?”
    “Be sure the bottle and nipple are clean. Is Mrs. Hanson still here?”
    “Yes, she and Lars are staying for supper.”
    “I’m sure she won’t mind fixing the bottle.”
    “I can do it.”
    When he added nothing to that stark reply, Ana turned her back. He picked up the bottle and went out.

 
     
Six

    “
T here’s
no reason for you to spend the night here, Esther.”
    Owen sat at the kitchen table, one hand clutching his coffee cup, the other rubbing his thigh.
    “It’s not proper for you to be here alone with that woman.”
    “I don’t give a damn about what’s proper. Take Hettie and Lily and go on home while it’s still light.”
    “She don’t want to go off and leave you with that fast, city woman.” Hettie wiped the dishpan with a rag and hung it on the side of the cupboard.
    “Hush up!” Esther said sharply. “Go on out and get in the buggy. Lily, leave the eggs here until morning. Tomorrow we’ll put them in the cellar and bring out the older ones.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Esther’s ’fraid you’ll get in bed with that blond hussy and get a baby on her like you did Harriet.” Hettie came to the table and leaned against Owen’s shoulder.
    “Christ Almighty,” Owen muttered and looked down into his cup.
    “We didn’t have to use a single egg,” Esther said, ignoring Hettie. “That shows you how we stand with our neighbors. Everything was brought in, including eggs, coffee, sugar—What are you waiting for, Hettie?”
    “Owen ain’t married no more. He could marry me and Lily. We could live here with him.”
    “Lily, take her out to the buggy,” Esther said impatiently.
    “Come on, Mama.”
    “I’ll swan to goodness,” Esther said when she was alone with her brother. “There are days when she drives me wild. Now, Owen, it isn’t fitting for you and Uncle Gus to be here alone with that woman.”
    “
That
woman’s name is Mrs. Fairfax. She’s my mother-in-law for Christ’s sake!”
    “What in the world has gotten into you? You never used to swear.”
    “Yes, I did. I just didn’t do it in front of