Page 172 of Conveniently Wed
“Sure, you’ll have to use my extra glover’s needle for the leather.” She handed Leah another folded leather tunic and a large needle with a triangle-shaped point. “Make sure your stitches are really small like this. Anything farther apart will let out too much body heat at the seams.”
Leah studied Miriam’s miniature stitches. Much like the embroidery she used to do in Richmond. Not her favorite, but she was certainly capable.
While she settled into her needlework, Miriam began her usual chatter. “I noticed the corn husks are extra thick this year. That means we’re gonna have a hard winter. Pretty soon Gideon will start hunting again and we’ll have fresh meat, now that the weather’s cool enough to store it. I can’t wait to stop eating all this salted beef and pork.” She wrinkled her nose, calling attention to the light dusting of freckles across her cheeks.
“Do you ever hunt with him?”
Miriam’s mouth pressed. “I went a few times, but never could bring myself to actually shoot an animal. The boys used to tease me something awful.”
“So you know how to shoot a gun?” Leah’s hand slowed as she waited for Miriam’s response.
The girl’s face turned even softer than before, her lips curving a bit. “Papa never wanted me to do the same things the boys did. Said I was a young lady and should be treated like one.” She swallowed, her voice tightening. “But after he was gone, Gideon taught me. He showed me how to shoot and ride and rope. Heused to let me go with him to help with the cattle sometimes. But that was mostly before Mama died.” Her voice trailed off.
It might be best to steer the conversation in a more pleasant direction. “Can you shoot as well as your brother?”
The sparkle began to gleam in Miriam’s green eyes again. “No one can shoot as well as Gideon. I don’t think he’s missed what he’s aimed at since he was ten years old.”
Leah grinned. “Do you think you could teach me to shoot a gun, too?”
Miriam seemed to ponder that for a moment, then her smile took on a trickster’s gleam as her gaze dropped back to the sewing in her hands. “I don’t think so.”
If Leah didn’t know better, she would think Miriam had an ulterior motive. Something about the way the girl wouldn’t look her in the face…
“And why not, if I may ask?”
“Oh, I think it would be better if Gideon teaches you. He always says I don’t hold the gun right, and I’d hate to show you something wrong.”
What was this little magpie up to? Surely she wasn’t trying to play matchmaker. But the aura of feigned innocence rolled off her in waves.
“Miriam…” Leah infused a hint of suspicion in her tone. “What are you up to?”
Miriam snipped off her thread and set the buckskin aside, then stretched and yawned, obviously trying to avoid answering. After leaning back in the chair, she gave Leah a too-perky smile. “So what are you planning for dinner?”
Later that evening, Leah stirred the beef stew in her bowl while Gideon and Miriam dove into their own servings. She certainly would be happy to have something to cook besides the soured beef or pork, especially if she didn’t have to kill and gut the animal herself.
She sneaked a glance at Gideon. The green in his shirt brought out the same color in his eyes, dark circles and lines had formed under those eyes.
He was scarfing down his food, and at first she had simply thought him hungry. Now she saw the tension in his shoulders and jaw. He’d come in late for dinner tonight too. Was something wrong with the stock?
“How are the herds today, Gideon?”
He gave her a quick glance, then ducked his head for another bite. “Good. Moved them to the south valley today so they could have protection from the snow.”
Leah raised her brows, and not just because Gideon had spoken more than two words. “Do you think it’s going to snow soon then?”
He glanced toward the window, although it was too dark to see anything outside. “Tonight, most likely. The clouds are low n’ thick, and the moon had a halo last night. Temperature’s dropping fast.” That seemed to be all he was going to say, for he dove back into his stew, eating with an urgency that Leah now felt too.
When his second bowl was empty and he leaned back in his chair, Leah rose, “Are you ready for leftover apple pie?”
“Not yet.” His chair scraped on the floor as he scooted backward. He moved to the door and grabbed his coat and hat from the pegs on the wall. “There’s too much to do before the snow hits. Can it wait until later tonight?”
She offered a smile. “Of course. Is there anything I can help with outside?”
He finished buttoning his coat and reached for two of the lanterns on the wall that poured light into the cabin. “I guess you can come help with the animals if you want. Make sure you bundle up.”
And then he was gone, without waiting for her to walk with him. Gideon may not say much usually, but his actions almost always reflected those of a gentleman. For him to decline apple pie and then leave her in his dust, he must really be worried about the weather.
As she limped through the barn door a few minutes later, Gideon strode with a double-armload of hay, tossing some in each stall as he walked. He called out half-way across the barn. “Can you let the stock in and milk Bethany?”
