His Hope

3 - Family or Strangers

Hope scanned the rolling countryside and angled her umbrella to protect her skin against the blazing sun. The cart hit a rut and her shoulder bumped the cowboy's. The jolt brought her out of her daze. Since she’d met Mr Brandt it was like she had been transported into an alternate reality. It was a reality where a mousy woman like her was about to marry a man like Dexter. Never, in her wildest imaginations, had she envisioned such a tall, handsome, and virile man. She could tell from his countenance he had been disappointed by her appearance. Unfortunately for him, there was nothing she could or, more accurately, would do about it. He would either have to put up with the way she looked or send her back. Her stomach dropped at the thought of him sending her back though. It hadn’t crossed her mind to send him a picture so he could see what she looked like beforehand. She’d been under the impression the only criteria he’d had was whether or not she would be a good mother to his children. She never considered the possibility of him taking her physical features into account. She’d just have to wait and see what he’d decide to do.

She realized he was talking and turned to give him her full attention, feeling the impact of his beautiful eyes all the way to her toes.

"My place is about five miles south of town. I rear Criollo cows and bulls and I grow as much of my own food as I can. I have some poultry, mostly ducks and chickens and a milk cow and two goats. I usually trade my surplus with local farmers for theirs, like salt pork and other goods,” he disclosed before continuing. “I know you were raised in a big city, but do you have any farm experience?"

"Um, no," she replied reluctantly. She thought she heard him sigh.

"I hope I explained well enough in my emails how difficult this life can be."

"Yes, you did, perfectly and I did my own research," she said with confidence.

"So tell me again why you would choose this life when you seem to have had an easier one in Chicago?"

His question caught her off guard. With her customary frankness, she said, "Honestly, Mr. Brandt, I was lonely… I have no family remaining and because I spent most of my time either caring for my parents or working, that left little time to foster any meaningful friendships. One day I just woke up and realized there was nothing left for me but endless years of monotony. My parents had me later in their lives – my father was forty, my mother thirty-five. So, by the time I was a teenager and well into my adulthood, I was taking care of them. I did that until their passing two years ago. What I’ve realized is that I haven’t lived for myself. Taking care of people is all I know."

He didn't respond to her answer, but instead, said, "I think we should be on a first name basis, don't you?"

"Yes, you're right."

"Okay, back to your reason for coming here. Believe me; this life can become quite monotonous, too."

"Do you ever get bored, Mr. Brandt? I mean, Dexter."

"No, Hope dear, I don't have time to be bored. I work too long and hard."

"Precisely, that’s my point." Although he was teasing her, his nickname for her sounded good coming from his deep-timbered voice.

"And you said you were an only child, right?" He turned to look at her. "You have no other family? No uncle or aunt? Or a cousin or two?"

"Yes. I’m an only child and both of my parents were only children. So I have no uncles or aunts. What about you?"

"Well, we have that in common. I am an only child born to older parents too. They were academically inclined and very proper."

Not wanting to dwell too much on their past and preferring to look towards the future, she changed the subject. "So, tell me about your children."

Dexter made a clicking noise and shifted the reins in his gloved hands. The horse followed his command and moved to the center of the dusty road. "As I briefly explained in my emails, my eldest son, Junior, is a bookworm. While I might give him a hard time about always having his head stuck in a book, I’m grateful for it. Reading has become a coping mechanism with which he deals with his mother's death. But he needs additional support. He can be quite brooding and volatile and downright impolite at times."

Hope heard his frustration and nodded her sympathy. He gave her a little smile and when her shoulder bumped his again, she quickly scooted over.

He gave her a questioning look and continued, "Daneka is twelve and shouldering far too much responsibility for a child. She takes care of her baby brothers while Junior and I work on the farm. She doesn’t complain and takes whatever life throws at her in stride. But she should be in school. I want her to have an education."

Fascinated by his hands, Hope watched them maneuver the horse's reins again. "Now, David and Daniel, they are two live wires who keep us on our toes. They are already babbling and have just started to roll over. They keep us entertained." He adjusted the brim of his hat. "God knows, we need a good laugh now and again."

They traveled on in silence. Hope had so many emotions coursing through her she wasn't able to focus on any one of them: anxiety, excitement, intimidation, and female awareness of the handsome man beside her, an emotion she wasn't familiar with. The thought of becoming a man's wife in the biblical sense wasn't something she'd wanted to dwell on. She'd relegated the ramifications of that to the back of her mind, believing she would cope with the act when the time arose. She wasn’t a prude by choice; it was just a by-product of having older parents and being more interested in books than the real world. However, she hadn't expected such a robust man at the receiving end of her emails.

Dexter turned off the road and onto a narrow drive. "Around that corner is home."

Hope's heart started beating erratically. She was here.

When the horse clomped around the turn, her breath caught. His home appeared roughly built, small but well cared. He had warned her and she had prepared her mind to expect anything. Yet, she hadn’t expected this. His house reminded her of the houses she read about in her favourite western historical romance novels. If she was being charitable, she’d say it was quaint. There was a front porch with railings and a pair of rockers on it. Standing behind the railing, six pairs of eyes watched their approach. Hope couldn't help but smile. The children she'd only imagined now stood before her and beside them sat two large mixed-breed dogs – one brown and white and the other black. Junior squinted and Daneka smiled, while the twins gave her toothy grins before jumping and clapping with glee. Spurred by the twins’ actions, the dogs barked and began to chase their tales. If this is my reception, I could get accustomed to this, Hope thought.

* * *

Dexter glanced from his children to Hope as he reined his horse to a halt in front of the porch. He did a double take. Hope's smile had transformed her face from plain to lovely. Dexter wasn’t sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, so he blinked, twice. Nothing changed. If anything, it confirmed what he’d originally seen. Her contagious smile exposed lily white teeth, and when she bit her bottom lip he felt a stirring in his lower region and had to quickly look away. Damn!

He jumped off the cart and went around to lift her down. Hope shyly met his gaze, before looking past him to his children. Holding her elbow, he guided her to the porch.

"Junior, Daneka, Daniel and David, I want you to meet Miss Hope Ann Walcott."

"Hi, welcome to our home, ma'am," said Daneka.

"I'm so happy to meet you, Daneka. You're beautiful and just as sweet as I imagined."

Daneka grinned. "Thank you, Miss Walcott."

The dogs darted to Dexter and he squatted and rubbed behind their ears. He looked up at Hope.

"And this is Bruno and Mars. The kids got a kick out of naming them after their favourite singer."

Hope reached to pet the dogs. "It's nice to meet you both."

Daniel, the younger of the two twins by fifteen minutes, interrupted them. "Pre-tee," He stretched his hands toward Hope, and Dexter watched her shocked expression quickly become replaced by joy. She looked at him and asked, "Is it okay if I hold him?"

Dexter felt a lump choke his throat and sudden resentment struck his heart like a snake that it wasn't Margret holding their baby. He nodded and Daneka stepped off the porch and handed Daniel to Hope. Daniel, always trusting and affectionate, hugged her neck. Hope hesitated a moment and then laid her cheek against his wooly hair. David, never one to be outdone by his brother, stretched out his hands to be held as well. Returning Daniel to Daneka, Hope repeated her actions with the second twin.

Dexter looked at Junior. "Please welcome Miss Walcott to our home, son."

Junior gave his father a rebellious look, but Dexter didn't waiver in his stare. Finally, the boy said in a resentful tone, "Welcome, Miss Walcott."

"Thank you, Junior. I know that this is difficult for you," she replied softly.

They all stood outside staring at each other before Dexter said, "Why don't we go inside where it's not so hot? We can enjoy some lemonade to cool down, then I’ll bring Miss Walcott’s luggage inside."