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to steady herself. “I’ll be here.”
    He nodded, walked to the door and glanced back. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He opened the door and left, closing the door behind him.
    Her heart started to beat painfully against her chest as she wondered what to do about food. As a young girl, she had spent much of her time in the kitchen until her mother caught her and forbade her. She still snuck down there whenever she could.
    Grabbing the heavy kettle, she put it on the table. Surely she could replicate the stew Keegan had made the day before. Finding a hunk of meat, and potatoes she started chopping them into smaller pieces and put them into the pot. Next, she hung the pot on the pot hook of the pivotal crane and moved it over the hot fire.
    After checking on Peg, she went outside to the hand pump and washed her hands. Wetting a cloth she cleaned her face and neck. There was a lot of dirt that seemed to fly around in Texas. She found the place peaceful. A nice change for her, and she wanted to linger, but she didn’t dare with Peg alone in the house.
    When she opened the door there was a faint odor of something burning. She quickly checked on Peg and then went to the fire. Drawing the pot toward her, she saw the potatoes and meat were charred. Charred, she almost laughed. Charred was putting it mildly. She grabbed a spoon and loosened the pieces of meat and potatoes from the bottom; the potatoes broke into bits and pieces. She needed to add water, she supposed. Picking up the bucket next to the fire she poured it into the pot, causing a great sizzling noise and a bit of smoke. Phew, that had been close.
    After looking around, she found salt and pepper. She remembered the cook always saying something about everything needing salt and pepper. Pouring in some of each she smiled. Who said she wasn’t a cook? Her smile faded. What about breakfast?
    She also needed to make more diapers. She’d been throwing them away during their travels. She gathered up the dirty ones she had in a bag and headed outside with the bucket. She tossed the diapers in the bucket and filled the bucket with water. She was off to a good start. Maybe a good soak would clean them. She put the bucket outside the front door and went back in. Soap was what she needed. She finally found some, but it didn’t smell at all pretty. After stirring the stew she went back outside, leaving the door open in case Peg needed her.
    Soaking the clothes didn’t seem to help much. She took each diaper out and poured out the water. It was a vile, foul smell. Next, she tried scrubbing the diapers with the soap and pumped more water over them. Her nails chipped, and she didn’t like the red color of her hands. The cloths were far from the clean she was used to, but she wrung them out and draped them over a few rocks and bushes nearby. If diapers were so hard, how was she going to get their clothes clean?
    As she wiped her brow with her dress sleeve weariness seeped through her. Slowly she walked to the front steps and sat down. Her dress was ruined. She did have another one, not as fancy but still much nicer than what the other women wore. Perhaps if she took off some of the lace and hemmed it so it didn’t drag on the ground, she could save the one she wore. Her talent for needlework was well known but she’d never actually sewn before. Beautiful pillows and tapestries were one thing but fixing a dress? She’d have to give it a try.
    Keegan would probably be home soon. Smiling proudly she couldn’t wait for him to eat her stew and notice how she had washed the diapers. Tomorrow she’d see what else needed to be done. She stood as she heard Peg stir. Putting her hands on her lower back she stretched backwards. She’d get used to the physical labor.
     
    ****
     
    “Almost home, Strike.” Keegan would never have imagined the anticipation he felt at seeing his new family. His days had always been long and lonely. Now he had a reason to go home, and a wide grin