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handling the day-to-day tasks of a house...a family’s home...almost made it feel like she would be gaining a home as well. She knew, of course, that this was not the case. As an employee she knew she would eat separately and her interactions with them would be limited. As required by Catherine, she would be seen but not heard. Hetty felt the meekness return. It wouldn’t be her home. It wouldn’t be her kitchen and she wouldn’t be mending clothing for her family. The opportunity was a good one, only it reinforced her longing for her own family to care for.
    Hetty found her voice. “Mr. Wheeler, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity and I can certainly handle the tasks you’ve described. But, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”
    Isaac didn’t expect her to turn down the job. He’d seen her face light up when he’d shared information about the ranch and his family. What was keeping her from accepting? Was she just humoring him? Had she intended to turn it down all along? And why on earth did he care? It would be easy enough though not as quick to find someone else to take the position. But something plagued him and he couldn’t let her off the hook so easily.
    “Can I ask why you won’t take the position? Is it the pay?”
    “Oh, no!” Hetty didn’t want him to think this was based on greed. She didn’t care a bit about the money. “It’s because I do not have the resources to travel to and from the ranch each day. The drive from town would have me leaving here before the sun rose and returning long after it retired for the day. I’m not sure that is safe.”
    Isaac laughed and placed his palm on his forehead. Of course he’d failed to mention she’d need to live on the farm. In my house. The words rang in his ears as he realized what that would mean. He would see her every morning. She would be in his home every evening. She would sleep just below his room.
    “Hetty, you’ll have to forgive me. I’ve never hired a housekeeper before and it appears I failed to mention that you would need to live at the ranch. Room and board come with the position.”
    “Live at the ranch?”
    “Yes. You are right that it is too far and too dangerous for you to come and go each day. In order to help my mother you would need to be available as much as possible.” Isaac felt a knot form in his stomach. How had he gone from avoiding women completely to asking one to share his home? He pictured her moving effortlessly around the kitchen, baking bread, preparing meals. He imagined her lovely features surrounded by candlelight as she sewed in the evenings, blending seamlessly with his family. She would be an employee he told himself. Nothing more. “There is a small bedroom behind the kitchen that would be yours. My brother and I as well as my niece and my mother all sleep upstairs.”
    “It wouldn’t be seen as inappropriate?” Hetty didn’t want to put herself in any situation that might make her seem less than a proper Christian woman. Living in a home with two men?
    “ I don’t see why it would . My mother wouldn’t allow anything inappropriate under her roof. And I’m sure my brother and I could sleep in the bunkhouse if necessary. Though I doubt Elias would appreciate being away from Lottie.” Had he just offered to vacate his home? What was happening? Inviting a woman to live in his home and then being willing to leave it just to make her comfortable? Isaac felt his control slipping and he immediately tried to rein it back.
    “The choice is yours, Hetty. But if you are not sure please let me know now so that I may continue with my day and begin looking for someone to fill the position.”
    Where had the firmness come from ? Hetty wondered. Was asking about living arrangements the wrong thing to do? Have I irritated him in some way? She felt like she was at a crossroads. She could turn down the position, begin searching for something else, and perhaps she could save up and afford a small home in the