"I'd really like to meet your friends," she says as she sets her bag down on the bed and takes a look around the room.
the walls are the raw logs that you see on the outside of the house, there are wood floors with some animal skin rugs there's a large handmade bed with animal skin blankets on it and it is an attached closet in the bathroom.
"Sunday, I'll show you around the land, and then come Monday we could go into town, maybe have lunch and get you a dress for Cash and Hope's wedding next week." I know I'm rambling, but I figure if I give her enough to do maybe she'll feel like this is her home and someplace she wants to stay.
"That sounds like fun." she smiles again, and I know we're both nervous. This is completely out of my wheelhouse and I'm sure she feels the same, as well.
"This dresser over here is yours and half the closet is cleaned out and ready for you, Also, there are hangers in there for you to use. You have your own sink in the bathroom and a set of drawers next to the sink where you can store anything that you need. There’s a pantry in the bathroom with towels and things and there's a spot in the shower for you to place your stuff. Anything that you brought is free to be anywhere in the house. This is your home now, so put your stamp on it."
After giving her a short tour of the room, I leave to make dinner and give her a little bit of space to unpack and settle in.
Though I want nothing more than to be at her side, I know it’s the right thing to do to give her some time alone. And as much as I hate the idea, I will sleep on the couch for a few days.
As I go over all the different places in my head that I want to show her on Sunday, she steps into the kitchen and sits down on one of the bar stools.
"What do you expect of me now that I'm here?" she asks.
It's a fair question. When I was talking with the woman in charge of the website, she said many of the men order a mail-order bride to run their household, cook dinner, help clean the house, and be at their side for different events.
So, I'm sure this is what she was expecting. "The house is yours to do with as you wish. If you would like to redecorate, that is all up to you. I want it to feel like your home. But I will help cook and clean as I don't expect you to do all of it. What I do expect is for you to learn how to stay safe out here, and how to help with winter prep so that you are able to fend for yourself if needed. In the winter, it can be dangerous out here and the more you know, the safer you will be." I tell her honestly.
"I can do that. How long have you been living up here on the mountain?"
"Just over eight years now. The first few were spent building the house and learning how to survive up here. Now, it's more about learning how to keep busy."
As we eat dinner, knowing that I cooked the food that she was eating gives me a sense of pride that I can take care of her. It’s an odd feeling and something I've never really felt before.
After dinner, she helps with the dishes before a huge yawn takes over.
"You’ve had a long day. Why don't you head to the bedroom and try to get some sleep? Daylight comes early around here. I'll sleep on the couch and give you a little space." I tell her.
"It's your bedroom I should be the one on the couch," she says with a shocked look on her face.
"Not negotiable. I'm hoping at the end of these few weeks you will agree to be my wife and I will always take care of you. That means I will take the couch. Until you are comfortable enough to have me in bed with you, I’ll be on the couch."
She hesitates and I get the feeling that she wants to argue. Finally, her eyes flit over my face before she finally agrees.
"Okay. Thank you. I'll see you in the morning."
I watch her head to bed before checking every door and window in the house to make sure it's all sealed up. This is not a routine that I normally have when it's just me.
But tonight feels different.
Chapter 3
Willow
EventhoughIdidn'tsleep very well last night, I still slept much better than I have in weeks. At least for now, I feel a lot safer out here. I know he slept on the couch because he wanted to be a gentleman, but I couldn't tell him that I'd feel much safer with him in bed with me without raising suspicions. The last thing I need is for him to find out what I'm running from and tell me to hit the road.
He'd be completely justified in doing so.
Hearing him outside chopping wood, I take the time to really look around the house and get a feel for my surroundings. For being secluded up on the mountain and self-sufficient, it's a lot more modern than I expected.
The kitchen looks like it could be set in any home. The countertops are granite with a modern feel. He has a refrigerator, a microwave, and even a dishwasher. But then there’s a classic wood-burning stove.
Next to the kitchen is a decent-sized laundry room with a sink, some counters and even a washer and dryer. I guess I thought he would have been hand-washing his clothes. But the most surprising find of all is that he has a telephone in the living room. It looks just like an old dial-up telephone that I had in my house growing up before cell phones were as big as they are. When I pick up the handset, there's a dial tone. I'll have to see if he's willing to give me the number so that Aspen can call and check in when she's safe.
The cabin has four bedrooms, but he uses one of the bedrooms as an office. Another one is set up like a library and then there's a second almost guest bedroom, but it doesn't have a bed, just some dressers and storage cabinets. Then there's the primary bedroom that I slept in last night.