"You have a very pleasant voice." George told her.
"I try not to sound too Irish?"
"Why is that?" Lance asked softly.
"I guess it comes from my folk, back in New York where I was born, the Irish were not well thought of. My father tried to cut his brogue, but he wasn't as successful. But he was a jolly man and didn't like fighting."
"Just people, no difference but the way you talk." Lance replied, he took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers.
She hoped her hands didn't sweat.
George seemed to watch them.
"That's a pretty city. Went there once. What do you think of Texas?"
"It's very big, a lot less civilization and more wide-open s
paces, it seems." She answered.
Him and Chico got up off the porch steps and nodded to her, "Well, we gotta turn in soon, so we'll say goodnight, sure was nice meeting you."
"Thank you and it was a pleasure meeting you both."
Chico tipped his hat to her and they walked off.
She started to move away but Lance didn't turn lose of her hand yet. "What time does everyone get up around here?"
"Some get up just before dawn, others a little later. I'd say five thirty or six would be a good time for breakfast. Most of the men have a few chores they like to take care of before breakfast. I'll show you around the kitchen so you can find things, if you like?"
"Of course, that would be good."
He finally turned loose of her hand and she let out a breath.
They went back inside, and everyone had left. "They go to bed early around here as morning comes early." He told her.
She nodded.
The kitchen was huge, and he had a big stove and he took her outside to show her the smokehouse and a kind of cooler where some of the meats were stored like hams and bacons.
"I never expected anything like this." She told him.
"We have a lot of men, and eating is essential, so we try to have everything right here that we need. If you have any problems, holler at me in the morning and I'll be glad to show you more, like the chicken coop and stuff."
"Alright, I'm sure I can manage."
"I hope you know how to make coffee. That is one of the most important things for the men. It wakes them up and if it isn't good, they'll complain."
"I can handle it," she assured him.
He looked at her now, "I know you can. I hope you like it here."
"It's a beautiful place, and the men all seem nice. I just wish we didn't have to lie to them."
"It isn't a lie, Trudy, we are married." He stopped and looked straight at her.
"I know, but it's temporary." She told him.
"They've all got manners. Something I insist on."