Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online

he spun on his heel and strode out the door again.
    Apple watched him go and sighed. “What's it like being married?”
    Fina put a frying pan on the stove, and then reached for the crock of butter. “It's the most wonderful thing in the world.”
    Apple now watched as Fina put some butter in the pan and waited for it to melt. “Oh.”
    “Oh? That's all you have to say? Would you like me to elaborate?”
    “No!” Apple said as she waved her hands in front of her. “I don't want to know what makes it wonderful.”
    “You mean, you don't want to know what you have to look forward to?”
    “No, I don't.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I'm… well you know me, I'm just silly.”
    Fina cracked the eggs and put them in the pan. “It's only natural you would be curious. I know a part of me was. How can a woman not wonder what it's like?”
    Apple cocked her head to one side. “It was easy enough to know what it was like. All we had to do was watch mother and father.”
    Fina rolled her eyes. “I'm not talking about just being married, Apple. I'm talking about the… well…the marriage part.”
    “What?” Apple asked, her head cocked to one side.
    “You know, what happens between a man and a woman after they’re married?”
    Apple blanched. “Fina!”
    “And I'll tell you something, sister, it's beyond wonderful!”
    “No! Not listening! No, no, no! Don't talk about such things to me!”
    Fina laughed and turned the eggs. “Slice the rest of that bread up, will you” And don't worry, once you're married, you'll find out what I'm talking about. And I promise, you'll love it!”
    Apple reached for the knife and bread plate. Without saying another word, she started to slice the loaf up for the sandwiches. Seems she forgot about that one particular aspect of marriage and all that went along with it. Namely, children. If she wasn't gong to marry, then she would never have children. A high price to pay to keep a man alive. She grimaced at the thought, and continued to slice.

 
     
    Five
     
    The rest of the afternoon was uneventful, a fact for which Apple was thankful. She'd had enough excitement yesterday to last her the rest of her life, and didn't want any more added to it during her stay at Levi and Fina's. But when a distraction did come, it was a happy one.
    A knock sounded on the front door right before supper. “I wonder who that could be?” Fina said as she went to answer it. She stopped at a window and peeked through the lace curtains. “It's Penelope!”
    Apple, who’d been sitting at the kitchen table spreading jam on a biscuit (one that was not burned.) stood and smiled as Penelope walked into the house. “Fina! Apple, it's so good to see you both here!”
    Fina grabbed her cousin and pulled her into a fierce hug. “At last you came to visit! Where's August?”
    “He's out in the barn with Levi talking about chickens.”
    “Chickens?” asked Apple. “How much talk can there be about a chicken?”
    Penelope laughed. “I'm not sure, but I do hope August isn't trying to talk Levi into taking Clyde from us. I’ve grown quite fond of that rooster.”
    “The crazy one?” asked Fina. “The one that attacked your… well, attacker?”
    “That's the one,” affirmed Penelope. “He is an ornery thing, so I suppose I can’t blame August if he did try to wheedle Levi into taking him off our hands.”
    “You have a crazy rooster?” asked Apple.
    “I 'm afraid Apple hasn't been filled in on Clyde’s heroics,” explained Fina.
    “Oh, I suppose not. I believe I’ve told you but haven't had a chance to tell Apple and Lena about Clyde,” said Penelope. “Suffice to say, even though he's ornery and drives my husband crazy, I still love him. He saved my life.”
    “Your life was saved by a chicken?” asked Apple with a shake of her head.
    “What can I say?” said Penelope. “Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. But he has a nasty habit of pecking at the bedroom window at the most in opportune