"Is that the reason why you married me? I thought it was because you loved me. Good thing I learned this while I'm still young enough to catch me another man. One who will appreciate me for more than my cooking abilities." Theresa responded, enjoying the startled look that came over her husband's face.
If he hadn't known her so well, he would have sworn that his wife was serious. It wasn't until he came close to Theresa's chair that he could see the mischievous twinkle in her brown eyes. He was sure that Theresa hadn't realized that he could see enough of her face to notice the look in her eyes. He carefully schooled his features so as to not let on that he was joking.
"I'll post an advertisement in the Gazette for you while I'm in town. It could say something like this 'Divorced woman seeks eligible bachelor for immediate courtship and marriage. Only interested inquiries may be left with editor.'" Jeremiah said.
Theresa was out of her chair and advancing towards her husband before Jeremiah had finished talking. Theresa's eyes took on a dangerous glint as she approached him, her body rigid with barely controlled anger. She couldn't believe that Jeremiah could even think of doing something so awful! Didn't he know she was only kidding? Didn't he understand how much she really loved him and their family? Just thinking about what Jeremiah had said, made her blood boil.
Jeremiah backed away from Theresa, laughing so hard he could barely move. It had been a long time since he had done or said anything to provoke such a strong outburst from Theresa. Theresa prided herself on being able to keep her fiery temper under control. He had known that he would be pushing his luck if he played along with her teasing, but he couldn't help himself. He just hadn't realized how mad she was going to become.
It wasn't until she had managed to back her husband up against a wall of the cabin that Theresa finally spoke. "Jeremiah Stene McCloud, I've a mind to clobber you upside the head over a nasty comment like that! I can't believe you'd say something so awful! You'd better give me one good reason why I shouldn't do it!" Theresa told him angrily, swinging the skillet back and forth to emphasize what she was saying.
Mary Louise, Lucinda and J.J. had watched the strange antics of their folks in stunned silence. They exchanged nervous glances across the table, each waiting to see how the other would respond to their pa's strange comment and their ma's odd reaction to it. None of them had ever seen their ma so mad before. As their pa continued to laugh uncontrollably and their ma to glare at him, they began to see the humor in the situation. A slight smile appeared on Lucinda's lips, J.J. grinned and a giggle escaped from Mary Louise. Soon all three of them began laugh, causing their ma to shoot angry looks in their direction.
Jeremiah knew that the game had gone on too long. Theresa was obviously more upset by his comment than he had expected. As he leaned against the wall and tried to regain control of himself, he couldn't help noticing how beautiful Theresa looked. Her flawless face was flushed prettily from her anger and then was a determined set to her graceful chin. Tiny greenish-gold flecks sparkled in the midst of her brown eyes, a clear sign she was getting angrier by the minute. As he continued to gaze at her, Jeremiah suddenly forgot what he had thought was so funny in the first place.
"Do you know you're beautiful when you're angry?" he said, his demeanor serious.
Her husband's sudden change in demeanor and his serious question caught Theresa off-guard. She had been expecting Jeremiah to apologize for what he had said, but instead he was telling her that she was beautiful. Theresa felt the anger begin to seep out of her. She always found it very hard to stay angry with Jeremiah for very long.
"What did you say?" she asked, setting the skillet down on the table.
"I said you're beautiful when you're angry." Jeremiah said.
"Do you think that you're telling me I'm beautiful is going to make up for what you said earlier, you are going to be gravely mistaken Jeremiah!" Theresa told him incredulously. By the red deepening her cheeks, Jeremiah knew that Theresa was starting to become angry again. That was exactly what he didn't want to happen.
"No. You should have known that what I said was made in fun. It wasn't meant for you to take seriously." Jeremiah told her.
He moved towards her, only to have Theresa move away from him. He reached out to grab her, but Theresa ducked under his arm and moved further away. He continued to advance on her, his eyebrows raising as he accepted the silent challenge Theresa was making to him. Theresa raised her chin defiantly at him and continued to move backward. When she found herself backed up against the table, Theresa made a move to go around it. She wasn't fast enough. Jeremiah grabbed a hold of her arms and drew her into his embrace. Before Theresa could protest, Jeremiah brushed her lips with his. As the kiss deepened, Theresa gave up struggling and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck.
"Yuck!" J.J. exclaimed, covering his face with his hands.
Mary Louise and Lucinda shot dirty looks in his direction. Theresa and Jeremiah broke apart, both a little breathless and a lot embarrassed. Jeremiah released his hold on Theresa's arms, allowing her to withdraw from his embrace. It took them both a moment to compose themselves before they turned towards their children. Relief swept through them as they took in their daughter's dreamy expressions and then to J.J. While it had been his outburst that had alerted his folks to his and his sisters' presence, J.J. didn't show any other sign of embarrassment.
"There's chores waiting. Theresa, when will you be ready to head into Independence?" Jeremiah asked.
"I'll have the baked goods and supply list ready in about an hour. I won't be accompanying you into town today, though. I thought I'd let the girls take my place." Theresa said.
Jeremiah caught the surprised looks Lucinda and Mary Louise shot their way and nodded. "Come on son, there's work to be done."
J.J. obediently rose from his chair and followed his pa out of the kitchen. The moment they were alone Mary Louise and Lucinda began to pepper their ma with questions.
"Why is Papa going into town today? He doesn't usually go 'til Saturday? How come you aren't going with him? Are you sick Mama?"
Theresa started laughing and put up her hands to fend off their questions. "Stop! Stop!" she cried. "A body can't think when they've got a bunch of bees buzzing in their ears!"
"Sorry Ma." The girls exclaimed together.
"Let's start cleaning up in here so that you'll be ready to go to town. Your Pa and I have decided to let you pick out your own presents this year." Theresa told them.
"What do you mean Ma?" Lucinda asked as she and Mary Louise started clearing the table.
"We've decided to buy you girls some new clothes and let you do the choosing of the material." Theresa told them.
"Really Mama? We really get to have all those new things?" they shrieked together.
"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. 'Course you'll have to choose wisely. One pretty, frilly print to wear to your party, but the other material must be serviceable too." she admonished.
The girls nodded, excited at the prospect of getting new clothes. Hurriedly they cleaned the kitchen, then rushed to their room to change. When they re-appeared a short time later, Mary Louise was dressed in a green and white checkered gingham dress with black braid trimming the button-down collar, sleeves and hem of her full skirt. Lucinda was in a solid forest green dress with a tapered waist and full skirt. Theresa handed them each a basket of goods and placed the supply list on the top of Lucinda's.
"On the other side of the supply list, I've made a list of the items each of you are to purchase. Your Pa has some other business to take care of in town, so you'll have plenty of time to make your selections. Be sure to order extra cloth when choosing material for your dresses and skirts. It's time that you started wearing full-length skirts." Theresa explained as they walked outside.
Jeremiah was waiting beside the wagon talking to J.J. By the expression on J.J.'s face, the McCloud women guessed that he wasn't happy about being excluded from the trip into town. As his ma and sisters approached however, a smile brightened his face over something Jeremiah told him. Jeremiah turned toward the women in his family and complimented his girls on their attire. He helped them onto the wagon, kissed Theresa, ruffled J.J.'s hair, and then climbed aboard. With a flick of his wrist he set the team into motion. Lucinda and Mary Louise turned on the wagon seat and waved goodbye to their ma and little brother.
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