Mail Order Meals - Kirsten Osbourne Page 0,22
just before they needed to leave for church, and hurried upstairs to change into clothes that weren’t covered with dirt...and was that blood? She had no idea what he’d been doing, but she knew it was blood. She wanted to follow him up the stairs and ask him why he was covered with blood, but she didn’t. Instead, she put a lid on her pot and carried it out to the wagon that he’d already hitched for the ride.
She put the pot onto the wagon seat, and then she climbed up beside it. Even if he was going to act strangely, she was going to enjoy her first morning at the new church.
Chapter 6
Doug talked little on the way to church, and Trudie’s attempts to get him to speak fell on deaf ears. “Did you have blood on your shirt this morning?” she asked. She wanted to know if it was animal blood or human blood, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get the information from him. He’d been so quiet lately it was starting to make her think she was doing something wrong, but she had no clue what it could be.
He shrugged, not ever looking at her. She had no idea what on earth she’d done that was so wrong, but she was determined not to let his attitude hurt her at all. Instead she’d go to his church and meet as many people as she could. She didn’t know anyone in the area yet, but she wanted to. She needed to make some friends to make up for the sisters she was missing so desperately.
When they pulled up in front of the church, he quickly handed her down, and she took the pot she was carrying inside the church, letting Mrs. Goldman show her where to put the pot.
Mrs. Goldman led her to the area where all the pots were waiting for them, talking as they walked. “How’s married life treating you, dear? Your husband has lost a bit of the hungry look he always has.”
Trudie laughed. “I’m thankful. I thought cooking for him would be a never-ending job.” She finally had time to do a few other things since his appetite was sated for a short while.
“Well, I can assure you it’s not over yet.” Mrs. Goldman smiled. “Let me introduce you to a few of the ladies. I think you’ll enjoy meeting Mrs. March a great deal, because she lives close to you. Perhaps the two of you could spend some time getting to know one another.”
“Oh, I’d like that so much.” For the most part, Trudie’s only friends had been her sisters. She’d made a friend at work, and a couple on the train on the way there, but no one had ever spent time with her when they weren’t required to except her sisters. Her reputation had been bad enough that it was hard for other women to be around her.
“Let’s go meet her then.” Mrs. Goldman took Trudie’s arm and led her over to a woman sitting quietly in a pew, waiting for church to start. “Mrs. March? I want you to meet Trudie Charleston, Douglas Charleston’s new wife. Trudie this is Marion March. Mr. and Mrs. Charleston are your closest neighbors.”
Trudie smiled, offering her hand to the other woman to shake. “It’s so good to meet you. I hope we’ll be friends.”
Mrs. Goldman added, “Mrs. March and her husband just moved here from back east. They’ve been here for a few weeks.”
Trudie sat down beside the other woman. “It’s nice to know I’m not the only newcomer to the area.” Mrs. March was probably a little bit younger than she was, and there were no clinging children, but she asked anyway. “Do you have any children?”
Mrs. March shook her head. “Thomas and I only married three weeks ago.”
“I only married four days ago. Sounds like we have a lot in common. How would you feel about coming over for tea one day this week?” Trudie hoped she didn’t sound desperate when she asked, but she really wanted some time with other women.
Mrs. March bit her lip. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid it’s too far to walk, and I don’t know how to drive.”
Trudie shrugged. “I could come to you if that would be better.”
Mrs. March looked around as if she was trying to hide something. “I can’t do that either.”
“I could bring the refreshments and the tea,” Trudie said.
“Would you?” Mrs. March looked as if she wanted to