Marriage of Necessity

~11~ Garden

The next week I really focus on my garden, trying my best to make this place my own. Matthew plowed the ground for me and I got my rows how I wanted: Perfectly straight, the way I was taught. Mama would be so proud of me.

Jamie enjoyed helping me plant the seeds, being meticulous in how he placed each one in the ground. He's taken just as much pride in it as I have, and it makes my heart swell with love for him. The other two still don't fancy me being here, but Jamie has accepted me with open arms.

It's helping ease the loneliness a touch.

Every day I make sure that my garden is getting enough water, and attacking any start of a weed that I see. I was thrilled to pieces when plants started erupting from the earth. What a glorious feeling, knowing I'm able to take such small seeds, and plant them, allowing nature to take over and produce a bountiful assortment.

It's been a good day today, with Matthew in the field and me doing work around the farm. The children have been gone at school, so it's just been the two of us here.

The sun is shining and feels glorious on my face. It's not terribly hot yet, but I reckon it will be soon. From what I hear, summers are troublesome in these parts.

Matthew comes in for dinner, but since it's only the two of us, I just make stew and cornbread.

We eat the meal, with me prattling about unimportant things, while Matthew just quietly sits there. I'm actually not sure if he's even listening, but I'm going to pretend that he is. I just can't handle silent dinners.

Ones he's had his third helping, he stands up and looks at me. "Thanks for the meal, Miss," he says as he leaves. I don't see him again for hours.

The kids get home from school, and I'm hanging wash out on the line. I thought I heard some caterwauling, but ignore it. Suddenly, the noise is getting even louder. When I turn around, I stare in horror. Sally Mae, the cow, is stomping through my garden and destroying everything.

"NO!" I yell as I rush over and grab the beast, yanking her out. I ignore the tears threatening to spill as I look at my poor garden. There's nothing worth salvaging.

I put Sally Mae where she belongs, and then march over to the barn. I'm suddenly feeling madder than Sally Mae's bull-friend, Tater.

When I get in the barn, my eyes lock on the culprit. He's sitting, working on harnesses with his pa.

I go over to Junior and grab his ear, pulling hard until he stands up, yelling in pain.

Matthew is looking at me with a horror-stricken look. I have NEVER gotten agitated with any of the children; Especially not enough to scold them.

"Ah! Pa, she's hurtin' me," he whines as he tries to get out of my grasp.

Matthew says nothing as he stares at me, trying to decide if I'm deranged.

"Why did you do it?" I ask as I let go of his ear and cross my arms.

He rubs his ear, fighting tears. I really tugged good, and his ear is as red as the cherry tomatoes that were trying to grow in my garden.

He knows exactly what I'm talking about, so he just looks at the ground, sniffing and trying to rub the pain away.

"You best answer her, Matthew," Matthew Senior says in a low growl.

Junior shakes his head. "I just want you to leave."

I know he doesn't like me, but that smarts. It smarts probably worse than Junior's ear.

I silently turn around and go back to my garden. My poor, beautiful garden. When I get there I just stare at the mess. It's like some horrific killing ground, and my poor cabbage is splattered all over. The tomatoes even make it look like blood. Such a shame. Those would have been right tasty with some bacon and fresh bread.