Marriage of Necessity

~43~ Marriage Of Necessity?

I fall asleep quickly after I wake up, feeling weaker than I've ever felt in my entire life. When I open my eyes again, the wind doesn't sound as terrifying as it once did.

"You're awake," I hear Matthew's tired voice from the rocker as he stands up and sits on the edge of the bed.

"How long have I been out?" I ask as I try and sit up. Matthew pushes me back down gently by my shoulders as I stretch out my sore, aching muscles.

"We just had breakfast."

"You should have woken me up to make it for you!"

He shakes his head as he brushes the hair off of my cheek. "You need to git yur strength back. I'll go heat up some broth. Don't git outta this bed, hear me?"

I catch the tone in his voice immediately, and I close my eyes. He's sore with me.

I fall back to sleep, and I'm awakened to him sitting on the bed with a bowl in his hands. "Open," he says as he puts a spoon to my mouth. I take a sip, letting the hot liquid run down my throat and pool my belly with warmth.

He literally feeds me, until I shake my head and lay back down. "I can't eat anymore."

He nods as he stands up, taking the bowl away silently. I fall asleep again instantly and sleep the sleep of healing.

~*~

The next time I stir from unconsciousness, the winds are quiet and the house isn't shaking.

Thank you Lord, the blizzard is over.

I see Matthew sitting in the rocker and watching me as he stands up and comes over.

Has he been here this entire time?

"Is the blizzard over?" I ask hoarsely as I prop myself up on my elbows.

He nods. "Stopped an hour ago. We got about two feet of snow."

"Is that a lot in these parts?"

"No"

I let that sink in as I sit up, feeling the burning in my neck. Lands a mercy I ache all over.

He takes my hand and inspects it, turning it around. "Your skin looks healthy—You got lucky, Sophie."

"I know I did. I'm so sorry, Matthew."

He is silent as he stares at my hand, looking at it harder than necessary.

"You hungry?" He asks after another moment.

"No"

"Ok. It's the middle of the night—Get some more sleep."

"Have you slept at all?" I ask as I lay back down, somehow feeling like I actually COULD sleep more. How much sleep does one body need?

"Don't worry about me," he says in a clipped tone as he pulls the blankets over me and kisses my head, sitting back down in the rocker harshly.

~*~

A week has passed since the blizzard, and my strength is finally back: I stayed in bed for days, and slept most of that time.

Whether it's good news or bad, Nippy DID survive the blizzard. He found his way to the woodshed, and hunkered down until the winds died. Jamie was completely elated, and Matthew....Well, he was wishing a different fate for poor Nippy.

Blue skies wake me up this morning, and the shining sun brings warmth to my soul—Matthew has barely spoken to me since that night, and I'm afraid to do anything to make him even more upset.