The Farmer's New Wife

Chapter 4

The sky was painted in shades of twilight as John and Dot loaded the last of her belongings into the bed of John's old truck. A single suitcase held all of her clothes, while a couple of boxes were filled with books, paper, and a well-worn typewriter that she had carried from place to place over the years.

John secured the boxes with a practiced hand, tying down the items to ensure nothing would shift on the hour-long drive to his farm.

Maria handed Dot a carefully wrapped cake, a warm smile on her face. "Here, take this with you. And there's a casserole, too—figured you might not want to cook your first night there."

"Thank you, Maria," Dot said softly, accepting the food.

Timmy stepped forward, his grin infectious. "You two take care now, y'hear? And don't be strangers."

Dot managed a small smile. "We'll try not to."

Her father, Reverend Hargrove, approached, placing a gentle hand on Dot's shoulder before leaning in to kiss her forehead. "You've done the right thing, Dorothy. Remember that."

She nodded, fighting back the wave of emotions that threatened to surface. "I will, Dad."

John stepped forward, offering his hand to the reverend. "Thank you, Reverend Hargrove. I'll take care of her."

Hargrove shook John's hand firmly, his eyes carrying a mixture of gratitude and something unspoken. "I know you will, John."

With everything packed, John opened the passenger door for Dot. She hesitated for just a moment before climbing in, and settling into the worn seat. John circled around to the driver's side, sliding in behind the wheel.

As they drove out of town, the houses grew sparse, replaced by open fields that stretched endlessly into the horizon. The silence in the truck was thick, but Dot finally broke it, her voice soft.

"You've got quite the setup at the farm, haven't you? My dad says you've got a whole team of workers."

John nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. "Yeah, I've got a few hands helping out. We grow a bit of everything—corn, wheat, some vegetables. There's always work to be done."

Dot glanced out the window, watching the landscape blur past. "Sounds like you don't really need me around, then, if you've got that many people."

John shook his head slightly. "They tend the fields, keep the crops goin'. But the house... it's just me out there. Haven't really kept up with it the way I should've. That's where I could use some help."

Dot chuckled softly, more to herself than to him. "So I'm more of a housekeeper than a wife, huh?"

John glanced at her, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I wouldn't put it that way. But it's somethin' I figured we could work out together."

The truck rumbled down the dirt road, the only sound between them the steady hum of the engine and the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. John glanced over at Dot occasionally, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't come out awkward or forced. It was easier when they were working, but conversation was another matter.

After a few minutes of silence, John cleared his throat. "You ever think about comin' back here before all this?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

Dot shook her head slightly. "Not really. I mean, I've visited a few times over the years, but I never thought I'd be back for good. Too many memories, I guess."

John nodded, understanding more than he let on. "It's not the easiest place to come back to. But sometimes... sometimes it's the only place that makes sense."