Constant

Chapter 10

(LYDIA)

I had to return home to my father a short time later. I knew that there was bread to bake and dinner to finish preparing. I hoped that the soup would stretch far enough to feet Ruben as well but I also knew that it would be rude to refuse him for dinner. The house came into view and I could see Ruben waiting for me at the back door of the barn with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he was ready to discipline a naughty child. 

"Where were you?" He asked when I got closer. He reached out to take the reins of the horse as I jumped back down to the ground.

"I went into town."

"What for?"

"To get supplies for supper," I said gesturing to the saddle bag that had a few things that I hoped to add to the stew.

"You know that I could have gotten the supplies for you."

"I didn't want to bother you when you were speaking to my father," I said as I led the horse back to the stall where I would take off her saddle and rub her down. Ruben's hand shot out and grabbed my forearm. His fingers wrapped around tightly and when I tried to take my arm back from his grasp he tightened his grip. My fingers started to tingle. I knew that the only way to get him to let go was to let him talk. I turned to face him.

"You don't have to go into town." 

I knew that he was trying to keep me at the farm. He wanted me to be able to do my work. I just needed to get away sometimes or I would go crazy. 

"I am sorry," I said looking down at the floor of the barn. He reached forward and with a finger under my chin he lifted my face to look at him. 

"All will be forgiven if you promise to not do it again without my permission." 

"I won't go into town," I said feeling defeated. I knew that he just wanted to keep me safe. After everything that had happened I knew that staying at home wouldn't keep me safe. 

"Now, let's go inside after you've finished with the horse and we can eat. I have an exciting announcement for you." 

He let go of my arm and went to go lean against the door of the barn. I flexed my fingers and shook out my hand feeling the rush of blood return. I knew that Ruben just wanted me to be safe. He didn't want me to go places. I knew that he was worried about horses because one of his brothers had died after a horse riding accident. 

I went to the stream to fill the buckets with fresh water for the horses and brought it back for them. Once my chores were done I returned to the house and Ruben sat down at the kitchen table while I finished with supper. The bread had risen and I put it in the oven. It was a small loaf and I knew that it would cook quickly. I worked on making the stew stretch for supper. I added a few of the carrots that I had purchased to the stew that had been slowly cooking all day. 

"What exciting news did you want to tell me?" I asked as I slid the last few ingredients into the cooking pot. 

"I'll tell you when your father comes in for dinner," He said. I could smell the bread cooking and I knew that it would be ready in just a few minutes. 

"I have something to tell you as well." 

"What is it?" He asked with a smile. 

"You'll also have to wait until my father comes in for dinner."

I cleaned up the table and straightened the kitchen so that we could eat together in a tidy room. I got the table set to perfection and sent Ruben outside to fetch my father. The men sat at the table and I served them their supper. The bread was cut into thick slabs and I set both of them a plate. Then I ladled the stew into their bowls. Adding the extra ingredients seemed to do the trick and there was enough for both of the men to have a large bowl. I got a bowl for myself and scraped the last of the stew into it.