“Good to see you again, Austin. Welcome to Hartville, ladies. What can I get for y’all today? Our special is pot roast, but we have tamales, ham and beans, and chicken and dumplings, too.”
“Thanks, Tillie. Ladies, the food here is some of the best you’ll ever eat, so don’t be shy.”
“I’ll take the chicken and dumplings, please.” Rebekah smiled at the friendly woman.
“I’d like the pot roast. I suppose there’s more than just the meat?” Jenny stared at Tillie.
“Most certainly. There’s potatoes, carrots, onions, and gravy.”
Jenny nodded. “That sounds fine.”
Rebekah wished her sister would be kinder. What would they do if Austin Hart decided he didn’t want a persnickety wife? By his pursed lips, she’d guess he wasn’t too pleased with Jenny at the moment. He lifted his gaze and smiled. “I’d like some of your delicious tamales, please. And coffee.”
“You’re in luck. I still have a half dozen or so, even though luncheon is nearly over.” She bustled away and into the back room.
Silence stretched uncomfortably, and Rebekah searched for something to say. “Can I ask what a tamale is? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of that.”
Austin’s gaze shifted to her. “It’s a Mexican dish made of a cornmeal type of crust with seasoned meat in the center, all cooked inside a cornhusk. They’re quite tasty.”
“It sounds delicious. I suppose since you’re rather close to Mexico here, that must influence your food and customs some.”
He nodded. “That’s true, although as you heard from Tillie, we have regular food, too.”
“Isn’t Mexican food spicy hot?” Jenny asked.
He shrugged. “It can be, but not all of it is. Depends on the cook.”
Tillie scurried back to the table, carrying two glasses of water and a cup of coffee. Once she’d set them down, she looked at Jenny and then Rebekah. “I also have some sweet tea, if you’d care for a glass.”
“I would love some.” Rebekah smiled.
Jenny shook her head. “Water is fine for me.”
After another minute of silence, Jenny shot her a “help” look then mouthed, “Say something.”
“Um … would you tell us about your family, Mr. Hart?”
“Sure, but call me Austin. There are eight Mr. Harts, and it will get confusing if you keep calling me that, as well as my brothers.”
She felt odd calling him by his Christian name, but nodded anyway. “Very well, Austin.”
He smiled, loosing a mob of butterflies in her stomach. Oh, dear. This was not good.
“As I told Jenny in my letters”—he shot her sister a smile—“I have six brothers, all younger than me. My mother is gone, but Father is still alive and determined to see us all married before he dies. Five of my brothers have complied, but Bowie, the second oldest, and I are still unmarried—but not for long, I hope.” He stared intently at Jenny, but her sister ducked her head, her cheeks beaming red.
Rebekah hoped he wasn’t marrying Jenny just to please his father. That sure wasn’t the basis of a good marriage.
“Where do all your brothers and wives live?” she asked as she buttered a hot biscuit.
He stirred a spoon of sugar into his coffee. “Most all of them have built houses on their own land, which surrounds the big house.” He took a sip from his cup. “Think of the main house and land surrounding it as the hub of a wheel with my brothers’ land as the spokes. Sometimes on special occasions, all my brothers and their wives stay overnight at the big house.”
“Your home sounds lively.”
“It sure can be at times, especially when everyone is there.”
Rebekah liked the idea that Jenny would have other women near her, especially women who were newly wed, too—and to Austin’s brothers. It would give them all something in common and make her sister feel less uncomfortable and alone. If only she had someone to make her feel that way.
A commotion at the front door drew her gaze. Three women glided in, all talking at once. Austin glanced over his shoulder, coughed, then turned his back to them. If she wasn’t mistaken, Jenny’s tough tanned cowboy had suddenly gone pale.
One lady pointed toward a table, glanced their direction and then away. Her eyes instantly flicked back toward them. She spun around and whispered something to the other two, who also stared. Rebekah’s grip tightened on her glass as they turned as one in their direction and then hurried across the room, all the time staring with curiosity. They circled the back of Austin’s chair as his head lowered.
“Why, Austin Hart. Fancy meeting you here.”
Chapter Three
As Austin shot to his feet, he felt a noose tightening around his neck. All his efforts to keep his bride a secret was for naught. He glanced at Jenny and Rebekah, both brimming with curiosity, then forced a smile and turned to face his sisters-in-law. “Afternoon, Coralee. Annie. Emma.”