Spirits of the Earth

The field was a sea of gray, the first sign of the approach of warmer seasons as slush covered the dirt instead of the fluff of fresh powder. Jack was restless to begin work again, winters leaving him far too idle with so much time on his hands.

Everything was dull without the sun. Even the animals were sluggish and seemed as bored as he felt. His sisters seemed the liveliest pair for days, tumbling about their room at all hours and leaving their home with the faint sound of laughter near-constantly.

It was certainly pleasant to have them around when he was there, but he'd spent most of his time out at the old farmhouse with his father. The old man seemed determined to get the place fixed up, and quickly. Of course, Jack was more than willing to help. It was nearly as old as their family, after all.

The Wests had only started living in their current home during his own generation at the behest of Jack's mother for their growing family. The young man could hardly fault his father for wanting to honor his childhood home with his own father recently passed. More than the home, though, his father seemed intensely focused on all things family. It was a little strange seeing his father act like a man on borrowed time, but he was certain he would tell him what was going on in his own time. Jack only hoped everyone was alive and well, it'd been too long since he'd seen any of their more distant relatives.

The sound of laughter rolled down the hallway and he didn't even have to turn to know that his youngest sister Abigail, only eleven years-old, was making a running start to pounce on him. At the last moment he turned away from the window enough to crouch and scoop her up in a fit of giggling.

"Have you heard?!" she cried once she'd settled down.

"Heard what, munchkin?" he asked, humoring his sister with a smile.

She only giggled, though, looking to her elder sister Hannah as if she'd just won whatever bet had been placed between them.

"Mama said not to tell you," she whispered at his ear, earning her a concerned frown and distracted ruffle of her blonde hair as Jack hitched her higher on his hip. What was she talking about? Mother keeping secrets? That was odd.

"Well why not? Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, cracking a huge grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him. "She said we'll have more family soon! A girl, I think. But don't tell! I promised I wouldn't tell you!"

More family? Was she pregnant? She was too old for that. She'd been too old when their younger brother was born in his opinion. He frowned but then flashed a smile for her, remembering himself and trying to keep things light until he could confirm his suspicions with his mother. If he was right he had good reason to know and plenty reason to worry about why it was a secret.

"Well don't tell her you told me," he scolded playfully, setting her back on her feet and shooing them back down the hall. He certainly had other plans for that information, his eyes immediately finding the cracked door to their parents' room.

Jack moved slowly, careful to be quiet as he peeked in at his mother. She seemed calm, just sorting and folding the girls' clothes.

"They told me," he said calmly, leaning his shoulder against the doorway and watching curiously as his mother tensed at those words. So there was some secret.

"Jack, dear," she sighed, looking gutted as she turned to face him properly after setting aside her washing. "I'm so sorry you had to find out like that. I was- We were going to tell you. Tonight actually." She sighed and clicked her tongue, looking so deflated.

A quick look to her belly left him a little confused. Last time she'd waited to share the news until she was obviously starting to show. But she was flat, not a bit of roundness to her. Had she lost the baby?

"Get your best clothes ready for tomorrow," she warned after a moment's pause, eyeing him sternly like she didn't trust him to actually follow through on his own.

Was it a funeral? That made no sense. "I'm sorry, Ma. For your loss and all. I...didn't know before," he offered, hanging his head slightly. That got her attention, though for a moment she looked like she was going to cry.

"Oh don't be silly. You're not dying! Don't be so dramatic."

What?

"Eh?"

"Don't you want to look nice? Or at least presentable?"

"Ma... I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing," he admitted, scratching at the back of his neck anxiously. What in the world could he possibly need to be dressed for?

"The wedding?" she prompted, eyeing him expectantly.

"Whose wedding?"

She rolled her eyes at that, giving his shoulder a light swat. "I don't appreciate the sarcasm, Jack."

"Well it can't be Hannah's," he laughed, shaking his head. She was still a few years young for that.

Suddenly his mother looked panicked, eyes blown wide as she gasped and just stared at him. Her eyes darted to search past him in the doorway, obviously searching for any loitering family members but the girls had scurried back to their room already.

"Jack, you- What did she tell you?" she whispered harshly.

"That...there would be more family," he answered slowly. Wedding. A wedding meant family. A husband. Or a wife. If it wasn't Hannah, then-

"Ma?" He asked numbly, not meeting her eyes as he stared out the window at the slush and snow. "Who's getting married?"

"Well... You, Jack. But she's a very nice girl, I'm sure you know her."

Oh. His wedding.

Across the way on another family's farmstead a pale young woman quietly worked in the early dawn fog, milking and feeding her precious goats, though her thoughts were far from the task at hand. Her green eyes reflected with the light of someone with their head far above the clouds. Already Kendall was thinking about disappearing up the hill and into the morning mist to the trees beyond the fields were few ever willingly traveled.

In her hands the tsina goat protested her stillness and kicked out petulantly at the metal pail beneath it. The woman was drawn back to the present as warm milk splashed over her arms and skirts. With a gentle pat to the goat to calm her, Kendall easily righted the pail and continued as if nothing had occurred. Truth be told she was known for her distant thoughts and musings that resulted in such clumsy accidents.

"Oh Kendall!" A voice cried from behind her before a flurry of skirts brushed passed her and swatted her hands away from the milking. "You waste the milk with your day-dreaming. How many times must I tell you to focus on what you're doing and not where the fairies take you!"

"Yes mama," the redhead replied, unfazed by the reprimand that was so old she knew it by heart. She drifted away from where her mother took over, already considering heading for her hills and trees when her mother's voice once more pierced her hazy thoughts.

"Kendall! I'm talking to you!" The elder woman huffed and shook her head angrily. "Your future husband will hardly take to all your absentmindedness girl! The West family is a very hardworking one. You must be an asset to your family if you are to have a happy marriage. Do you understand that, Kendall?"

"So the marriage is soon then?" the girl asked suddenly, her head cocked to the side out of curiosity. Her question caused the older woman to freeze before turning to look at Kendall with wide, surprised eyes. "Child where has your mind been? We've only been talking about it for weeks! It's tomorrow! Please tell me you remember that at least?" The woman with a weathered face looked to her daughter tiredly. She doubted her daughter did remember. Kendall after all had always been a difficult child. Her mind was rarely where it was meant to be and her body was always sickly. The fact the Wendle family had been able to marry her off at all was a miracle in and of itself.

When only silence met her ears she could only sigh in defeat. "Take this inside," she ordered, holding out the full milk pail out to her child who took it slowly and shuffled off to follow the command, her mind already back off with the clouds and the stars. "That girl is going to be the death of me," the mother muttered beneath her breath.

By the following morning the weather had still not cleared. It seemed a bad omen as Jack found himself standing at the window again, the sky gray and the land dull as he waited for his family in his best clothes. It was a simple ensemble, but the light brown of his trousers and shirt seemed too informal in his eyes for such an important day. He looked a bit more put together in the darker coat he wore but he was certain his new wife would be able to recognize that he'd simply cleaned his work boots and they were nothing special.

The previous night he'd been given more details about his intended. He recognized the Wendle name for they had many daughters -and admittedly of great beauty if memory served him- but he couldn't quite put a face to the name for their Kendall, his bride-to-be. Still, he couldn't imagine his parents would match him with anyone less than lovely so for the moment at least he had not a worry on his mind.

A nervous smile reached his lips as he felt the familiar hand of his mother upon his shoulder. He turned to meet her eyes, seeing her excitement before she even spoke. "Is it time?" he asked quietly, exhaling a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

She smiled and simply jerked her head towards their front door, giving his shoulder a squeeze before slipping away to join the rest of the family. Jack followed after her obediently, lost in his thoughts and hoping he would be able to get through the day without any embarrassment. At least the wedding didn't seem all that rushed, quietly orchestrated in the background of their day-to-day lives without the groom being any wiser to his mother's plans.

Gathered together with the rest of his family his father gave him a swift pat on the back before leading them all down the road. It would be a little ways before they would reach town but the walk was a welcome distraction from the excited energy at home from his siblings, which was a bit suffocating on its own as much as they meant well with it.

In the middle of the morning the small tavern was quiet, empty, its usual crowd waiting for dusk to arrive. Jack was anxious to see the arranged chairs turned away from their tables towards the squat stage at the back of the small hall. Pale flowers lay arranged somewhat haphazardly at each table, a few lone flowers left with their stems twined along whatever surface of the chairs they could be tied to. For that he shot his mother a glare after glancing at the expectant faces of his sisters. There was no way it wasn't her idea, but the girls had certainly helped her. He began to wonder how long their secret had been kept to be able to arrange it all.

"Where should I go?" he asked with a sigh, entirely ignorant to what was expected of him at the ceremony as he'd never been to something so formal. In years past with relatives were married he'd only attended the festivities after the couple was wed. Before the previous day marriage was something far-removed from his mind as a young man with many eligible years ahead of him.

After settling his siblings into their chairs his mother ushered him up towards the stage, unfazed by how her eldest son tripped over the small step he had to take up to it. With a grunt Jack righted himself in his boots again, brushing an invisible mess away from his coat before straightening it out.

His mother guided him by his shoulders to the exact spot she wanted him, turning him this way and that before finally humming her satisfaction at the positioning and giving him a overzealous pat. "Right here!" she chirped, looking absolutely pleased with herself.

"If you don't mind just- Stay right there," she urged him, casting an excitedly nervous look towards her husband. "They should be along any minute now."

Kendall went about her chores for the day the same as always as if she had not been told she was to be married off the next day. The goats were fed and groomed, the water was fetched, the floors were scrubbed, all in the structured routine that was expected of the Wendle family's distracted dreamer.

She went to bed as usual but come morning, Kendall was off. She threw on the wedding dress her mother had laid out so delicately for her with all the care and ceremony of a bull running through a field of roses. Her boots and coat were next and then the redhead was out the door and skipping off towards where the clouds kissed the earth.

In her favorite tree, from the highest branch that would hold her weight she watched in awe as the sun rose, painting the sky with fire. It was a beautiful sight, one that took her breath away and when the sky bled from red to blue she watched the clouds dance across the sky becoming deer and rabbits and all sorts of creatures beyond the human imagination. It was peaceful and freeing here despite the wet, cold that permeated the air.

It was the shrill, screech of her mother's voice barking her name that at last tore her eyes from the sky and back down to earth. "Kendall Wendle just what do you think you're doing?! I have been looking for you child up and down this whole country almost! Oh Kendall, no, no, no please tell me you're not wearing it. Child what am I going to do with you?" her mother wailed as the young woman climbed back down and her mother took note of her somewhat sodden wedding dress.

"Hurry, hurry we're already late! Kendall why do you always do this?" the matriarch Wendle lamented as she dragged er daughter along. All the way Kendall listened with a deaf ear as her mother ranted and raved about her lack of thought and care. In no time at all they were finally racing up to the tavern and through the doors.

Kendall froze as guests turned to look at her and her mother but the moment did not last long. In a flash her mother was apologizing and claiming they would only be a moment as she shoved the girl towards the side of the room out of sight to rip her coat off, shove flowers into her hands, and then push her back towards the center of the room to walk towards her groom-to-be.

So with twigs and dried leaves caught in her red hair, her nose and eyes red from the cold, the hem of her dress four inches caked in mud, and her boots tracking more of it n the aisle towards the man she was bound to spend the rest of her life with.

Any minute now dragged on and on and soon Jack knew even with his excited-nervousness it had been more than a few minutes, stretching into about half an hour before he finally began to slouch a little from exhaustion remaining tensely upright for so long.

He looked to his parents for guidance, noting how they were talking to each other in hushed, anxious tones and glancing at him occasionally but never truly looking at him or seeming to notice his own nerves. It was clear to him that something was wrong.

As more guests filed in, people he knew as friends and neighbors, Jack noticed a row of young ladies he recognized as the Wendle sisters, though none seemed to spark his memory as exactly "Kendall."

The young man grew increasingly nervous when none of them came forward to join him and he narrowed his eyes at his mother, practically demanding an explanation as time crept forward to about an hour after she'd left him. Slinking forward past the rows of waiting guests she finally came up to pat his shoulder and whisper at his ear, "Don't worry, darling. Should be soon. Very soon. They're just running a little late. You know how young ladies are."

Well, no. No, he didn't. Not really, at least. Hannah wasn't old enough yet for him to have any experience with the primping his mother seemed to believe was happening with his bride-to-be.

As soon as Kendall and her mother burst through the doors, though, his attention was on her. His mother's excited and then not-so-excited confirmations about her identity were drowned out as he studied her curiously for the brief moment she was visible at first. Kendall was older now but he immediately knew he recognized her both from in town and...something else.

His mother straightened his clothes before moving away to take her seat beside his father while Jack stood there staring wide-eyed at the young woman coming up to join him. Her clothes and appearance were a little shocking to him but it was a little overwhelming that after all the waiting it was suddenly happening so fast.

He cleared his throat nervously, offering his hand to her as she drew closer so she might not trip on the step he'd stumbled on. All too quickly their officiant stepped forward, though, and Jack realized he wouldn't even have time to say hello to her before they began.

The bride accepted the hand offered to her gratefully as she maneuvered up the step with her sullied skirts. "Hello, Jack," she greeted him, not even caring that the officiant had already opened his mouth to begin. "Lovely day for a wedding," she continued, causing the guests to twitter and the officiant to huff and cross his arms in impatience.

"Are you quite done now?" he growled under his breath. Kendall looked at him with wide round eyes  and in a normal voice replied, "it's actually supposed to start 'we're gathered here today,' I believe." The guests closest enough to hear laughed, passing the exchange to people further in the back until the whole room had heard it.

The man huffed again before beginning. He made sure to pointedly emphasize the starting phrase with a glare at the unfazed Kendall. She in turn stared back at him with an unfocused gaze, practically tuning out the whole ceremony from beginning to end. Once you had heard one wedding you had heard them all.

As a lull fell over the crowd, she realized that he had stopped nattering on and that her mother was trying to get her attention in the wings. The repeated mouthing of two words becoming more and more frantic clued her in to where they were in the ceremony. "I do," she declared, looking at Jack with a lopsided smile.

Jack chuckled nervously for his bride's forwardness, but there was a genuine smile upon his lips as he watched the flustered man continue on with his duties. All the while he watched Kendall out of the corner of his eye, curious and distractedly answering his "I do" as he surveyed her wild, messy look up close.

There was no disgust in his eyes, though, only amusement and a small worry and hope that she hadn't gotten herself into any trouble along the way and it was just a mess. A dirty dress could be cleaned, at least, while other harm would need more care and attention.

He found himself waiting for her delayed answer tensely, somehow worried that his "random" bride might suddenly find him disagreeable. They had so much to discuss once it was all said and done, but he wasn't even sure where to begin. What kind of relationship was he even supposed to have with his arranged wife? In the short span of the ceremony he decided polite-but-distant was probably going to be his best approach, that way they could come out of their shells in their own time. Only, he had no idea that the Kendall he'd known distantly since their childhood was far, far out of her shell already.

When she finally gave her answer in such a carefree manner he was a little startled to feel such a huge relief of tension flow out of him, smiling nervously at her as their marriage was made official. The quiet, happy hum among their guests as they stood from their chairs and cleared the center of the room for dancing was drowned out by his pounding heart, throat feeling tight as he opened his mouth to speak to her but...no words would come.

"Congratulations, darling, marriage is such a big step," his mother praised, clapping him on the shoulder and causing him to physically jump.

"Uh..."

She leaned past him, whispering to Kendall but not quietly enough for him not to hear it, "I hope you'll give my boy some strong sons, dear."

"Ma. Not now. Please," he ground through his teeth, flustered and gripping Kendall's hand firmly to lead her down off the short stage. He didn't even reach the center of the tavern's hall before music started up from the corner and all of their friends and neighbors closed in around them to grab a partner and take to the floor, closing off any graceful exit from the throng.

Jack sighed, looking around to try to find a gap for them to squeeze through but all he met were the watchful, increasingly concerned looks that the couple wasn't joining in on the merriment.

"Do you know this one?" he asked, finally turning to Kendall with an apologetic smile and offering his other hand to her so they could fall into step with the others.

Kendall watched Jack's mother approach with detached disinterest. It was only when the woman leaned over to whisper to her that she finally acknowledged the matron. The redhead's head cocked to the side in her own quirky fashion as she replied, "I think girls are more likely." She did not have time to view the affect of her response though as her new husband was already dragging her away.

The bride was oblivious to the looks of the crowd and instead focused her attention on swinging their conjoined arms slightly. The music made her hum slightly and bob her head from side to side with a little smile as the beat began to take hold of her. At her husband's query to dance, she eagerly accepted his other hand before tugging him into step.

"Not at all!" she declared as she skipped along. "But I just make it up as I go."

Jack stared for a moment, uncertain how to respond. The question had been polite more than anything; how could she not know such a common dance?! They seemed near enough in age, but... Oh well. It didn't really matter and at least it was simple enough.

He attempted to lead her through the steps, albeit with a little less flourish than he normally would have had. It was hard to concentrate on having fun amidst a whirlwind of emotion. All he wanted was to speak with her!

Jack forced a small smile, though, feeling many eyes still drilling into the back of his head as they moved about the room. Each song wove into the next, all upbeat and leaving him no room for rest or slipping away with her between them to have a conversation. Instead, he settled for something more appropriate in mixed company.

"You look...pretty today," he offered, leaning a little closer so she might hear him over the noise around them. It wasn't a lie, he did think she looked nice, just under all the mess and wildness she'd dragged in with her.

His eyes sparkled playfully with an unspoken curiosity that he didn't dare voice: Whose field did you run through to muddy your dress? No, he wouldn't ever live that down if that managed to slip that into the first handful of words he spoke to her as her husband. Despite his curiosity, that wasn't how he wanted the day to be remembered between them.

She bounced about to her own beat, sometimes able to keep up with Jack's lead and sometimes stepping on his toes instead. It was not that she meant to cause hardship but like all things in her life, Kendall marched to her own tune. At the few social events she had been invited to she had never been asked to dance and instead had always done things by herself rather than be relegated to standing alone in a corner like a weeping wallflower.

At his new closeness, she responded by resting her head against his shoulder with a familiarity that they did not yet have with each other. "You're very pretty too," she replied innocently. "Your eyes are dancing like fairies even. Does this mean you're happy then?" Her large eyes stared up at him expectantly even as she once more trod on his foot unintentionally.

He'd been able to weather most of her missteps with grace, correcting their momentum subtly in the right direction every time but... he was getting tired. So very tired.

She surprised him more with each passing moment, the warmth of her against his shoulder unexpected but not repulsive in any way. He couldn't exactly shove his wife away for daring to touch him, not that he even wanted to, really. It was just a little startling. The phrasing of her compliments were even more surprising, though, his eyes widening and lips trembling as he bit back a laugh. She was cute. Weird, but cute.

"Yes, I'm happy," he assured her, wincing slightly for being stepped on again. His feet were really starting to get sore now...

"It's our wedding after all," he continued after a pause, glancing around the room and eyeing the chairs that had been shoved aside with particular interest. He didn't notice how his parents were watching from across the room, though, and quickly closing in on them.

"I'm a bit out of practice," he admitted, only a half-truth. "I think I need to rest for a bit." His aches couldn't wait for a proper answer from her though, and he promptly swung them out of formation at the end of the current song to lead her away. He still wasn't aware of his parents closing in as he plopped himself down to sit, hands braced against his knees as he wiggled his feet uncomfortably in his shoes.

Mention of it being a wedding only served to make her roll her eyes and shrug her shoulders. It was a wedding yes, but most people cried during them and in her mind if you cried then was it really all that happy after all? She certainly did not think so. But, if weddings made Jack happy then who was she to judge? No one, she was just Kendall.

At the mention of his exhaustion, Kendall began to pull back from him so that she could dance alone. However, she had no sooner moved to take a half-step back before he was whisking her off the dance floor entirely and off to the side where he could rest. For several moments she watched him curiously as he sat down and his shoes flexed and unflexed as he shifted his feet inside them.

Decisively, Kendall plopped down in a very unladylike fashion onto the floor beside him, her dress billowing around her like a giant, muddy, white pumpkin as she reached for his shoes. Before he or his fast-approaching parents could protest, she unceremoniously yanked off his shoes, tossed them under his chair, and then pulled his feet into her lap to began massaging.

Unfazed, she looked up at Jack's parents as they stared down at her in discomfort. "Jack," she stated turning to look at her husband, "I think your parents need to be put back in the pond. They're fish out of water right now and that can't be god for them."

He really didn't know how to protest as she yanked his shoes from him, his own mouth hanging open but no words coming out as he reached out to her without ever connecting in a touch. "Ah, K-Kendall..." Was it even okay that he called her that? Did she prefer some other name? Should he have a pet name for her? Dear or sweetheart or darling?

Jack was nervous again, throat feeling dry as he looked up to see his parents had finally arrived and wore their own looks of surprise, their eyes only widening at his bride's words. He couldn't help his bark of laughter for that but realized he'd been heard and winced, finally leaning forward fully to place a hand on Kendall's shoulder and give it a light squeeze. "There's no need for that. I appreciate it but come sit with me instead?"

His mother huffed and crossed her arms, glowering down at the girl for her poor manners. "We wanted to offer our proper congratulations again. I don't know if our boy has told you but there'll be a lovely home fixed up for you two to call your own soon. Jack will help, of course, but it and the land are our gift to you."

Jack frowned at his mother and sighed, flashing Kendall a sympathetic smile. "I'm sure she'll appreciate that in time, Ma, but we've barely spoken a word," he complained with a sigh, sitting back straighter in his chair and reaching out to pat at the one beside him with a pleading look for Kendall to join him.

"I'm fine here thank you," she replied easily, remaining on the floor and continuing to work on massaging the arch of his foot and ignoring his mother's haughty posturing. "Well thank you Ma West," she replied once the woman seemed to be quite finished. "Though I'm sure it was quite expected and therefore unnecessary to state. But thank you," she ended cheerily.

"Kendall Wendle! Uh...West! Get off the ground! You'll ruin your dress even more!" Kendall huffed as her mother's voice cut through the room. The gangling woman dragged herself to her feet reluctantly before flopping down to sit beside Jack. "Honestly dear at least pretend to be the lady I know you are buried in there somewhere. My apologies dearie, she's had a bit of a morning and I'm sure nerves have thrown her a bit off-kilter," the Wendle matriarch hurried to apologize even as her daughter grew bored and leaned over to rest her head against Jack's shoulder.

Jack frowned. Sure Kendall had surprised him, really surprised him, but he asked her nicely and her mother was demanding. Even if she was her mother he didn't like how she was correcting her right now. It wasn't really her job anymore, was it?

He felt the tension flowing out of him as she finally got herself up off the floor and took a seat, though some of it returned for the unexpected touch against his shoulder. At least she wasn't fearful of him, but he really needed to start getting used to the idea of sharing affections with her. It wasn't unnatural for her to want to be close, he scolded himself. Perhaps it was just for show -he really hoped it wasn't- but he was secretly thrilled despite their circumstances. Maybe there would be hope for a marriage that wouldn't be miserable.

The apology was waved off as he grabbed his shoes and replaced them on his feet. "It's a big day, I'm sure it's safe to say that for us all. Forgive me, but I wanted to speak with my wife. Alone."

His mother crossed her arms with a glare, taking that to mean something entirely different from what her son meant. "This is a family affair, Jack. When is the next time we'll all be gathered like this?" she scolded him, ignoring the fact that Kendall had many unmarried sisters they would surely see wed in time.

He rubbed at his head, looking to his father for sympathy he wasn't being given. The man looked as exhausted by his mother as he felt. He was probably only there at her insistence anyway. "Then we're leaving. I'll see you at home." Jack stood slowly to not knock Kendall away, offering her his hand and turning his back on his mother. She didn't really have a right to complain, what with springing this on him so suddenly.

"Let's take a walk," he offered, hoping she would accept and free him from any obligation to stay any longer. They could dance another day if she wanted, though he hoped she would let him teach her a few lessons in it before they took to the floor again.

"Let the lovebirds be," Kendall's mother tried to soothe Jack's family. "I'm sure you remember when it was your wedding. We'll all have plenty of time to spend with them later once they're all settled into married life." She nodded her head to Jack and Kendall to go even as she took his mother by the arm and began to lead her off for a chat by the punchbowl.

Kendall meanwhile simply shrugged and shuffled to her feet. "Up, down, up, down," she commented with a slight bobble of her head from side to side. She accepted his larger hand in her own, swinging their arms slightly as she allowed him to take the lead. Once outside, Kendall trusted him to lead while he gaze turned up towards the sky. Sadly the clouds were a giant, cotton covering that encased all the blue and leaving no discernible shapes for her to guess at. She sighed in disappointment and shook her head. "Ma West doesn't like me very much," the woman commented as easily as one would about the weather.

He smiled some to hear the flustered mutterings of his mother as his parents moved away, finally leaving them to themselves. Stepping outside, Jack inhaled deeply from the fresh air. The muffled sounds of celebration firmly closed off behind the door let him begin to lose the fuzzy feeling in his head that had been brewing all day.

Stepping away from the tavern Jack led her down the worn road quietly in the general direction of his home. Well, their home now, he had to remember. He was silent, uncertain of what to say and too aware of the way they were connected, his whole arm feeling warm. Then Kendall was mercifully breaking the silence for him.

Did his mother dislike her? He frowned thoughtfully, uncertain why she would have arranged for her first child to marry a woman she didn't like. Although he supposed it could have been entirely convenience motivating her.

"I don't think she does." He turned his head to study her curiously. "I'm sorry, though, maybe she's just nervous." Like me.

"I still can't believe they did this all in secret," Jack chuckled nervously, rubbing his free hand through his hair. "I wish we'd had a chance to speak before today." Or at least while adults. He was certain they hadn't really spent much time together since they were young children.

"But it's done now and... I suppose we have some catching up to do. Did you, um, want to get changed out of that? It looks pretty uncomfortable."

Kendall shrugged. It did not matter to her whether or not Ma West liked her or not. Not many people tended to get along with the spacey young woman with her strange quirks. She was used to being on her own and doing things by herself. Having a husband was not very concerning to her. He was stuck with her and she with him. Liking each other had never and never would be part of that arrangement, therefore she would never expect him to care for her beyond his obligation as a husband. It was not personal; it was business.

"I knew," she replied succinctly. "We've spoken before. Many times in fact." She dug her boots into the ground as she walked, uncaring about the scuffs and kicked up mud that resulted from her actions that further sullied her wedding gown. "My things have not been moved yet to our home. I have nothing to change into."

Jack fell into a tight-lipped silence as he realized their wedding was really only a secret from him after all. He would need to have a talk with his mother about that later.

"Oh... Well can't we just go get them?" He stopped, turning towards the other direction before turning back again. A soft hiss escaped under his breath at the realization he didn't remember which direction her family's farm was in relation to his. That was embarrassing, considering how small their village was. He really should familiarize himself with their neighbors more if they would be staying.

"Remind me where that is again," he mumbled bashfully.

She did not laugh at him or mock him for not remembering. The very notion of doing so never even crossed her mind. Instead, with her free hand she pointed towards him. "Where the old pine tree bends and the bluebirds nest," Kendall commented, referring to an old twisted tree that had grown defiantly against the winds that had tried to break it in two. "There are no bluebirds there now though."

The young woman tugged him towards home, a bounce in her step as she went. There was a childlike and carefree attitude to her movements as she was simply at peace to be. "Ma West wanted you to marry Cassidy, not me," she stated out of the blue. "My dowry has more goats than I'm worth because of that."

Her directions made no sense to him at all. In fact, Jack just thought even harder on it and was troubled when he came up with nothing. At least she seemed willing to lead the way. He fell into step with her, walking a little faster than was comfortable on his feet to keep up with her peculiar gait, like a skipping child.

What information she shared with him both made sense and saddened him. It was the way of country life. Everyone needed something and marriages were often arranged to produce children between families and strengthen each other's farms. Still, many were free to marry for love without need of a dowry. He had no doubt most if not all of his younger siblings would be free to do so.

"I'm very sorry about that," he apologized, more for his mother and the circumstances; he knew it wasn't his fault directly. "I didn't know any of this was happening... And goats?" Well, they were more for his family than him.

Jack shook his head, frowning in thought. "Goats don't matter. Your sister doesn't matter. About us, at least." He didn't want her thinking he might have regrets. He really didn't. There was nothing to regret, he wouldn't be missing out on anything. He was just marrying a little younger than he'd thought he would and to a beautiful young woman he just happened to not know all that well yet, even if she was a little odd.

Kendall looked at Jack with a look of confusion that was quickly shrugged away. "You've done nothing to apologize for. This is how it is." She shrugged again before skipping them over an old wooden bridge with no railings and down a path that was eventually completely shadowed by a pine tree that had grown at an angle so as to survive the winds that had tried to break it in its youth.

"That's where I used to live," she told him pointing off to the home she had woken up in only just that morning. A small, chattering blur quickly approached them before flinging itself at Kendall and all but screeching in her ears, much to her amusement. "No, I wasn't leaving you behind Dewey. You're coming too," she giggled, scooping the squirrel off her shoulder and into the crook of her arm to cuddle. "He wanted to come to the wedding," she told Jack, "but mother would not let him. It's a shame. He would have been sweet."

Things began to seem a bit more familiar as they approached her home, her family's home now. It was a place he'd visited as a child but never in recent years. The sudden squeaking startled him and he flinched away from the blur of fur flying towards Kendall.

It was only when he heard her giggling that he realized there was no danger, no strange bird swooping down upon them suddenly or anything like that. Just a...squirrel. A pet squirrel. He hadn't even thought such a thing was possible before seeing it with his own eyes.

Jack lightly squeezed her hand, moving forward towards the house again so they could retrieve her things but decidedly cautious about the chattering furball on her arm that his wife had already decided would be joining them. He couldn't exactly tell her no easily if she never asked in the first place. Perhaps that had been the point.

"Dewey..? Have long have you had him?" he tried to clarify with a sideways glance, uncertain if he'd heard correctly, not bothering with her telling him such a crazy thing as the creature "wanting" to come to their wedding. Did that mean she could talk to animals? Or just the squirrel?

"I've had him since he was a wee kitten. He fell from his nest and his momma didn't want him no more. He's been my constant companion ever since," Kendall informed him as she led him inside her empty family home. Everyone was still busy at the reception so there was no need to worry about being overheard.

She let go of Jack's hand before quickly thrusting Dewey into his arms. "You hold him for a bit. He won't stay put if I try and change while holding him," the bride informed him before promptly beginning to strip out of her dress right there in the family room. There was no ceremony or seduction about her actions. Ties were simply undone and the whole mess of muddied fabric was allowed to pool onto the floor as she stepped out of it, completely naked save for her boots.

While a sad story, it didn't make much sense to him why she would even want to keep a wild animal once he was grown and could have return to the wilds on his own.

Following her inside, Jack took his time looking around the empty place, a bit uncertain about where he should go or what he should do or offer her. When the squirrel was thrust upon him he had no time to complain and he drew a blank, sputtering nonsensically for a moment as he stared, wide-eyed at the tiny creature.

He held him slightly away from his body, wary of the furball biting or scratching him as a stranger if nothing else. "Uh- I'm not so sure this is a good idea, Kendall. I've never-" Jack's jaw dropped when he looked away from the small, furry creature to his new bride and she was just... Naked.

His cheeks burned brightly with a blush and he turned his head sharply to look anywhere but at her. Despite his light flirtations Jack had never seen the naked body of a woman in its entirety in his life. Sure a peek here or there but he'd never really gotten -or gone- very far with anyone.

He swallowed nervously, his throat suddenly feeling like there was something caught in it as he tried to speak again, "K-Kendall. You didn't have to- Let me give you some...privacy." Surely that was what she wanted! He couldn't even fathom the idea that she might not even care about being seen.

Even as he said it Jack was paralyzed, his feet unmoving and stuck to the same spot on the floor with a dumbstruck look on his face.

Dewey stared up at the new human, feeling wary but not aggressive. Very slowly he unfurled his little body and readjusted so that he was able to better sit rather than lay in Jack's palm and so that his own little paws were able to gently clasp Jack's fingers for stability. He continued to dart glances towards the human male but otherwise kept quiet and still in his new perch.

Unlike Jack though, Kendall was completely unfazed by his embarrassment at seeing her body. She was neither a prude nor a virgin and considered her body to be nothing special or out of the ordinary.

"There's no need," she replied blandly. "We're husband and wife now. It's nothing you aren't going to see more often. You might as well look now. It's as good a time as ever, no?" she offered, standing before him openly.

He struggled to find any words as he just stared at all of the mysterious curves and lines to a woman suddenly bare to him. Her reasoning didn't seem enough, though. Being husband and wife didn't mean they knew each other any better! At least not yet.

"Well it's certainly very sudden," Jack mumbled, having no good reason why she might want privacy to change clothes other than his own assumption and silent customs throughout his years in shared housing. In truth his thoughts also drifted towards adultery if she was so free with herself around a stranger for a husband. They didn't really have any sort of foundation to their relationship yet. Other men didn't seem that much more of a jump.

Jack turned his arm slightly, nervous about the tiny, tiny claws touching lightly along the skin of his palm and hoping he could encourage the squirrel to climb up his arm instead. He turned his head to watch the small creature intently instead of her, cheeks still burning and skin feeling a bit clammy as he tried not to notice Kendall out of the corner of his eye.

"I'll wait here," he offered quietly, tense with his uncertainty about the whole situation sudden as it was.

"Oh," Kendall said softly, a faint, tight smile tugging at her lips, "I don't please you," she murmured, stepping back from him quickly so that he would not suffer the sight of her. "I'll return clothed shortly," Kendall assured him before whisking herself away into her bedroom. Normally she would have had to share her room as all her other sisters did but with her poor health, Kendall had been moved to a secluded albeit rather cramped room in order to be allowed the rest her body so desperately needed.

While she dressed quickly in warm woolen clothes, Dewey continued to eye Jack nervously. The squirrel did not like one bit the fact that his perch was shifting about and not keeping stead beneath him. With chattering irritation he hopped onto Jack's sleeve, raced up his arm and then took refuge in his hair. His little paws clung gently to the strands of soft wavy curls as his tail swished about in agitation and occasionally smacked the man in the face.

Jack did glance her way one more time, eyes filled with confused concern as he watched her disappear to her room. Please him?! Like...with her body? Did she not think she was nice to look at? He definitely thought she was. Perhaps too nice. He hadn't expected a woman to look so...like her.

He was distracted from such thoughts when the squirrel darted up on top of his head, chattering in a way that seemed particularly menacing to Jack. He hissed under his breath for the sudden assault on his hair, uncertain what Dewey was doing but unhappy about being bopped on the nose constantly from the twitching tail. "Ah- Kendall!? Your squirrel's attacking me... I think... Help?" he called pleadingly, uncertain if that was what the creature was attempting but not wanting to take any chances. Surely she would know how to handle it best.

"He's saying hello," she called back to him as she struggled to get her long socks pulled up properly again beneath her thick skirts. "Speak softly and pet him and he should settle. It's very rude not to say hello back to someone you know," Kendall chided with an amused shake of her head that he would not be able to see with her still in her room.

At the sound of her voice though the squirrel stilled his tail and hopped around to face where she had disappeared off to. Dewey continued to cling lightly to Jack's hair but his tail now bounced about on his back instead of his face as he chittered and chattered while patting Jack's head carefully.

"But we don't know each other! We just met!" Jack whined, feeling rather helpless and at this tiny furball's mercy as he was patted by tiny hands and the chattering sounds seemed just so loud against his skull.

He winced, gingerly reaching up to try to get his fingers under the small body to remove Dewey from his hair. He was uncertain how he was going to manage to untangle him without pulling it but resigned himself to accepting that it was just going to happen.

"Easy there, little buddy," he muttered, tilting his head slightly to try to peek up at Dewey with a wary, wide-eyed look.

Dewey squealed at all the noise that proceeded his sudden displacement. Desperately he clung with his forepaws to Jack's hair and looked down at the man in horror. He was terrified of being dropped and while he did not tug or yank on the human's hair he was not about to let go anytime soon. There was no telling what would happen to him if he did so.

"You're not petting him," Kendall chastised him as she finally finished getting ready. "Have you never handled an animal in your life before?" she questioned honestly, her head tilting to the side as she rounded the corner into the main room. "You have to make him feel safe and secure, not like you're about to chuck him across the room at any moment."

"Ouch!" Jack winced as he tugged his own hair for putting pressure on Dewey to vacate. He groaned and shot Kendall a pleading look once she emerged, shuffling a little closer to her. He didn't really believe all of that, how could a wild animal settle down for a bit of petting?!

"We have plenty of animals, they just live outside," he informed her defensively, leaning his head forward slightly to try to just dump the squirrel into his waiting hands instead. "Can't you just tell him to come down already?"

Kendall sighed and shook her head. Instead of chiding him for not listening she did exactly as she had instructed him. Two fingers came up to gently stroke up and down Dewey's soft, tawny-furred back until he relaxed and went limp. He eventually even let go, falling into her own waiting hand and curling up like a peaceful babe. Dewey even yawned with list little mouth causing the woman to smile fondly.

"Petting is soothing to him. What you were doing was frightening. How would you feel if someone a hundred times your size suddenly tried to pluck you up? He's just a little thing after all." Kendall sighed sadly as she cradled her squirrel against her chest. "I hoped you'd like him too. Do you want me to get rid of him then?"

Jack righted himself quickly once he was free, running his hands through his hair to soothe out the phantom sensation of a squirrel mussing it up. He watched the way he relaxed with her in awe, convinced she was just some sort of miracle-worker with animals for that alone.

The sadness in her tone puzzled him, not really understanding why she might think he didn't like Dewey. It was just a very, very rough start between them as far as he was concerned.

"No, no. You can keep him if he can behave himself indoors. I think it's more that he might not like me," he offered, chuckling under his breath like he was certain that was all it was, not really understanding that he was the one that needed to build trust with her pet.

He reached out cautiously to try to pet Dewey seeing as he seemed much more content in Kendall's hand, finally taking up some of her advice as he introduced himself slowly to the squirrel like he was a child that might not understand him if he spoke too fast, "Hi... Dewey. I'm Jack. Your new...um-"

Jack lifted his head to meet Kendall's eyes questioningly, "Does he consider you his mother? Will I be his father, then?"

"He'd like you just fine if you weren't so afraid of him," she told him plainly while stroking Dewey's belly. The squirrel completely melted at her touch and therefore barely noticed as Jack began to touch him. The man's voice made him peek an eye open though and blink slowly. It was only then that the squirrel noticed he was being touched and curiously began to sniff him. Nothing seemed amiss so he gave Jack a few licks to the fingers before curling up and falling right back to sleep.

Dewey's actions made Kendall smile and pull her pet up to kiss upon the head. "He's my only friend," she whispered fondly so as to not wake her pet. "I'm sure he'd welcome another friend though. If you give him a chance you'll see he's more frightened of you than you are of him. You made his poor little heart race as it is with all your teasing."

For a moment Jack stilled, wary of the possibility of being bitten. When it never came he just allowed the odd squirrel-kisses briefly before resuming a cautious stroking along Dewey's fur until Kendall took him out of reach. He watched the way she handled him so gently, quickly realizing she was very serious about having such a creature as a pet. "Alright. I think I can manage that," he agreed, willing to at least try if it might make her happy for them to be on good terms.

He frowned some as he removed his hand and stepped closer to the room she'd disappeared to before. "I didn't mean to frighten him but he did sort of attack me," he reminded her, thinking it just as relevant that he'd been startled. "What else would you like to bring home from here? Anything?"

Kendall eyed his movements curiously. She did not understand why he would be moving closer to her old room. That confusion quickly turned to boredom though. "Were you injured? Did he harm you? You do not appear to be," she stated as she moved close to him again and began to closely examine his face and neck for any scratches.

"Why would I need anything? My family will be bringing it over later. There isn't much anyway. You get most of it in the dowry." She shrugged in disinterest before stepping back. "Did you need anything?"

"No, not injured. No scratches," he promised, distractedly looking over his hands even as he said it to check again. There were no marks at all and Jack considered himself lucky to have escaped the encounter unscathed.

Kendall's refusal of his offer puzzled him, though. Did she have no personal effects? Surely she would have wanted to take them herself if they were precious enough.

"Well I meant for you. Not the goats or anything, just- Your personal things? I don't know, brushes and trinkets and ribbons you wanted with you? Jewelry?" There was no greed in his tone, simply concern for her leaving things behind that her family might not think to bring for her with the rest of it. Of course he didn't even know his wife well enough to know if she cared for such things at all.

"No injuries, then he didn't attack you," Kendall stated matter-of-factly before moving her pet to her shoulder where he sat up and sunk his paws into her hair to gently hang onto her. "If there's nothing that you want then we can be on our way. I have all that I want right here." Kendall smiled gently poking Dewey in the belly causing him to chatter and nuzzle his face against her head. "Ribbons and jewelry hold no interest to me. They are sullied or broken far too easily," she commented, recalling the numerous times her mother had scolded her for ruining the new things she was given.

Jack turned to face her again, confused and a little concerned by her lack of personal things. His younger sisters were quite fond of pretty little accessories when they could be bartered for or afforded. And all she wanted to bring was the squirrel?

"Well as long as you're sure," he sighed, not wanting to argue it with her if she was that confident about it and not just being stubborn. She didn't seem stubborn at least.

"I'll show you around once we get there," he promised, turning to head back out the door they'd come through what seemed only minutes before. "Hopefully everyone else is still in town." Gods he hoped so, he didn't want to deal with his family hovering around them while they got settled.

She watched him closely as he sighed and shifted about. He certainly seemed displeased with her. Normally the notion would not have bothered her at all. She knew she was different than the other people in town and that they did not understand her. But, with Jack as her husband now, Kendall found herself wanting his acceptance.

Shyly she moved close to him and slipped her hand back into his. "Do your feet still hurt? Maybe we should let you rest a bit before we walk back."

The touch of their hands surprised him, looking down quickly to make sure it hadn't been a mistake and blushing a bit to notice how she gently curled their hands together. He grasped hers gently, not wanting her to think he didn't want the contact just because it had been unexpected. Her concern for him was also unexpected but appreciated.

"A bit, but I can manage. I'm just a bit out of practice with dancing." He waved it off with his free hand, not wanting to place any blame on her despite how she'd stepped on him repeatedly. Moving forward, Jack opened the door and stepped through to lead her back outside. His family's farm was about a twenty minute walk in the opposite direction. Now oriented, it would be easy for him to take her there. The main house was at the end of a narrower footpath, a tall barn behind it and their pastures and crop fields further beyond.

Seeming small in the distance but accessible to the main path around the bend was the house that would eventually be their own. Its barn was a little run down and the pastureland surrounding it too small now to handle all of the livestock of the West family. Altogether it would be good for the newlywed couple, though, enough room to grow into where Jack felt their current home was overfull. It would probably feel even moreso until they could move as a couple.

"This is it," he announced casually, gesturing out at the house he currently called home and leading her through the door without ceremony. The main room was the majority of their living space with the kitchen space and hearth on one side and three bedrooms on the other with a small space for a bath crammed in.

"Not much to it," Jack remarked simply, having no resentment over their quant home. He pointed to each door in succession as he explained the layout, "That's for my parents and brother, my sisters share that, and the other is mine. Well, ours now. The last one is the bath, but we don't use it much. Well, Ma will to relax sometimes but we're close to one side of the river. I think that's easier." He realized he was probably rambling on, saying too much and promptly shut his mouth with an apologetic smile.

"Let me show you my- our room," he offered, briefly squeezing her hand to settle his nerves as he stepped closer to open the door for her. It was a small, simple room with little furniture aside from the bed but it had a large window that looked out across their pastures. "Did you want rest for a while before the others come back?"

"We get our own room then," she stated, looking at the interior in wide-eyed curiosity. On her shoulder Dewey was all but vibrating with excitement and the need to run off to sniff and explore every nook and cranny of their new surroundings. He stayed though, using Kendall's locks for leverage as he leaned this way and that to get a better look.

Judging the place to be safe though, Kendall placed the squirrel down on a chair before Jack led her into his bedroom which was at least twice the size of her own tiny room in her family home. She bounced over to the window to have a look outside before returning to Jack's side and taking both his hands within her own. "Do you mean rest as in sleep or as in marital obligations between man and wife?" Her tone held no judgement as she asked quite plainly while also tugging him back towards his bed with her.

Jack didn't even notice that the squirrel was being set loose in the house and really he wouldn't even mind him exploring on his own unless he came out to things being damaged later from his nibbling.

He watched Kendall curiously, trying to gauge whether she liked the place alright or not. The lack of complaint soothed him a bit but the moment she returned to him with her question he was tense again. Marital obligations? What could she mean by that?

A thoughtful frown fixed upon his face for a moment, just trying to understand what she might have meant until she made it abundantly clear with the direction she was leading him in. She was referring to sex, wasn't she? His body felt like it was locking up again, eyes wide with concern and apprehension as he stopped following her, awkwardly standing at the side of the bed instead.

"W-Well I meant sleep. Or even just a lie down. There aren't any obligations, Kendall," he explained with a nervous laugh, smiling with what he hoped was a playful wince. "We don't have to do anything like that if you don't want to. We can wait until the right time. You know, once we've gotten to know each other a bit better?"

Honestly it didn't even enter his mind that his wife -who he knew to be a bit younger than himself- would have ever had sex before. He was a virgin so it seemed natural that she would be as well!

It wasn't that he even minded it, he had no expectations for her regarding premarital sex. He'd just assumed that was an aspect of their lives that would be discovered together in time or delayed until she wanted babies. But now she was asking him and she didn't even seem particularly excited or nervous about it, like it was normal and expected.

Unbeknownst to Jack, Kendall was no virgin. In fact she had been sexually active for nearly three years now and had a few partners who romped in the woods with her. She was not open about her trysts but recognized that she was a woman with needs and simply sought at the time to meet them.

"You don't want to be with me then?" she asked, tilting her head to the side as if seeing him on an angle would better make her understand him. "I'm not pleasing to you in appearance at all then. I'm sorry I disappoint you, Jack. I understand then if you feel the need to sleep with others later. I take no offense." Despite the seriousness of her words, Kendall smiled warmly and innocently. Theirs was a marriage of necessity not love so she felt no hard feelings if he truly decided to find love elsewhere.

Not want her? Not pleased with her appearance? Sleep with others?! They were all such unknown concepts to him and he didn't understand why she kept insisting he didn't want her. She was beautiful!

Sure, on a primal level as man and woman he wanted her and found her very pleasing to the eye. But he wanted to be a gentleman to her, not demand that they consummate their marriage immediately if she didn't want him. Aside from the hand-holding they hadn't shared a single bit of affection. Unless he counted the massaging. That had certainly been pleasant if a bit awkward in mixed company.

"Kendall I think you're misunderstanding me," he tried, giving her hands a small squeeze of concern and an apologetic smile. "We haven't even shared a proper kiss. You're my wife now and I'd rather not rush into something that won't be memorable for you." He took a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh.

"You're a beautiful woman. Very beautiful. I appreciate your enthusiasm. Really, I do. But if this is going to be forever shouldn't we take our time with it?"

"We could kiss first if that's what you're wanting," Kendall replied readily. If that was all that was stopping Jack then she had nothing against doing things his way. Letting go of his hands, Kendall took a half step into his personal space so that they were pressed up against each other. Then she gently but swiftly cupped his face and before he had a chance to react or pull away, Kendall pressed her lips softly upon his. Just like that they shared their first kiss. It was not a kiss for the history books; there were no fireworks or ballads to be sung about it. But it was sweet and tender and a bit shy and awkward. She pulled away slightly but kept her hands on his shoulders loosely in case he decided to bolt. "That better?"

"Oh. Well, I couldn't ask for-" But before he could even finish his sentence she was kissing him. Jack was frozen, wide-eyed in surprise for a moment before he realized what was happening and closed them. At first he was tense but before the brief moment was over he was relaxing, shyly pressing his lips to hers before she pulled back.

When she did Jack was blushing again, feeling the warm sensation all the way to his ears as he cleared his throat and tried not to stare at her in awe. He couldn't have run even if he wanted to, though, his feet feeling stuck to the floor and his head spinning. "That was nice, yes. But- You wanted more? Right now? Are you sure?"

Her fingers twirled in the locks at the base of his neck, tickling and teasing him gently. The smile on her face was warm and tender with no hint of ridicule or malice. "No time like the present. It's expected of us and I'm not opposed to it if you aren't." Kendall giggled softly, trying to lead him back towards the bed again to sit. "Unless of course you'd rather wait until tonight with the rest of your family home. They might approve of that better though to ensure it was actually done." Sitting on the edge of the bed she shrugged nonchalantly before patting the space beside her for him to join her.

Jack followed her easily, cautiously sitting down on the bed as if it were unfamiliar and not his own. Her words stunned him. How could it be expected for them to do such a thing immediately after being married?! And with family around? That seemed scary. He wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of his parents and younger siblings getting a front row seat to him losing his virginity. Shouldn't that be private with her?

"I don't want them around when we- You know-" He gestured between them shyly, chuckling nervously even as he scooted closer to her. But was that moment even the right moment? She seemed happy enough that he had welcomed her affections, perhaps this wouldn't be so difficult after all.

"I'd prefer if we had privacy, but perhaps after we've had a little more time to get reacquainted?" Jack reached out to touch her arm gently, almost an apology though he didn't realize it. He felt a bit bad that he was the cause of their delay, but more than anything he wanted to nurture a relationship with her as his wife not really knowing that he was passing up a rather ideal bonding opportunity.

"If that is your wish then," she replied, completely unfazed by his choice. "How would you like to become reacquainted then? Is there some activity that would make it easier or would you prefer to just talk?" Kendall sighed softly, already feeling bored with the need to be contained by normal societal expectations. She would much rather be outside climbing trees and talking to whatever animals deigned to stay near her. Instead for the sake of her new husband she restrained herself and waited patiently for his decision.

"Well, maybe we could just talk? And we don't have to stay in this room if you'd like to see everything else." Jack looked her up and down skeptically, uncertain how she'd feel about going back outside where there was definitely risk of her getting dirty again, though perhaps not to the same degree she'd showed up at their wedding in.

"If you want to see the barn and animals, that is. I could show you our home, too, but it isn't quite ready yet." Jack fidgeted some, wanting to stand up to help her up if they were leaving but not wanting to force her own decision or assume what her answer might be.

At the mention of returning outdoors, Kendall was immediately up and on her feet again before Jack could even blink. "Outside it is then," she declared, holding out a hand to her husband. "The animals and house sound...nice," she continued, hoping she sound enthusiastic enough for him to be pleased with her.

"Dewey come!" the call brought the squirrel immediately to Kendall's side. He quickly leaped into the air, trusting that she would catch before she placed him on her shoulder. "Ready then?"

How could they sound nice if he hadn't told her anything about them? Jack raised a brow suspiciously, thinking her happiness might have been a bit forced and she was just trying to make him feel better by being "interested."

He stood up slowly to join her, a little taken aback by how quickly she'd shot up off the bed. Apparently she wasn't all that eager for him after all. He felt a bit better with his decision to wait, knowing that.

"Yeah, we can go." Jack eyed the squirrel curiously as he took her offered hand, surprised Dewey seemed at least somewhat trained. Or maybe it was just the only command he was capable of following. He was sure he'd find out eventually.

"It's kind of muddy, I'll take you around the grassy side," he told her, leading them back outside and around the house to head towards the barn. The smell of animals and hay would have been apparent as soon as they rounded the corner but Jack was so used to it he was unfazed. It just smelled like home to him.

"We've got goats mostly. A couple of pigs and chickens too. A horse, but she'll be staying for my parents," he explained, slowly opening the doors and watching as the chickens darted out between their legs to go roam the barnyard. There were quiet bleats and a nicker from the shadows inside, shapes moving closer to their doors to greet them. The pigs were dozing in the beam of sunlight that angled into their pen, oblivious to their visitors.

"They're all pretty friendly, though, no reason to be afraid," he encouraged her with a small smile as he led her further inside to greet the animals in their stalls and pens, completely unaware of her own experience with animals.

Mud and farm smells were hardly things that Kendall shied away from. After all she too had grown up on a goat farm and had had a part in helping care and raise those animals herself. The chickens all darted about her legs made her giggle and crinkle her nose in amusement before she was skipping alongside of Jack towards the pens.

"I am not afraid," she assured him as the goats immediately pushed their bearded heads through the slats of their pen, bleating and begging for attention. Kendall eagerly offered it as she rubbed their heads and ears while they took to chewing on her skirts. They were beautiful animals if a bit stubborn as they shoved each other aside for a chance to chew on fabric and be petted.

It surprised him how well she was taking it all in. Perhaps she'd be right at home with his family after all. When he noticed that they were chewing at her clothes, though, Jack took it upon himself to try to shoo them away.

"Sorry, Kendall. I think they like you, I'm sure they smell your goats on you or something, but they're not very polite," he grumbled, hoping her skirts hadn't been damaged too badly. He wasn't sure how to happy his mother would be if he borrowed clothes for Kendall if a second dress was ruined in the same day. He glared at the goats, and stepped aside to their mare's stall, giving her cheek a few scratches as she butted her head against his arm.

Kendall shrugged, slightly disappointed that he had sent the goats away for simply acting within their nature. "The goats at home do that too. I don't mind. You didn't need to send them away." She shook her head, sighing softly before moving to follow him.

It was a warming sight to see how happily he interacted with the mare. Growing up Jack had never been a cruel child. It was pleasing to notice that he did not seem to be a cruel man now either. "She likes you. You should have brought her a treat though. The animals at home always love them," Kendall noted, as she moved to stand close to Jack, her side pressing up against his.

Jack found himself smiling slightly for Kendall's observation. He did have a bond with their horse; she was old and had led him through much of his childhood. The way Kendall leaned against him surprised him, though. It didn't seem forced at all but he was uncertain how to react to such genuine familiarity. Very slowly, he raised his free arm to loosely wrap around her shoulders.

"We usually give them apples this time of year but we haven't picked any yet. The trees are further out by the river," he explained, leaning over a bit to scoop up a bit of hay with his free hand. He let the horse eat from his open palm for a moment before he realized he probably should have included her.

"Did you want to feed her some? Or the others?" he offered, holding the rest of the handful out to her even as the mare stretched to try and snatch it from him.

"Mm, don't tease her," Kendall chided slightly, pushing Jack's hand back into reach for the straining mare. "What's her name? And the goats? Did you give them all names too?" She turned her head to look at him curiously causing Dewey to hop from her shoulder to Jack's in order to not be knocked off of her.

He chittered softly, rubbing his face against Jack's cheek before quickly hopping up onto the man's head. There he stood on his hind legs, tail curling under Jack's chin for balance as Dewey stared at the mare, trying to get a better look at her and the tasty morsel she was so interested in eating.

"Oh- Uh, sorry." Jack chuckled nervously, moving the hay closer again for the mare so she could finish it. He startled slightly as Dewey climbed up onto him again, surprised by his affection and tensing for the small weight of his body atop his head but relaxing once he realized his intentions were harmless.

"She's Janie. The goats just have weird names. Something about them or something they like," he explained, chuckling with embarrassment as he leaned closer to their pen again to point to each as he called them out, "Spot-Eye has a weird shape in his right eye. He's the old man. Blackhorn's the bigger guy. Then there's Rose, Pumpkin, Strawberry. The two kids haven't been named yet, they're just a couple weeks old. They're Rose's, though."

"I like their names," she commented happily. "It suits them all quite well." Kendall reached out to pet Janie's cheeks and scratch behind her ears. A smile rested easily upon her face as she relaxed fully into him, going so far as to interlock their hands together again.

Dewey on the other hand was not content. He leaped off Jack's head onto his outstretched arm and raced all the way to the man's hand. There he stood on the palm and stared the horse directly in the mouth, using his tiny paws to try and get some of the interesting looking food.

"You do?" That was unexpected, but Jack found himself breathing a small sigh of relief to know that she didn't find them weird or something to make fun of. They were mostly names his younger sisters had chosen after observing their habits and they just stuck.

She surprised him with the additional contact, though, but Jack welcomed it. Grasping her hand lightly left him a little caught-out once Dewey moved to his hand. Not understanding what the small creature was up to he pulled his hand back slightly, away from Janie's snorting. The old mare had her ears turned forward, head lowering as she munched on her hay to study the curious little thing in Jack's hand. Unbeknownst to her a single piece of hay got free to Dewey's paws.

"I don't think he's ever seen a horse before," Jack commented with a chuckle, turning his head to make sure the chickens weren't wandering too far from the barn.

"Maybe tomorrow we can go pick apples for them together," he offered, knowing it was probably necessary at that point in the season and also a little desperate for some private time to bond with his wife.

She hummed affirmatively, nodding her head against his shoulder where she laid it to rest. Kendall watched Dewey with his antics, finding it all amusing. He happily stuffed the piece of hay in his mouth even as he strained forward to try and grab more from Janie's mouth. His tail wrapped around Jack's wrist as he used his back feet to clutch the hand beneath him and his front paws waved wildly just out of reach.

"I think he's more interested in the food than the horse," she chuckled quietly, doing nothing to stop Dewey. He would learn soon enough to behave himself or suffer the consequences. "Would you rather pick apples now? Mm, or maybe we should return to the party. Ma West is already mad at me for stealing you away."

Jack's eyes widened once he realized the squirrel was bracing against him for support and kept reaching for the horse's hay. Greedy thing. The one piece was already so much, nearly twice his body length. He tsked softly under his breath, taking a small step back and pulling his arm away to let the mare eat in peace.

"Maybe that would be better. I don't want her taking a bite out of him," he chuckled, though he realized he was still half-serious about it. Her teeth were blunt but he'd gotten many a bruise in his lifetime from a well-placed nip.

He wasn't sure he believed that his mother was mad at Kendall, though. How could she be mad when she played a part in putting them together in the first place?

"I don't want to go back," Jack admitted quietly, moving to steer her towards the doors so they could go back outside. "It's too much fuss. Let's get apples, then we can turn them out for a bit and I'll show you the other house. Ah- Do you want your squirrel back?"

Dewey squeaked in outrage once he realized that he was being denied the very thing that he was seeking. Angrily, he turned around on Jack's hand to start "yelling" at him complete with little moving paws of displeasure.

"Be nice, Dewey," Kendal reprimanded him, tapping him on the head to make him settle. "He can stay where he wants if he's not troubling you. We can pick apples now though if that's what you really want. It's a pity the clouds aren't behaving today. I would have liked to play with them with you," she commented sadly with a forlorn sigh.

The party was not truly important to her. Kendall much preferred being outdoors anyway. As long as Jack was not preoccupied with it then she could allow herself to relax and be herself. In time he would decide whether or not he liked her or not. If he did not like her then she would brush it off much the same as she had everyone else in town not liking her. Kendall had been able to grow up a rather solitary woman and it did not bother her now knowing that despite being married it was very possible she still would be on her own. Such was life.

Jack eyed the squeaking furball warily, uncertain what he was angry about but understanding that he was by the tone of it. He wasn't so sure that Dewey wanted to be on him but if he wasn't moving...

"Play with clouds?" he asked curiously, wanting to clarify and uncertain if he'd heard her correctly. "How do you play with clouds?" Jack tilted his head up to eye the overcast sky as he walked them out towards the river. It was a giant blob of grey today instead of the normal puffs of white, but he didn't see how it made them any less as far as clouds were concerned.

"You know," she began as if what she meant was completely and immediately obvious, "cloud-watching and such. The clouds can tell stories as they shift and change. But today there are just too many of them to really decipher what they're up to." Kendall sighed in disappointment again as they trudged towards the muddy riverbank.

"Did they really not tell you we were getting married?" she asked, quickly changing topics as her mind bounced from thought to thought.

He furrowed his brow skeptically, not quite understanding her meaning of clouds telling stories. Perhaps she only meant the shapes looking like objects sometimes, but he was certain he'd never heard of them actually telling a story. Her question threw him off a bit, though, causing Jack to stammer a bit and chuckle nervously.

"Well, no. I mean they did. Just, they told me last night. I had no idea they'd been planning anything. Um, when did you find out?" he asked curiously, hoping she wouldn't be offended by his honest answer.

She was unfazed by his stammering and took it in stride. "Several years now. Since almost the beginning. I suppose they waited since they didn't think you'd take it well, being married to me and all. I'm not exactly anyone's first pick," Kendall stated pragmatically. "The boys have always preferred the pretty girls who like to come out and play. I'm always sick though so stay at home." She shrugged dismissively. "Such is life."

Jack frowned thoughtfully for her explanation, still peeved such information had been kept from him for so long. There had been subtle signs he'd never been aware of, but never anything open and in his face. Still, it was done. They were together and he was determined to make the most of it for both of their benefit.

"This arrangement made our choice for us but I want to give you a comfortable life if I can, Kendall. I just hope you can be happy here. Someday." He slowed as they reached the first trees in the small orchard, looking up to scrutinize the fruit hanging above them.

"They look ripe enough but... I probably should have brought the ladder, huh?" Jack sighed at the realization, silently cursing himself for not changing out of his best clothes at his earlier opportunity. He figured he'd just climb and be extra careful not to fall and land himself in the mud on the bank.

"I will be happy," she assured him. "I'm always happy no matter where I am." She observed him quietly as he took in the trees and lamented the lack of a ladder. "Can you not climb trees then? Here I'll show you," Kendall declared, nudging Jack aside gently. With the confidence of a woman who had climbed trees her entire life, she reached up for the lowest hanging branches and swung herself up to rest within the fruit-laden boughs. "See! Easy!" Kendall plucked and tossed down an apple to Jack just to prove her point.

He wasn't really sure how she could always be happy but he didn't have much time to reflect on it as she was quickly swinging up into the tree and causing his chest to clench tightly. "Kendall please be careful!" he called to her, reaching up helplessly to set a hand to her leg in a meager attempt at helping her balance.

The apple was caught in his other hand but he still stared at her dumbstruck, the fact that she was comfortable climbing slowly sinking in for him. He could only hope she wouldn't be reckless with it. "I... I can climb, Kendall, thank you. I just didn't want dirty our clothes or risk a fall. Would you mind getting down? I can go get the ladder, it's not that far to go back."

She rolled her eyes and clucked her tongue at him. "You worry far too much about clothing. Now help me collect these apples or we'll be here all day arguing." Kendall was completely no-nonsense about the entire affair. She had climbed a tree in her wedding dress only that morning. There was nothing for Jack to be worrying his little head over.

Dewey on the other hand was on the move. The moment Jack caught the apple, he was rushing over to try and pry it out of the man's hand. He clung with both forepaws and even dug his teeth into its juicy flesh in his attempts to claim it as his.

Jack frowned thoughtfully, uncertain how to convince her without seemingly continuing to "argue." A bit of dirt wasn't really that big of a deal and the last thing he wanted was an argument on their wedding day so he let it go. He flinched at the small tug on the apple, though, turning his head to glare at Dewey for trying to take it off him.

"Could have just gotten your own. Or asked nicely," he grumbled, releasing the apple for the squirrel to take so he could get more from the branches above.

"Is he always this greedy?" Jack wondered aloud, carefully placing his hands along a sturdy branch to pull himself up into the tree as well, plucking a few apples to tuck away in his pockets for the animals.

Dewey immediately hopped off Jack's hand with the apple, sending both rolling once they hit the ground. The apple which was just about the same size as him had been heavier and completely thrown his momentum off. It did not stop the squirrel though from righting himself and quickly trying to dig a hole to roll the apple into. He cast furtive glances about as if sure that Jack or Kendall would attempt to steal his treasure from him.

"He did try to ask. You just didn't listen," she replied, defending her little pet. "It's not as if he can speak human after all." Kendal tucked her legs under herself and began to fill her skirt with still more apples. Once she felt she had enough she looked down at Jack to see how he was faring. "Won't you come up and join me? I'm sure the Janie won't mind if we eat one or two of her apples first."

"Oh, did he?" Jack flushed some, feeling a little silly that somehow she had a connection with the animal and could understand him somehow when Jack couldn't whether it was squeaks and chattering or just body language. Not even noticing the way the squirrel was hiding his stolen apple Jack moved up to join her easily at her invitation, though he did hesitate a bit before settling all of his weight on the branch.

"Old thing's sturdy," he chuckled, rapping his knuckles against it and pulling an apple from his pocket to offer to her. "She'll smell it on us anyway. Good thing she's not the jealous type."

Kendall nodded her head but was distracted by Jack joining her and helped make room for him by scooting back further against the trunk. "Old trees grow strong roots," she agreed before leaning in to delicately take a bite of the apple Jack offered in his hand. Kendall did not even bother to take it from him first as her teeth crunched into the crisp, red flesh.

"Delicious," she mumbled through the mouthful, licking her lips of the juice dribbling down her chin. She chewed softly before picking through the apples in her skirt and finding a perfectly ripe one. "Would you like some?" Kendall held her apple out to his face, hoping to share the moment together.

Jack watched her take a bite, a little startled she was even willing to eat from his hand. It was a gesture that seemed intimate beyond their current familiarity and his cheeks were burning nervously as he watched her tongue dart out to catch the dripping juice.

"Oh, uh- Sure, thanks." He leaned forward to take a small bite so he wouldn't struggle with it and make a fool of himself. A soft hum of contentment rumbled in his throat as he chewed and he took another small bite before sitting up straight again. "Yeah they're good. I think she'll love some for a treat."

Yet even as he said it he found himself just leaning back against the trunk, getting comfortable and just enjoying the warm breeze swirling around the orchard to rustle the leaves of the trees and stir up small waves along the river beyond.

She smiled as he followed her example and also took a bite. Kendall shifted her weight carefully, sliding back along the branch until she was tucked in against his chest, effectively trapping him between her and the tree trunk. "May I have another bite, please?" She peeked up at him, mouth parted for an expected bite. Her eyes fluttered closed, trusting him completely and genuinely believing that he would not refuse her.

Again Kendall surprised him with her comfort about being close with him. Apparently she didn't mind at all that it had been years since they'd properly spent time together.

"Sure. Didn't have to ask," he pointed out gently, feeling a little shy that she'd asked him for something so simple. Why did she want his in particular when she'd gathered so many?

Jack held the apple up to her lips so she could take what she wanted of it, reaching his free arm to wrap around her shoulders to hold her steady against him.

"Thank you," she murmured softly before taking another bite of the apple and humming in appreciation. "They're really quite delicious. We've always bought our apples from your farm, you know. They're the best in the whole town."

Kendall rested her head back against his shoulder, allowing her face to turn in to the side some. "Are you cold? Your wedding clothes probably weren't meant for this weather. Mine certainly weren't. Too much fabric and didn't even serve the purpose of keeping warm." She shook her head and giggled softly as she recalled Ma West's face as she entered the room for the wedding, a complete mess.

"Did you?" He smiled some, the idea somehow leaving him with a warm sensation in his chest even though it was just a small piece of information he hadn't known previously.

"A little," he admitted, rubbing her arm idly and hoping she was comfortable enough herself. "I wasn't expecting to spend much time outside today, but here we are." Jack shrugged, his words stating the fact simply and without malice. He paused to take another bite of apple, his this time to finish it off before letting the core drop from his hand to fall below them.

"It's nice up here, though. I usually don't climb the trees to sit in them, just get the apples and leave," he explained with a chuckle. "Are you cold? Did you want to go back?"

Dewey squawked in outrage at the dropped apple core, first going to investigate it and then picking it up and chucking it as far as he could throw in displeasure. He rushed up the tree trunk until he was level with Jack's head and barked at him unhappily. He was only sated when Kendall gave him the rest of his apple. Then he descended to a lower branch in the tree to eat it in peace.

"Dewey seems to like your apples too," she giggled. "I'm not cold, though if you are perhaps you should go back. Ma West would be furious if you caught sick. We can always tree-sit another time, Jack. I do it every day I can." Kendall's face crinkled in pure happiness though she made no move to actually get up and let him climb down.

The sudden barking from the squirrel startled him, the sound something Jack was unfamiliar with up close. Maybe eventually he would get used to it. The connection between it and the dropped core was lost on him, though, and he just watched Dewey as he escaped with the rest of the apple Kendall had offered him before.

"She's nothing to worry about. I won't get sick anyway," he told her confidently, adjusting his shoulders against the tree to get more comfortable. He was already getting a little stiff from the lack of cushioning, though. "But I guess we should go back, the animals will want these anyway."

He lifted Kendall onto his leg without even really thinking about it, swinging so both were dangling over one side of the branch. Jack was going to just jump but realized that probably wasn't the best idea; more than likely someone was going to get hurt from that. "Here, let me put you down," he offered, settling his hands at her waist to support her.

Gathering her skirt-full of apples, Kendall did not bother accepting Jack's help down as she easily hopped off the branch and landed with her feet on a lower one. With the ease of a squirrel she scurried on down with a tune on her lips and a spring in her step. She truly was not used to having someone to help her do even the simple tasks of climbing up and down a tree.

As she was busy with her own climbing, Kendall did not notice the way Dewey first looked to her and her quickly descending bundle of apples and then to Jack. Having missed his opportunity to ride down with her, Dewey launched himself at Jack's chest hoping that the man would just carry him down to the ground again without making him climb all the way down himself.

Jack was surprised at the ease with which she slipped away, navigating down the branches like it was second nature; he wasn't truly aware yet how much time she spent outdoors.

He balance precariously on the branch, not seeing Dewey until the last moment when he was just a flying blur of fur. Jack yelped in surprise, teetering back and forth for a moment before ultimately falling from the tree, knocking into the lower branches as he went. He tried to break his fall by reaching out for the ground but one hand connected before the other and a sharp bolt of pain spiked up his arm for the small fracture he'd just caused to his right wrist.

Jack collapsed in a heap, panting and trying not to make a big deal of the pain he couldn't help but groan for before he quieted to a whimper, just cradling his injured arm against his chest and curling up into a ball in the grass as if not confronting what had just happened might absolve him of his shame and free him from pain.

The sound of branches breaking and a heavy thud had Kendall turning around in confusion. Seeing Jack curled up in the fetal position though had her rushing to his side in concern. "Jack?" she called worriedly, kneeling down in front of him while carefully trying to roll him onto his back. "Are you hurt?"

Kendall began to run her hands gently but firmly along his body. She started at his head and began working her way down from his neck to his shoulders to his forearms and down in hopes of feeling for any injuries herself. Dewey though, who had managed to hang onto Jack until the very end before launching himself away, came over slowly, sniffing at Jack's face and twitching his tail in rapid agitation. While he was not smart enough to realize everything that was going on, he did understand that he had caused the fall and was therefore worried that he had seriously injured his new friend.

Jack rolled to his back without resistance, uncaring for the damp grass slowly soaking his clothes. His breath came in small gasps as he tried to recover from the wind being knocked out of him only moments before. The pain was throbbing in his arm firmly now and he flinched away with a sharp hiss when his right forearm was touched.

"Hurt it," he whimpered helplessly, in too much pain to shoo Dewey away despite him being in his face again. "My hand, or- No, my wrist," he clarified, trembling slightly and cradling his arm close to his chest, trying and failing to keep still through the pain.

Kendall tutted at him as she tried to collect his arm to look at it more properly. From what she could see it was already becoming quite swollen. "Can you stand up? We should get you inside and have that looked at before you turn into a soggy napkin out here." She tugged on him anyway, pulling him into a seated position. "Sit for a bit and then we can go inside where it's warm and the doctor can have a look. Just keep breathing, Jackie. Alright?"

She rubbed his back for a while as he sat curled up there before bracing herself to try and pull him to his feet. "First day a bride and I've already broken the groom," she muttered under her breath.

Jack allowed himself to be pulled up to sit, feeling a bit dizzy and closing his eyes against it as she inspected his injury. He nodded at her instructions, not minding her chosen nickname for him as he focused on getting his breath back and calming down.

"It's not bad, I don't want to bother Ma with a doctor or healer," Jack complained, wobbly getting to his feet with Kendall's help. He put his good arm around her for stability, cradling his hurt one close to his chest again as he shuffled forward.

He bowed his head to try to hide his shame and pain, feeling ridiculous for causing his new wife worry and being foolish enough to get himself hurt. "It's not your fault, Kendall. I slipped," he told her softly, brow furrowed for her mutterings. "Let me just get inside and lay down for a bit. I'll be fine."

"And I told you to climb up with me. I just assumed everyone knew how to climb trees," she sighed pulling him along. "You don't need rest; you need a doctor." Kendall insisted on trying to drag him back towards the party. "You can rest afterwards if you need it. I won't have a sick husband on our first night together though. Your mother would kill me anyway," she reminded him as they carefully navigated through the strewn about apples she had dropped in her rush to get to him.

"I'm not sick. And I know how to climb trees," Jack argued, grumbling his annoyance only because the pain had his patience running rather thin. He realized quickly that she was not leading him back to the house but further away from it and, incidentally, towards the village.

"It's not worth the expense, Kendall, really. I just need to make a brace for it until it stops hurting," he insisted, not really in any state to go anywhere without her help but hoping she wouldn't just call him stubborn like he really was being and drag him anyway.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to face her husband. "Your health is worth the expense. Jack you won't even let me touch it. You've probably broken something and it's your hand. You need those for working and fixing it yourself puts you in danger of not being able to use it properly. Please let me take you to have someone look at it. You can call me all the silly names you want afterwards and tell me all the 'I told you so's'. But do this for me?"

He was taken aback by her seemingly genuine concern, not really understanding where it was rooted but appreciative all the same that she cared so much about it. A cynical voice in his head nagged at him, though, making him doubt his gut reaction and wonder if maybe her concern was not over him but over his ability to provide for her.

"Alright," he grumbled finally, whimpering quietly as he jostled his wrist while adjusting his arm across his chest. "I'll get it looked at for you, I just hope I only twisted it or something. Can you walk me there, then? Or am I too heavy?" Collapsing on his wife probably wouldn't have been the best way to start their marriage but he still felt a little dizzy and didn't trust himself to not fall over and maybe even hurt himself more if left to do it on his own.

"Well you're no feather that's for sure," Kendall declared bluntly. Nevertheless though she once more moved to his side to help him. Pressing in close against his side, she slipped one arm firmly around his waist while taking his good arm and slinging it over her shoulders to hold with her other free hand. "We'll be there soon though. Just focus on breathing. Breathe in and breathe out," she encouraged softly, intoning the words slowly and evenly while matching their steps to her words.

Jack breathed shallowly through his teeth, gritting back against the pulsing ache in his arm but just trying to follow her instruction as he walked along with her. It did manage to have a calming effect on him, his body relaxing and his vision narrowing to the town ahead that was gradually becoming clearer again.

He prayed neither of their families would make a big fuss of them reappearing with him injured. The last thing he wanted or needed was a bunch of worried hovering over something so minor. As they approached the tavern, though, Jack grew tense and slowed to a stop. "Maybe he left... Could you just check if he's even still in there? I'd rather not cause a panic. I can just lean on the wall for a bit," he offered.

Kendall rubbed his back hoping to soothe the tension back out of him. Jack looked as apprehensive as a horse being given its first bridle. "There, there," she cooed softly, giving him a gentle side-hug. "It's going to be alright. No one is going to panic. Now come inside at least before you get sick in the chill. Your clothes are all wet! I can still run and fetch the doctor. Please?" She looked to him imploringly her green eyes round and pleading for him to obey her on this small thing.

Jack pursed his lips thoughtfully at her request, not really thinking it was such a good idea but in too much pain to go back and forth with her on it in the moment. And she seemed so certain, somehow managing to be both confident and soothing.

"Fine, fine," he sighed, gingerly moving forward again and to enter the building. The music was clearer, no longer muffled behind the wall, but Jack was careful to keep his head down as much as possible and look fairly inconspicuous. That didn't stop his mother from catching sight of him, of course. The matriarch of the West family made her way over to her eldest son, looking him up and down and frowning at the odd angle he seemed to be holding his arm at.

"Back already? We thought you might stay at home the rest of the afternoon, what's changed your mind?" She eyed him pointedly, noting the rumpled dampness of his clothes with a frown. Jack could already feel a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow. He wasn't really in the mood to squabble with his mother and especially not if she was going to be invasive.

"Nothing, Ma," Jack grumbled, swallowing against the lump in his throat as he lifted his head to finally scan the room's inhabitants. "We, um... forgot something. We'll just be a few moments, go along and dance with Pa."

It was all the shooing he was really in any condition to do but his father blessedly stepped in to lead her away at his prompting with a muttered, "Come along, dear," noticing his son was at least uncomfortable and wanting to give him space.

She stayed with her new husband long enough for his mother to come and go before nudging him into a chair pointedly. Kendall was not about to leave him just so he could fall over and pass out on her. Only once he was seated did she weave her way through the crowd, ignoring guests that greeted her or simply gave her strange looks. She was used to the latter anyway.

"Doctor U'Bino, Jackie and I would like your blessing please for our new family," she stated with a sweet smile and a tilt of her head as she interrupted the man telling tales at the bar. He was a weathered man with crow's feet dancing in the corners of his eyes and laugh lines creasing his cheeks. Jameson U'Bino had been treating Kendall since she was a wee thing in the world and knew her oddities probably better than most. So with an apologetic smile to the group of listeners he followed the bride back to her groom without complaint.

"Now what's this I hear about wantin' a blessin' eh?" he asked looking Jack up and down critically. "You gettin' sick boy? Don' look so good."

He was almost in a daze as he sat down, watching Kendall disappear for a moment before reappearing with the doctor that was only vaguely familiar to him. His eyes widened at the doctor's words, shaking his head quickly and feeling bashful as his cheeks warmed to a pleasant color.

"Not sick. I fell in the mud but... I hurt my hand. Well, wrist," he clarified, gingerly holding up his hurt arm for the doctor to look. "I sort of...fell out of a tree?"

"In the trees with Kendall, hm?" The man leaned over to examine him with a few muttered words, grasping his forearm with one hand to steady it and lightly touching his swollen wrist. Jack couldn't help but wince, gritting his teeth against a louder outburst. Couldn't have the whole tavern knowing he'd gone and hurt himself. He really didn't need that level of hovering.

"Smarts, eh?" The doctor raised a brow, observing how tense Jack was over such a small touch. Once he relaxed again he palpated the area gently until he'd observed all he needed to, releasing him with a small sigh and turning to address Kendall instead with an affectionate pat to her shoulder. "Seems broken. He'll just need it bandaged, he'll be fine. No liftin' with that arm until it heals, though. Think you can manage, girly?"

Jack made a small noise of protest, frowning and shaking his head. "Can't you do it?"

The doctor chuckled, gesturing over his shoulder at the bar. "Boy, I came for yer wedding. And drink. I didn't bring anything here, but we can get to my place if you can manage it," he offered with a shrug, not finding it to be such an emergency that leaving the party was necessary.

Kendall scowled as the doctor brushed Jack's pain and suffering aside as if it was nothing. Even she could tell he was probably feeling close to passing out and the man just wanted to shirk his required duties for a free drink. Well absolutely not! She was not going to have any of it. With her hands on her hips and her jaw set in determination, Kendall bullheadedly stepped into Jameson's path, effectively stopping him in his tracks.

"You set it or I'm uninviting you," she told him firmly. "This is my husband on my wedding day. It's the least you could do. Or do you make all the young brides haphazardly put their husbands back together again so soon after their nuptial vows?"

The old man's eyes widened at Kendall's demand, his cloudy mind seeing the reason in her request. He looked Jack over again, noticing at last how he seemed like he was barely holding on. There was pain in his eyes that wasn't being vocalized, and with his new bride right there it seemed like the young man was trying to make it seem less serious than it actually was. But he'd felt the bone and knew it to be broken, he'd just been hoping he could slip out of his duties if Kendall was eager to care for her new husband herself.

His eyes softened and he set a hand to her arm in an attempt to soothe the tension between them that had reared its head. "Of course not. I'll help. Give me a few minutes, I'll fetch what I need," he said, slipping around them to exit the tavern and head down the way to his own home. Jack just hung his head, feeling a little humiliated that Kendall had needed to stick up for him at all.

"It isn't so bad, Kendall, I'll be okay," he mumbled, trying to ignore that the more time dragged on the more his injury pained him. "I could have done it myself, you didn't need to bully the old man."

She watched him with hawk-eyes as he left before finally softening her gaze and turning back to Jack. "He was much the same when I was a child," she replied dismissively with a wave of her hand. "Says I'm not sick and then when I'm half-dead asks why he wasn't sent for sooner. He's as useless as I am daft."

Kendall spoke of her own chronic illness as if it was nothing though it truly had nearly killed her on several occasions. There were whole seasons where she had been unable to get out of bed while struggling to just breathe. It was something though Jack would have to come to terms with in time now that they were wed. It was one of the reasons though why Kendall cared so deeply for her childhood friend in his moment of weakness; one day he would have to do the same for her.

Brushing away some hair from his brow, she placed a dry and cool hand to his forehead. "Poor Jackie," she murmured, her voice full of pity. "You're burnin' up."

Jack nodded distractedly, just trying to keep very still in his chair. The buzzing of conversation and laughter throughout the tavern was giving him a headache but all he did was shut his eyes against it. At least until he felt Kendall's hand upon his forehead, eyes opening quickly and studying her with curiosity for her concern over him. He was glad she had any at all, but it was interesting to see in someone he wasn't related to by blood.

"Just a little." He cracked a small smile for her but leaned into her touch slightly. "I'll be okay," he tried to assure her, relaxing a little once he caught sight of the doctor upon his return.

The old man had only brought what was necessary: a spool of bandaging cloth, a small knife, and a few pins to secure it around his arm. Jack held his arm out to him wordlessly, studying the man with interest as he worked on wrapping him up.

There was a pinch of pain as the bone was set together, but after a few moments it was gone again and tension began to flow out of him. Once it was finished most of his hand and forearm were wrapped up, but he didn't mind and was just happy to have it done.

"Keep that clean and dry. Come see me once a week and I'll change it out for you," he offered. "Unless your bride would rather try it herself."

Jack just shook his head with a wry smile, suspecting he already knew the answer. Kendall seemed to want it to be done "right" for him, at least.

"I'll come see you. Thank you so much for your help. It feels better already," he insisted politely, eyes catching sight of the group of men still at the bar and the empty place that had been left for the doctor. "Please enjoy the rest of the party, sir. I'm sorry for the trouble."

Kendall watched the doctor work, closely. She was ever vigilant for the possibility that he would try to take shortcuts or not do his job correctly. Ubino was not a malicious man but he liked his drink and already had had enough to concern the new bride. She wanted only the best for her husband especially in his badly injured state.

So when he was at last finished, Kendall was finally able to relax and smile faintly. She dismissed the man with a bob of her head. "Thank you for the wedding gift of my husband returned to one piece," she thanked the doctor genuinely.

Turning to Jack though, she gave him a gentle hug before looking at his face in concern. "Do you want to return home or would you rather rest here, Jackie? I don't want you getting worse either way but it would probably be best to get you out of these wet clothes."

He watched the old man return to his companions but quickly brought his attention back to Kendall, eyeing her curiously for her concern over him. It was...sweet, honestly. He wasn't quite used to it yet but she seemed genuine enough.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he agreed, shivering in discomfort for the way the damp fabric clung to him. Looking around, though, he couldn't really find a reason he wanted to be there. Sure, his family was around but he didn't really have a desire to discuss what had happened and deal with their worrying. Just the thought was giving him a headache.

"Home," he muttered, already moving to stand on his own and being extra careful to keep his hurt arm still. Even with it bandaged he was worried he might cause it to hurt somehow if he jostled it at all. "I'll be fine at home. I just want get away from...this." He gestured at those gathered before them, not really meaning anyone in particular but wanting some peace and quiet.

She was at his side in a heartbeat. The moment he was on his feet, Kendall was slipping her arm around his waist and tucking herself in close against his uninjured side. "Home then," she murmured softly, already leading him out the door before anyone dared to intercept them for more congratulations or a dance.

Walking slowly to not jostle his arm she turned her head to look at him curiously. "Do you not like the wedding then? Or is it just the party? I understand that my family is...different in comparison to yours and that I am most odd. I'm sure this wasn't the sort o thing you were hoping for when you were told you'd be married to a blushing bride."

He wasn't really sure how to express his appreciation for her help, only managing to mumble a quiet "thank you" as they finally made their way back outside. Her question was a little startling, though. It wasn't the first time she'd brought up the oddities of herself and her family, seemingly under the assumption that he didn't "like" them.

"I don't really know what I expected but the wedding was fine, Kendall. It just seems a little odd to me, the party seems more for everyone else than for us. Dancing is fun and all, but- I just want to go back to normal. Or figure out what our normal will be, I guess." He shrugged, feeling like he wasn't really conveying his point well. Was it really so strange to want to get to know his wife? Sure there was cause to celebrate, at least for their future, but they hadn't really talked since they'd been children. He didn't know what she liked or what she wanted.

That gave him pause, though, and he stopped abruptly with a slightly-guilty smile. "Oh. Did... Did you want to stay?" Maybe she was just being polite and he was ruining her fun after all. "I don't mind sitting for a bit if you want to go back."

Kendall shrugged. "I can dance anywhere. I don't need their music to do so," she replied after a moment's thought. "It'll be better for you once you're tucked into bed and out of these clothes. Perhaps I can make you some soup and medicine for the pain," she added more to herself than to him before looking back up at him in surprise.

"Are you hungry? I've only seen you eat the apple and that's not much of a meal." At the mention of the fruit, Dewey who had been waiting outside and trailed behind them, immediately hopped up onto Jack's shoulder and nuzzled his furred cheek against the man's larger one. He purred softly in apology as he allowed his tail to wrap around the back of Jack's neck in a form of embrace.

Jack smiled some but just shook his head. He couldn't really imagine dancing without music. It would be awkward. How would he even keep a rhythm? He never even felt the pull of dance unless he heard music so it did seem quite strange to him, but he was too out of it to really vocalize it in any meaningful way.

"That sounds good. Really good," he muttered, sighing under his breath and trying not to show how worn out he was already. Outwardly he probably wasn't doing a very good job of it, leaning on her like he was and shuffling along, but the last thing he wanted was to show his new wife any more weakness. There was no way that would make the start of their relationship any better, or easier, in his mind.

Her question left him with a hesitant look on his face he wasn't even aware of. He was hungry but he also didn't want to trouble her to prepare something if she didn't want to or didn't know how. The last thing he wanted was to rest more burdens upon her that day than he already was.

The touch of Dewey's tail to his neck stopped words from coming out even as he'd opened his mouth to speak. He inhaled sharply and tensed up for a moment before realizing it was just her squirrel pet and relaxing again with a short laugh. He was an affectionate little fellow. Jack felt bad for being wary of him before. If he was already warmed up to him he probably had just been scaring the poor creature as she'd had told him already. Not feeling strong enough to move his good arm from around Kendall he tilted his head slightly to press cheeks with the squirrel to return the brief affection.

"I'm okay for now, just want to rest. Ma will probably make a big dinner when they all get home. You know, to celebrate and all," he offered, not wanting her to feel obligated.

"I'm sorry I didn't finish giving you the tour," he apologized, realizing what they'd missed as he spoke and already feeling a little sad. Getting himself hurt wasn't just a small problem, it was going to slow down the progress on fixing up the old house. They'd be without a proper home for...well, he had no idea how long but it was certainly going to take longer than he'd ever imagined previously.

"Shit, Kendall. The house. I really messed things up today, huh? I'll be working with one arm now." He shook his head, assuming she'd be disappointed and frustrated with himself for that but trying hard to keep it down.

She could tell that Jack was struggling and quietly rubbed his back hoping that it would help comfort him. Kendall had no words to make the situation less awkward for them and she had enough self-awareness to understand that she likely would make things difficult for him in the present and definitely in the future. She was not a normal girl. The least she could do now in the moment would be to give him this peace.

"The house will be ready when it's ready. There's no use crying over spilled milk. I can see the rest for myself later. Dewey says we saw all the best parts anyway. What matters now is getting you home and dry," she reminded, leading him home.

Kendally was grateful when she could finally push the door open and lead him inside to where he had showed her his room was. "Does it hurt badly? I can make some medicine for the pain and it will help you sleep." She tilted her head as she asked her question again, still very concerned that he was hiding his true feelings.

He wasn't sure he trusted the opinion of the squirrel, but it was mildly offensive. Of course a good portion of what was left of the tour was just farmland and the old house but he was rather proud of the work he'd already completed for it so it was a little disheartening she didn't seem excited at all to see it with him eventually.

Just the sight of home was such a relief, though. Following her inside he nearly settled himself on the bed out of sheer exhaustion, but he remembered his damp clothes and forced himself to remain standing beside it instead. Jack didn't quite understand where her kindness was coming from. He didn't think he'd done anything to deserve so much care and fussing over.

He looked down at her through a daze, shaking his head gently. "You don't have to do all that, but... If you want to and you could I would appreciate that," he answered, gingerly lifting his arms to begin shedding his damp wedding clothes. Every time he accidentally put pressure on his injured forearm he froze and hissed, but he eventually untangled himself from his coat and top to leave his chest bare, if still a little damp.

Medicine was a mystery to him but the last thing he needed on top of everything that had happened that day was to be poisoned if she didn't know what she was doing. Still, he trusted she would know her own limitations and not put him through any unnecessary misery. "I'll get changed and settled. Feel free to use anything you need in the house," he offered.

"I will do it," she replied decisively, unwilling to truly take no for an answer. Her husband was injured and being stubborn. She was not about to let him continue to show a brave face simply to save face and protect his own wounded pride. Pausing with pursed lips for only a second to watch him attempt to get undressed, Kendall finally retreated from his bedroom and into the kitchen. As much as she wanted to help him further, she knew that the sooner he got some medicine in him, the sooner he would start to feel better.

Humming softly to herself, she went about searching all the cabinets in the kitchen for the items she felt she would need. Herbs were sniffed and felt as she attempted to decipher between them. Bitter turmeric root was ground up with the mortar and pestle into a fine orange powder that was then mixed together with chopped willow bark and dumped into a pot of boiling water. The water swirled a deep russet orange while the bark floated up to the top. bouncing along in the wake of the air bubbles.

With a great deal of concentration, Kendall carefully stirred and watch the concoction before finally deeming it ready to consume. First, she strained out the bark pieces and then, she poured the orange tea into a cup for drinking. She was about to bring the medicine to Jack when she hesitated, having remembered how bitter the medicine could be. The turmeric would cause it to burn on the tongue anyway with the same bitterness of having too much cinnamon but perhaps she could sweetness some of it for him anyway. Grabbing a jar of what looked like honey, Kendall spooned out an extremely generous glob of the pale yellow goop and dumped into the tea with a few quick swirls. Then, and only then did she at last return with the tea for her new husband.

"It's ready Jackie. Careful you don't burn your tongue though," she cautioned as she stepped into the room. "It's still quite hot."

It took Jack nearly the whole time she'd been gone to get himself changed and settled into bed, and it had truly been an exhausting task for him. At least he was a little more comfortable in normal clothes.

A thin sheen of sweat coated him and he fidgeted uncomfortably until Kendall returned. He tried to seem as normal as possible, sitting up to accept the cup from her and nodding his head in thanks.

"I'll go slow, thank you so much," he murmured, raising it to his lips to sip gently. His eyes widened, though, unable to mask his surprise quickly enough for the unexpected bitterness and sharp sweetness of the drink. The honey didn't really hide the flavor of the medicine, it just ended up being an accompanying flavor that made the drink taste odd. But medicine was never meant to taste amazing, was it?

Jack smiled tightly and bowed his head in thanks before continuing to sip at the drink dutifully.  He was determined to finish it. "Thank you, Kendall, really," he mumbled, scooting over a little to make room for her on the bed if she wished to sit down. "I'm sorry that today was so...strange. I promise I'll make it up to you when I'm better."

Kendall sat down snuggled up beside Jack with her feet tucked in behind her and an arm wrapped around his shoulders. "Every day is different. There's no need to worry about making it up to me. You've done nothing wrong," she replied gently, rubbing soothingly at his shoulder.

"Just get better for me okay, Jackie? That's all I care about." Kendall leaned in to kiss his cheek before letting her head fall to rest on his shoulder while Dewey curled up comfortably on Jack's other one. "Get some rest. It should be quiet for a while with everyone dancing and drinking the night away at the tavern."

"I'm resting, aren't I?" He sipped at the drink, trying not to let the liquid linger on his tongue but failing and continuously getting the odd swirl of bitter and sweet flavors that really weren't combining well. Her small affections continued to surprise him, but they weren't off putting in the least. Dewey, though, he would need to get used to. The tiny claws seeking purchase in the fabric of his shirt and lightly scratching against his skin made him tense momentarily, the sensation itself shocking even though he understood that the squirrel meant him no harm.

Jack huffed quietly, not liking the idea of her first day married and at home with him entirely revolving around him. The last thing he wanted was to leave her bored and to her own devices while he napped the rest of the afternoon away.

"I want to know more about you, please. If you don't mind talking, uh- What would you be doing today if we hadn't, um, gotten married? You said you like...clouds, right?" Jack chuckled nervously, unsure if he was remembering correctly through the fuzzy memories of pain. "Watching clouds? ...how do they tell you stories?" he asked, not all that imaginative himself and a little lost on the concept.

She rubbed his shoulder soothingly as she rested against him. His interest in her was surprising. Most people just laughed at or ignored Kendall. "I suppose I would just do normal things," she replied with an indifferent shrug. "The goats would need tending. Wool would need to be carded for dyeing later. The clouds are too eager today for good story telling. They are all clamoring for a chance to be read. That's why they're so full and heavy looking all bunched up together."

Kendall pointed out to the window towards the sky to prove her point. "On a good day," the woman continued, "one or two will come along and form shapes for a viewer to read. You just have to know what they're staying. When you're feeling better I could show you." She pursed her lips in thought before adding, "that is if you want to. I know it's not normal."

He was following easily enough until she started explaining about the clouds. He wasn't sure if it was the arm or the stress or the concept entirely but he really wasn't getting it, and he felt a bit guilty for having her explain it to him so soon.

Tilting his head he looked out the window at the grey, indistinguishable blobs in the sky when she pointed but he didn't truly understand what she was getting at. "Well...yes, you'll have to show me. On a good day," he clarified with a slightly playful smile, just hoping she wouldn't catch on to his confusion. He really was interested and wanted to make an effort to explore her own interests and perhaps find things they could bond over as a couple.

Jack sipped at the drink she'd made for him in silence for a moment but curiosity got the better of him and he set the cup aside once he'd had enough. "Do you enjoy caring for goats and other animals? Or was it more of a...chore at your home?" he wondered, reaching out to gently brush his fingers along Dewey's tawny coat. Surely he wasn't a chore but he wasn't sure how she felt about it as a duty.

Kendall either did not notice or did not care that Jack did not understand what she meant. It was a confusion that she was used to and had just learned to ignore in people over time. After all it was much easier to go on with life with her head in the clouds then to let herself become upset by being the only one who understood the way her mind worked.

His question did confuse her though. With her head still on his shoulder she found her brow furrowing in thought as she listened to Dewey purr softly in contentment. "It's my purpose in life. I don't understand. It's neither good nor bad. Just the way things are. I have always done it and I always will because that is how it's done."

Jack arched a brow at that. The way she said it sounded more like slavery than farm chores. "I guess I meant more- Do you like it? Do you care about them like you do for your...Dewey? Or are they just livestock to you?"

A light flush reddened his cheeks as he tried to explain his reasoning, feeling a whole lot like he was failing at making her comfortable with him by her unemotional response. "I don't want you doing work you aren't happy with, is all. I can see to the goats and such pretty well on my own if you'd rather do other things. Eventually," he explained, gently waving his bum arm. Gods he felt stupid, already trying to divvy up their chores on their wedding day when he hadn't even meant it that way. He just wanted to know if she was happy, it was difficult to judge by his limited experience with Kendall.

"I don't understand," she repeated, staring at him blankly. "This is how it is done so this is how it will be done. I married a farmer so farming we shall do. Goats are what I've always done. I don't know other things nor do I have interest in them. Tending goats is good enough for me. Would you prefer I do something else? Learn something else?"

Kendall gently took Jack's injured arm and replaced it back on his chest. Then, she wrapped her own carefully across it to keep him from further injuring it with all of his hand-waving and gesturing. It was an act that was done unconsciously but with a great deal of care and worry.

"Oh," he breathed, watching curiously as she cradled his arm. "I see. Well as long as you don't mind it I'm happy to let you continue with the goats. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I just want you to be happy as my wife even if we're living a farming life."

Settling in beside her Jack shot her a bashful smile before adding, "I tend them now so...I'd be happy to introduce you to them. I'm sure only a few would be coming with us anyway. But for now...well, we'll be here with them all. How many did you have at home?"

She hummed softly to a tune only she could hear, gently resting her head against his as he continued their conversation. It never occurred to her that the sound though soft would be considered rude and possibly even distracting. "We had fourteen: Ava, Mia, Zoe, Emma, Liam, Noah, Aiden, Lucas, Mason, Olivia, Sophia, Jackson, and Isabella." She recited in quick order.

"I would like to meet your goats once you are feeling more able. What are their names? I don't wish to be rude when I meet them and greet them improperly."

Jack's eyes widened at the easy way she recited off so many names but he realized she'd missed one as he mulled the list over. "And..who is the fourteenth? Ours aren't exactly...named. They don't mind. The females usually respond well enough to Missy or Lady. The males we just know by their color and horns. There's Greyhorn and Blackhorn and Blue, but that's for his eyes. We don't name the kids but if you know of anything fitting for them once you meet them you're welcome to give them names. I'm sure some of them will be joining us eventually."

He breathed evenly as he fell silent, trying to allow himself not to feel the slow burn in his arm. "Is minding goats really all you've done with your family? I could teach you of our crops once I can get back to the fields, if you'd like. And the rest of the animals."

"Oh," she shrugged dismissively, "goat doesn't have a name yet. He's still just a little baby yet. If he lives then he'll get a name I suppose. I don't really know now. He is not mine to care for and name now," she commented matter-of-factually.

Kendall hummed softly in disappointment at her husband's answer. "They have names," she informed him firmly. "You just haven't taken the time to listen properly, silly. We'll get it all sorted out eventually though I suppose. Sounds like there is a lot of work ahead. We can do it though, I'm sure."

She adjusted the blankets over, tugging them up a bit to better cover him as she rested further against his side. "Tending them, feeding them, birthing them, shearing them, carding their wool, dyeing their wool, selling their wool. That's pretty much it.

"I will learn what you want me to learn. If crops is what you prefer then I will learn that. I have done care for our chickens but the goats take up most of my time. What do you want me to do Jackie?"

Jack chuckled dryly at how easily she recited her normal duties. "Crops will come in time, depends on how much help we need. I'll work the fields more and you can keep tending the animals. As long as you're still happy to do that, Kendall," he offered blushing a bit for her use of the nickname.

"I just want you to be happy here with me and whatever work we do," he added, uncertain if it was something he could realistically hope for if she saw it all as just necessary chores.