Haven

Chapter Four

"Is this what you want?"

They were alone.

Mary-Anne left them to figure things out as she informed her husband, who would perform the morning ceremony.

"Will you listen to me and remain kind as you've been?"

It didn't hurt Isabella to marry Andrew.

It was an abrupt decision, but he was a better choice for a husband.

Or, she hoped.

Andrew nodded, though her request was menial.

"Of course. However, I am quite dull. As you've seen,"

Isabella didn't think so.

"You're calm. I admire that you aren't restless," She explained.

If he was boring, she didn't mind.

Andrew raised his brow at her reassuring perspective.

"Well, I spend most of my time in the yard." He motioned for her to follow him, leading her to the backyard.

Isabella couldn't help but be excited.

She had never dreamed of working a farm or garden, whatever it was, but she liked the challenge and growth it was sure to bring.

This made things brighter.

Hopeful.

"As you see, I got chickens, cows, pigs, a garden, and a barn." Andrew pointed to each thing as he spoke.

She was wowed.

The smell was unpleasant, but she could get over it.

"Do you mind teaching me how to do this?" She asked unsurely.

Was it called farming? Gardening? Tending?

Andrew was taken aback by her eagerness. "I can, but you don't have to. I don't mind doing everything. I always have."

He wasn't sure what he'd do if his days weren't devoted to working the yard.

He only did two things.

Work the yard and read his Bible.

"I want to help," Isabella told him.

There was a lot to help with.

Her eyes were trained on the garden.

Making something grow from a tiny seed intrigued her.

All the work it took to see a harvest.

"What do you do with everything you get from the yard?" She asked while walking toward the pigsty.

They were adorable.

'huk, huk, huk, huk,'

The pigs sang as they scarfed down their food.

Intriguing.

"I donate it," Andrew answered, taking Isabella from her pig-induced trance.

She was strangely enchanted. Andrew didn't understand why, but he didn't mind.

"I only use about a fifth of all the goods this yard brings in. The rest goes to the church, school, and needy families."

Which translated to ninety percent of the townspeople.

"That's amazingly generous of you," Isabella noted with a smile.

The man was impressive.

Andrew couldn't compute her compliment.