That he had asked her was a surprise; that the two of them went alone, and in the middle of the week, was nothing short of amazing. She had ridden out once with her aunt, driven by Mr. Seymour Prine, just after Caleb had bought the land. Her many hints since then that Caleb should show her how the house was progressing had never borne fruit. She had come finally to believe he really didn't want her to see it until it was completed. She did not expect a great deal. Caleb could not afford anything grand, and the two of them had agreed it would be best to start small and add on as their family grew. The house, then, was to be a simple cottage made of vertical boards with a porch across the front and an attached kitchen on the back. There would be a proper parlor, however; Melly had insisted on that. They would need some place other than the kitchen to entertain their guests, particularly in the heat of summer. It was certainly hot today. Melly, jostling on the wagon seat, blotted her face with her handkerchief and slanted her parasol to block a little more of the sun rays.
