Midday Meals | Rose & Eli
Sarah Wilson laughed when she opened the door and found Rose Calvert standing there, “You’ve come to see Ben? Did you not pass him on the way? He’s gone to see you.”
Rose rolled her eyes, “No, he’s always insisting that he found a short cut, but I still think it’s the long way around.” They’d tried racing each other once, just to test it, but Ben had to take a slight detour when some bear cubs got in his way. Until they tried again, Rose would assert that her way, was better.
“I’m sure he’ll come straight home when he realizes you aren’t there,” She said, “You are more than welcome to wait for him.”
Rose had no desire to go back. She’d pretended to be ill to get out of taking a day trip into the nearest village where she’d have to spend the day with the rest of the ladies walking in and out of shops. Her father had instructed that both she and Anna have a few new gowns for the upcoming season and they should take this opportunity to get fitted and pick out their patterns. Anna knew immediately that Rose was not sick, but she went along with the ruse and promised to do Rose’s shopping for her. If she went back, she’d have to spend the entire day in bed, which was almost as bad as if she’d gone with the others.
She asked Sarah if there was anything she could do to help while she waited for Ben. As it was nearly midday, Sarah told her she could bring food out to Mr. Wright, who would surely be in need of a break shortly.
Tucking the sandwiches and jug of water into a basket, Rose made her way round the side of the house where the barn was being raised. “Hello!” She called, merrily, waving her free arm above her head to get his attention, “I’ve brought lunch.”
After he climbed down the ladder, Rose showed him the basket full of food, “Don’t worry, Sarah made it.” While she had certainly learned a thing or two from both the Wilsons and Eli himself, cooking was not her forte (even something as basic as this simple lunch, she’d be likely to mess up somehow, she was sure, but everyone was rather cautious of Rose in the kitchen after she once helped Alice make a stew and she added too much spice to it, which caused nearly everyone who tasted it to choke).
