Page 26 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
She refused to compare herself with this Boots man who could likely make a better meal over an open fire than she could with a proper stove. But she was learning.
They moved on. He let her see into the bunkhouse. Rows of bunkbeds with a stove and table in the center. “I catch the lingering odor of dirty socks and—” She sniffed rather than finish her sentence. Body odor and horse droppings are what she thought.
Riley hooted with laughter. “It gets pretty raw when a dozen hard-working cowboys bunk here.”
She backed away only half pretending horror at the thought.
He took her to the barn. She’d been there with Lindy and met the cats who wound around her feet. When Lindy asked again if she wanted one of them, Olivia had said she thought the cat would like to remain with its family. “I’ll visit it here.” She wasn’t sure what Riley would think of a cat around the house nor was she prepared to ask him. Lindy had been satisfied with her answer.
Riley guided her down the aisle. Showed her where things were stored. “That’s the nail that attacked me.”
A coppery dot indicated his blood. She touched the nail. “At least it wasn’t your eye.”
“And I had you to take care of it for me.” His keen gaze served to expose her uncertain feelings. Afraid he would read her thoughts, she turned her back to Riley and stared at a blank wooden wall, creased with deep grains and stained dark in areas as if splashed by something.
“Come on, there’s more to see.” He took her hand and led her from the barn, past the houses, and into the unknown. She had not been this far before.
One corner of her mind said she should pull her hand free so she could think more clearly. The other corners mocked. Was she afraid to hold his hand? It wasn’t like she was falling in love or anything. They continued at a leisurely pace, Shannon Valley to their left, trees to their right.
“Let’s sit here.” Riley indicated a natural, grass-covered bench and drew Olivia down beside him.
The grass was warm from the day’s heat. The lowering sun blared in their faces. Yet, Olivia didn’t know if she’d known a better couch or sweeter view.
“Ma loved the sunsets.” Riley’s gaze was to the west. “She said to see the mountains filled with color or rimmed with gold always reminded her that God’s creation reveals only a hint of His glory but enough to fill us with awe.”
She loved hearing Riley talk about his mother. “Tell me more about her.”
“She was a godly woman, often quoting verses. Like now, she’d say, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God,’ or ‘From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.’” He drew in a sharp breath. “I think she would be disappointed in me.”
Startled at his words, she shifted to look him full in the face. “Why would you say that?” At his distressed expression, she acted instinctively and took his hands in hers. “I think she’d see what a strong, hard-working, kind man you’ve become and be proud of you.”
He turned his palms toward hers and squeezed. “You think so?”
She nodded. The moment lengthened as they held hands and locked gazes. Realizing that she was off balance mentally, she pulled away and faced forward again.
“I don’t know.” His voice was soft. “I remember kneeling at my bed with Ma beside me and asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Ma taught us to memorize verses. She read the Bible daily and I know she would expect me to.”
She assumed he meant he didn’t. “Then why don’t you?”
He shrugged. “Neglect, I guess.”
“It’s never too late to start.”
“You’re right.” He considered her so openly, so demandingly that she forced her gaze to seek the mountains. “Olivia, I know so little about you.” When he didn’t say more, she shifted her gaze back to him.
“What do you want to know?”
“What you believe. Lessons you’ve learned. What’s important to you?”
She swallowed so hard he couldn’t help but hear. “I told you about Gerald. I told you I was raised by my aunt and uncle after my parents died. What else is there?” Even though those didn’t answer his questions.
He laughed. “How old are you? I should at least know that.”
“I’m twenty. All that information is in the letter we sent.”
“That I didn’t get.”
She nodded. “I wonder what happened to it. Very well. I’m twenty. Well-educated.”
