Page 27 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
“What does that mean?”
“I spent two years in Philadelphia at—” She didn’t want to call it a finishing school. That would only reinforce his opinion that she knew nothing of value. “A women’s university.”
“Wow. That is educated. What did you learn?”
“History, Latin—”
He made a face as she knew he would. His lip would curl even more if she told him how much time had been spend learning and practicing proper decorum for a lady.
She continued. “Piano and art were my favorite subjects.”
“I noticed an easel by the window. You haven’t done any painting though.”
“I’ve been busy.” Before he could comment, she hurried on. “My parents were good, church-going people as were my aunt and uncle. But it was Sylvia who made me see that going to church wasn’t enough.”
“Sylvia? From what I learned of her I wouldn’t have guessed you to be in the same social circle.”
“And you’d be right. We met when we were both helping at a church event. I was doing my duty and she was doing it for the joy of it. She drew me into her activities, and we were instantly friends.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It was. She’s been a real good friend. We enjoyed studying scriptures together and I came to see that it wasn’t in being a good person that I earned favor with God. But I could enjoy a new life and a relationship with Him by accepting the gift provided by His Son’s death.” She hoped the joy she felt radiated on her face as she had seen in Sylvia.
She faced him, her eyes warm with a truth she only this moment realized. “Gerald might have rejected me, spread rumors about me but there’s one thing he can’t take from me.”
He squeezed her hands and nodded.
Finding his touch encouraging, she continued. “He can’t take away the love that God bestows on me.”
“Ma would say, ‘Neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’”
A lump swelled in her throat when he mentioned this particular verse. One that meant so much to her. “That’s the verse Sylvia wrote in my Bible before I left, telling me that God would always be with me to guide and strengthen.”
He shifted. “Look, this is what we came to see.” He nodded to the west.
The sun had dipped below the mountain peaks, leaving behind a golden glow that quickly gave way to a spray of pink on the clouds.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Ma said the sunsets here were the best she’d ever seen.”
“I tend to agree.” Though perhaps the enjoyment was heightened because of sharing it with Riley.
Not that it meant anything because, no, she wasn’t falling in love with him. Not even a little bit. They were both very clear that love would not be part of a marriage between them. She still held out hope—no conviction—that he’d see that she’d make the perfect wife for a rancher by the name of Riley Shannon.
7
Riley’s heart shifted as he sat beside Olivia watching the sunset. Put it down to her talking about how she and Sylvia had become friends and how that led to Olivia becoming a Christian. Or blame it on the way Olivia’s face glowed as she told about trusting God’s love. It reminded him of his mother so his feelings toward her naturally warmed.
That and she was good company and laughed easily. And was determined to prove she could do a good job of making meals and tending to the housework.
It meant nothing. He would not let his heart be thawed by her actions. Yet he wasn’t ready to end the evening and return to the house.
They sat there after the color left the sky and dusky light filled the air. And still, they stayed and talked. He had an unexpected desire to tell her more about himself…more than he had included in his letters to Sylvia.
“My grandfather immigrated from Ireland and became a wheelwright back in Ohio. My father and uncles worked with him. It was a very successful business. But Pa’s heart wasn’t in making wheels. He always hankered after moving west instead of providing wagons for others to make the journey, so he started a farm and began building a cattle herd.” He knew his smile reflected the joy of those memories. “Grandad gave his blessing for him to move. We didn’t leave for Montana until after Grandad’s death, though it was Montana Territory at the time.” He stopped and shook his head. “I can’t imagine why I’m telling you this. It’s the past and I’m sure you’re not interested.”
She chuckled and patted the back of his hand. “I enjoy hearing about you. Even the past. Did you work with your grandad?”
