Page 30 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
Even in the low light from the lamp, he saw the glisten in Olivia’s eyes. “I hope to see her again in this life, but if I don’t, I know I’ll see her in the next. I take comfort in that.”
“Olivia, you’ve left everything you know behind.” He couldn’t imagine. Yes, he’d left Ohio, but at least he’d come with his family. And to a dream he shared with his father of owning and operating a ranch.
If the challenge of life in the west didn’t take her back home, then homesickness surely would. He didn’t dare forget that.
He pushed away memories and regrets and focused on the woman before him.
She lowered her gaze to the Bible in his hands. “There’s no time like the present to start reading the Word.”
“I suppose.” The pages fell open in a way that made him think it was a place she often went to. He noticed words penned in the margin. “You write in your Bible?” It seemed sacrilegious.
“Important things I don’t want to forget.”
“Do you mind if I read what you’ve written?”
She shrugged though her expression said she might be a little uncomfortable. “It doesn’t matter.”
But she’d said she only marked the pages if it was important.Even malicious gossip.He read the underlined verse. It was the same one he’d mentioned on their walk and Sylvia had written in the flyleaf. It appeared she’d found solace in reminding herself of God’s unfailing love. Riley lifted his gaze to her. “I’m sorry people were so unkind to you.”
She drew in a long breath. “Me too. Except…” A smile crept across her face. “Except it is the reason I came west so good has come of it.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say she would soon find the West didn’t suit her, but the words wouldn’t come. He couldn’t help but admire her—he didn’t know what to call it—determination. Steadfastness. Sweetness. Yes, that was it. Her sweet nature in spite of how she’d been treated.
“Would you like me to read a few verses?” It seemed the right thing to do. Just as his mother had so often read to him and his brothers.
“I’d like that very much.”
He turned the pages to Psalm Nineteen. “This was one of my mother’s favorite passages.” He read, “‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.’”
She sat back and listened to him.
He finished the Psalm and closed the Bible. And waited. Her pose was one of peace and calm. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her face.
She sat up. “I should check the cut on your face.” She moved the lamp closer. “I ought to clean it again.”
Before she could do anything, he jolted to his feet. “It’s Saturday. Bath night. How could I forget? I’ll heat water for you.” He hurried to the kitchen, stirred up the fire, and filled a big pot and the kettle. He trotted out the door and returned with a galvanized square tub.
It was indeed Saturday, and they normally bathed that evening. But it was more important to his peace of mind that he distracts her from leaning over him and touching his cheek. He closed his eyes and tried not to remember the gentle feel of her fingers on his skin nor the sweet scent of her.
She stared at the tub as he carried it in. He could almost read her mind. She was supposed to bathe in that? But she quickly calmed her expression replacing surprise with determination.
“I’ll set it up in your room.” He entered her quarters and put the tub in the middle of the floor making sure not to glance around at her things. He wouldn’t look at the dressing gown draped across the end of the bed, nor the gold-edged brush and mirror on top of the dresser. Nor was he holding his breath to keep from inhaling the scent of wildflowers.
Alfred came from his room. Riley understood that he meant to make sure Olivia was protected from any advances.
Riley escaped to the kitchen to watch the water and wish it didn’t take so long to get hot. Finally, the pots steamed, and Riley emptied the containers into the tub, then added water to cool the contents while Olivia hovered nearby.
“I’ll run and bathe while you enjoy the warm water.” He was out of the house before he remembered he needed clean clothes and had to backtrack. He’d never been so grateful for the cold water in the horse trough where he sat and scrubbed himself.
The sound of a horse riding into the yard had him ducking lower in the water.
“Well, well.” Andy looked down at him from the back of his mount. “Didn’t Pa used to say the trough was the best place for a wild young fella?” He laughed. “Your pretty little gal got you hot and bothered?”
“Don’t you need to look after your horse?” Riley splashed a handful of water at his brother.
* * *
Olivia lookedat the door after Riley left. He was going to bathe elsewhere? Was there more than one tub? Well of course there was. She pulled the curtains closed and laid out a clean nightgown and her soap. She pressed her nose to the bar and inhaled. The manufacturer claimed it had the scent of an English garden. Having never been to England she couldn’t verify if it was so, but she enjoyed the subtle flowery fragrance.
