Page 39 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
“Are you saying you don’t share his dream?”
He shook his head. Hard. “I shared it from the time I was knee-high to a grasshopper.”
“I expect you could join your uncles in building wagons.”
He narrowed his eyes. Where was she going with this question? Was it her way of suggesting he—they—could move back east? “I could but I don’t want to.”
She nodded. “Then you understand how I feel. I could return to Kellom or go to another place. But. I. Don’t. Want. To.” Her look burned a hole in his thoughts.
He should have had a response to refute her assurance but not a word came to his mind. Instead, he tore his gaze from hers and looked straight ahead. It was time he changed the subject. Before he…before they….
Had he ever been so confused?
He realized where they were and relegated his thoughts and words to the landscape. “You’ll see that the valley is nothing more than a gentle slope at this point. Ahead though, the river is contained in a narrower passageway.”
“I can hear it rumble from here.”
“It gets even louder the further we go.”
She clapped her hands. “I love the sound.”
He grinned, thinking she would appreciate where he was taking her. The land before them changed, rising and growing rocky. He pulled the wagon to a halt. “We must walk from here. Will that be a problem?” He knew his look and tone were challenging but she only laughed softly.
“Lead on, Mr. Shannon. I will follow you wherever you go.”
Her words were spoken with conviction and accompanied by such a blazing look that he had difficulty swallowing. Rather than try and force a response from his tight throat, he grabbed the picnic basket and quilt.
“There’s a good spot to eat further up.” He hooked the basket over his arm, tossed the quilt over his shoulder, and began the ascent. The trail was easy at first. Trees crowded around boulders and rocks poked out from the grassy path. But soon they had to navigate larger rocks and boulders that blocked the way.
She cried out. “I’m fine,” she informed him when he turned to check on her. “I slipped a little but nothing to worry about.”
He shifted his load to one side then reconsidered. Better to have both hands free. “Stay here. I’ll take the picnic things higher up then come back for you.” He knew she would resist his suggestion so didn’t give her the opportunity. “I’d sooner help you now than have to carry you back with a broken ankle.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I can manage. I’m not the spoiled helpless rich city girl you take me for.”
He set down the basket and quilt and returned to her side. “Fine, then we’ll do it your way.” He reached out to take her hand.
She pulled back. “What is my way?”
“I’ll help you to the top then come back for the food.”
“Or I could take the quilt and you could take the basket.”
They could but it was safer to do it his way. He lifted his eyebrows. “Or I could toss you over my shoulder and carry you.”
She edged back. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Are you sure?” He closed the few inches between them and lifted his arms in a way that suggested he was prepared to do exactly that.
She shook her head and held up her hands. He guessed she would have backed away further except a boulder prevented her from doing so. “Very well. I’ll allow you to help me.”
“Wise decision.” Though disappointment flickered through him. It might have been fun to carry her up the trail.
He took her hand in his, feeling resistance but ignoring it. Before long, as they navigated the rough path, she gripped his hand with satisfying strength. Then the rocks gave way to the pine-needle-strewn ground with towering evergreens crowding against the narrow trail. He pulled her to his side but kept hold of her hand.
The hot summer sun was shut out by the overhanging trees. Birds sang from every branch.
A lazy sigh fluttered from her lips. “This is peaceful.”
