Page 41 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
“My pa thought so too so that evening he went to the man’s house and asked again.”
Olivia was enjoying this story more every minute.
“Again, he was turned away, but he went every evening until Ma came to the door with her father and said she would like to be courted. As she later revealed to us, she’d told her father he could either grant permission or she would step out with Pa against her father’s wishes.”
“Brave young lady.”
“She was. I don’t know if Grandfather Reader ever quite accepted Pa as suitable for his daughter.”
“It sounds like your parents were happy together.”
“I think so.”
Olivia sighed with pleasure. “It’s such a romantic story.”
Riley’s eyes narrowed. “Am I to think you long for romance?”
“Maybe there was a time I did. But no longer.”
Their gazes fused. She felt his study go deep, seeking out her secrets and delving for truth. She kept her eyes wide, letting him search. But keeping certain doors in her heart locked against intrusion.
He gave a little nod as if satisfied with what he saw. “This Gerald fellow, was he romantic?”
Olivia shifted her attention to the weathered wood of his mother’s shelter. The woman had been courted and loved and yet she often sought solitude. Was it to strengthen her soul? To seek something her marriage didn’t offer? She realized Riley waited for her to answer his question.
“I thought he was romantic but now I wonder if he wasn’t simply being manipulative. I don’t think he would have given me much attention if he’d gotten what he wanted.”
“Which was?”
“Money was part of it, but he thought to benefit from being associated with my uncle through me. We learned afterward that he had plans to use Uncle’s ships to transport stolen property.”
Riley pressed his hand to hers and she turned her palm to his, clinging to him.
“I found him in the arms of another woman.” Her voice broke but she forced herself to continue. “They were in bed together.” Agony thinned her voice. “How could I have been so blind? Willing to close my eyes to anything that didn’t fit into what I wanted it to be.”
“Are you saying there were signs that things weren’t as they should have been?” His gentle words went a long way toward soothing her soul.
“That’s a question I’ve asked myself. Yes, he was often busy but so was my uncle, so I assumed he had legitimate business. He was generous with gifts. He bought me several pieces of sheet music. He took me to concerts.” She swallowed hard. “I was too willing to think his attention was the same as affection.” She dipped her head and drew in a slow breath that shuddered into her lungs. Then she faced him, her eyes hot with determination. “I’ve learned from my mistake. I’d sooner have commitment than romance.”
His eyes locked with hers. He opened his mouth as if he meant to speak then looked beyond her. He held a finger to his lips to warn her to silence and pointed.
Olivia turned slowly and caught a gasp between her teeth. A porcupine waddled from behind the wooden wall. Black beady eyes regarded them. The animal sniffed. Sniffed again then his quills rose like a prickly mane. He regarded them a moment then waddled into the bushes.
Olivia stared after the animal. Then turned to Riley and laughed softly. “I have never seen a porcupine that close. I expected them to be more vicious. To come running at us and try and throw quills.”
Humor filled his eyes. “They are docile animals.”
She pulled the stubby pencil and small notebook from her pocket and began to sketch. He shifted so he could watch. She didn’t let his interest divert her.
With a few quick marks, she caught the likeness of the porcupine. She turned a page and sketched the derelict building. It looked lonely and loved at the same time and she hoped she would be able to convey that. She drew boulders intermingled with trees, amused at how they seemed to dance together.
“You’re good,” he murmured.
“Thank you. I love drawing and painting.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you do either. Why is that?”
She chuckled. “I’ve been busy doing housewife things.” Her gaze slid past him. “I’d like to sketch the falls. At some point, I’ll do a painting of them.”
