Page 44 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
Yes, she had learned to cook. She’d even done the laundry on Monday. Both Alfred and Honor had helped but she’d had her arms in hot water up to her elbows. He’d seen her stand back and look at the clotheslines filled with drying clothes with such satisfaction he’d chuckled. Thankfully, he’d been too far away for her to hear.
Luke threw open the door. “If you’re finished, Matt and I are taking our wives to meet Joe and admire the horses I’ve done such a fine job of training. Come along.”
Riley rose and signaled Olivia to join him in following Luke.
Her face glowed with anticipation and then she looked at the table and her happy expression fled. “I haven’t cleaned the kitchen.”
Riley caught her hand. “It can wait.”
She quickly agreed and let him lead her out of the house to join the others. It was the first sale of horses Gwen and Honor had seen and they were eager to witness the event.
They met Joe at the corral. He bowed to each of the women and patted Lindy on the head but shook hands with Kit.
“I’ll head out first thing in the morning, leading the horses. It’ll take me four days to get them home.”
Riley knew it could be done by one man unless he encountered a problem. “I could ride with you.”
The brothers voiced a loud protest. He pretended he didn’t hear what they said but likely everyone did. According to them, he belonged at home with Olivia.
She stepped forward and held up a hand to silence them. “I don’t need to be taken care of. Riley is free to go if he wishes.”
But he didn’t. Not that he could explain this sudden reluctance. When Andy shushed them all and said he’d go, Riley didn’t argue. All of them except Alfred lingered outdoors, enjoying Joe’s tales of horses he’d had. Kit and Lindy chased each other and played with the cats and Scamp. The shadows lengthened and Gwen said it was time to take Lindy home to bed.
It was the signal for them all to depart. Except for Riley who didn’t want the peaceful evening to end. He waited for the others to leave then held out a hand to Olivia.
“Let’s watch the sunset.”
She glanced toward the house then nodded and took his hand. Side by side they walked past the barn, the bunkhouse, and the cookhouse. He stopped on the west side of the tool shed where they were out of sight of any prying eyes but had a view of the sky. It wasn’t the wide-open view they’d have from the side of the valley, but it was private. He didn’t wish to examine why that was important.
They leaned against the wall and watched the sky being painted by the departing sun. He edged closer so their shoulders pressed together and smiled when she didn’t shift away.
Olivia sniffled as if tears were close. “It’s so beautiful. My fingers are itching to paint the beauty I’m surrounded by.”
“Why don’t you if it means that much to you?”
She slanted a half-innocent look at him. “Would that not prove I’m a spoiled city girl? Dilly-dallying when there is work to be done?” She turned away before he could read her expression.
“Olivia, I don’t expect you to work all the time.”
She was silent a moment. “Are you sure?”
Her question burned through his conscience. His parents had loved each other but he knew Pa didn’t allow Ma any leeway about special belongings and nicer things. If it wasn’t practical, in Pa’s opinion, it was of no value. He had seen Ma hurt more than once by that attitude. Had Riley become his pa? In ways he didn’t want to be like him?
* * *
Olivia waitedfor Riley to respond to her question. He’d said he didn’t expect her to work all the time. But would the idea that she might not want to prove to him that she would never fit in on the ranch?
He slowly turned to her. His face was shadowed by the pink sky behind him. “This time of year is busy for everyone. Food to put up for the winter. Hay to cut for the horses. The work never seems to end but it’s not always like that. There is plenty of time for reading and painting and other things, especially in the winter months.”
Her heart struggled like an overwound clock. “Does that mean I’ll be here come winter?”
He studied her a moment longer then shifted away to look at the sky. “I don’t know. Will you?”
“If it’s up to me, I will. When will you believe me?” She hurried toward their house hoping she’d managed to hide her disappointment at his answer. What would it take to make him believe she was what he needed in a wife? If for no other reason than she was happy to live on the ranch. The city did not call to her in the least.
Alfred waited at the door. He must have seen the anger in her expression. “Is something wrong, miss?”
“Only that Riley is as stubborn as a dead stump.” She knew nothing about dead stumps, but she’d heard Honor say that and it seemed appropriate.
