Page 10 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Words burst from Bryn’s mouth. “I read about the west. How wild and wonderful it is. So far it has exceeded my expectations.”
“’Tis grand fer sure.”
She laughed. “I couldn’t have said it better.”
His eyes shone like silver, a glittering contrast to the green of the leaves behind him. A moment filled with shimmering hope.
It took a minute for her to realize the wagon no longer moved. If not for Susie’s excited question as to whether this was the place, Bryn didn’t know how long she would have sat in her bemused state.
Flint secured the reins. “We’ll walk the rest of the way, but Susie, we need to be quiet. So quiet—”
“Like a mouse?”
Flint chuckled, a deep rolling sound that echoed in Bryn’s heart.
“Can ya be quieter than a mouse?” he asked Susie.
Susie pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Good. Then let’s go.” He helped them down and then led them along the border of trees, the leaves dancing and whispering. “We’re gonna see gophers.” He spoke so softly that his words disappeared almost before they reached Bryn. “You ever seen them?” he asked Susie who shook her head. Then directed his attention to Bryn. She shook her head as well.
“They’re little critters who dig holes in the ground for their homes. There’s a whole bunch of them where we’s goin’.”
Bryn caught Susie’s hand to slow her down. “Let Uncle Flint lead the way.”
The grass rustled beneath their feet as they continued. The ground rose in a gentle slope. At the top of the knoll, he indicated they should stop, drawing them into the shelter of the trees, signaling them to be quiet. Not that he needed to do the latter. The only sound they made was the gentle padding of their feet and the sighing of their breath.
He pointed toward the open area beyond the trees. Little clumps of dirt lay scattered across the hilltop.
“Wait.” The whispered word carried on a breath.
Surrounded by nature’s stillness, Bryn leaned back against the smooth bark of the nearest tree. Flint did the same on the tree next to her. Overhead leaves rustled. Beside her, a man relaxed. Seemingly happy to share his time with her. She couldn’t think of a more pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
His elbow nudged her.
Her fingers jerked into fists and then, silently laughing at her reaction, she relaxed. This was her husband. So far, he’d shown her nothing but kindness and acceptance. She’d yet to see any reason to be wary of him. It was too soon to be completely convinced but her initial assessment was that God had indeed seen her unhappy situation and provided an escape.
Flint jabbed a finger toward the hill to direct her attention. She did and saw little brown heads poke out of several of the holes.
The way Susie twitched against her leg, she knew her niece had seen it too and squeezed the child’s shoulder to warn her to remain still.
The gophers emerged completely and stood on their hindquarters, front paws folded in front of them. More and more joined them. Three of them scampered away to nibble at the grass. One, apparently keeping guard, remained at attention. It gave a sharp whistle and the little animals all raced back to their holes. Or maybe they used the nearest hole. She didn’t know.
Flint pressed his finger to his lips. They waited quietly and in seconds heads began to again peek out.
Beneath Bryn’s palm, Susie quivered with excitement. Bryn exerted a little more pressure to reassure and hopefully calm the child.
Susie drew in a breath that lifted her shoulders and then burst forward. “I catch ‘em.” Her little legs churned as she raced forward.
Her approach was greeted with whistles by the gophers. In a heartbeat, all that remained on the hill was mounds of dirt and apart from Susie’s disappointed cry, silence.
Flint chuckled. “They’s fast.”
Susie tromped from one hole to the next. “Here, gopher. Come out. I want to take you home ‘n hug you.”
Amusement so deep and wide it surprised Bryn, escaped in ringing laughter.
Together, she and Flint laughed. For Bryn, it was a precious moment of shared enjoyment. Something she hadn’t experienced since Rowena’s passing. Her laugh choked off, replaced with a sob she sucked back, hoping Flint wouldn’t notice.
