Page 14 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
She slowly faced him. “I hope you make it back. I’ll save supper for you.”
“Ya needn’t—” He nodded. “That’d be nice. You’ll be all right on yer own? Ask Addie if ya need anything.”
“I’ll be fine.” She patted his arm.
Another jolt. He spun away and hurried to the barn. Would he get back in time to discover if he’d know more lightning or would it be fire?
Chapter Four
Bryn faced the closed door. A circular gouge had been worn around the handle from many hands twisting it. If only there was a window in it so she could watch Flint walk away. She rushed to the square window behind the table that allowed a look toward the barn and pens. There he was walking beside a tall man. Flint wasn’t small, but seemed to shrink beside the man Bryn knew must be his partner. The pair went into the barn.
Would he come out again or was the emergency that called him away within those walls? She waited. Not that she could explain to herself why she needed to know if he stayed close by or left.
In a few minutes, the two men led horses from the barn, swung into their saddles, and rode away to the east. Her shoulders sank.
Flint glanced back and gave a little tip of his head.
It wasn’t likely that he could see her at the window and less likely that he’d been thinking of her and Susie when he looked in her direction, and yet she allowed herself to believe otherwise and pressed her palm to the glass pane.
The horses and riders trotted onward until they were out of sight, hidden by trees and hills. With a drawn-out sigh, she turned away from the view.
Her glance circled the room and her excitement returned. She had things to do. Susie’s room first and she joined her niece there.
“Let’s put your things away.”
Susie plopped to the floor, her legs outstretched, and her arms folded before her. “I gots no pet. I gots no mama.” Tears flowed as sobs rent the tiny body.
“Oh, sweet child.” Bryn scooped Susie from the floor and sank to the side of the bed, the child on her lap and encircled by her arms. She rocked and murmured comfort, knowing she could offer no cure for the pain of Susie’s loss. But after a moment, she began talking.
“I think your dolly might like to lie on the pillow with your blanket around her. There might be room for your frocks in that wardrobe. What should put in those drawers?”
Susie’s sobs quieted.
“Didn’t you bring some books with you?”
“You read to me?”
“Of course. And then we put our things away.” Hand in hand, they went to the other room where Bryn undid the latches on the trunk and lifted back the lid. The upper tray was full of books, and small items.
“This one.” Susie picked up her favorite book and sat on the floor, her back to the trunk indicating she wanted the story right then and there.
Bryn didn’t mind because she liked the book and even more, she enjoyed how Susie cuddled to her as she read.
Mama tucked Sasha into her bed.
She kissed Sasha good night. “Now be quiet and go to sleep.”
Sasha turned to Dolly. “You heard Mama. Go to sleep.”
“I’m not tired.” Dolly jumped up and down on the bed.
She fell on her tummy and bounced. She giggled. “That was fun.”
Sasha put her down on her pillow. “It’s time for bed.”
“I’m not tired.” She sang her favorite song. “I’m a little dolly.”
She sang loudly. And not very good.
