Page 19 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
“You may be excused,” Bryn said.
Susie trotted to her room.
“Flint, did you manage to rescue the cows?”
The concern in Bryn’s voice made him think she was interested in the ranch and maybe even what he did. “I think so.” Should he tell her what happened, or would it be too much for her to carry?
“Think so? That doesn’t sound certain. What happened to them?”
“You sure you want to know?”
Her eyes held steady as she nodded. “I would like to be part of everything in your life if you have no objections.”
“None a’tall. No, ma’am.” He drawled the words wondering if she’d remember him saying much the same thing when she’d asked if he meant to spend his nights on the sofa.
More cherries in her cheeks made him think she did.
Pleased with how things were going, he tipped his chair back, nursing his second cup of coffee. “A rag-tag bunch thought they’d like to take some of our cows for their selves.”
Her eyes widened. “Rustlers?”
“Yeah.”
“Flint, did they have guns? Might you have been shot?” She leaned back as if the strength had left her body.
“I’ve upset ya. Guess I shouldn’t have told ya. We was never in any danger.” Mostly not at any rate. “We outsmarted ‘em.”
Bryn opened her mouth. Closed it again without speaking a word. Swallowed hard enough for him to hear. Rocked forward. Then jerked to her feet, the chair skidding away.
He set his cup down and rose slowly.
Was she going to tell him this was more’n she expected when she married him? Perhaps demand to be taken back to town? Would he be able to convince her to stay?
Chapter Five
Bryn stared out the window. The mountains stood tall, strong, and immovable. Seeing them did nothing to calm her nerves. Rustlers? Desperate men. Ruthless, lawless men. What if Flint had been shot? She’d be a widow before she truly became a wife. Her cheeks burned and she pressed her palms to them in a vain attempt to cool her skin.
“Bryn?” Flint’s gentle inquiry made her suck in a deep breath and turn to face him.
He stood close enough that she had only to lift her hand to touch him and felt an incredible urge to do exactly that. As if by doing so, she could allay her uncertainties in such a fashion.
Perhaps she could at that, and she rested her hand on his forearm. Warmth like summer sunshine ran up her arm and flooded her insides. Her already warm cheeks grew hot as a sunburn. But she could no more remove her hand than she could order the sun from the sky. Not even when Flint stiffened.
“I was never in no danger.” His softly spoken words increased the sensation of being blessed by summer warmth.
She nodded, unable to find a word to say even though she guessed he’d like some sort of response. One more nod, her eyes fixed on his, and then she found hidden strength to draw herhand away. “I better clean up the kitchen.” Her feet remained exactly where they were. Not one step closer to the table or the stove or anything else in the room.
“I need to get on with the work.”
“If I remember correctly—” And she knew she did. “You’re training horses.” It sounded exciting and… well, western… when she’d read it but now, she wondered what it entailed.
“Where do you do that?”
“In a pen by the barn.” He tipped his head in that direction.
She’d like to watch, but did she need an invitation? Or did his plans include something else today?
Boots thudded on the floor as he crossed to the door where he paused. “Me and Jayce moved the cows back to the main herd last night, but we’s ridin’ out again to make sure those men have left.”
