Page 20 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Her heart slammed into her ribs. They were returning to the rustlers?
“Bryn, we don’t take chances.” His grin was crooked. “Me standin’ in the doorway proves I’ve been cautious, don’t it?”
His reasoning brought an amused chuckle from her. “Guess that might be so. Be safe and come back.”
Deep crinkles appeared around his eyes as he smiled. “Nice to know someone’s waitin’ for me.” Before she formed a response, he stepped outside, closing the door with a gentle click.
A smile lingered on her lips as she moved to the window to watch him stride to the barn where Jayce waited, two horses ready to ride. Flint swung into the saddle of one horse then turned and lifted his hand in a farewell salute.
Bryn cradled her hands to her chest.Be safe. She lingered at the window until the pair rode out of sight.Be safe, she breathed again.
The day stretched out before her. Alone in unfamiliar surroundings. Was she free to explore? Where was it safe to go? Those and other questions circled her thoughts as she cleaned the kitchen, made the beds then wandered through the rooms. She'd hang pictures and she searched for a hammer and nails.
A knock on the door caused her to jerk up from searching in a bottom cupboard.
“Ouch.” She rubbed her head where it had encountered the unforgiving wood of the shelf.
Still rubbing her head, she went to the door and opened it.
“Hello. Welcome. I’m Adele Addington but please call me Addie. I live across the way if you haven’t been told.” She pointed toward the other house.
Bryn swallowed back surprise. And gratitude. Here was someone who knew where she could go. What she could do. “Hello. I’m Brynlee but please call me Bryn.” Susie peeked out of her bedroom. “That’s my niece, Susie. Susie, come and say hello.”
Her eyes, wide, the child made her cautious way to Bryn’s side. “’Lo,” she murmured, pressing to Bryn.
Bryn put an encouraging hand on Susie’s shoulder as she spoke to Addie. “Won’t you come in?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
Intending to make tea, regretting that she hadn’t baked cookies or made a cake, Bryn waved her guest toward the table.
Addie didn’t sit. Instead, she glanced around the room. “Are you getting settled?”
No doubt she took in the bare walls. “I was going to hang some pictures I brought with me, but I haven’t been able to locate a hammer or nails.”
“You’ll find them in the barn. Why don’t I show you?”
“I’d like that.” With Susie on her heels, they went to the barn.
Addie looked around and laughed. “You should have seen this a couple of months ago. It was badly in need of cleaning. In fact, the whole place was. Our men have been working very hard to get this place into decent shape.”
Our men. Bryn liked that.
Susie rocked back and forth. Finally, she could contain herself no longer. “You gots a cat?”
Addie chuckled. “I do. Would you like to see her?”
Susie nodded, expectation filling her face.
“Let me show your aunt where to get the things she needs and then we’ll go find her.” The hammer hung on the wall in a neat row that contained other tools. A wooden bucket held an assortment of nails.
Bryn dropped a handful of nails into her apron pocket and took the hammer from the wall. Their journey took them past Bryn’s house where she left her things and then they made their way along the narrow path to the other house.
Addie paused at the doorway. “I feel bad to have the bigger house. There’s only two of us and three of you.”
“Please, don’t apologize. In my opinion, the house I’ve been offered is perfect.” Her eyes warmed with the reason it suited her so well. “After all, it isn’t the size of the house that matters. At least to me. It’s the security of knowing it’s mine. I have a place where I belong.”
“It is a good feeling.” Addie opened the door. “Daisy, come here.”
