Page 21 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
A fluffy gray kitten trotted out the door and rubbed around Addie’s ankles.
Susie vibrated with excitement. “Can I hold her?”
Addie’s smile was warm and gentle. “Why don’t you sit down and see what she does?”
Susie immediately plopped to the ground. The kitten walked over to her and climbed into her lap.
“She’s used to children,” Addie explained. “She was raised by the Shannon children.”
“On the way here, we passed a place that Flint said was the Shannon ranch.”
“Our nearest neighbors. They’re good people.” Addie turned to glance up the hill past the house. “Would you like to come in for tea or would you prefer if I show you around the place?
“Would you consider me rude if I asked to have a tour of the place?”
“Not at all. I’m sorry Flint has had to be away.” She smiled. “But very grateful Jayce hasn’t gone after those rustlers on his own.”
“Do you worry about him? Them?”
Addie drew in a quiet breath. “Worry and pray and scold myself.”
Her answer brought a chuckle from Bryn.
Addie chuckled acknowledgment. “I often remind myself that if I’m going to pray then it’s best if I leave it in God’s hands. His strong, loving hands.”
“Amen. But I find it easier said than done.” As they talked, they crossed the yard to a pen of chickens who came clucking to the fence at Addie’s approach.
“We have eggs which is lovely,” Addie said.
“Yes, I used some for breakfast.” A basketful had been on the cupboard. “Thanks for sharing.”
Addie waved away her thanks. “Come and have a look at my garden.” They went down the trail. Susie followed, the cat meowing around her feet as she walked.
Tidy rows of young plants stitched the ground. No weeds in sight. Hunger filled Bryn. Not a hunger that food would satisfy, but a longing for the belonging and permanency that growing things indicated.
“Is it too late for me to plant?”
“I don’t believe so. I have seeds I can share. Come to the house and I’ll find them.”
Addie’s house was indeed bigger than Bryn’s with a larger kitchen and a roomy living area in a separate room. Addie ducked into her generous pantry and almost immediately emerged with a basket of seeds. “I got these ready as soon as I heard that Flint was going to marry you and bring you out here. Have you planted before, or would you like me to show you what to do?”
“I hate to admit it, but I’ve never before planted.” When living with her grandparents, they had bought their vegetables from a greengrocer. Certainly, her father would never dirty his hands in such a way. He considered that below him. If anyone had suggested it, he would have said he paid people to do things like that.
Addie chuckled. “Then I shall have the pleasure of teaching you.” She led Bryn back to the smaller house and passed it. “If you look around, you can see that this used to be a garden.” At Bryn’s look of disbelief, Addie waved away her concern.
“My garden looked like this when I started.”
For the rest of the morning, they pulled out weeds and dead grass and piled it at the end of the garden spot.
Addie glanced at the position of the sun. “I expect Jayce and Flint to be home at noon. We’ll have to leave off gardening for now so we can prepare food for them.”
“I’d almost forgotten about meals.” Though at every sound from the horse near the barn, she had glanced up to see if Flint returned.
With a friendly pat on her shoulder, Addie chuckled and headed back to her house.
Daisy, the kitten, meowed, escaped Susie’s hold, and ran after her owner.
Susie hung her head and sniffled.
