Page 28 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Now was the time she could give back a portion of what he’d given her. And mean every word.
“Flint, she must have been a wonderful woman. I know she would be proud of you.”
His eyes widened. His Adam’s apple worked up and down. Then he shook his head. “You got no way of knowin’ that.”
Whether he meant about his mother or about him, there was no way of telling nor did it matter.
“It’s true I don’t know you that well, but sometimes a person can see things rather quickly.” She continued to look at him though he looked away.
His throat continued to work and then he gave a quick nod. “We was out in Wyoming moving a herd when Pa got sick and died. Trail boss said he was sorry, but they had ta bury Pa where we was. They dug a grave and put him in. Covered it with dirt and a pile of rocks.” He glanced at the mounds of rocks behind them. “Bigger’n that. I knew it was to keep the wild animals from—” He sucked in air. “They put up a piece of wood. I never went back. Couldn’t a found the place if I tried.”
She leaned against him a mite more. Warmth from his body enveloped her. And a sense of acceptance such as she had never before known. “Thank you for telling me. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to think about your loss. When I come here.” She tipped her head to indicate the area in which they sat, imagining herself sitting in this spot to think and plan and yes, to pray. “I will think of your parents and thank God you knew their love as a child.”
“Thanks.” He seemed about to say more and then closed his mouth.
They sat in pleasant silence for a few minutes. The sun slanted toward the west reminding Bryn how long she’d been away from the house. “I should get back and start supper.”
“I’ll walk ya home.”
His words sounded like those a beau would say when courting and she tucked them into her thoughts to cherish.
Susie gathered up her rocks and followed them. “Ahh.” Pebbles slipped through her fingers.
“How be I help ya?” Flint gathered up the fallen ones and opened his palms for Susie to give him more.
Her fingers curled around the ones she still held, and she smiled as she trotted down the hill.
Bryn tucked her own pleasure in a special corner of her heart alongside the one about courting at the way Flint had acted. Not that she needed courting. After all, they were married.
Would he find her acceptable and come to bed with her tonight? Or soon?
Or was she expecting too much? Expecting that he should show her the approval she’d ached for all her life and never received back east?
Flint walked Bryn and Susie as far as the house then strode to the barn, not slowing his steps until he was in the far interior corner where no one would see him. His thoughts tangled like an old, neglected rope. He’d never expected to feel so strongly the need to erase the things Bryn, and Susie had lived with. They’d been unwanted simply because they were females. He’d done what he could to assure her things were not like that here and she seemed to ‘preciate it. Feeling good about that must be the reason he had told her about his parents. Even though he’d onlytold her the facts, she’d guessed that it hurt to remember losing them. Even though he didn’t recall losing Ma a’tall. It was just a missing with no name.
He kicked the bottom board of the nearest pen. The thud echoed in the barn and shuddered up his leg. The promise of sharing more with her— secrets, dreams, hopes, disappointments— yawned before him like a cave— full of risks and possibilities. He kicked the board again. Hope was a scary thing. If it brought the belonging that he wanted, it would be amazing. Or he might end up disappointed.
A laugh escaped. He didn’t often recall things his pa said, but at this minute he did. Only a coward gives up without trying.
I’m no coward, Pa.
Bryn had said it wouldn’t take long to make supper. Time to prove to himself he was ready to prove his courage. No matter what that meant.
Realizing he grinned widely, he checked around to see if anyone was watching. No one was so he continued to smile as he crossed the yard.
Susie threw open the door and raced toward him. She must have been watching out the window. Or was Bryn? Pleased to think it was his new wife, his smile widened.
He held out his arms and the child flew into them. He positioned her on his shoulders and trotted toward the house, her giggles bubbling through him. Fearing she’d bang her head on the doorjamb, he set her down before he entered.
Bryn stood by the table, all smiles and welcome. “Perfect timing.” She turned to the stove and removed a serving bowl from the overhead warming oven.
Perfect timing, was it? Then he realized she meant the meal. Well, what else would she mean? He washed, took his place, waited for the others to sit then bowed his head to pray. His tongue refused to work. Tied up in knots of uncertainty. He mustpray. Couldn’t sit like a bump on a log. He cleared his throat and managed to choke out the words. “Amen.” He grabbed the cup before him and downed the icy water.
“It was kind of Adele to give us jars of meat. She said she just had corned beef for the first few meals.”
He realized Bryn was talking about the meal. “I’ll bring in a deer so you can bottle up some meat.”
“Sounds good. Adele already offered to help me.”
