Page 29 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Susie edged forward watching him waiting to speak.
“What is it, little one?”
“I’s big.”
He knew what was coming next.
“Big ‘nough to have a pet. Like Daisy.”
“Guessin’ you might be at that.”
Her eyes widened and she stared at him. “You gots one for me?”
“No, but I’ll watch for somethin’.” In fact—He turned to Bryn. “How’d you like to go for a picnic tomorrow? The three of us. Thought ya might like to see more of the country.”
“I’d like that very much.” She served him a generous piece of gingerbread with lemon sauce.
He took one bite and his mouth begged for more. “This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. Maybe you could tell me what you like and what you don’t like.”
He pretended to give the question a great deal of thought, tapping his chin and looking past her to the view outside the window though he didn’t see anything. He watched her from the corner of his eyes. Finally, he gave a long sigh. “Guess I never met a food I didn’t like.”
Her eyes widened in surprise and then crinkled as she laughed. “That makes my job easier.”
Satisfied that he had accomplished what he wanted, he returned to the gingerbread. Finished, he pushed from the table.
“I’ve got things to do at the barn. I’ll be back later.” He rushed out. Not because chores needed to be done, but because it would soon be time for bed.
And he didn’t know what he meant to do. Or did he mean, what she expected? Wanted. And he didn’t mean to ask Jayce for suggestions.
Chapter Seven
Bryn tucked Susie into bed. The child chattered nonstop about the day and especially about Daisy. Part of Bryn’s mind was elsewhere as she listened. The day had been good but now the sun was setting, and it would soon be bedtime for the adults. Their first night together.
“Auntie Bryn.” Susie’s demanding voice jerked Bryn’s attention back to the here and now.
“Yes?”
“When I gets a pet?”
“I don’t know. It depends on so many things. You’ll just have to be patient.”
“I not likes patient.”
Bryn chuckled. “Not many of us do. Now settle down and I’ll read to you.” She read two stories and helped Susie say her prayers then tiptoed from the room. Susie sighed deeply, practically asleep already.
The dishes were washed, and the kitchen was tidy. Pink stained the sky beyond the window. Bryn circled the room, drawn to the window over the table that provided her a view of the barn which was now a dark shape against a darkening sky.
Her pause there was brief, and she made another loop of the room, stopping this time at the window that allowed her a view to the west. The wood of the frame was smooth beneath her palms as she leaned on it. All that remained of the sun was a hint of jagged gold above the uneven mountain tops. The color faded to gray. A sigh eased from her lips.
Would Flint again stay away until she gave up and went to bed?
As if her question had signaled him, the door swished behind her, and she turned slowly, tentatively… hopefully… to watch him enter the house.
He closed the door with a barely audible click and stood before it, his face shadowed so she couldn’t read his expression.
The silence between them lengthened, heavy with uncertainties and— on her part— wishes. If someone asked her to name those wishes she wasn’t sure she could. All she knew was she’d come west, not only to marry but to belong. That was the closest she could come to putting a word to her hopes.
