Page 3 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Miss Faraday repeated her unanswered question. “Where are you taking us?”
Of course, she was concerned. He understood that. He should have explained his plan. “Sorry, sometimes I forget to share my thoughts. Comes from being on my own most of my life. And ridin’ behind a bunch of cows that don’t care nothing about what I have to say.”
Her knuckles looked ready to pop out of her skin.
All because he couldn’t corral his words. “I thought we should take the time to talk about our plans.” Give her the chance to change her mind before they went to the preacher.
Miss Faraday shifted, pulling Susie tight to her chest, ignoring the child’s squirming protest.
“Are you going to inform me you’ve changed your mind?” Words as cold as winter ice.
“No. No.” The trail led away from town, inviting him to return to the ranch. Instead, he turned aside to a grove of trees and stopped the horses. “All I want is to make sure yer still in agreement.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Isn’t that proof enough?”
“Suppose it is. We could have us a picnic before we proceed.”
Susie squirmed free at that offer. “You gots food?”
A chuckle eased past the tightness in his chest. “Sure do. Wanna see what there is?” He waited for Miss Faraday to indicate what she wanted. Town lay in sight. She seemed to study the distance.
Of course. Deciding if she needed to make her way back. Could be that one look at him had changed her mind.
Finally, she nodded. “I don’t mind eating.”
He got down and reached for Susie. The little one hesitated. He let her take stock of him. He recognized the look in her eyes. Eager, yet cautious. Yearning for affection, fearing to trust it.
“I won’t hurt you, little one.”
Her blue eyes flashed. She smiled. One corner of her mouth slightly higher than the other. Rowena had smiled like that. He pushed aside the memory. Rowena had left him. Had picked another man for her husband. He would not let the hurt of that experience have anything to do with how he responded to this child.
She nodded and held out her arms for him to lift her down. Her giggles were like a sweet bird song. Or was it only their singing that tangled in his head?
“Hear the birds?” He nodded toward the trees.
“Are they singing ’cause they happy?”
“Sure sounds like it to me.” He helped Miss Faraday to the ground, noting that she pulled her hand back as if stung by his touch. Nerves and uncertainty could do that. Never mind his being a total stranger. Apart from the letters they’d sent back and forth.
A colorful quilt and a large wicker basket waited in the back of the wagon, and he carried both to a grassy spot by the trees. “Anybody hungry?” he asked after he’d spread the quilt.
“Me. Me.” Susie plopped down beside the basket.
Miss Faraday came forward slower, more cautious. She studied him. Just as he studied her. Eyes as brown as mink fur and as steady as a rock. He liked that. It informed him she wasn’t the sort to pretend one thing while doing another.
Unable to think of anything else, he repeated his question. “Are ya hungry?”
A smile started in her eyes and slipped to her lips. “I am.”
“Then let’s eat.” He waved his hand to invite her to sit and waited until she did.
With a grace that caused him to swallow loudly, she sank to the ground on the far side of the quilt, the patches of green, blue, red, and black separating them. She folded her hands, her eyes on the basket.
“I’ll pray.” Each word squeezed from his lassoed and knotted throat. He bowed his head. Remembered his new hat. Couldn’t pray with his hat on. He set it on the ground next to the quilt. Trailed a finger across the brim. Blinked. And stuttered out his words. “Bless the food we are about to receive. Bless those we share it with. Amen.” Cleared his throat. Which didn’t help ease the tightness. “Let’s see what we have.”
Susie leaned forward to peer into the basket as he folded back the white cloth Addie had covered it with. A tiny sigh from the child fluttered the strand of sunshine-colored hair hanging across her cheek.
“What’cha got?” Her voice quivered with anticipation.
