Page 31 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
The covers rustled as she shifted position.
He held his breath. Would she wake up with eyes full of wonder? Or would they narrow with regret?Dear Lord, let it be the first. Let it be the beginning of wedded joy as Jayce had called it. Nothing is too hard for You.Not even sweet regard between him and Bryn.
His wife— he smiled at using the term— let out a sigh and remained sleeping. He slipped silently from bed, snagged up his clothes, and tiptoed from the room to get dressed. For several minutes, in a room barely light enough for him to see, he sat on the couch enjoying the day and the promise of sharing it with Bryn and little Susie.
He carried his boots outside so he could pull them on without making a sound then trotted to the pasture fence to watch the horses. It was a good thing Jayce hadn’t left his place yet or he’d surely say something about the way Flint leaned on the top rail, smiling at nothing in particular. Except for his memories and thoughts and hopes.
“Unca Flint. Unca Flint.”
The happy sound of a little girl turned him back toward the house. “What?”
She stopped in front of him. “Auntie Bryn says bre’fast is ready.”
How long had he stood out there, lost in his thoughts? “Are ya hungry?”
Her hair floated around her face as she nodded.
It occurred to him to take her hand, but she bounced around on her feet going from one side of him to the other, runningahead then turning to wait for him. She reached the door before him and stood still. Was she wanting something?
Blue eyes studied him. She tipped her head from side to side.
“What can I do fer ya?”
“Is I old ‘nough for a pet now?”
“Don’t seem to me yer much older today than ya was yesterday.” He held back his amusement.
Her shoulders sank and she hung her head. “I’s never gonna be old ‘nough.”
Her hair brushed his hand as he reached around her to open the door. “I promise someday ya will.”
She followed him inside. “When?”
“Can’t rightly say.” His gaze found Bryn across the room, standing at the stove, stirring something. She turned at his entrance. Their gazes caught and fused as if they’d been struck by lightning. The air was sucked from the room. Her cheeks looked as if they’d been seared by the same bolt of heat. His own face burned.
“Good morning.” Bryn’s voice was calm, which did nothing to make his body remember how to move.
Susie edged past him and went to her chair at the table.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the child look from Bryn to him and back to her aunt, puzzlement on her face.
“Auntie Bryn, why’s your face so red?”
Her question served to jerk Flint back to his right mind. He hurried to the basin of water and washed his hands and splashed his face, grateful the water was cool enough to ease the heat in his cheeks. Sucking in air to calm his jittery nerves, he sat at his usual place. As he waited for Bryn to take her seat, he kept his gaze on his plate not knowing if it was to ease her awkwardness or his own. Both, he decided.
A platter of fried eggs and potatoes appeared in his sight. A pile of fresh biscuits in a bowl. Rich brown coffee filled his cup.The aroma jolted through him. The chair to his right scraped on the floor. Out of the corner of his eyes, he watched her sit, and tidy her skirts. Her hands disappeared beneath the tabletop. Silence filled the room.
“The food is ready.” Her words broke the silence and startled him into action.
He bowed his head and prayed. “Amen.” Sucking in a gust of air he lifted his head but kept his attention on the food in the middle of the table. She lifted a platter toward him but didn’t immediately release it when he reached for it. His gaze went to her.
A smile began at the corner of her eyes, spread to her eyes and down to her mouth. “It looks like a nice morning.” Her words broke the knot inside him, and he smiled back at her.
They put food on their plates and began to eat.
“Ya still agreeable to our plans for the day?”
She nodded. “I’ll prepare a lunch as soon as breakfast is over.”
