Page 32 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Susie looked from one to the other. “You gots a surprise for me?”
Bryn chuckled. “Would you like to go on a picnic today?”
Susie’s hair flopped back and forth with her nod. “Can I go see Daisy first?”
“Finish your breakfast first then knock on the door and ask Mrs. Addington.”
Susie scraped her plate clean. “Now?”
Bryn chuckled softly. “You are excused.” Susie was out the door before Bryn finished. The two adults looked at each other and laughed.
“Will she come wantin’ to know if the cat can go with us?” He meant it as a joke, of course.
Bryn shifted to look toward Jayce and Addie’s place which was out of sight. “I hope not.” She released a sigh. “That poor child has had so many losses.”
“Yet she seems happy ‘nough.”
“Things are new and exciting at the moment. But I know there will be times when she seems irritable for no reason. Except she has a very good reason. Her whole world has been upset.” Bryn’s lips trembled.
“So has yours. I’m sorry.” He lifted a hand, thinking to wrap it around hers where it rested beside her empty plate. Before he could do so, he lowered his hands to his knees. She might have welcomed him last night, but he wasn’t so bold as to think she’d do so in broad daylight.
“Do you want more coffee?”
His chair skidded as he pushed back. “No thanks. I’ll go get the team ready. Maybe check on little Susie too.” Outside, he saw Susie sitting on the ground in front of Addie’s house. No doubt holding the kitten. Poor child. As Bryn said, she’d been through a lot. Losing her mother. Leaving her home. And her own pa not caring. He shook his head. Why did people have to be so unkind? And even when they weren’t out and out unkind, they were far too often simply indifferent. A person liked to think they had some importance in somebody’s life.
He meant to give that to both Bryn and Susie. He was a simple man but there were things he could do. In fact, he had an idea of how today would be special at least for one of them.
Chapter Eight
Bryn carried a box containing their lunch to the wagon that waited outside the door. She glanced around for Susie and Flint. Both were up the trail toward Addie’s house.
Flint squatted down facing the little girl. They appeared to be in earnest conversation.
She watched them a moment then returned to the house to get the two quilts she’d found along with other bedding and linens in the cupboard at the corner of the living room. She stowed them beside the box of food and leaned against the wagon to watch the other two.
Flint glanced her way then pushed upright and held out a hand to Susie. The little girl lifted the kitten from her lap and let it go, then took Flint’s hand to walk toward Bryn.
Tears rushed to Bryn’s eyes, and she blinked them back. Susie was settling in so easily. Bryn had taken care of her often since her birth so that part was an easy adjustment. And Flint himself was easy for Susie to accept. He was a man who exuded kindness. Bryn had done well in choosing to be his bride. And she didn’t intend to risk ruining it by telling him who Susie’s mother was. At least not for a while. Not until she knew withouta doubt that he wouldn’t reject her. Thanks to her father, it was a far-too-familiar feeling.
“Are ya ready to go?” he asked when he was a few feet away.
“Ready and waiting.”
He lifted Susie to the wagon, helped Bryn to the seat, and climbed up beside her. His shoulder brushed hers. She allowed herself to think he purposely sat close enough they touched.
The wagon rattled from the yard. Bryn looked around as if seeing it for the first time. Today the grass seemed greener, the mountains a deeper blue and stronger purple, and the wildflowers so bright she blinked.
A smile tugged at her lips as she acknowledged the scenery hadn’t changed. Only her perception. Being Flint’s wife changed everything.
“Where are we going?” Not that it mattered. She was content to go anywhere he decided to take them.
“Well now, I thought of going to the falls. Seems to be a favorite place with the Shannons. But I didn’t think it would be safe for wee Susie. So instead—”
Why did he stop? Did he want to tell her? “Go on.”
He cleared his throat. “Well, it’s kinda a special place for me though you’ll wonder why when ya see it. Just a grove of trees with a clearin’ in the middle.”
She studied him. He stared at the horses pulling the wagon as if they required his focused attention, but the trail ahead was straight. No reason for such concentration. She could only guess that the reason this place meant so much to him made him uncomfortable. “I’d like to know why it’s special. If you don’t mind telling me.”
