Page 37 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
They moved closer and as soon as Bryn was sure Susie was indeed sleeping, she huffed out her breath.
As if startled by her noisy release of air, Flint turned. “Somethin’ botherin’ ya?”
“I can’t help but worry about her. What if I let something bad happen to her? Fail her in some way?” It was the first time she’d admitted, even to herself, the concerns that nibbled at her thoughts.
Flint closed the distance between them but did not touch her and she coiled and uncoiled her fingers to stop herself from reaching out to him. Drawing strength and comfort from him.She should be able to handle this on her own. But frankly, she was tired of having to be responsible for everything. Besides they were now married. She was half of a team. Shouldn’t that count for something?
“Seems to me.” Flint’s voice was soft, like a whisper that wasn’t a whisper. “We can only do our best. Then trust God for the rest.”
Her throat tightened. Her eyes burned. She nodded. “It’s all we can do.”
“Don’t be forgettin’ that ya aren’t alone now. I’m here ta help.”
Bryn kept her gaze lowered though he must have heard her swallow. “Thank you,” she managed.
“Do ya want ta wake her?”
“A sleep will do her good.” Her head came up. “Unless you are in a hurry to leave.” His eyes held the color of the washed-out sky and the warmth of the bright sun.
“Got no place to be ’cept right here. If’n we sit here we can see little Susie and not disturb her.” He nodded to the nearby trees.
“I’d like that.”
They sat side by side, each of them leaning against an accommodating tree trunk. Bryn curled her legs to one side and spread her skirt to protect her modesty. She tipped her head back, watching the wispy clouds hanging in the sky, and let peace and contentment flow through her.
The grass bent before Flint’s boots as he stretched out his legs. “Were ya lonely as a youngster?”
The question touched buried memories. She’d have to open the door to those memories in order to answer truthfully. Not long ago, she would have dismissed the idea and kept the door locked fearing that her worries and concerns would be ignored. But she’d already told him that her father rejected her because she was female. Now other buried memories pressed forward.
“There were days I envied my friends going home from school to play with brothers and sisters.” Her voice dropped. “I’d seen them greeted by their mothers.” Her breath quivered in and out. “I went home where I was told to be quiet and go play in my room. So yes, I guess I was lonely. I used to daydream about my father taking me home where I could play with my little sister. She was eight years younger but the few times I saw her when she was little, I enjoyed being with her. She’d show me all her treasures and tell me stories about her toys.”
“Were ya not allowed to visit?”
“Not at first, but by the time—” She’d almost said Rowena’s name. “My sister had grown to school age, our father no longer had anything to do with her, so I spent time with her.”
“That’s good.”
“It was. Then I left to attend college in Philadelphia, paid for by my grandparents, and saw very little of her until I came back three years ago to nurse my grandparents. Susie was born just after I returned.”
“Seems ya might have finally got the family ya wanted.”
His observation was so accurate she gave a little laugh. “That’s exactly what I thought. But then—” Her throat closed off and she couldn’t continue. Just when she thought she and Rowena could forge a solid friendship and become the family they both longed for, Rowena had gotten pneumonia and never recovered.
Flint’s hand closed over hers. Warm and reassuring. “Bryn, I’m sorry ya lost yer sister.”
She turned her hand to his and held on, a lifeline against the overwhelming swell of sorrow and sadness that often came her way. “Thank you. It gets easier.” Moving away from her past helped. Or did she mean, marrying a man like Flint did?
They sat in contented silence. He pointed to a hawk circling overhead.
Rustling came from behind them. Too loud to be solely the wind. And then it grew louder. Did she hear an animal snort?
Were they about to be attacked?
Flint heard the noise. Knew Bryn had too and was about to bolt. He tightened his grip on her hand making it impossible for her to get free without a struggle.
“Stay. Be still.” He pulled his legs up, prepared to spring into action if he needed to but otherwise, they were safest if they didn’t startle whatever was making that noise. The sound came again, and he tensed. And then a big buck whitetail deer emerged into the opening to their right. It stopped, his head high as he sniffed unfamiliar visitors. He stared at the wagon and then slipped back into the trees, hardly stirring a leaf as he made his escape.
Flint’s muscles remained ready for action until he was certain there was no more danger. He eased back and relaxed his grip on Bryn’s hand though he didn’t release it. “He was pretty surprised someone's here.”
