Page 4 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Miss Faraday chuckled. “She speaks like she’s starving. But believe me, she’s eaten well enough on the journey.”
“I’s hungry.” Susie scooted closer.
“Then help yerself.” Flint took the lid from the tin of sandwiches and held it to the child.
She took a portion and sniffed it. “Egg. My favorite.”
Again, Miss Faraday chuckled. “Earlier today a jam sandwich was your favorite.”
Susie’s hair fluttered around her face as she nodded. “It is. So is egg.” Her eyes widened as she tasted the food. “Really, really is.”
Miss Faraday met Flint’s eyes. He decided then and there that he liked what he saw. Kindness woven together with amusement warmed her eyes in such a way he blinked. She reached for a sandwich and did as Susie had done, sniffing it before she took a bite.
“Umm. This is excellent.”
“I told you about my partner, Jayce, and his wife, Addie.”
Her eyes remained on his as she nodded.
“Addie made this. I ain’t much of a cook. Before Addie came, me and Jayce often ate cold beans straight from the can.” The shudder he gave was not pretend. “A might uncivilized pair we was.” He ate one sandwich and took another as the pair before him continued on their first. “’Fraid Addie has spoiled us. But I don’t aim to take advantage of her kindness.” No sirree. He’d gotten his own mail-order bride. If she still agreed.
The sandwiches were gone right down to the crumbs in the tin that Susie cleaned out with a tiny fingertip. The cookies that were in the basket disappeared just as thoroughly.
Conversation might have been strained if not for Susie. “Look, a black and white bird. What’s it called?”
“It’s a magpie. Watch.” He tossed his last crumb toward the trees. With a squawk, the bird flew down and claimed it.
Susie laughed, watching as the bird flew to a tree. Two more magpies joined him, trying to steal the crumb.
As soon as the birds had settled their difference, Susie turned to other things. The flowers. The trees. The clouds. A bug skittering away. Then she turned to openly study Flint.
He sat back, motionless, and waited for her to say what she saw.
“You gots animals?”
“Well, let’s see. I’m part owner of a ranch and we raise horses and cows. Mrs. Addington has chickens and a cat named Daisy.”
Susie wriggled. “Can I have a cat?”
Miss Faraday watched him, waiting for an answer perhaps.
“Maybe.” It was the best he could do. “How’d ya like to pick flowers?” He needed to talk to her aunt without her hearing.
With a hop and a skip, Susie trotted off in search of blossoms.
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together as he tried to untangle his thoughts.
“Have you changed your mind?” Her question jerked his attention to her.
“No, ma’am. I know what I want. Just as I said in those letters I wrote ya. But now you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the country and how vast it is…” He wasn’t saying what he wanted to. “You see, I’m nothing but a cowboy. I ain’t educated. Can barely read and write. I told ya the preacher’s wife wrote my letters. Guess what I’m trying to say is now would be the time for ya ta change yer mind if yer havin’ a need ta.” As he finished, he sucked in air and held it, hoping against all hope that she’d say she still wanted to marry him. Like he’d said, he weren’t much of a prize for a husband.
Her clasped hands held her attention. When she lifted her gaze to him, he widened his eyes so as to not blink before the intensity.
“Mr. March, now that you’ve seen me, you also might be having second thoughts. I’m getting long in the tooth as they say. I’m plain and ordinary. But I can cook and clean and do laundry. I promise if we marry, I will provide you with a home you’ll not only be proud of, but you’ll be comfortable in. That said, I must know above everything else that Susie will be accepted.”
The child sat among flowers, her blonde hair in disarray, the blue ribbon that had once been tied neatly at the back of her head, drooping to one side. She appeared to be singing.
Miss Faraday continued, “If you’re having second thoughts, now would be the time to speak up.”
