Page 55 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
“Auntie Bryn.” Susie’s tone made her disapproval very clear. “Youse shouldn’t be kissin’ Uncle Flint.”
Bryn broke free. “Why not?”
Susie jammed her hands to her tiny hips and tsked. “Cause I’s hungry.”
Laughing, Flint lifted Susie to his arms, perched her on one hip, and with Bryn’s hand in his on the other side, he strode back to where they’d left the food. Rather than sit on the quilts they’d spread on the ground, they perched on the log benches, facing away from the rock. He tossed his hat to one side and prayed histhanks for the meal. Not long ago he would have felt awkward at praying aloud but it felt good and right with Bryn and Susie at his side.
She pulled out a tray covered with a towel, hesitated, let out a long sigh then folded back the towel to reveal— she replaced the cover and looked into the distance.
What had she brought that had her so worried?
Sighing again, she slowly removed the towel to reveal thick biscuits and if he didn’t miss his guess, they held generous amounts of cheese and— he took one and peeked at the filling— slices of dill pickle. He regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Why was ya actin’ so worried?”
“Me?”
He wasn’t fooled by her wide-eyed surprise. He examined the biscuit again and took a cautious bite. “Tastes good.” Uncertainty thickened his words. What was she not tellin’ him?
And then he saw the flash in her eyes just before she laughed. “It was fun to see you worried about the lunch.”
He joined his laugh to hers. “Yer a tease, are ya?”
“Never thought I was. Maybe it’s because—” She developed a lot of interest in the biscuit she held.
He waited but she didn’t finish, and he had a real need to know what she’d been goin’ ta say. “Because what?” Would his gentle tone persuade her to answer? He waited patiently and hopefully.
About the time he decided she wasn’t gonna tell him, she sighed and said, “I feel safe with you.”
The words were soft but had the power of a large-bore rifle shell, piercing through years of being alone and the rejection he’d felt four years ago.
“That’s the nicest thing anybody’s ever said to me.” He curled his finger under her chin and lifted hoping she’d meet his gaze. For a thunderous heartbeat, she kept her eyes lowered and thenlooked directly at him. At that moment he knew his heart had found a safe resting place and vowed he would give her the same.
Needing to reach into the picnic basket for more food, she slipped to the ground and sat pressed to his knee. He lowered his hand to her shoulder. This feeling was better than home. It was more than anything he’d dreamed. It filled his whole being with spring joy and summer warmth.
On the pretense of needing something from the basket, he slipped to the ground to sit beside her pressing every inch of his side against her.
Neither of them spoke as they finished the food and watched Susie exploring. He couldn’t say her reasons. His was because he had no words that explained how he felt. Nor did he want to minimize the moment by talkin’ of things that didn’t matter while they sat here.
He’d be happy if this was what their future together looked like.
Chapter Fourteen
Bryn loathed to move from sitting beside Flint. She’d stay right there forever if it was possible. Safe and secure. Nothing to threaten her future. Not even her secret about Rowena. He seemed equally as content to stay.
He rearranged his legs. For a moment, a breath of air separated her arm from his and then he shifted back into his former position.
Susie played nearby. Humming as she went from bush to leaf to blade of grass.
“She does like to explore.” Did he catch the mellow tone of her voice? And if so, did it inform him of how content she was? Like she’d said, safe.
Susie plopped down in front of them. “You think Kitty is crying for me?”
Bryn had completely forgotten about the kitten. “Aunt Addie will look after her.”
“But what if her wants me?”
Bryn understood that Susie wanted to get back to her kitten. But Bryn didn’t want the day to end and didn’t move.
Susie shifted her attention to Flint. “She might be sad.” Susie hung her head. “Missin’ her mama. Like me.” Tears filled her eyes and her bottom lip quivered.
