Page 60 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
Flint, where are you?He wouldn’t have left her if only because his heart belonged to the ranch.
The sound of her breathing filled her ears, and she held her breath to listen.
No sound of horse hooves. Nothing but the pounding of her pulse against her eardrums. Or was that—?
She strained to listen. Did the sound increase in volume, indicating an approaching horse?
It did not.
Flinging about, she rushed back to the house, pulled the door closed to keep Susie safe, and rushed up the trail to Jayce and Addie’s house. She almost stumbled, unable to see the path before her. The wood beneath her knuckles was rough as she knocked.
She barely waited for Jayce’s, “Come in,” before she burst into the room.
Both Jayce and Addie were instantly on their feet. “Bryn, what’s wrong?”
Jayce’s question echoed her own concern.
“Flint’s not back. He should be by now. He’s never this late. What’s wrong?” The words rushed out in an avalanche.
“I didn’t hear him ride in but thought I must have missed it.” Jayce reached for his hat as he talked. “I’ll have a look around.”
Addie caught her husband’s arm. “Jayce, it’s dark.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be careful.”
Bryn fell into step with Jayce as he strode toward the barn. His long legs forced her into a trot.
He reached the barn and lit the lantern. Held it high as he stepped down the alley, looking in each pen. “Just in case.”
In case of what? Why would Flint have ridden home and decided to stay in the barn? Another thought pushed into her head. Or did Jayce think he was sick and only made it as far as the barn?
A quick examination provided no sign of Flint.
“What’s happened to him?” The words wailed from her.
“I’ll ride out and see if I can find him. You wait in your house.”
Did she catch a harshness in his tone or was it only her own trembling heart that made it seem so? She caught his arm. “I hope he’s all right.”
Jayce paused to smile down at her. “Flint has taken care of himself since he was a youngster. No reason to think today is any different.”
As Bryn returned to the house to wait and worry, she found no comfort in Jayce’s words. Before she opened the door, she stopped and listened, hoping to hear a horse riding toward the ranch. But the only horse she heard was Jayce’s as he left the yard.
Bryn swallowed back an urge to call at him to go fast but she knew the darkness would necessitate that he proceed with caution.
Inside the house, she leaned against the closed door.Lord, I don’t know what’s wrong. Flint should have been home by now. Please keep him safe.It crossed her mind to promise to tell him the truth as soon as he returned but she wasn’t sure she had the courage to speak the words that might turn him against her.
She crossed to the western window. A faint hint of light clung to the mountain tops. It served only to make the rest of the world dark in comparison. Her restless feet hurried back to watch toward the barn. Watch and wait. Pray and worry. Pace and stare. The minutes crept by slowly. Each one twisting her insides tighter until she wondered why her breathing didn’t shatter her ribs.
The door rattled startling Bryn. She grabbed at her throat.
“It’s me.” Addie’s voice came from the other side.
“Come in.” Bryn could hardly make her voice work and failed to make her feet move.
“I’ve come to wait with you for our men to return.”
Bryn nodded.
