Page 13 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes (Montana Mail-Order Brides #7)

Chapter Seven

B ryn tucked Susie into bed. The child chattered nonstop about the day and especially about Daisy. Part of Bryn’s mind was elsewhere as she listened. The day had been good but now the sun was setting, and it would soon be bedtime for the adults. Their first night together.

“Auntie Bryn.” Susie’s demanding voice jerked Bryn’s attention back to the here and now.

“Yes?”

“When I gets a pet?”

“I don’t know. It depends on so many things. You’ll just have to be patient.”

“I not likes patient.”

Bryn chuckled. “Not many of us do. Now settle down and I’ll read to you.” She read two stories and helped Susie say her prayers then tiptoed from the room. Susie sighed deeply, practically asleep already.

The dishes were washed, and the kitchen was tidy. Pink stained the sky beyond the window. Bryn circled the room, drawn to the window over the table that provided her a view of the barn which was now a dark shape against a darkening sky.

Her pause there was brief, and she made another loop of the room, stopping this time at the window that allowed her a view to the west. The wood of the frame was smooth beneath her palms as she leaned on it.

All that remained of the sun was a hint of jagged gold above the uneven mountain tops.

The color faded to gray. A sigh eased from her lips.

Would Flint again stay away until she gave up and went to bed?

As if her question had signaled him, the door swished behind her, and she turned slowly, tentatively… hopefully… to watch him enter the house.

He closed the door with a barely audible click and stood before it, his face shadowed so she couldn’t read his expression.

The silence between them lengthened, heavy with uncertainties and— on her part— wishes. If someone asked her to name those wishes she wasn’t sure she could. All she knew was she’d come west, not only to marry but to belong. That was the closest she could come to putting a word to her hopes.

He cleared his throat, the sound shredding the silence and unsettling her nerves.

“I didn’t know what ya wanted.” The words grated as if his throat was tight. “We’s married and all, but I don’t intend to rush ya.” His cheeks darkened with a flush.

One that no doubt matched the burning in her own face. She knew what she wanted. What must happen. But how did she make her wishes known without making them both uncomfortable? She recalled something Rowena had often said when they discussed the way things were and how they wished they’d change.

“Manfred can’t pretend he doesn’t know that I would like things to be different because I’ve spoken my mind clearly.

” At this point, she’d sigh. “I see no point in cloaking our words in hints. Just say what you want. What you expect.” Then she’d shrug.

“Not that it guarantees the person you’re speaking to will listen. ”

Manfred certainly hadn’t. He’d ignored his sweet daughter. Just as, for the most part, he’d ignored Rowena after the child was born.

“You won’t be rushing me.” Her words whispered from her trembling heart.

Something flashed across his face. Gone before she could identify it. But she chose to believe it was, at the least, agreement… and in her dreams? So much more.

“You go on and get ready for bed. I’ll be along in a minute.”

Grateful for his understanding, she hurried to the bedroom, removed her clothes, and put on a soft cotton nightgown in palest pink. Beneath the covers, she waited for him.

A thud and then a second suggested he removed his boots.

In silent, stockinged feet, he entered the room.

A flicker of a smile creased his face as he saw her waiting.

He turned down the lamp, leaving the room in grayness.

She barely made out his shape as he took off his shirt and pants and slipped into bed beside her.

“You ever had a beau?”

His question was perhaps not unexpected. They knew so little about each other.

“There was a fellow teacher I spent time with. Mostly we talked about books and lessons.”

“What happened to him?” Interest or curiosity or perhaps both loosened his limbs. His hand brushed against her.

“When my grandparents grew frail, and I needed to go back and help them, he said he was sorry. He’d entertained thoughts of spending more time with me, but his future was in the city.”

“That musta been hurtful.” He covered her hand with his.

“At first. I didn’t like to admit that I was of no value to him.” The warmth of Flint’s hand made it impossible to recall any regret at having to leave the teacher behind. Even though she knew part of the answer, she decided she should ask the question, or he might wonder.

“I suppose you’ve courted some young ladies.” There’d been Rowena. Had there been more?

He laughed softly. “Guessin’ you ain’t had the chance to look around much. Cause you’d soon realize there ain’t many young ladies out here.” He paused then added, “Sometimes one will visit, but not many care to live here.”

Bryn guessed that had been the case with Rowena. “I’d say they don’t know what they’re missing.” And she didn’t mean only the beauty of the landscape.

They lay in silence as her heart beat a waiting rhythm against her ribs.

He coughed a little. A nervous sound. “Bryn, can I kiss you?”

“I’d like that.” Would she have the same mind-shattering experience his first and only kiss at the wedding had produced?

He touched her cheek, gently, tentatively.

She pressed her finger to his chin.

They faced each other. He kissed her, his lips firm, inviting. And again, the world fell away leaving nothing but the two of them and Flint’s gentle touches.

A little later, she lay with her head against his shoulder and listened as his breathing deepened. They were truly husband and wife. Never before in her life had she felt so cherished.

Flint wakened in the predawn. Silvery light colored the sky and poked into the room. Bryn lay beside him, her hands curled to her cheeks. She’d given herself to him, welcoming him, sweetly trusting him. Never before had he felt such …such.

This was nothing like…

But then that was in his wilder days before he became a Christian. The only word he to explain his feelings was acceptance. Not since Ruff had he felt like someone cared and a dog plain and simple wasn’t the same in any sense as another human.

The covers rustled as she shifted position.

He held his breath. Would she wake up with eyes full of wonder? Or would they narrow with regret? Dear Lord, let it be the first. Let it be the beginning of wedded joy as Jayce had called it. Nothing is too hard for You. Not even sweet regard between him and Bryn.

His wife— he smiled at using the term— let out a sigh and remained sleeping.

He slipped silently from bed, snagged up his clothes, and tiptoed from the room to get dressed.

For several minutes, in a room barely light enough for him to see, he sat on the couch enjoying the day and the promise of sharing it with Bryn and little Susie.

He carried his boots outside so he could pull them on without making a sound then trotted to the pasture fence to watch the horses.

It was a good thing Jayce hadn’t left his place yet or he’d surely say something about the way Flint leaned on the top rail, smiling at nothing in particular.

Except for his memories and thoughts and hopes.

“Unca Flint. Unca Flint.”

The happy sound of a little girl turned him back toward the house. “What?”

She stopped in front of him. “Auntie Bryn says bre’fast is ready.”

How long had he stood out there, lost in his thoughts? “Are ya hungry?”

Her hair floated around her face as she nodded.

It occurred to him to take her hand, but she bounced around on her feet going from one side of him to the other, running ahead then turning to wait for him. She reached the door before him and stood still. Was she wanting something?

Blue eyes studied him. She tipped her head from side to side.

“What can I do fer ya?”

“Is I old ‘nough for a pet now?”

“Don’t seem to me yer much older today than ya was yesterday.” He held back his amusement.

Her shoulders sank and she hung her head. “I’s never gonna be old ‘nough.”

Her hair brushed his hand as he reached around her to open the door. “I promise someday ya will.”

She followed him inside. “When?”

“Can’t rightly say.” His gaze found Bryn across the room, standing at the stove, stirring something.

She turned at his entrance. Their gazes caught and fused as if they’d been struck by lightning.

The air was sucked from the room. Her cheeks looked as if they’d been seared by the same bolt of heat. His own face burned.

“Good morning.” Bryn’s voice was calm, which did nothing to make his body remember how to move.

Susie edged past him and went to her chair at the table.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the child look from Bryn to him and back to her aunt, puzzlement on her face.

“Auntie Bryn, why’s your face so red?”

Her question served to jerk Flint back to his right mind.

He hurried to the basin of water and washed his hands and splashed his face, grateful the water was cool enough to ease the heat in his cheeks.

Sucking in air to calm his jittery nerves, he sat at his usual place.

As he waited for Bryn to take her seat, he kept his gaze on his plate not knowing if it was to ease her awkwardness or his own. Both, he decided.

A platter of fried eggs and potatoes appeared in his sight.

A pile of fresh biscuits in a bowl. Rich brown coffee filled his cup.

The aroma jolted through him. The chair to his right scraped on the floor.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he watched her sit, and tidy her skirts.

Her hands disappeared beneath the tabletop. Silence filled the room.

“The food is ready.” Her words broke the silence and startled him into action.

He bowed his head and prayed. “Amen.” Sucking in a gust of air he lifted his head but kept his attention on the food in the middle of the table. She lifted a platter toward him but didn’t immediately release it when he reached for it. His gaze went to her.

A smile began at the corner of her eyes, spread to her eyes and down to her mouth. “It looks like a nice morning.” Her words broke the knot inside him, and he smiled back at her.

They put food on their plates and began to eat.

“Ya still agreeable to our plans for the day?”

She nodded. “I’ll prepare a lunch as soon as breakfast is over.”

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.