Page 2 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes (Montana Mail-Order Brides #7)

Flint’s hands were relaxed on the reins.

Quite the opposite of the way his insides fisted.

He wanted this. Not just someone to cook his meals because he was always welcome to join his partner, Jayce, and Jayce’s wife, Addie.

Addie herself was a mail-order bride. In fact, seeing how pleasant it was for Jayce had convinced Flint to make arrangements for himself.

He considered himself a calm man. Nothing from wild horses to snarling mountain lions rattled him. But sitting beside a woman who'd agreed to be his wife and a child who would surely bless their home certainly, and unexpectedly, had.

Miss Faraday repeated her unanswered question. “Where are you taking us?”

Of course, she was concerned. He understood that. He should have explained his plan. “Sorry, sometimes I forget to share my thoughts. Comes from being on my own most of my life. And ridin’ behind a bunch of cows that don’t care nothing about what I have to say.”

Her knuckles looked ready to pop out of her skin.

All because he couldn’t corral his words. “I thought we should take the time to talk about our plans.” Give her the chance to change her mind before they went to the preacher.

Miss Faraday shifted, pulling Susie tight to her chest, ignoring the child’s squirming protest.

“Are you going to inform me you’ve changed your mind?” Words as cold as winter ice.

“No. No.” The trail led away from town, inviting him to return to the ranch. Instead, he turned aside to a grove of trees and stopped the horses. “All I want is to make sure yer still in agreement.”

“I’m here, aren’t I? Isn’t that proof enough?”

“Suppose it is. We could have us a picnic before we proceed.”

Susie squirmed free at that offer. “You gots food?”

A chuckle eased past the tightness in his chest. “Sure do. Wanna see what there is?” He waited for Miss Faraday to indicate what she wanted. Town lay in sight. She seemed to study the distance.

Of course. Deciding if she needed to make her way back. Could be that one look at him had changed her mind.

Finally, she nodded. “I don’t mind eating.”

He got down and reached for Susie. The little one hesitated. He let her take stock of him. He recognized the look in her eyes. Eager, yet cautious. Yearning for affection, fearing to trust it.

“I won’t hurt you, little one.”

Her blue eyes flashed. She smiled. One corner of her mouth slightly higher than the other.

Rowena had smiled like that. He pushed aside the memory.

Rowena had left him. Had picked another man for her husband.

He would not let the hurt of that experience have anything to do with how he responded to this child.

She nodded and held out her arms for him to lift her down. Her giggles were like a sweet bird song. Or was it only their singing that tangled in his head?

“Hear the birds?” He nodded toward the trees.

“Are they singing ’cause they happy?”

“Sure sounds like it to me.” He helped Miss Faraday to the ground, noting that she pulled her hand back as if stung by his touch. Nerves and uncertainty could do that. Never mind his being a total stranger. Apart from the letters they’d sent back and forth.

A colorful quilt and a large wicker basket waited in the back of the wagon, and he carried both to a grassy spot by the trees. “Anybody hungry?” he asked after he’d spread the quilt.

“Me. Me.” Susie plopped down beside the basket.

Miss Faraday came forward slower, more cautious. She studied him. Just as he studied her. Eyes as brown as mink fur and as steady as a rock. He liked that. It informed him she wasn’t the sort to pretend one thing while doing another.

Unable to think of anything else, he repeated his question. “Are ya hungry?”

A smile started in her eyes and slipped to her lips. “I am.”

“Then let’s eat.” He waved his hand to invite her to sit and waited until she did.

With a grace that caused him to swallow loudly, she sank to the ground on the far side of the quilt, the patches of green, blue, red, and black separating them. She folded her hands, her eyes on the basket.

“I’ll pray.” Each word squeezed from his lassoed and knotted throat.

He bowed his head. Remembered his new hat.

Couldn’t pray with his hat on. He set it on the ground next to the quilt.

Trailed a finger across the brim. Blinked.

And stuttered out his words. “Bless the food we are about to receive. Bless those we share it with. Amen.” Cleared his throat.

Which didn’t help ease the tightness. “Let’s see what we have. ”

Susie leaned forward to peer into the basket as he folded back the white cloth Addie had covered it with. A tiny sigh from the child fluttered the strand of sunshine-colored hair hanging across her cheek.

“What’cha got?” Her voice quivered with anticipation.

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.”

Their study of each other continued. Again, he told hisself he liked her steady gaze. Seemed it would be impossible for her to have secrets. And she offered almost everything he wanted.

“The child is more’n welcome. And so are you.” Warmth pressed to the back of his eyes as he forced the other words from his mouth. “I want more’n a marriage in name only.”

“I understand.” Pink stained her cheeks and she nodded. “I agreed to marry you and I have not changed my mind.” Perhaps understanding his uncertainties, she added in a strong, promising tone, “I have found there are far more important things in life than education.”

“Such as?” What would a woman who had been to college and taught school for a few years consider more important than book learning?

“Kindness, honesty, and loyalty.”

“Ah. Couldn’t agree more.” No doubt there was a history behind her choice of words. Even as his own words came from his past. “Then if yer certain, what say we go to the preacher and get it done?”

Her nod was decisive. “I say we do it.” She put the picnic things together and called Susie.

With the colorful quilt in his arms, he led the way back to the wagon, helped them all to the seat, and turned back to town.

Preacher Ingram met them in his front room, crowded with furniture. His wife and neighbor lady were to serve as witnesses and smiled kindly.

“If the two of you understand the seriousness of this ceremony, that you are vowing before God to honor your marriage as long as you both live…” He paused and waited for them to both nod in agreement. “Then stand before me. Flint, repeat after me. I, Flint March—”

Flint promised to have and hold, to love and to cherish— Perhaps he should have asked for love to be erased from what he promised but then wasn’t it really what he wanted and hoped for—love to last through better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness and health?

Course he was more’n willing to settle for better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness and health without love.

Seems that should be possible. But forever was enough for him.

Miss Faraday spoke her vows. A smile warmed his insides at knowing that there was now a Mrs. March.

“You may kiss your bride.”

The preacher’s words rattled through Flint’s head. He hadn’t expected such gestures to begin right off and with people watching. No sir. He’d thought they’d be alone and taking their time.

The preacher cleared his throat.

Flint turned to his wife— what a strange word that was for him to use.

Her eyes were wide, perhaps a little afraid, a little hopeful, even a little wounded. Perhaps figuring he wouldn’t give her the kiss the preacher had called for.