Page 3 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes (Montana Mail-Order Brides #7)

Chapter Two

B rynlee stared at the man she’d married not a full minute ago.

She’d expected things to be different now.

She’d be accepted. Valued even. Not just for what she did— cooking, cleaning, child tending, or teaching— but for her.

Herself. A plain old maid. Eyes too probing.

Like a lizard, one young man had said when she refused to let him stare her down after he’d made an unkind remark.

Everything else about her was unremarkable.

Not just ordinary, but plain. She tried to blink but couldn’t force her eyelids to lower.

He’d made it clear that this union was to include physical intimacy.

Yet he couldn’t even bring himself to kiss her.

Why did she anticipate so much? Marriage was enough. Kindness, fidelity. She didn’t need more. The sound of him clearing his throat sent a shudder racing up her arms and into her heart.

“Do ya mind?” The words echoed in the silent, expectant room.

Was he asking permission to kiss her? Was he nervous rather than reluctant?

“Of course not.” She tipped her face toward him.

Noted the fine lines in his face. Brown and white alternating.

Weathered and colored by the sun. Something about knowing he had withstood the forces of nature eased the tension from her limbs and warmed her inside.

As he lowered his head, she closed her eyes.

The brush of his lips was as gentle as spring. His breath was warm and sweet. Smelling of coffee and the ginger cookies they’d so recently enjoyed.

“Auntie Bryn, you looks funny.”

Brynlee realized the kiss had ended but she stood with her eyes still closed and her face upturned. She opened her eyes.

Flint stood upright, smiling down at her. How long had they stayed thus?

“Congratulations, I wish you all the best.” The preacher’s words shattered the moment. His wife and the kindly neighbor added their best wishes.

A few minutes later, they were back in the wagon and headed out of town. Brynlee kept her attention straight ahead. Should she apologize for her temporary lapse of… of… whatever it was? Or let Flint draw his own conclusions? Did he think she was bemused? Or resistant?

“It’ll take us almost two hours to get to the ranch. You’ll be fine?”

“Certainly. But Susie might get restless.”

“She can play in the back if ya think she’ll be safe.”

“She’d like that.” Before she could think what to do, he lifted Susie over the bench and into the back.

Brynlee handed Susie her rag doll and blanket and the child was immediately absorbed in play, leaving Brynlee with no one…

nothing… between her and Flint. Her husband.

Not that it was a new thought. She’d carried it in her head and her heart from the time she accepted his offer of marriage.

As she disposed of unneeded possessions and packed what she needed.

She’d traveled across the great continent, slept on the hard wooden benches, and tried to keep Susie happy.

But the reality was a different matter. It felt strange and awkward and downright unsettling.

With a breathy sigh, Flint resettled himself on the bench. “I told ya about the house that’s ta be ours, didn’t I?”

“You said it was small and well built.” Which gave her no ability to picture it. She’d come up with several possibilities— a one-room shack that was cozy. Or a log cabin with a loft for sleeping. Perhaps even a long, narrow building.

“’Tis that. The previous owners built it when they first started ranchin’ then they built a bigger house. But don’cha worry. It’s a good ‘nough house so long as yer not fussy.”

She chuckled. “All I ask for is a roof over my head and walls to keep out winter snows. Oh, and a bed to lay my head on. And a stove to cook on.”

His chuckle was pleasantly deep and rumbling. “We got all that and more. If ya like the mountains, we get a good sight of them.”

“During the journey, I read again Isaiah, my favorite book in the Bible. The tenth verse in chapter fifty-four caught my attention.” It had burrowed deep into her heart and strengthened her faith.

“‘ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. ’” She’d been reminded that although she was going into the unknown, she was going with God’s kindness and protection.

“Wishing I could read better.”

Would he be offended if she offered to teach him? Or she could make a point of reading aloud when he was in the room. Instead of voicing the possibilities she addressed something that she wondered about.

“Why didn’t you go to school?”

Another of those deep chuckles. “There ain’t no school behind a herd of cows ‘cepting the one of hard knocks and I had my share of them.”

“But surely you didn’t do that when you were a child?”

He studied his hands. Rearranged his feet. Looked into the distance.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

He drew in air and expelled it slowly. “Ain’t anything ya shouldn’t know. Just tryin’ ta think how ta explain.”

“I’d like to hear.” She hoped her soft words enticed him to continue.

“I don’t remember a time I didn’t ride with my pa.

First, in front of him in the saddle then behind him, and then on my own horse.

Ya see, I grew up on a horse, lookin’ out on cows.

” He momentarily left off watching the tail end of the horses to glance her way.

“I maybe make it sound worse than it was. Pa was good ta me. Taught me lots. He always meant to teach me my letters, but ya know? After a hard day of ridin’ sleep seemed more important. ”

“I see. And your mother?”

One shoulder rose then dropped. “Don’t remember her.

She died when I was young. I think maybe three or four.

” He turned to study Susie who had fallen asleep on her blanket.

“Bout her age.” Pale eyes met hers, filled with resolve and— if she had to guess— a load of determination.

“A child deserves ta know home, safety, and love, don’cha think? ”

At the way he spoke, with such tenderness and concern for Susie, her throat tightened making words impossible. She could only nod.

Flint turned back to watching the trail ahead of them.

Her voice returned. “We appear to have a lot in common. My own mother died when I was four. I lived with my maternal grandparents after that. They were kind but not overly affectionate.” Was there a slight tremble in her words?

The wheels continued to turn. The trail slid under the wagon as the talk between them grew to a halt. Then he straightened. “My life wasn’t bad. Just not what a child should have.”

“Same here.”

They both glanced back at Susie and then looked at each other. She hoped what she saw in his gaze was an echo of her own intention. “I hope Susie can enjoy a different sort of childhood.”

His gaze held hers. Gray eyes blazing. His mouth tightened. “Guess it’s up to us to make sure she does.”

The moment locked in stillness and stares.

Brynlee nodded. He’d taken on the task of making a child’s life sweet.

A child who wasn’t his. If she needed proof of the sort of man she’d married, this provided it.

Her heart overflowed with joy… or was it gratitude?

Or the promise and hope for her own security?

Unevenness in the road bounced them and she turned back to regarding the trail.

“The Shannon place.” He pointed to the right. Up the hill, a mile or so from the road, along the crest of a valley, stood a row of houses and an array of outbuildings.

“I don’t know who the Shannons are, but it looks like they have a small town.”

“There’s four sons and a long-time hired man living there. They got a bunkhouse for other hired hands.” His gaze lingered on the passing buildings. “They’s partly responsible for Jayce and me getting mail-order brides.”

“That sounds like a story I’d like to hear.” She kept her gaze on the buildings until the trail curved away.

“Five of them got married that way. It’s worked out good.”

“So, their success gave you confidence it would work out for you too?” She meant the question to be reassuring but it might have come out sounding a bit challenging.

The slight jerk of his head was the only indication that he’d heard. Not that she’d expected any more illumination on the subject.

“I believe it will work out good for both of us.” He glanced back at Susie. Slowly his gaze came to Brynlee. “For us all.” It seemed as much hope and prayer as anything.

Guessing her eyes were too big but unable to correct the matter, she held his gaze. “We will succeed if it depends on me.”

“I intend to make it work.”

These were the vows they should have spoken at the preacher’s parlor, but having given and heard the words now, Brynlee sat back with more confidence than she’d felt since she’d left home.

Only one thing bothered her. From what he'd said he’d never had a woman’s influence in his life. No mother. Raised around cowboys and cows. Rowena’s visit had only been for the summer so even that was too short in duration for him to have grown familiar with sharing his days with a woman and child.

It could prove interesting.

Or disastrous.

Flint turned her words over and over in his mind. She had not shown any hint that living with her grandparents had been difficult. Yet when she spoke of young Susie, he could tell she wanted something more for the little girl. So did he. On that, they agreed.

Snuffling and shuffling behind him let him know Susie had wakened.

“Auntie, I gots to go to the toilet.”

Not waiting for Miss Faraday— hold on, she was now Mrs. March— to tell him he should, Flint guided the team off the trail and to a stop. He got down and lifted Susie from the box.

The child didn’t resist but she ducked her head as if needing to hide her face from him.

How long would it take for him to win her trust? And more? Her affection? The answers lay in the future.