Page 13 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
“Did Matt say you have no family back east?”
Matt had told them very little about the woman he hoped to marry. Mostly because he didn’t care to hear an opinion from any of them. Also, because he didn’t know much.
“My parents died six years ago leaving me and my brother. I kept house for him until recently when he married.” She glanced down at her plate, the only sign that her brother’s marriage had cost her the only home she’d known since she was orphaned. “I needed to move on and the West beckoned. When Mrs. Ingram and Mrs. Strong set us together as being a compatible match for what we both wanted I knew this was the place for me. So far, they seem to be right.”
Her answer silenced his brothers. Momentarily.
Luke cleared his throat before he spoke. “If you change your mind about him, I’ll give you a home. You might like my house better’n his.”
Gwen chuckled. “I think we’ll do just fine together.” She turned her steady gaze to Matt. “I believe my parents would approve of you.”
Matt wasn’t one to gloat. He left that up to his twin, but he felt a sudden urge to expand his chest and give a triumphant look.
“My mama and papa died when their wagon ran down a steep hill and crashed.” Stunned silence followed Lindy’s frank description of the accident. Who had even told her the details of her parents’ deaths?
Lindy continued, unaware of how her statement had surprised them all. “They flew out like birds. Now they’ve flown right up to heaven. That’s what Mrs. Ingram told me.”
Gwen glanced around the table. Maybe she expected someone to respond to Lindy’s words but Matt, for one, didn’t know what to say. He knew his brothers and Wally were equally at a loss.
Gwen turned back to Lindy. “I understand heaven is a beautiful place.”
Lindy bounced around in her chair to address Gwen. “Do they have birds there?”
Gwen wrapped her arm across Lindy’s shoulders and ducked her forehead to Lindy’s. “I don’t know exactly what heaven is like, but I know God will provide everything we need to be perfectly happy.”
Lindy nodded. “That’s what Mrs. Ingram said.”
Silence, as stiff and hollow as a reed, followed her words.
Wally was the first to recover and he pushed back. “I made peach cobbler for dessert. Don’t expect anyone wants some.”
“I do,” Lindy yelled.
A short time later, the meal ended, and Gwen insisted on helping with the dishes. Lindy ran outside to play before anyone could suggest she should grab a towel and dry. Not that they expected her to work. She was, after all, only four. Though, in Matt’s opinion, it was never too young to learn a little responsibility.
As soon as the kitchen was clean, Matt rose. “We’ll be heading home.”
Riley tipped back his chair. “Wait a minute. Haven’t you forgotten something?”
Matt looked around. “I don’t think so.” His brothers and Wally all gave him dark looks but he could think of no reason.
Riley lowered his chair to all fours. “You didn’t get married.”
“I explained my decision.”
“You won’t be sleeping at your house.” Why was Riley suddenly all big brother and bossy?
“Says who?” He bristled at being ordered around in that fashion.
“You didn’t marry her.” Riley spoke slowly as if dealing with a child.
Matt rubbed the back of his neck which had developed a painful knot. “As I recall, you told me I was acting prematurely to rush into a marriage.”
“Yeah, I did but you ignored my advice.”
“Riley, I took it. I decided to give us both”—he tipped his head to indicate he included Gwen— “opportunity to assess our decision.”
Riley’s hands bunched into fists. “Seems to me you left it a little too late.”
