Page 21 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
“See. My things are here.” Her jaw trembled along with her shoulders.
He should have thought to take everything over before now. “We need to take them to your new room.”
She slammed the drawer so hard it bounced open again. She slammed it again and again.
Gwen sat on the little cot. “Lindy, you don’t need to move your things unless you want to.”
Lindy sank to the floor and pulled her knees to her chest.
Matt strode from the house. How dare Gwen defy him before the child?
The others sat in their saddles watching him. Scamp bounced eagerly at the heels of the horses. The dog did like to work. Matt’s own mount was ready to ride. He jumped to the saddle and reined about. “What’s taking you fellas so long?” He galloped from the yard.
Luke was the only one who kept up with him. The other two sauntered along at a leisurely pace. Huh.So much for we gotta get the work done.
Luke hollered at him. “See you didn’t make it to the barn. You sure she’ll be safe? Maybe she’ll take in her mind to ride a bull. Or jump from the loft. Or—”
“She’s not an idiot,” Matt yelled.
“Seems you should be telling yourself that.” Luke fell back and left Matt to gallop ahead on his own.
Was his twin suggesting he treated Gwen like she was an idiot?
What did Luke know? What did Gwen know? Matt wasn’t even sure what he wanted any longer. Except a woman to take care of Lindy. He just hadn’t imagined the woman might have ideas opposing his.
He slowed his horse and waited for the others to catch up. No way was he going to say anything about what had happened. The last thing he wanted was all their rag tail suggestions about what he should do.
He knew without their input. But was he going to do it?
Good thing he would be gone most of the day. It’d give him time to think. And give Gwen far too much time to explore on her own. Who knew what kind of trouble she’d get herself into? He should have taken the time to ask Wally to keep an eye on her.
His own words echoed in his head. She wasn’t an idiot. But his insides did not relax, and they wouldn’t until he returned home and saw for himself that she and Lindy were both safe and sound.
What had he gotten himself into?
* * *
Gwen lookedat the empty doorway Matt had strode from. She’d displeased him. She shouldn’t have interfered with his decision to move Lindy’s clothing and belongings to his house. At the least, she should have asked him before she spoke to the child. Sensing Lindy’s distress, she’d acted from her heart, wanting to assure Lindy it wasn’t their intent to take her from what was familiar. Moving to Matt’s house must feel like she was being ripped from the only home she’d ever known. There was no reason they couldn’t wait for her to feel comfortable with the changes that had been thrust into her life.
On one hand, she regretted her action. She’d never convince Matt she was what he wanted for a wife, or more correctly, a mother for Lindy, if she kept opposing him. But she’d done the right thing for the child. She’d explain it to Matt if he’d give her a chance. But she’d watched him ride away with the others and knew he’d be gone all day.
Outdoors, she almost spread her arms out like Lindy did and twirl around. To not be on display…on trial, was freeing. But she wasn’t a child, and she lowered her arms and settled for a quiet laugh. Then she slowly turned full circle. She was alone apart from Wally whom she’d seen disappear into the little cabin. And Lindy.
And the unknown.
She hadn’t been to the barn. Hadn’t been told where it was safe to go except not to Shannon Valley. At least he’d said he would take her down the trail at a later date.
Lindy came from the house, running and flapping her arms. It appeared she’d forgotten her upset.
“Come on.” Lindy reached for her hand. “I’ll show you my cat. She has three kittens. Their eyes are just opening. They are sooooo cute.”
Cute? It was a word Gwen seldom heard. Where had Lindy learned it? Her parents perhaps. She let Lindy lead her into the barn. As she stepped through the door, she inhaled deeply. The aroma was sharp and at the same time, calming. She nudged a pile of hay and a sweet, almost spicy smell hit her. She stood in a wide alleyway. On either side were wooden gates and dividers. The tops of each sturdy wooden bar were worn down by something.
“Lindy, why are the boards so uneven looking?”
“Oh that. The horses chew on them when they’re bored. Come on. Let’s go see Cat.”
Gwen let Lindy drag her onward to a side alley where she came face to face with a ladder attached to the wall, leading to the floor overhead. She sucked in the musty air of the barn and held it in her lungs as Lindy scampered up the rungs. At the top, Lindy peered over the edge.
