Page 26 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
Gwen pulled only enough rhubarb for pies, leaving many red stalks. She’d see about preserving the remainder if no one objected to her doing so.
Back at the house, she made pie crust as Lindy played outside, often out of sight but returning often enough that Gwen didn’t worry about her. She concentrated on baking suspecting how well she managed was part of how she’d be judged. Not that she worried about that. She was a good cook and had lots of experience with meal preparation.
Wait until Matt tasted her pie. She had often received compliments on her baking—cookies, cakes, and pies.
The pies were in the oven. She checked the roast and then prepared vegetables for the meal. She glanced at the clock. It was time to set the potatoes to cook if Matt was to return at six. The sound of horse hooves informed her he would soon be there.
She checked the pies. The first was done. She was about to pull it from the oven when a scream from outdoors shattered the peace. The pies forgotten, she dashed out the door. The sound came from toward the clearing where they’d had a picnic and she raced in that direction. Lindy stood in the middle of the path, yelling, and roughing her hair.
Gwen caught her hands. “Lindy, what’s wrong?”
Lindy screamed, “Bee. Bee in my hair.” Her shrieks continued as she jerked free and rubbed her head.
“Stop. Let me look.” Gwen had to contend with Lindy’s flailing hands as she examined the child’s head. She found a bee trapped in the tangles and freed it. “It’s gone.” She lifted Lindy in her arms and held her tight. “It’s gone,” she repeated.
Lindy wrapped her arms and legs around Gwen and held on, sobbing loudly.
Gwen rubbed her back and made soothing sounds. Lindy slowly quieted and Gwen made her way back to the house, Lindy clinging to her. The moment she stepped inside, she knew her meal was in trouble.
She eased Lindy to a chair. “There you go.” If she had time, she would brush the child’s hair but that would have to wait.
She pushed the potatoes to a cooler spot hoping she could salvage them and opened the oven and bit back a groan. The pie was blackened beyond use. She pulled it out and stared at it.
At that inopportune moment, Matt strode in.
So much for proving she could present a satisfactory meal. She turned to face him. His scowl drew his eyebrows together in a way that informed her that he was not pleased. Laughter bubbled up her throat at the situation and she extended the pie toward him. “May I present to you a burnt offering?” At the deepening scowl on his face, she knew she’d said the wrong thing. He didn’t understand that she was only trying to see the humor in her failure. “Never mind.” She put the pie on the counter. “Not everything is ruined.” Thank goodness for the second pie.
* * *
Matt chewed back scolding words.He’d come home with the intention of apologizing for his behavior earlier in the day only to find his meal burning, and Lindy looking as neglected as a street urchin. The sight completely unraveled all his good intentions. He tried to recapture the peace he’d found out riding. The sunshine had been warm but not hot. The cows were scattered into three different valleys, but the cowboys were watching them. Boots had given them a list of food they needed. All in all, he’d enjoyed the day.
Until now.
He’d been clear as to what he wanted when he sent for Gwen: a mother for Lindy and someone to take care of the house. She said she’d tended her brother’s home for years. Was adding a child to her responsibilities so…so…unmanageable?
Words of criticism burned on his tongue. But he remembered how Pa’s careless remarks had hurt Ma and choked them back.
Luke had warned Matt to give Gwen time to adjust. “Don’t forget she’s a city girl. There will be a lot for her to get used to. And you can be such a grouch when things aren’t exactly as you want them.”
Matt had protested that he was never a grouch. He’d determined no one could accuse him of such. And now he had to live up to that decision. He pushed aside his initial reaction. “It’s not the end of the world.” Glancing around the kitchen, he noticed only a few pieces of wood were left in the wood box. “I’ll fill that while you finish making supper.”
“Thank you,” she called after him as he left the house.
There. He’d just proved Luke wrong. He wasn’t a grouch.
When he returned with an armload of wood, food was set on the table. He washed his hands and sat at the end. Lindy sat across the corner from him with Gwen at her side. Seems this was to be their places. For some reason, he didn’t care for the arrangement. But he couldn’t think of why he should object. Maybe Luke was right. Matt was getting irritable.
He said grace, filled his plate, and asked how they’d spent the day.
Lindy bounced forward. “We had a picnic. I showed her the baby kittens and we ’splored.”
Alarm bells rang inside Matt’s head. Exploring. Where? He soothed his fears. Gwen might be a city girl, but she wasn’t stupid. Nevertheless, there were dangers with which she was likely unfamiliar with.
He grew aware that Lindy waited with an eager expression and Gwen smiled though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Was she sensing his reaction? “It sounds like you had a fun day.” He lifted his gaze to Gwen. “I never did finish showing you around. I’d be happy to do that after supper if you like.”
Her smile lightened her entire face. “I’d like it very much.”
Lindy huffed. “I showed her everything.”
