Page 38 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
They rolled on, the horses needing no guidance from Gwen, and she began to relax. Matt was beside her. The day was lovely. Lindy had stopped bouncing around and sat in the back of the wagon. All was right in her world. She was almost ready to thank Patricia for forcing this move on her.
A shadow erupted from the trees beside the trail. The horses broke into a gallop. Gwen jolted, her heart hammering with alarm. The wagon bounced, practically throwing her from the seat. She gripped the reins but didn’t know what else to do.
“Matt!”
His hands closed around hers. “I’ve got this. Let me take the reins.”
The calmness of his voice enabled her to suck in air. Slowly, she withdrew her fingers. Matt pulled back, calling to the horses to whoa.
The wagon bounced and lurched. Gwen held to the seat to keep from being thrown out. Her throat closed off. She sucked in her lips and prayed that Lindy was safe in the back.
They slowed and came to a halt, the horses breathing loudly. Matt sat back. Sweat beaded his forehead. They stared at each other, fear still claiming her. Nausea made her dizzy. She should have never let him convince her to try controlling the wagon. She had no idea what to do to stop the horses. They could have all been killed.
Tears she never allowed burned her eyes.
* * *
Matt set the brake.He looked back to check on Lindy. She held to the side of the wagon, her eyes big.
“That was scary.” Then she laughed. “And fun.”
Seeing she was all right, Matt turned to Gwen, her shoulder softly shaking with sobs. His heart twisted with something different than the panic that had claimed him a few minutes ago. Not knowing what else to do and acting out of an instinct he hadn’t been aware of, he pulled her to his chest. “We’re safe. No harm done.”
She clutched his shirt front. “It’s my fault. I didn’t know what to do.” Each word came out on a sob.
If anyone could be blamed, it was Matt. Thinking about how this might have turned out, his arms tightened around her. Was this how Roscoe and Merry had ended? Their hearts screaming with fear before they crashed. Did Lindy realize the similarity to her parents’ accident? He glanced back again but her attention was on the trail behind them.
“Uncle Matt, look.”
A cow moose trotted away, two calves at her heels.
He eased Gwen up. “That’s what frightened the horses.” He pointed, trying to divert her attention from her fear.
She dried her eyes on her sleeve so she could see.
“We came between the cow and her babies. She was protecting them.”
Gwen sniffled. “Good for her but what a scare.” She tipped her head to look into Matt’s face.
His eyes followed the trail of dampness on her cheeks, remnants of her tears. His gaze stopped at her eyes, full of…what? Gratitude at being alive, he supposed, though it felt more personal, more intimate than that.
Death could have so easily claimed her. He hadn’t forgotten how much it hurt to lose someone he cared for.Stop right there.He would not be going in that direction. Thankfully, he hadn’t let himself grow fond of her. Heat rose behind his eyeballs as he insisted that was the truth. “We best be on our way.” He eased her from his arms, took up the reins, and continued the journey.
Everyone was quiet for the remainder of the trip until town came into sight. He’d promised to show Gwen around and he turned down the first side street. They passed half a dozen houses before he pulled to a halt in front of the church.
“Crow Crossing Church,” he announced. “We’ll go tomorrow morning. It’s one of the earliest buildings apart from the businesses on Main Street. Thanks to Ma. She insisted we must have a church. She persuaded Pa to donate money and then visited the other ranchers to convince them the area would benefit from having a place of worship. Within a year of our arrival, this building was erected. We had an older man as preacher at first, but he passed on one winter and Reverend Ingram and his wife replaced him. They have a daughter, Edie, but she hasn’t been here for a long time.”
“Where is she?”
“Gone east as far as I know.”
Gwen’s attention went to the graveyard beside the church. She gave him a look full of silent questioning.
He lowered his voice. “My parents are there. So are hers.” He tipped his head to indicate he meant Lindy. He urged the horses forward and returned to Main Street.
Gwen looked from side to side, taking in all the businesses, not that there were many—the blacksmith shop, a harness shop, and the mercantile where he pulled to a halt. Beyond that was the livery barn and across the street, the railway station.
Lindy was on the ground immediately. “Uncle Matt, can I have a candy stick?”
