Page 40 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
She looked around. “Are you taking me to a special place?”
Special? He hadn’t thought of it that way. It was a spot he and Corine had enjoyed. Shouldn’t he be wanting to keep the place just between Corine and himself? He shrugged. “It’s an often-used place by the river. Many go there for picnics.” And courting. But this time he was only going for the former. He turned off the road to a grassy trail. With a jolt, he realized the last time he’d been here was with Corine before she’d gone home to make arrangements for their wedding.
His attention shifted to more immediate concerns as he guided the wagon between trees and around rocks until they reached the grassy bank of the river where he stopped.
Lindy jumped down, but Gwen and Matt sat taking in the scene. This side of the river was a gentle, treed slope except for a high spot to the right. The far side had a steep, rocky bank. His gaze went toward a thicket of trees to the left. He and Corine had put their blanket there and spent the afternoon making plans. He’d kissed her tenderly knowing she was leaving on the morning train, and he wouldn’t see her for several weeks.
He’d never seen her again.
He must have groaned or sighed overly loud because Gwen touched his arm. “Is something wrong?”
Matt looked away from that spot. “No.” He got down and reached up to help her.
Her feet on the ground, she looked into his face. “I feel there is something about this place that bothers you. Do you want to change your mind and go elsewhere?” Her eyes were so gentle and kind that he decided he wanted nothing more than to provide her a time of enjoyment.
He put his memories aside and smiled down at her. “I can think of no place I’d sooner have a picnic.” Her flashing smile brought an echoing happiness to his heart.
“Then let’s have a picnic.”
The air was suddenly clearer as he reached for the basket of food and the quilt he’d tossed in.
“Wait. Let’s explore first, if you don’t mind.” Gwen looked almost as eager as Lindy who raced up and down the trail, her arms flapping.
“Let’s.” He left the supplies in the wagon and together they walked along the bank.
“It’s such a cheerful little stream compared to what I’m used to.”
Of course. Kellom was along the Mississippi. This river must look unremarkable in contrast.
She continued. “It seems to sing as it hurries along. And it’s so clear. I can see the rocks at the bottom.”
“It will run fuller when the snow melts on the mountains.”
“What’s the name of this river?”
“Well, if Pa had his way, it would be called Shannon River.” His expression and tone were serious.
She grinned widely. “But it’s not?”
“It’s Crow River.”
“Ahh, so that’s why the town is Crow Crossing?”
“Pa objected to that as well.”
“Lindy talks about her crow family.”
“Birds?” he asked.
She gave him a curious look. “Yes. What else would it be?”
“Crow Crossing refers to a native tribe. It seems it was a common place for them to cross. Back when…”
“When what?” she prodded.
“When they were free to roam and hunt buffalo.” He heard the deepening of his voice as he thought of those former days.
They stood in contemplative silence for a moment then resumed their walk. Gwen expressed pleasure at everything they saw—ducks swimming on the water with little ducklings in their wake, tiny white flowers hiding behind rocks, and the different leaves on different trees. He was pleased to be able to provide the names of the trees but couldn’t identify the white flower.
