Page 48 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
Breakfast was ready to serve when Matt stepped into the house. He ground to a halt and stared. Heat raced up Gwen’s neck and not from the stove. She touched her hair. “I need to let it dry.” It was all she could do not to scoop it up and secure it at the back of her head.
He swallowed audibly and nodded.
Forcing her attention to the task at hand, she carried the food to the table.
Lindy barely waited for Matt’s amen before she tossed her head sending her braid flying across her face.
“Uncle Matt, do you like my hair?”
Matt narrowed his eyes and studied the child. “Have you done something with it?”
Lindy sat back with a huff. “It’s braided like Mama used to do.”
Matt blinked. “Why so it is.” He grinned and Gwen realized he was teasing. “How’d you manage that?”
Lindy huffed again. “Auntie Gwen did it.” She turned her head and flung the braid once more. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
Matt patted Lindy’s head. “It’s very nice.”
Lindy beamed. “I know.”
Matt’s gaze came to Gwen, swept over her face, taking in her hair. Her pulse beat in her neck, suffusing her cheeks which she felt blaze with heat.
He cleared his throat and turned back to his breakfast allowing Gwen to ease air into her lungs. Finished, he pushed from the table. “I’ll be back in half an hour to pick you up.”
She stared after him. Was she imagining he’d left in a hurry? Only one explanation came to mind. Seeing her with her hair loose had unsettled him. Her eyes crinkled with secret amusement. It was time he saw her as more than a mother for Lindy.
When the wagon rattled to the door, she and Lindy went out to join the others. Matt’s brothers and Wally sat in the back and Lindy jumped in to join them. Matt held out a hand to assist her to the seat. “Your hair is up.”
Did he sound surprised? Pleased? She wished she knew. “I wouldn’t go to church with it down.”
“Humph. I kind of liked it that way.” His words were barely more than a whisper as if he didn’t want the others to overhear.
She positioned herself on the wooden bench and stared at the rumps of the horses. He liked her hair down…an acknowledgment of her hope he had begun to see her for herself.
They arrived at the church and trooped in—she found amusement in the tromp of five pairs of boots on the wooden floor. Matt stepped aside and waited for his brothers and Wally to slide into one pew then indicated she should go to the one behind. Holding Lindy’s hand, she took her place with Matt sitting on the other side of Lindy. Several people looked her way, but no one stared.
The preacher rose. Pastor Ingram—the man who was supposed to have married Gwen and Matt. His gaze rested on her with softness and welcome. It was like a benediction.
The songs were familiar and the reading of God’s word as warm and comforting as a familiar blanket. Pastor Ingram spoke from the twenty-third Psalm. Reminding them of God’s great care.
Gwen drew the words into her soul. God had brought her here to a place of green pastures and still waters. As Pastor Ingram prayed his closing prayer, she added her own words.Thank you for bringing me here. I love the landscape. I love the ranch and Lindy. I even—
She stopped at that. No point in being greedy.
As they filed out, people greeted her, and Matt introduced the neighbors. Mostly married couples or cowboys—from young to old. Everyone welcomed her. A couple of the cowboys might have held her hand longer than acceptable but moved on when Matt cleared his throat.
The last of the congregants departed and Mrs. Ingram joined Gwen and the circle of Shannon cowboys.
“Matt, I’ve been thinking about this situation. Mrs. Strong trusted me to see that Miss Humber was properly taken care of. She’d be shocked to learn I’ve failed. I spoke to Mr. Ingram about it. He’s agreed to perform the ceremony today.”
No one moved or said anything as her words fell like crashing rocks.
“But Ma’am—” Matt began when he’d recovered from her announcement.
Mrs. Ingram forged on not giving him a chance to finish. “Have you found her acceptable?” The woman faced the circle of men. “Your brothers are here. Do any of you have a reason Miss Humber isn’t suitable as Matt’s wife?”
“No, ma’am,” they mumbled, shifting from foot to foot.
