Page 58 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
“Tell Gwen I won’t be back tonight.”
Luke rocked back on his heels. “My pleasure.” His grin was wickedly teasing. The look in his eyes made Matt want to grind his teeth together.
“Don’t forget she’s mine.”
“You neglected to put a ring on her finger. Guess that means I can do my best to convince her she’d be making a mistake to marry you when I’m available.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Matt growled the words.
Luke’s reply was a mocking laugh.
Although he knew Luke was teasing, trying to get a rise out of him, he reined down the trail. “Never mind. I’ll tell her myself. And you leave her alone.” He went to the house and informed Gwen he wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.
“Oh.” A whole lot of disappointment laced that little word. “Well, have a good trip.”
“Thanks, and you have a good day.” He returned to the horse and continued toward his destination.
Seemed like she might miss him.
13
Laundry flapped on the line. Gwen had certainly not gotten it done before breakfast, but she didn’t mind. It gave her something to do to pass the long hours. She hadn’t planted the rose bush Opal had brought her, either. To do so signified she knew she’d be staying. She smiled as she dug a spot for it under the kitchen window.
She put the bush into the hole and packed dirt around it. The idea of a marriage in name only didn’t sound as appealing as it had when she first arrived, but it guaranteed her a home. And a permanent place in Matt’s life. That was enough for her. It had to be.
Lindy darted in and out of Gwen’s presence. There was something about the child today that made Gwen sit back on her heels to watch her. Perhaps she was sorrowful and didn’t know how to deal with her feelings.
Gwen made up her mind. “Let’s have a picnic lunch.” She watered the newly-planted bush.
Lindy skidded to a halt. “Can we go down to the valley?”
“I promised I wouldn’t go without Matt.” Or one of the other men but she couldn’t imagine going with anyone else.
“Oh.” Lindy’s shoulders sank.
“I think you might have other favorite places to go.”
Lindy considered the words for a moment. “You wanna have a picnic in the loft with the cats?”
The loft? Gwen shuddered. “Wouldn’t you prefer being in the sunshine?” She lifted her face to the sky. “It’s such a nice day. We could go back to the table in the clearing.” She hoped Lindy would choose something… anything but the loft.
“Can we go past Uncle Luke’s house?”
The child had been forbidden to go beyond on her own, but they could go together. She was curious to see more. “That sounds like fun. Give me time to clean up and make a lunch.”
The laundry wasn’t dry yet so Gwen could leave with a clear conscience, and she packed food for them both.
They passed Luke’s house and the place where the trail divided; one side leading to the valley floor. They stayed on the other branch. Lindy skipped ahead with all the assurance of having been this way before. After a bit of running and flapping her arms, Lindy fell back to walk by Gwen.
She chattered like a magpie as they continued on their way. Why was the sky blue? Do birds ever fall from the sky? Had Gwen ever seen a baby horse born? Lindy had once with her pa. Would Lindy have to leave when she grew up?
Gwen chuckled. “You might fall in love and marry someone and be willing to go wherever he wanted.”
Lindy shook her head. “No, I won’t.” She ground to a halt to stare at Gwen. “Are you sad to be here? You know, ’cause you had to leave your before home.”
Gwen scooped up the child, hugged her, and kissed her neck. “If I hadn’t left my previous home, I would never have met you. So how can I be sad?” It was true. She no longer held any regret about leaving Kellom. Patricia had been unkind about persuading Gwen to go but she’d been right. There was nothing for her back there. She released Lindy to run ahead. Here her future glowed with joy.
They found a grassy spot for their picnic that gave Gwen a view north to green hills. The mountains glistened to the west. They giggled together at a ladybug climbing a stalk of grass. And at a flock of blackbirds flying overhead.
