Page 7 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
“Everyone is waiting to meet you.” Lindy studied Gwen with narrowed eyes. “Uncle Luke said you and Uncle Matt were getting married.”
“We decided to wait a little while.” She spoke gently, calmly to the child which met Matt’s approval.
Lindy cocked her head. “Why?”
Gwen looked to Matt as if expecting he would answer but he wanted to hear what she would say. Acknowledgment flickered through her eyes. “He needs time to decide if we suit each other.”
“Suit? What’s that mean?”
“It means there are some things you shouldn’t rush into.”
“Would you like to fly?”
Lindy’s question startled Matt. Not that he wasn’t unfamiliar with her swift changes of topics.
Gwen laughed. “It does look exciting but only if I had wings. Being on the ground watching the birds swoop and soar is fun too.”
“Like this.” Lindy held her arms out and flapped like a bird.
Gwen met Matt’s gaze. Her eyes were sparkling. Her mouth curving. She was obviously amused by the child. Her smile flattened and the moment hung from a fragile thread as a silent message passed between them. Had she realized that he was, at that very moment, assessing her?
“Sit down, Lindy, so we can continue,” he said.
She perched on the edge of the seat between Matt and Gwen and continued to wave her arms as if by doing so, she powered the wagon forward. Suddenly, she stopped.
“Uncle Luke said I hafta move to your house.”
“That’s right. Remember we set up a bed in one of the bedrooms.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
He didn’t point out that things would be different now. Before he answered, Gwen spoke.
“I’m hoping we can do many fun things together.”
Lindy bounced around to look at her. “Like what?”
“Tell me what you like to do.”
“Fly.” She again waved her arms like a bird.
Gwen chuckled. “Anything else?”
Lindy sat back. “Mama used to read to me. I liked that. And Papa chased me.” She shifted her gaze to Matt. “You ‘member?”
“Of course, I do.” He’d chased her too, but he understood it wasn’t the same as Roscoe being there to do it. Even though he couldn’t replace her father, he’d do his utmost to give the child a happy, secure home.
Gwen spoke. “Maybe you’ll like the book I brought you. Do you like games and picnics?”
Lindy lowered her arms and nodded.
They turned the last corner toward the houses.
“Ma and Pa and us boys lived in that cabin to begin with.” Matt pointed out the original cabin and then directed her attention to the house further along the trail. “The big house Pa built.” They approached the building. “It’s where Luke lives.”
“And you and everybody.” Lindy squinted at Matt as if she thought he needed reminding of that fact.
It was true, since Roscoe and Merry’s accident, they’d congregated there, mostly to take care of Lindy.
