Page 8 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
“And me. I live there.” Lindy sat back hard enough to make the seat bounce. “Now maybe I don’t.”
“But what fun we’ll have,” Gwen said.
“Good.” The child appeared satisfied with the promise.
It was on the tip of Matt’s tongue to remind them both that there were also rules and schedules but a warning look from Gwen made him change his mind.
Instead, he returned to telling her about the place. Before he could continue, Lindy spoke.
“That’s Uncle Wally’s house.” Lindy pointed to the original home. “’Cept he’s been at Uncle Luke’s house to help cook and look after me.”
Before her death, Merry had cooked for them. Her absence left a hole that a cook couldn’t replace but it would be nice to have someone to take care of proper meals for the child.
“Uncle Matt, who’s gonna do it now?”
“Aunt Gwen will cook for us, and Uncle Wally and the others will take turns just like they have been.” Unless Riley retreated to his own house and batched. Luke, too, might prefer his own company which would leave Andy on his own though Wally still felt the need to take care of the youngest Shannon from time to time.
Lindy studied Gwen as if by doing so she could assess what sort of changes her presence meant.
Matt went on with his description of the place. “Next to the big house is Riley’s. Further along, is mine.” It lay tucked in behind trees providing a bit of privacy. “Luke’s is the one sitting on the piece of land that juts out.”
“What made you all build your own houses if none of you are married?”
“Pa’s wishes. He thought we should all have our own homes.” He also thought each of them should wed and raise a family. Lots of little Shannon children. So far, they’d only achieved the houses and they all seemed content with that.
Luke strode out of the big house and stood waiting to greet them. In a more sedate fashion, the others followed—three men flanking him—Riley, Andy, and Wally. Great. Why not overwhelm Gwen at first glance?
He prepared to apologize but his words died on his lips as she chuckled.
“Looks like I’m attracting a lot of attention.” Humor flashed in her eyes like the sun on running water. “I’m not used to that.”
He was at a loss to know what to say. She was bound to be the center of interest around here. Would she object to it? He wondered what she saw. A crew of men. All bareheaded at the moment. Riley, tall and thin. Dark brown hair and even darker eyes. Eyes that seemed to hide things. Luke, Matt’s twin, taller than Matt, with lighter hair and lighter eyes. Then there was Andy. He was more like Ma than any of them with blond hair and blue eyes. He was also the tallest of them by one inch. And Matt knew that because, for years, Andy insisted on everyone measuring against the door frame.
Wally was older though Matt had no idea how old the man was. His hair was black with streaks of gray. His eyes were dark though Matt couldn’t have told Gwen what color. It wasn’t something that concerned him. The fact that Wally was a good man was of more importance than his eyes. He’d been faithful to the Shannon family for years.
The wagon stopped. Luke stepped forward and held out his arms to catch Lindy as she jumped down. He set her on the ground to let her continue pretending to fly.
Matt helped Gwen to the ground and then turned to introduce her to the waiting men.
Not waiting for Matt to make the first move, Luke stepped forward and took her hand. “Let me welcome you as my sister-in-law.”
Lindy paused from flapping her arms. “They never got married.”
Four pairs of eyes bored into Matt.
“Why not?” Riley demanded.
Matt’s reasons were sound, but he wasn’t sure he could explain them satisfactorily.
Luke chuckled, saving Matt the need to get his thoughts sorted out. “Maybe she’d prefer the other twin. The better one.”
Matt sighed heavily at the way Luke brushed his hair back off his forehead. He always did think he was the better-looking of the pair and maybe he was right.
Before Gwen said anything, Matt answered the questions hovering in the air. “It’s a temporary delay while we make sure of what we both want.” Thankfully, Gwen didn’t repeat what she’d said to him. That she was ready to proceed without a trial period.
Luke leaned back on his heels. “Sure seems like you’re asking for her to pick between us.”
Andy leaned over the side of the wagon. “Did you get the peaches?”
