Page 49 of Mail-Order Bride Runaway
“I’d love to.” She was instantly on her feet, crossing the floor toward him. Before they stepped outside, the wagon rolled up to the door. His brothers had thought of everything. Except he’d pictured him and Della on horseback.
Strangely, he didn’t know if she knew how to ride.
* * *
Della satbeside Andy as they drove from the yard. The entire family including Mrs. Bennet, Alfred, and Wally waved them off. Were they scheming something? Perhaps wanting Andy and Della to change their mind about an annulment? Or worse, hoping they could no longer plead their case? At the mere thought, her cheeks threatened to start on fire.
“Weren’t they kind to give us this opportunity?” Would he catch the uncertainty in her tone?
He chuckled. “Is that what you call it? But let them think they’ve pushed us to go exploring.” Shifting so he could look full in her face, he asked, “You don’t mind, do you?”
Amusement, anticipation, and pure, simple joy bubbled up in a chortle. “I’d love to see more of your country. Where are we going?”
“Anywhere you like. Except we have to get there by wagon.”
“We could walk.” She loved the idea of being on the ground where she could see every blade of grass, every struggling flower, and stop when she wanted to dwell on a scene.
“Can you ride horseback?”
She swallowed back her laugh and stared at him. “Never have. Are you going to teach me?”
His gaze lingered. “Do you want me to?”
More than anything. It sounded like fun. Like freedom to go wherever she wanted, unhindered by lack of a road. “I do indeed.”
The smile that filled his face did strange things to her insides, setting them aflame, making her feel her heartbeat behind her eyes.
Their gazes lingered on each other for a moment. He coughed and turned back to watching the trail.
“I think I’ll take you to one of my favorite places. We can drive part way and then we’ll need to walk. But I believe it will be worth it.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Though she couldn’t say if she meant the view or the journey at his side. It was both, she decided.
“If you look to your left, you’ll see a valley. It’s Shannon Valley so named by my father. He loved this country.”
“So do you.”
He grinned and nodded. “Wait until you see more of it, and you will too.”
The words jolted through her. There was something about the west that reached into the depths of her soul and set up residence. Or was it present company that did that?I must keep my promise to Pa.She was having to remind herself of that fact more and more often.
Andy continued as if he hadn’t noticed her failure to respond. “See how the valley flattens. The river has slowed. We need rain. But soon there will be snow in the mountains. Come spring melt, that will replenish the rivers. Now if you look to your right—” He pointed, his arm reaching in front of her. He didn’t touch her. Didn’t even come close but her mouth was unexpectedly, inexplicably parched.
“If we stop here and climb, we’ll come to Ma’s waterfall.” He must have noticed the longing in her eyes as she stared at the narrow trail. “Maybe we’ll go another time. Today, I have something else to show you.”
They drove along the toes of a shale bank. Scrawny spruce trees grew at the bottom and more crowded to the top.
Andy drew the wagon to a stop, hopped down, and reached up to assist her to the ground.
She clung to his arms to steady herself although he could possibly recognize it as a poor excuse. Dropping her hands to her side, she took a step away.
“We’ll come back for the picnic.” He reached for her hand, and she allowed him to guide her, grateful for his assistance up the slippery shale. Trees crowded in on either side and they followed a narrow trail steep enough that Andy pulled her along at times.
She paused to catch her breath.
“It’s not far,” he said as he waited for her to recover.
“I’m coming.”
