Page 72 of Mail-Order Bride Runaway
Together, they crossed the yard. She pretended she didn’t hear Riley’s comment.
“Maybe you should both reconsider what you’re doing.”
What was there to reconsider? They’d both agreed to end this marriage as soon as she was safely home. There was no longer anything standing in her way of returning.
Nothing but the desires of her heart.
They plannedto leave first thing in the morning. It didn’t take Della more than a minute to pack. As far as she knew, her own things were still at the preacher’s house in Gunders Corner. She was resigned to the fact she’d never see them again. She’d return Olivia’s clothes once she was home.
With nothing but a small valise, she sat beside Andy as they rode the wagon toward Crow Crossing. She’d had to prevail upon his generous nature for money to purchase the train ticket.
“I’ll pay you back,” she promised.
“No need.” He gave a dry laugh. “After all, you are my wife.”
She found the statement neither amusing nor reassuring.
They were mostly silent on the trip. Her thoughts went round and round. Since the journey to the falls, the missing part of her memories had tugged at her. Try as she did, she couldn’t recall it.
Town came into view. If only she could stop time. Because an overwhelming truth hit her. She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to end this marriage. But what choice did she have? There were promises to keep.
She must have groaned for Andy slowed the wagon to ask, “Something wrong?”
Everything. Everything. Everything. Her heart swelled to three times its size with tears, crowding her lungs, pressing against her throat so she couldn’t speak. She managed to shake her head, but she couldn’t allow herself to look at him. If she did, her resolve would melt like the first snow before a hot sun.
The wagon wasn’t moving. The delay made her chest ready to explode.
If only. If only.Oh Pa, I’m sorry I promised. But I will honor you and my word.
She gasped as the memory she’d been pining after appeared like a bolt of thunder, as clear as the sky overhead.
Pa had said she must never be afraid to follow an adventure God put before her, no matter how challenging it seemed. Just as he’d left his home in England to cross the sea and start a new life in the new world.
When she promised she would, she’d had in her mind returning to Europe but never had he once asked that of her. All he’d asked was for her to be ready for change… adventure he called it.
Could she stay in Montana and keep her promise to Pa? She could. But Andy had married her with the understanding of it being pretend and temporary.
She sighed. She might be free of one promise but was bound by another.
Curious as to why the wagon wasn’t moving, she looked at Andy. Her question died when she saw how his head hung down. He looked ill. Her sluggish heart erupted into a frenzy.
“Are you sick? Is your arm bothering you?” She’d noticed him pressing his hand to it a few times yesterday but when she asked about it, he insisted it was fine.
He met her gaze, his eye burning like he had a fever.
“Andy, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to leave.” The words grated from his throat, raw as winter wind and she shivered.
“Why?” She choked the word out.
“I know you have to go, but I wish it wasn’t so.”
“Why?” she repeated.
His gaze bored into hers, seeking something. She allowed a whisper of hope and opened her heart to him. He drew in a tiny breath. Had he read her response and believed himself wrong?
“Tell me why,” she whispered.
