Page 33 of Mail-Order Bride Runaway
“Whoa. Whoa. You’re going way too fast for me to keep up.” He didn’t need a wife? That made Della feel like a bit of fluff dragging behind a wagon. Not that she was truly his wife nor meant to be. She hadn’t forgotten about Europe though the mountains rising to the west resembled castles making her itch to explore them. “Who is Lindy?”
Andy told about a young couple—Roscoe and Merry—who used to prepare meals for the family. “They died in a tragic wagon accident. Fortunately, their four-year-old daughter, Lindy, wasn’t with them. Roscoe lived long enough to ask Matt to raise their daughter. Matt contacted a mail-order bride to be a mother for the child.”
“I see.” These men had all married mail-order brides. It seemed Della would fit right in. Except she wasn’t really a bride. Nor was she the one who had corresponded with a man with marriage in mind. The arrangement between her and Andy was more of an escape route. And temporary. “Tell me about the ranch and your home.”
“It’s open range so we have hired cowboys to keep an eye on the herd. We have a cook named Boots.”
“Boots? Is there a story behind his name?”
“He’s never told us himself, but I’ve heard the story many times. He always leaves his boots next to the stove when he goes to bed. Seems one smart aleck young buck decided to play a trick on him and filled his boots with rocks after Boots set them out one night. The next morning, Boots got up, saw what had happened, and dumped the rocks on the bed of the culprit with the warning not to mess with his boots. The story became a fireside legend, and everyone started calling him Boots. Only name he’ll answer to now.”
Della laughed. “It sounds like something right out of aMen of the Weststory.”
“I’ve heard it said that truth is often stranger than fiction.” He continued describing the ranch. The smile on Andy’s face said more than any words he spoke about his fondness and pride in the place.
She learned of the four houses—five counting where the permanent hired man, Wally, lived. Heard how Andy’s pa had insisted they all have their own homes so they wouldn’t continue living in the house they’d shared with their parents. He’d meant for them all to marry and have a family. He’d seen the three additional houses built before he died.
“I wish he could have seen my brothers married and raising children.”
“Wait a minute. Children? You’ve only mentioned one child—Lindy.”
“Didn’t I tell you about Kit?” The confused expression on his face did not convince her he didn’t realize he’d omitted that detail.
“You did not.” She crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to look annoyed, but the look only lasted a moment before she laughed.
“Kit is the six-year-old boy that a mountain man gave Luke and Honor.” He watched for her reaction.
She was sure she looked as shocked as she felt. “Gave?”
“Yes, the child wasn’t his and he didn’t feel he was giving him the home he deserved.”
“At least his reason was noble. How did Kit feel about it?”
“He seems happy enough. He and Lindy are good friends. The ranch is a great place for children. There’s lots to do and many adults to have a part in their lives.”
“I like the sound of that.” She considered him openly, frankly, admiringly even. “I can see you spending time with the young ones, patiently teaching them things.” She nodded. “The children are fortunate.”
His eyes widened. Filled with surprise that shifted to pleasure. Or at least that’s how she read it.
“But you say you don’t need a wife. That means no children of your own either. Have you considered that?”
He shrugged. A non-committal gesture.
A thought jolted through her. Something she’d wondered about before and had dismissed the idea because of what he’d said. “I think you cared for Trudy more than you admit. Did she break your heart?”
9
Andy considered Della’s question. Had Trudy broken his heart? Or was his heart simply too fragile?
“Trudy and I were good friends from the time we were children.” Past events began to fall into place. “She understood how close I was to Ma better’n anyone else. It was natural to me to turn to her when Ma died. I really needed her concern at the time.”
Della squeezed his hand, perhaps understanding how much Ma’s death had shaken him.
Once started down his memory road, he wanted to explain what had happened to draw him so close to Trudy. “Ma knew she was dying and called us to her. One by one, she said goodbye to each of my brothers, but when it was my turn, she’d grown tired. She just lay there with her eyes closed. I pressed her shoulder begging her to say something. Pa pushed me back. Told me she was too weak and ordered us to leave them alone.” His voice had grown husky. He clung to Della’s hand finding comfort in the way she squeezed his fingers and leaned into his side. “Riley drew me from the room. He tried to console me by assuring me that Ma favored me. Said her not saying anything to me didn’t change that. I know he was being kind, but I was shattered. I ran from the house and into the barn where I hid beside my horse, Amigo. The next day, I wrote to Trudy, telling her everything. She offered the sympathy I longed for. Maybe I got used to confiding in her.”
“She did have a special place in your heart.”
He couldn’t tell if it was understanding or something else entirely in her tone.
