Page 15 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
“As soon as this is done, I’ll take you out to feed the dog.” He dumped leftover porridge into a bowl that already held scraps.
Madeline put Jonny down so she could help. He immediately plunked to his bottom and cried. She might have left him except he pulled at his ear. Poor baby wasn’t feeling well.
“He needs his mama.” Wally set a towel in the oven. When it was warm, he withdrew it.
Madeline lifted Jonny to her lap and held the comforting cloth to his ear. This was not how she thought to begin her new life with Wally. But as usual, her life was not going according to her plans.
As soon as the children finished the dishes, theypulled on sweaters provided by the Shannons and accompanied Wally outside. Otis proudly carried the bowl of dog food though he would have protested if someone suggested he was enjoying the moment.
Madeline moved to the window to watch them.
Two men joined them. They clapped Wally on the back, no doubt congratulating him on his marriage. They said something to the twins, their smiles welcoming. Their glances came to the house and they waved. She gave a quick wave, not knowing whether or not they saw her.
Were they the Shannon twins? Or was she assuming that simply because there were two of them?
The boy who would be Kit ran over and was introduced to Ivy and Otis. It all looked so…so… She sought for a word. Not normal because her normal was not something she wished on anyone.
The group proceeded toward the barn where the dog trotted out to meet them wriggling eagerness.
A grin twitched Madeline’s lips as she guessed the animal was mostly eager for the food, much like the twins who knelt and petted him. Ivy buried her face in the dog’s fur.
Madeline smiled. “This is going to be a good place for them.” She lifted Jonathan’s face toward her. “And for you.” She kissed his forehead. Although he still fussed with an earache, he didn’t seem to be feverish.
Her gaze returned to the window.
Could she make this a good place forher? She meant to do her best to make it so.
Jonathan squirmed to be down. She gave him a couple of wooden spoons to bang together—one of his favorite activities—while she explored the kitchen. The cupboards were well stocked with supplies. The gifts that had been left for them to eat were on shelves in a narrow pantry, the room cold enough to store food safely.
She wandered to the alcove from which three doors opened. Her heart ticking madly, she cracked open the one where Wally slept. The bed was neatly made. His clothes hung on nails. A chest of drawers stood to the right of the bed. On top of it was a hairbrush, a Bible and a little box such where one would keep important belongings in.
On the other side of the bed stood a second dresser, the top bare. Tiptoeing forward, she crossed the room to the left and opened the drawers. All empty. This was meant to be hers.
A washstand held a china wash basin and matching water jug.
A window overlooked what she knew from his letters would be Shannon Valley. A ribbon of water wound through the bottom. Trees dotted the sides and beyond, the ever-present, ever-towering mountains. Today the sun highlighted them in shades of blue and green, iced with white. For a moment she studiedthem. She had not gone to church since she’d left home in disgrace but neither had she forgotten the Bible verses she’d learned as a child. One filled her thoughts at the moment.Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.If only she didn’t have her doubts, she would ask for her past to be removed.
The sunlight shifted, flashing on the water below. Wally had mentioned seeing wild animals down there, but after several moments of observation, she saw nothing except a crow. Or was it a raven?
She turned back to study the room again. The box on Wally’s dresser drew her attention and she circled the bed to lift the lid. It held a stack of letters. She recognized the writing as her own.
She shut the box without disturbing the contents and left the room, rubbing at her throat. He stored her letters as if they meant something special to him.
The thought brought a lump to her throat and a sting to her eyes. It filled her heart with a longing that was as old as time and as fresh as the morning dew. A longing to be loved and cherished.
Busyness, she’d learned, would keep her tears and fears at bay. Jonathan trotted after her as she went to the bedroom where they’d slept. She made the bed and tidied her things.
The coverlet on the crib drew her attention. It was a quilt with bright solid-colored squares alternating with squares embroidered with farm animals. Someone had lovingly made this. Was it especially for her son?
No one apart from herself had done anything to honor Jonathan or celebrate his birth. A huge ball of emotion filled her insides. To think he might be so welcomed was more than she could sort out. Pushing down a sob, she hurried to the twin’s bedroom to make the beds and hang their clothing.
She sank to the edge of one cot and pulled Jonathan to her knees, hugging him tight. Loving him so much it hurt. Overwhelmed at the thought others might love him as well.
“Come along, little fellow. There are things we need to do.” She carried him back to the kitchen.
The door swung open, letting in a blast of sunshine and a cool breeze laden with the scent of cows and damp grass.
Wally held a pail of foaming milk. “Have you dealt with milk straight from the cow?”
