Page 20 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Despite himself, Otis looked interested. “Who makes you obey rules?”
Wally chuckled. “Sometimes I do things because it’s for the good of others. Like when I don’t run horses over a garden trampling down the plants. Sometimes nature teaches us certain lessons and if we’re smart, we won’t repeat our mistakes. Like…” He tapped his chin as if seeking examples. “Such as, don’t walk behind a skittish horse or you’ll get kicked and that hurts. Or don’t poke a beehive. That hurts too. Stay away from a raging river. Or—” He had the children’s attention and leaned forward. “Don’t climb places where you might fall. That’s dangerous.”
He sat back. Let the words hang in the air.
Otis hung his head. “I don’t like being told not to do things.”
“Would you sooner be hurt?”
“Guess not.” Otis pulled his hands forward and turned them palms upward. They were raw and splinters stuck in several places.
Wally shook his head. “I better wash it first.”
Madeline hurried to bring a basin of water and a cloth.
“You’ll find a sewing kit—”
“I saw it.” She brought it from the cupboard.
He selected a needle.
Otis flinched but never uttered a sound as Wally gently dug out splinters, pressing his finger to the spot each time to help ease the pain. He sponged Otis’s hands so carefully that Madeline’s eyes stung.
Ivy hung over Otis’s shoulder to see. Jonny stood at Wally’s knee watching the proceedings. He pressed to Otis’s leg.
“Owie?”
“I’m okay.”
Wally patted Otis’s hands dry then smoothed on the yellow, creamy ointment. Finished, he sat back and studied the boy. “How is your tummy?”
Otis’s eyes widened.
Madeline guessed it was Wally’s gentle touch and kind caring that astonished him.
Wally shifted a little closer. “It must have hurt coming over the edge of the roof like that.”
Otis nodded. His eyes filled with caution that Madeline understood must war with hope. Withinfinite slowness and a good deal of uncertainty, he lifted the hem of his shirt to reveal several scrapes. They weren’t as bad as Madeline feared.
Wally bent close to examine them. “No splinters which is good.” He rubbed on ointment.
Otis kept his eyes closed. His lips pressed together but not hard enough to still their quivering. Ivy and Jonny both leaned in to watch the proceedings.
Something skittered up Madeline’s spine—hope, perhaps. Hope that they could create a new family. Hope that overshadowed her past, her fears, and her lack of honesty.
“All done.” Wally pulled down Otis’s shirt and put the lid on the brown and gold tin of ointment.
“Thank you.” Otis got off the chair and walked across the room to look out the window. Ivy and Jonny followed him. Otis lifted Jonny up so they all leaned on the windowsill and watched the activity. They were happily occupied, and Madeline back to Wally. Except her gaze skittered away as if she had lost control of her eye movements.
Sunshine splashed on the tabletop. A cup of untouched coffee sat where Wally had left it.
She poured the cold brew into the slop bucket and refilled the cup from the pot. The coffee was black and oily. It looked unappealing.
“I’ll make fresh.”
“Don’t bother now.” Although his words weregentle, kind even, her insides jittered with uncertainty. She felt much like she’d thought Otis did. Had she displeased him?
“I need to get at my chores.” He half rose, groaned, and grabbed at his side.
