Page 25 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Matt and Luke grinned at each other, a gesture so like Otis and Ivy when they shared a secret that Madeline liked them even more than she already did.
“Pa wasn’t the only one to get himself into messes.” Teasing filled Luke’s words.
“Nope.” Matt took up the tale. “Remember when Wally got bucked off his horse at the edge of a deepravine.” Matt’s eyes flashed as he addressed his remarks to Madeline.
A twinge of something akin to sympathy made her place her hand on Wally’s forearm next to her. Something like pleasure warmed her fingertips and made its swift, silent way up her arm. His muscle twitched beneath her palm.
The other men chuckled.
“He got himself in quite a predicament,” Riley said. “He ended up down about twenty feet stuck in a narrow fissure. No one could get to him.”
Andy interrupted. “I wanted to try but Pa wouldn’t let me.”
Riley continued his tale. “Pa let down enough rope to reach him and told him to tie it under his arms.”
Madeline’s fingers tightened on Wally’s arm. The words echoed in her head as she imagined him wedged in the crevice of a rock. How his heart would race. How helpless he’d feel.
“It took Pa and two of the cowboys to pull him free and drag him up to safety.”
“You’ll never know how happy I was to plant my feet on solid ground,” Wally spoke to the others but slowly his gaze came to Madeline. He cupped his hand over hers where it lay on his arm.
A pulse vibrated where their skin touched, making her mindful of the roughness of his palm and thestrength of his fingers. Something akin to sweetness edged forward in her heart.
Aware of the quietness around her, she tore her gaze from Wally’s to see the others were watching. She slipped her hand to her lap and studied the edge of the table.
A burst of conversation broke the silence and eased the quivering of her nerves.
The men tipped back in their chairs and visited as the women gathered up the things on the table. The twins, Kit, and Lindy retreated to a far corner and pulled out a basket of playthings.
Intending to help, Madeline rose. It was awkward trying to do anything with Jonny in her arms and she put him on the floor, letting him cling to her leg. It slowed her down, but she took a tea towel and prepared to dry dishes.
Wally watched her. He looked at Jonny and back at her. His silent question asked if the baby would go to him. Madeline pulled her mouth down in a sign of regret. It was far too new for her son.
Conversation flowed around Madeline. She was content to listen, observe, and try to discover where she fits in. She wasn’t a Shannon like the others, but Wally seemed accepted as an equal. She studied him without making it obvious she did so. He had a solid look to him. As if he’d weathered many storms. And she didn’t mean snow, wind, or rain. From what he’dtold her, those storms had served to make him stronger. She ducked to hide a smile. It was nice to think of having married a strong, yet kind, man.
“That’s the last dish.” Gwen handed her a serving bowl to dry.
“That didn’t take long,” Madeline said.
Gwen’s smile seemed sweet. “Many hands make light work.”
Madeline was content to let the others think she smiled so widely because of Gwen’s comment which was partly true.
But only partly.
Being distracted by observing Wally—her husband—what a strange thought that was—made the time fly and in a pleasant way.
“Let’s go to the parlor.” Della indicated the direction.
Madeline picked up Jonny and followed her to a room with comfortable looking chairs, a sofa, and a bookcase full of books. She glanced at the pictures adorning the walls but didn’t have time to study them.
Wally chose to sit on the sofa and patted a spot beside him.
Her heart trembling with nervous anticipation, she sat at his side, leaving room for a third person to join them. Her leg pressed to his longer limb. Her arm crowded his. Their shoulders mashed against each other. Unfamiliar sensations flooded her being,fluttering upward, tickling her throat. She held back a cough. Turned it into a smile. And pulled Jonny to her chest.
“Did Wally tell you about…?” Riley began the conversation. And one by one, they vied for the chance to tell her about events on the ranch. The time the cows stampeded. It took a week of hard riding to gather them in. The day the rain almost washed the barn away. The fire Gwen accidentally started. The half-broke horse that escaped and led them all on a merry chase.
Jonathan fussed to get down. She stood him on the floor, against her legs. He flopped to his bottom and wailed. She lifted him back to her lap. “Hush, baby. Hush,” she crooned but he arched his back and cried.
