Page 27 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
“We’ll let your Aunt Maddie sleep,” he whispered.
“I’m hungry.” Otis’s whisper was hoarse.
“I’ll rustle up something for us.”
He eased the cupboard open and stared at thecontents. The sound of a door opening drew his gaze in that direction.
Jonny toddled out and went to Otis’s side. Otis put a protective arm around the little guy. It vaguely reminded Wally of something...something just out of reach in his memory.
He pulled the bedroom door shut, but before he did, he saw the lump under the covers that he knew to be Maddie. Asleep. Getting some well-deserved rest.
The frying pan clanked on the stove even though he tried to be quiet. He glanced at the closed door and held still, listening. When no sound came from the bedroom, he continued breakfast preparations. He chopped potatoes and tossed them in bacon fat in the hot pan. When the mixture was golden brown, he broke in eggs. A few minutes later, everything was cooked, and he served up food for everyone. He poured milk for the children and coffee for himself.
He sat at his end of the table, the twins on one side with Jonny between them. The other side was sadly empty. His grace was short and then they began to eat. The plates were scraped clean and still, Maddie hadn’t come from her room.
“Can the three of you play quietly?” He nodded toward the other room. “There are children’s books on the shelf.”
Otis took Jonny’s hand and led him away, pressinghis finger to his lips as they tiptoed past the room where Maddie still slept.
Jonny imitated Otis, his finger to his mouth. “Shh.”
Dishes waited to be washed but Wally ignored them, knowing he’d make too much noise. Instead, he poured another cup of coffee and planned his day.
“Jonny!” The frightened wail came from the bedroom. The door flew open, and Maddie rushed out, her hair in wild array, her nightgown catching at her ankles. “Where’s Jonny?”
“He’s playing with the twins in the other room.” Amusement tinged his words. Not that he found it funny to see her distress. But she looked younger, less controlled.
“Oh.” A word so full of surprise, acceptance, and confusion that he couldn’t hold back a grin.
“Get dressed while I make you breakfast.”
She glanced down at herself. Her cheeks darkened and she fled back to her room.
Chuckling softly, his heart humming with delight, he prepared eggs and toast. He set her place, even added a white napkin, and wished he could pick a pretty pink rose, but it was too late in the season. Instead, he filled a tiny clear dish with red jam and put it before her plate.
She emerged from the bedroom, her hair tamed into a braid hanging down her back. He decided he liked it that way. She wore a dark blue dress. Practical.Suitable for housework. But perfect, making her eyes appear darker and wider.
A lump lodged in his throat, and he shifted his attention to the table. “The food is ready.” When had his voice grown so husky?
“Thank you.” She sat.
He poured coffee—a cup for her and a cup for him—and chose a chair across the table from her.
“How would you like a tour of the ranch?”
She gulped down her mouthful. “You mean the buildings? Or were you thinking of showing me that trail you wrote about?” Again, red pooled in her cheeks.
“Yes.”
“Yes? To which?”
“To all of it. Let’s take a picnic and enjoy the day.”
“What about the children?”
“We’ll take them, of course.” An outing as a family, visiting some of his favorite places. The idea opened up a long-forgotten, tightly closed doors deep—soul-deep—inside his being.
The warm weather continued to hold. A perfect time to explore the country and their relationship before winter descended. Another thought entered his head. Had she hoped it would be just the two of them? He tucked away the possibility for a different time, one when they were comfortable together.
