Page 37 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
“I’ll put him down.”
Wally’s eyes registered every word, each of hermovements. But his heart saw something else. Hope. Longing. Anticipation.
She took Jonathan to the bedroom. The boy fussed,
Wally pictured her trying to get him to fall asleep in the crib, allowing her to tiptoe out and join him. He’d better be ready. He carried hot water to the tub, took off his clothes, and lowered himself into the water.
The scent of lavender flooded his senses. His eyes closed and he breathed slowly, each breath bringing a deeper sensation of home and belonging.
His bath took only a few minutes. A few more to empty out the water and hang the tub. And then he waited, sitting at the table. When she didn’t return, he wandered from the kitchen to the front room, padding quietly in his bare feet.
Jonathan fussed. Grew quiet. Fussed again. Floorboards creaked.
Wally’s eyes drooped. He went to his room and stretched out on the bed.I’ll rest a moment. But I’ll wake up when she comes.
9
Maddie gave up trying to get Jonathan to sleep alone. The minute she put him down, he wakened and cried, sobs so full of misery, she couldn’t leave him to cry it out. Poor baby was dealing with so many changes. Of course, he was upset. In the end, she’d taken him to bed with her, crooning until he fell asleep. She lay there, her beautiful sleeping child at her side. Again, she would spend the night in this room. Although her breathing eased at the knowledge, her conscience accused. She’d agreed to a real marriage. A spasm in her fingers caused her to coil and uncoil them. She would keep her word. She would face her fears and stare them down.
The next morning, she hurried from the bedroom, Jonathan in her arms.
“Here.” She handed him a biscuit. “You eat that while I cook.” The heavy earthenware bowl clunked on the worktable as she began measuring ingredients for griddle cakes. Once in his letters, Wally had mentioned that Mrs. Shannon often served them for Sunday breakfast. It was a custom Maddie decided to continue. Perhaps Wally would be pleased enough to overlook her neglect in other areas.
The twins came from their room.
They all glanced toward the other bedroom. Was Wally still sleeping or had he slipped out earlier?
“I see him,” Otis called from the window.
Maddie joined the twins to watch him leading a horse to the water trough.
He looked toward the house and waved.
Maddie drew back. She was disappointed with herself. No doubt he was even more disappointed than she. She was drawn to the window again. He led the horse to the barn and then trotted toward the house.
Her lungs clenched making her gasp. Jonathan glanced at her, and she smiled though it took effort. He didn’t seem to notice and hurried to the door to wait for Wally.
The man stepped in, scooped up the little guy, and tossed him in the air. He ruffled Otis’s hair and patted Ivy’s head then turned his attention to Maddie. His eyes were gentle. Not condemning as she expected. Toknow he was patient made guilt and regret climb up her throat and threaten to choke her.
“Umm. Smells good in here.”
Assuming he meant the food, she gathered the children to the table. As soon as he prayed, she filled his cup with coffee and served breakfast.
“It looks to be a beautiful day.” He sounded as if all was right with him.
Maddie glanced out the window to see the sun shining, the sky blue as cornflowers. She had been so consumed with her regrets that she hadn’t even noticed.
His smile offered a blessing to each of those around the table. “We’ll leave for church in an hour. This will be your first time in town since your arrival. You didn’t have time to see much of it that day. Is everyone looking forward to it?”
Otis and Ivy nodded.
Maddie couldn’t think how she felt. Anxious about facing strangers for certain but there were other more subtle feelings she couldn’t nail down and name.
She put the casserole she’d planned for dinner in the oven and finished cleaning the kitchen after the children had done the dishes. She prepared them all for church. But by the time Wally brought around the wagon and horses, she still hadn’t come close to understanding the jittery feeling inside her.
Another wagon and buggy preceded them down the road toward town.
“I’ll stay back to avoid their dust.” Wally’s hands held the reins. He put one foot on the front board. Everything about him said he was relaxed. And he certainly didn’t seem angry or annoyed at her or any of them.
