Page 41 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
“Did your mama teach you?” Olivia spoke softly as if afraid to shatter the child’s memories.
Ivy nodded. “She said I played good.”
“Then by all means, if Aunt Maddie and Uncle Wally approve, you should come over and I’ll give youmore lessons. Do you think your mama would like that?”
Ivy looked at Maddie and Wally, her gaze full of hope.
“I think that’s a fine idea,” Maddie said.
“Me, too,” Wally added.
The children went outdoors again. The Shannon brothers and their wives left. Maddie finally got a chance to turn her attention to the paintings. “You did these, I understand.”
Olivia nodded.
There were mountain scenes, sunsets, and a painting of a buck deer at the river in Shannon Valley. There was a collection of smaller drawings of the children in various poses, but one, in particular, drew Maddie’s attention. A field of wildflowers in a riot of color with blue and purple mountains rising in the background.
Seeing her interest, Olivia asked, “What do you see?’
“It’s full of life and joy and brightness.” She cleared her throat in a futile attempt to dislodge the lump stuck there. “Except for that rock to the right. I fear it hides a serpent.”
She sensed the sudden stillness in the room behind her and jerked away from the painting. “It’s just my imagination.” She sat next to Wally on the sofa, but her position allowed her to see the picture. The colorsgrew muted as she stared at the boulder almost hidden in the grass.
She almost leaped to her feet when Wally suggested they should return to their house.
But even back in the safety of their home, the threat of that rock lingered. Just when a person thought all was well…that their world was bright with promise…dangers lay hidden nearby.
She shook her head in an attempt to drive away the thought. She understood who…what…the snake represented. Delroy. But he was in her past. She was never going back to Philadelphia even if she’d be welcomed there. She’d never see him again. His roots in the city went down to bedrock.
The snake no longer threatened her. She could forget him. Dig a hole for those memories and cover it with a boulder to match the size of the one in the painting. Now the rock didn’t hide a threat. It offered protection.
A verse she’d learned by heart a long time ago sprang to her mind.The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.She even recalled the reference. Psalm eighteen, verse two.
In her mind, the rock burying her past became huge, guarded by a flaming angel carrying a burning sword. The burden loading her down lifted. Her heart grew light. A song filled her thoughts.
Was it possible to bury her past and forget it?
Wally sat on horseback,his gaze lingering on the house. Maddie stood on the doorstep, Jonathan in her arms, and waved goodbye. Aware of her strange dark mood yesterday when she’d said she suggested a serpent hid by the rock, he didn’t want to leave her. If he had to guess from her comment, he’d say something murky lingered in her past. And likely something to do with her husband’s passing. She’d never mentioned how the man had died and he hadn’t asked. Now he wanted to know.
She’d been in a better mood in the evening but with the children needing attention he didn’t get a chance to ask her. Softly, quickly, she’d slipped away, retreating to the middle bedroom. She didn’t return after Jonathan grew quiet.
He hadn’t expected she would.
The horse pranced restlessly, eager to be working. He waved to Maddie and followed the others. Ivy and Otis ran after him until he left the trail and rode west.
Men and horses climbed the hills, passed naked trees, and inhaled the scent of pine. A familiar odor told them the herd was over the next rise. Though the noise of disturbed cattle had already informed them.
Wally stopped beside Riley, the five men in a row,studying the scene before them. A milling lot of animals...the first bunch to be brought from higher up. Cowboys leaning over their horses’ necks, waiting for orders. The other ranch owners soon joined the Shannons. They discussed their plans then Riley called, “Let’s get to work.”
Sorting the animals and branding the calves to identify which ranch they belonged to kept them busy all that day. By nightfall, the men were ready to wrap up in their bedrolls. The Shannon ranch cook, Boots, had been joined by two other cooks and they’d prepared a meal for the crew.
Wally ate hungrily as did the others. This fall roundup was one of his favorite times of the year. He enjoyed being part of something big and busy. He liked riding and roping. His thoughts normally centered on nothing more than the animal before him, but this time was different. Other thoughts crowded his mind.
No one noticed when he was the first to find a place for the night. How was Maddie doing? Would his being away for a few days help her adjust? Maybe even make her miss him? And be ready to welcome him?Lord, God, be with her and the children. You know my heart. You know I’m grateful for a family of my own. But I long for love and a real marriage. Please, in Your time, and Your way, bring it to be.
Every day and every night he repeated that prayer.
On the fourth day, he and a cowboy from a different ranch found thirty head holed up in a little hollow and turned them in the right direction. As had happened so often this fall, his thoughts hurried back to his house. He pictured Maddie at the table, the children around her. She’d be helping Jonny boy with his spoon while she answered questions from the twins. He smiled. The only thing missing in the scene was himself. He couldn’t wait to be there.
