Page 58 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
She reared back and faced him, her expression fierce. Brought to mind something Mr. Shannon had said when one of their cowboys did something unfair to Andy. The cowboy had borne the full brunt of Mrs. Shannon’s wrath and Mr. Shannon said never get between a mother and her young one.
“One that puts our past behind us,” she said forcefully.
He nodded. “I thought I made that clear.” He continued to hold her though she leaned back against his embrace. She could have left his arms if she wanted and the fact that she didn’t made him believe she fought an internal struggle that might not even include him.
The fight and resistance went out of her inch by inch. She drew in a long, quiet breath and leaned forward, her forehead against his chest.
Anger sifted through his thoughts, touching each with its blackness. How could a man hurt Maddie like this? It would appear he hadn’t even sought her when she left. Slowly, his anger dissipated, and he vowed he would do his very best to make up for that man’s lack.
Wanting to hold her, needing to keep her at his side, he guided them to the couch and drew her down beside him. She huddled at his side… a wounded critter.
What could he say to erase her pain? Remembering how Mr. Shannon always taught a truth with a story, he recalled an incident in his own life that might encourage her.
“I never told you about the time I was lost in the woods. It was my own fault. I got angry at the man who had promised to pay me if I helped him move a stack of wood. I was so hungry I considered chewing the bark off the logs. But I held on, counting on that money to buy food. By rights, he owed me a meal as well. I smelled supper cooking in his house where his wife was busy in the kitchen.”
She tipped her head toward him listening to every word. Her eyes soft with sympathy.
“We finished and the man went indoors. Never invited me to join him. I waited outside, my stomach about ready to eat my backbone. I was sure he’d bring me my wages and maybe even a meal. But I waited and waited. Finally, he opened the door and shooed me away.” His throat tightened around those words.
She put her palm on his chest, warm and comforting. “Wally, how cruel people can be.”
“That’s a fact. I ran from that place. Blindly. Paid no attention to my surroundings. Bad mistake to make. I finally collapsed from exhaustion. When I’d caught my breath, I looked around and didn’t know where I was. I tried to retrace my steps, but the bush had closed around me.”
Maddie brushed her hand along his jawline. “I can’t imagine how frightened you were.”
“I thought I was going to die out there.” Recalling that feeling, a shudder trickled through his chest. Maddie must have felt it for she pressed closer.
“What happened? You obviously didn’t die.”
“I staggered on blindly until it was dark. Then I saw a pinprick of light and followed it straight to an old man’s cabin. He fed me. Told me never to trust anyone in the future. The next morning, he showed me a trail from his place.”
“Did you heed his words? To never trust again?”
“Maybe I did. For sure I was cautious but when the Shannons took me in, I soon learned to trust them. What they said, they did. Honest as the day is long.”
She sat up to look deep into his eyes. “Honesty is very important to you, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I believe it forms a solid foundation for life.” The lamplight flickered, reminding him how late it was. “Time for bed?”
She rose and together they went to their bedroom. He quickly undressed and crawled under the covers while she perched on the edge of the mattress. “Do you wonder if there are times when it’s better if people don’t know the whole truth?”
Guessing she referred to Jonathan’s father…the man who let her go, he sat up and wrapped his arms around her.
“I think it depends on if you trust that person or not. If you trust him, you can be honest. If you don’t, then maybe there are things you shouldn’t confess.” He was thinking of this Delroy. Did honesty require that she tell him about Jonathan? He decided it didn’t.
She leaned back into his embrace. His arms tightened around her. Maybe this was a time when not telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth was not the right thing to do.
“Forget about the past and come to bed with me,” he murmured against her neck.
As she crawled in beside him, he pretended he didn’t recall something Mr. Shannon had often said about the truth never hurting anyone. Another thought intruded into his peace. Something in the Bible about nothing being hidden that won’t be revealed.
He pulled Maddie close. Why would the truth about Jonathan ever need to be revealed?
15
Maddie hugged herself against the excitement bubbling up inside. The children were all recovered from the measles. How grateful she was that Kit and Lindy had not been very ill. Otis had been the sickest of them all and he was back to his normal rowdy self with no apparent harm done. Every night she and Wally clasped hands and added thanks for those things in their prayers.
Sharing love, laughter, life, prayers, and family with Wally provided joy that Maddie had never dreamed possible. But today, her excitement came from a different source.
