Page 59 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Today, the entire Shannon family and Wally, Maddie, and their children were going on a picnic.
She wasn’t sure who had proposed the idea. Two days ago, Wally had announced the plan. “The fallwork is done. The good weather won’t last forever. We need to take advantage of it while it does.” The wives had immediately met at Olivia’s house to discuss what they’d make for the meal. And now they made their way down the steep sides of Shannon Valley. The men carried the food. The women clung to the bushes as they made the steep descent. Wally and Maddie each held one of Jonathan’s hands to guide him down. The older children caught branches as they scampered to the bottom.
Her feet on level ground, Maddie looked around. The river murmured along the valley, the sun reflecting in ripples. A calmness filled the air.
“It’s your first time down here.” Wally leaned close to speak quietly to her, his breath brushing her ear.
She stilled the upward surge of her heart. Her fear of being touched had been replaced with freedom. Freedom to welcome his caresses, to welcome him.
They followed at the end of the parade of people walking along the edge of the stream. Happiness filled her and she chuckled.
He caught her hand and pulled her close. “Happy laugh or amused one?”
She contemplated her answer. “Both, I suppose. Look at us. Us and the Shannons. Five men who were once alone but now there are five women and five children. Six women counting Della’s mother. Too bad she didn’t want to come. Anyway, it seems perfect.”
“It is perfect.” The way Wally squeezed her hand and smiled at her like the sun, moon and stars had taken up residence in his eyes, warming her clear through.
“Mama,” Jonathan called to her, and they caught up to the boy. He was watching a bug skitter away. As soon as it was out of sight, he ran after the older children.
Maddie closed her eyes. The singing water, the rustling grass, the children’s happy voices, the low tones of the other adults walking and talking together…perfect just as she’d said.
They moved on to a level spot of grass where the men set the baskets of food.
Riley held up a softball and a bat. “Time for a little fun. Everyone line up.”
They did as he said.
He counted out. “One, two, one, two,” going down the line to the end. “All the ones are on my team. All the twos on Andy’s.”
Everyone shuffled around forming their group. Maddie looked around for Wally and saw with dismay that they were on opposite teams. She began to edge toward him, hoping to trade with one of those on his side.
But he grinned and shook his head. “Look around. Riley’s made sure everyone is separated from his wife.”
Riley chuckled. “This will be a good way of getting our frustrations at each other worked out.”
Olivia jammed her fists to her hips. “Riley Shannon, if you have something about me you don’t like, I’ll thank you to tell me in private, not in front of everyone you know.”
Laughing, he grabbed her, pulled her into a big hug, and planted a loud kiss on her lips. Poor Olivia blushed as red as a ripe tomato.
“Mrs. Riley Shannon, there is nothing about you that I don’t adore.”
Enjoying the fondness between them, Maddie grinned at Wally.
He closed the distance between them.
Knowing what he had in mind and not wanting their affection to be up for public display, she backed away but not fast enough. He encircled her with his arms.
Perhaps, she thought with a smile, she hadn’t moved quicker because the anticipation of him holding her was enticing.
She leaned back against his arms and tried to appear annoyed. Knew she failed. Only it wasn’t so much a failure as acceptance and welcome.
The depth of his emotion brimmed in his dark eyes.
Her world narrowed to the warmth of his expression.Her heart did a strange little dance that tickled her ribs.
“Mrs. Edwards, I—” He swallowed hard and couldn’t finish. Instead, he drew her to his chest. Their hearts danced in unison.
“Time to play ball,” Riley hollered.
