Page 61 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Wally grinned. They were happy he’d found himself someone to love and to love him back.
“Are we ever going to finish this game,” Riley complained.
Olivia caught his hand. “I think we have. Time to eat.”
Maddie held to his side, Jonathan in his other arm, the twins trailing after them, Wally followed the others back to where they’d left the food. He glanced to the sky.Thank You, God.
While the ladies put out the feast, he helped the men spread quilts.
The men tossed their hats aside as Riley stood and bowed his head to offer thanks for the meal.
Each of the women had contributed to the bountiful banquet. They enjoyed fried chicken, deviled eggs, biscuits, an assortment of pickles, and a dozen other things. They had one of Olivia’s cakes for dessert.
The food was gone but the adults lingered, enjoying the company.
Ivy slowly made her way to Wally. “Can you give me a piggyback ride?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “I ‘member my papa doing that.” The longing in her eyes was even more powerful than her words.
“I sure can.” He lifted her to his back and trotted down the path by the river, bouncing her. Her giggles resounded inside his chest. He returned to the picnic. Otis watched him with hungry eyes. Wally knew theboy wouldn’t ask for a ride. Wally recalled the unmet yearnings of his own life at that age. Otis would never have to beg for necessities from Wally. None of them would. And Wally would give them more than the basics of life. He would do everything in his power to give them fun and joy.
“Come on, Otis, your turn.”
The boy ran to him, pleasure written all over his face.
He jostled the boy on his back as he trotted along the path. To hear Otis’s giggles filled one of Wally’s longings from childhood.
Kit and Lindy were given rides by their fathers. Jonathan had his. And then Wally gave the twins several more rides until he finally held up his hands. “This horsee needs a rest.” He flopped down beside Maddie.
With her cool palm, she wiped the sweat from his brow. “Poor old horse, you’re out of breath.”
“And I don’t mind a bit.”
Their gazes caught and unmindful of the others, he leaned in to claim a kiss. Grinning, satisfied with the day’s activities, he stretched out on the ground beside her and pulled his hat over his face.
Something tickled his throat. He brushed it away. It returned. Again, he swiped at it. A little more vigorously this time. He heard a muffled giggle. She thought she could tease him, did she? He welcomed it.
Next time the annoyance came, he reached further and caught her arm. He tossed his head to send his hat flying and looked into her startled gaze.
Her surprise vanished into a warmth that invited him in. He could not resist and pulled her down. She rested on her elbow and tickled a grassy seed head over his cheek, sending delicious tickles up his nerves, straight to his heart.
Not caring if the others watched or not, he kissed her.
She lay contentedly in his arms. “You remember that Bible verse you read to me back when I first came?”
“Which one?”
“‘The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places.’”
“I remember.” Just as he remembered how she’d come to his bed the first time.
She brushed her finger along his jaw line. “I can say that now.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Jonathan flopped down on Wally’s stomach, claiming his attention.
Maddie rose to help the others pack up the lunch things.
While Wally played with the little boy, his gaze followed Maddie. She glanced at him and smiled.
