Page 246 of Conveniently Wed
“Kade and Flora,” she corrected with a grin.
He chuckled. “She’s a surprise. Her being a preacher’s daughter and all.”
“I do believe the preacher and his wife share that opinion.”
Their gazes connected, their eyes brimming with amusement. For a second, Stella thought she could enjoy life with a man who shared her sense of humor.
She better like it. She was bound to him for as long as they both lived. Or until he took a notion to move on. She slid hergaze away toward the river. He wanted her to trust him. But trust would never come easy for her.
He asked about what plans Frank had.
Stella shrugged. “Break more land. He never discussed his plans.” They’d never sat and talked about the farm like she and Bruce were doing. It was one of the regrets of her marriage. The lack of sharing thoughts and hopes and dreams. Frank had been practical to the core. Deal with the work ahead and don’t worry about what might be or could be. Life would fall into place one step at a time.
Stella knew the truth and consolation of those ideals but had often longed for a deeper level of sharing.
“What did you do back in Kansas?” she asked, hoping he would reveal something about himself.
He crossed one leg over the other, his ankle on his knee, and perched his cup of tea on his boot. “I hooked up with a man who brought his cows to the railway. I enjoyed working with cattle, and the trail boss was a steady, no-nonsense man. He said he could use a man like me. His approval felt good. But Aunt Mary would have been alone, so I dismissed the idea.”
It was somewhat reassuring to know he had chosen staying over the allure of taking up the man’s offer. “You’re fortunate that a relative found you. I could hope the same for my children if something happened to me.”
He chuckled. “Aunt Mary is not a relative. She simply saw a homeless child and knew he needed a home. A few times I’ve asked her why she would take me in. I was wild, dirty, and ill-mannered at the time. She said when God puts a need in front of you, He expects you to pay attention.”
“Guess the same thing could be said about our marriage. We both had a need.”
“And God provided the answer?” He studied her, his eyes dark with questions and perhaps, uncertainty.
She grinned. “Donny as much as told me that you were an answer to his prayers.”
Their gazes held, each examining the other, seeking, searching…wanting, hoping. He flashed a smile, so unexpected that her heart leapt in response.
“I like that,” he said, his voice deep with emotion, his words round with pleasure. Then he sobered, and his look changed.
A tremor of warning settled in her heart. What had she done to displease him?
“If something happens to you, the children have me.” His words were like hot pellets dropped into the cold air.
“Of course. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.” Except she hadn’t even thought of him when she spoke those words. “It’s all so new…” For a few minutes, she had felt like they’d achieved a connection she could grow to enjoy, and she’d ruined it with a few careless words. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
Was it that easy? No sulking. No punishing silence? It’s how her father acted. Thankfully, Frank wasn’t that bad. He simply gave her opinions little value.
He settled back against the house. “I don’t know what I expected would happen when I got Aunt Mary to her sister. All I was concerned about was her safety. I feared she would be hurt.” His voice deepened. “Someone threw a rock through her window on two occasions. Someone started a fire on her lawn. But I knew I had to get out when a fire was started on her porch. If I hadn’t been there…”
Stella longed to comfort him. If he’d been one of the children, she would have hugged him. If he was one of the Kinsleys, she squeezed his hand. He was her husband…but a stranger. Still, being married had to mean something. She pressed her hand to his arm. “I’m glad you were there.”
His arm twitched, and she withdrew her hand.
He caught her fingers. “Thank you. I am too, though likely no one expected me to be. I was supposed to be at the rail yards but turns out I wasn’t needed.”
She tried not to think how strange it was to have him hold her hand. Stranger even, that she found it comforting. “Why would anyone threaten your aunt?” A rejected woman didn’t seem reason enough to torment her.
“To drive me away. I would have gone, but I couldn’t be certain my aunt would be safe. It didn’t take much to persuade her to sell her house and leave.” He chuckled. “I don’t think she thought I could manage on my own.”
Stella grinned. “My ma used to say no man can manage on his own.”
“She’d obviously never seen men on a cattle drive. They manage on their own.” He smiled, as if he had a secret. One he wanted to share with her? “Of course, they get dirty, eat without regard to manners. Some refuse to bathe or even wash. Maybe your mother was right.”
