Page 251 of Conveniently Wed
She sank to the ground as if her legs wouldn’t hold her. “What reason do you have to stay?”
“My aunt, the children, my marriage vows, you. How many reasons do you need?”
She studied the hem of her skirt. “Didn’t you say your father was a wanderer?”
“I might have. He was.” He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. “I’ve never wanted to be like my pa.”
“Why is that?”
He sat beside her. “Well, first, because he’s passed on.”
She gave a burst of laughter. “I can see that might be something you wouldn’t want to do just yet.”
He grew serious. “I don’t remember much about Pa. Seems he was always making me run errands and do the camp chores while he lay next to the fire.” He turned sharply to look at her. “I don’t think Pa ever saw me as anything but a run-and-fetch person.” It was the first time he had looked at his past except to wish he was something different than an urchin.
“Where was your ma?”
“I’m not sure when she passed away. All I remember is we left, but Ma wasn’t with us.” He looked past her to the nearby fence line. “I don’t want to be like Pa and not see people as valuable. Not see the joy in others or do what I can to add to it.”
She touched his arm, brought his attention back to her. “That is the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He searched her gaze, felt as if he saw into her heart. Saw hope and trust and faith for the first time.
She searched his gaze as well. He could only hope and pray she saw what she wanted and needed. She smiled. “I can live with that.” She clambered to her feet and left him sitting by the barn, staring after her.
She could live with that. That surely meant she could live with him.
He might find here what he’d had a good dose of with Aunt Mary and what she knew he needed more of—acceptance. Smiling, he returned to the repairs.
A little later Stella called out, “Dinnertime.”
He crossed the yard, eager to see if she still approved of him. The children raced from their play and reached the hitching post at the same time as he. He scooped up Blossom and tossed her in the air. Donny clung to his arm, and Bruce swung him as they walked.
Stella watched, smiling at the children and then at him. “You certainly add to their joy.”
She couldn’t have said words that meant more to him and, smiling widely, he carried the children inside.
Aunt Mary chuckled. “Less than two weeks for sure.”
“What do you mean?” Bruce asked, wondering at the way Stella’s cheeks pinked.
Stella knew exactly what Aunt Mary meant. Stella pretended a great deal of interest in the pork and beans she had prepared for dinner, hoping all the while that Bruce’s aunt hadn’t said the same thing to him.
Putting on her best calm face, she took the pot to the table and concentrated on scooping out a serving for each of the children, taking as long as possible before she sat at the table. Across from Bruce with him directly in her line of sight.Oh, please don’t let her have told him her prediction.
Aunt Mary chuckled. “Delay won’t change anything.”
As Stella took her place at the table, she pretended not to hear Aunt Mary’s comment and hoped no one would notice her hot cheeks that surely were as pink as morning roses. Shesignaled to the children to bow their heads, and she did the same.
Bruce didn’t pray, and she stole a look at him. His gaze went from her to his aunt, puzzlement obvious in his expression.
Aunt Mary must not have said anything to him about two weeks. Stella’s shoulders relaxed, and she drew in a slow breath.
Bruce shrugged and bowed his head to say grace. “Amen.”
The air hung silent and heavy across the table as Stella wondered what she would say to him to explain her embarrassment. But she needn’t have worried.
“I have two barns,” Donny said between mouthfuls. “One my papa built and one the uncles built. So, I’m going to have a great big farm. Papa always told me I was a born farmer. Mama, what does that mean?”
