Page 237 of Conveniently Wed
He leaned back, pushed his hat off his forehead, and looked her in the eyes. A hard gleam slowly softened until a smile drew up the corners of his mouth. “I think you might be right.”
He turned and sat beside her, his back to the rail he’d been examining with such concern. “There’s no reason I should care what her opinion is of me.”
“None whatsoever.”
They sat side by side, looking at the scenery. For a spell neither of them spoke.
“How long were you with the Kinsleys?”
“More than three months. They’re good people, so it wasn’t a hardship, but I’m glad to be home.”
“So is Donny.”
“He certainly is.”
Bruce sat with his wrists on his drawn-up knees.
Her latent fears surfaced. If he wasn’t feeling like he belonged, would he leave? “It’s early for you and your aunt to have an opinion about us or the farm, but I hope you will grow to love the place as much as I do and feel as much at home.” She waited for a response. Nothing. What was he thinking? “Do you think that would be possible?”
He slowly faced her. “Aunt Mary taught me the feeling of home. Something I’d not known until she took me in. So long as she is happy here, I will be too.”
At that moment, Stella vowed she would make certain Aunt Mary was supremely happy to live right there. “I wonder if she needs to lie down again. And Blossom needs a nap.” She scrambled to her feet.
Bruce jumped up too, and they crossed the yard.
In the house, the children sat by Aunt Mary. Stella wondered which of the three had been entertaining the others. With Bruce’s help she got Aunt Mary settled in bed.
“Can I go with Uncle Bruce?” Donny asked.
“It’s fine with me, but you need to ask Uncle Bruce.”
“Can I?” The boy almost squirmed out of his skin with longing.
“I could sure use your help.” The pair left, Donny swaggering after Bruce.
Stella chuckled. This was what she wanted for her children. Home. Acceptance. Belonging. Learning how to do the things a farm required.
“Come on, Blossom. Time for your nap.”
Her little daughter climbed into bed without a fuss and closed her eyes.
Home sweet home. The words rang through Stella’s head as she went to the kitchen to think about supper. But the house seemed confining, and she stepped outside. Bruce and Donny walked along the corral fence, checking that each pole wassecure. Twice they paused, and Bruce let Donny hammer at a spike then finished it himself with three strikes of his hammer. From the way Donny stood, Stella could tell Bruce had praised the boy’s efforts.
Soon her cattle would be back, grazing nearby. Her gaze went toward the river where they would soon be. Had the cows delivered healthy calves? Was the milk cow still producing? And her chickens? How had they fared? Something in the shadow of the trees moved. She squinted. Was it the wind moving the branches? But they moved laterally. Not the way swaying branches would.
Could it be a wild animal? A bear looking for more raspberries?
She shifted her attention back to Bruce and Donny. They were safe enough where they were. She stared at the trees a long time but didn’t see anything else. Could it have been her imagination?
She couldn’t be too cautious. She’d tell Bruce what she’d seen and keep the children close to the house until she could be certain no bears or other wildlife hung about.
The sound of riders approaching sent alarm skidding along her nerves. She patted her pocket where she’d put the beaded piece of leather and squinted, trying to see if the horses were the painted ponies the natives often rode.
7
“Stay here.” Bruce pushed to his feet, keeping Donny behind him as two racing riders came over the green grassy hill toward the place. He had no way of knowing if they were neighbors or strangers, friendly or otherwise.
Stella stood near the house, shading her eyes to study the approaching pair.
