Page 276 of Conveniently Wed
Bruce mostly listened, learning more about the community. But he did have one question. “How are the Zimmermans? When we left, it was feared they might not all survive.”
Although several of the young women began to speak at once, they stopped and let Josie do the telling.
“The baby is still very weak. But everyone else is recovering. Ma still doesn’t know if it was something they ate or an infection. The other good news is Mrs. Andrews has located her husband, and she and the girls are leaving tomorrow.”
“And Mrs. Sears?” Stella asked.
Bruce tried to think who she meant then recalled she’d mentioned an elderly lady in one of the rooms.
“She’s getting weaker every day. It’s sad, but she says she’s anxious to go to her heavenly home.”
For a moment, a pall hung over the group.
Then Reese said, “I hear young Jimmy has taken to camping down by the river.”
Bruce chuckled along with the rest. “I met Jimmy. He seemed to know a lot about the town, so I asked if he knew of a place I could rent to take care of Aunt Mary. He spoke with such longing about living by the river but said his ma wouldn’t let him. What happened?”
“His ma is letting him experience the kind of life he seems to think is nothing but adventure. She says he’ll come home when it turns cold. She says he comes home for meals.”
They all enjoyed a moment of amusement at young Jimmy’s adventures.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly and enjoyably. Bruce took a moment to study the visitors. This was the Kinsley family. Not related to Stella, and yet he understood they were as much her family as if she’d been born a Kinsley. Or adopted as all the girls were. She had been drawn into their embrace.
Cole spoke. “Bruce, show us around the place. Some of us have never been here before.” The men rose and accompanied Bruce to the barn, the corrals, the fields, and where he was plowing. They ended up back at the corrals, leaning on the fence and chatting.
Kade clapped Bruce on the back. “It’s good to have you here. It’s good Stella is able to get back to her farm. You two will do all right.”
The others echoed the sentiments.
“Thanks.” It was good to know he had the support of this group of men.
Had he been drawn into their circle the way Stella had been included by the Kinsley women?
He believed he had been and determined to put behind him the past and the specter of the street urchin he’d once been.
Soon after that the visitors packed up, called their children, and prepared to depart. Bruce approached Flora and made his request for her to look after Aunt Mary and the children so he and Stella could explore the country a bit.
She waggled her eyebrows. “Courting time?”
He couldn’t deny the idea had crossed his mind, but he wasn’t about to admit it. “Don’t see the need for courting when we’re already married. But I’m new to the country. Time to see what lies around me.”
She chuckled. “I’m thinking you can do both. But yes. I’ll come. Tomorrow is laundry day. Both Stella and I will be busy. Why don’t I come on Tuesday?”
“That’d be good.”
He went to Stella’s side and let the wagons depart.
“What was that about?” Stella asked after the wagons had turned to the road. Two south and the others north.
“I’ve arranged a surprise for you.”
“What?”
He grinned at her, enjoying the way her eyes danced with curiosity and perhaps something more that, if he was to be optimistic, was pleasure at the idea of a surprise shared with him. “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise, now will it?” He draped his arm across her shoulders, ignoring her pretend pout. “That was a very pleasant afternoon.”
She sighed mightily. “Very well. Tease me with what you have planned. I’m all right with that. Not the least bit curious.”
He chuckled. “I can tell. Now tell me how you enjoyed the afternoon.”
