by Linda Ford
He drank of what she offered. And realized how thirsty he was for it. “I think you are right.”
“So, what’s changed? Why do you now ask for yourself? And what, if I may ask, did you pray for that seemed selfish?”
What had changed? He knew without giving it a second thought. He touched his fingertips to her cheek. “Because of you I have changed.”
Her eyes darkened. Creases fanned out from her eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Nor do I.” Was it an answer to Aunt Mary’s prayer for them to fall in love? Would he object to it happening? No, but whatever was developing between them he wanted to be wholly from their hearts. A thought slowly rooted. Being married to Stella, being father to her children, helping run her farm, had given him purpose and satisfaction he had never before known. For the first time, he felt like he belonged. Like he had real value. That he was needed. He tried to think how to put the thoughts into words.
“Someone coming,” Donny yelled.
Bruce got to his feet and pulled Stella up beside him. There were a whole lot of someones coming if he wasn’t mistaken. There were three wagons, and he could already see that several people rode in each wagon. They drew closer, and he made out Kade and Flora in the first wagon with a man and woman in the back.
He didn’t recognize the others.
“It’s the Kinsley sisters.” Stella sounded surprised and pleased at the same time.
He chuckled softly, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He needn’t have worried as Stella rushed toward the first wagon. That was a quick answer to his prayer for Flora to visit.
The wagons drew abreast. Everyone called a greeting to Stella and eyed Bruce. He stood taller, pushed his shoulders back. He was about to meet the rest of the Kinsley family and knew they would be inspecting him, judging to see if he was worthy of Stella.
Grinning, he admitted he wasn’t half good enough for her, but she’d married him, nonetheless. And he belonged right here. He realized he pressed his palm to his chest, right over his heart, and dropped his hand to his side.
They followed the wagons until they drew to a halt in front of the house, and children tumbled from the wagons, the adults following at a more sedate pace. Bruce had heard the Kinsley’s names. He knew the girls were all adopted, that they had recently married cowboys in the area. But he struggled to keep them all sorted out as Stella introduced them and told him where they lived.
“Adele and Ethan live past Kade and Flora’s place. These are their children, Jacob, Georgie, and Susie.” Two little boys close to the same age, perhaps two. And a little girl slightly older than Blossom who joined Blossom to pet her kitten.
“Victoria and Reese. Eve and Cole.” They all lived north and west of town. Eve and Cole had with them a more-than-half-grown boy by the name of Matt.
“Last but not least, Josie and Walker, who live north.”
Bruce greeted them all, felt each of them examine him. He wondered what they saw, how they judged him, but for the first time in his life, it didn’t bother him one way or the other. He belonged here, and he knew it.
“So, this is the entire Kinsley family?”
Eve, black haired and blued eyed, answered. “We have a sister Tilly back in Ohio.”
“I think someone mentioned that before.”
Eve sobered. “And our brother, Josh, who disappeared a couple years ago.”
Bruce glanced around the circle of people, saw they all wore sad expressions. “I’m sorry.”
Flora brightened. “Pa is praying and believing we’ll find him.”
At the mention of prayer, Stella drew the crowd forward and introduced Aunt Mary.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I couldn’t help overhearing what you said about the preacher’s prayers for your brother. I am a firm believer that God hears and answers our prayers. I have a special prayer I am praying for Stella and Bruce.”
Bruce groaned.
Stella sent him a helpless, what-can-we-do look.
Flora laughed. “I already told them how you expect them to fall in love in less than two weeks.” She looked from Stella to Bruce. “How’s that working out so far? You’re just about out of time.”
Kade tried to look disapproving at his wife’s curiosity but failed to hide his interest in their answer.
The Kinsley sisters made no attempt to conceal their eagerness to know if Aunt Mary’s prayers were answered.
Before either Stella or Bruce could answer, Aunt Mary chuckled. “They are perfect for each other, and I think they are beginning to realize it. I expect them any day now to admit this marriage is more than a business agreement.”
“That would be lovely.” Eve said, sending her sisters a warning look. “But I’m sure they don’t appreciate being pushed into falling in love.” Her gaze went to Cole. “Love is best discovered in its own way and own time. Now.” She clapped her hands. “Stella, you will be relieved you don’t have to feed us all. We brought food enough for a picnic. Where shall we set it out?”
A flurry of activity followed. Bruce and Kade hustled to the barn to get sawhorses and planks to fashion a table. When they returned the women waited with plates, cutlery, and pots of food. As soon as the table was fashioned, the food and dishes were set out, and everyone gathered around.
The men removed their hats and looked at Bruce. He understood he was being called on to ask the blessing. There might have been a time he would have refused. Because—he glanced at Stella and saw from the smile in her eyes that she knew what he was thinking—because he felt he would be judged. But today, he was pleased to be able voice his gratitude, though he might restrict it to thanks for the food and the company.
He prayed. After his amen, they lined up to fill their plates. He sensed there wasn’t an urgency to eat, but rather the desire to visit and catch up on each other’s lives. The picnic lasted several hours though the children ate and went to play. The two little boys stayed close by, under Adele and Ethan’s supervision.
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.
Kad
e 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.”
Another exaggerated sigh. “It was fun. I feel like I’m a part of the family. The Kinsleys are like that. They open their hearts and homes to others.”
“I felt that too.”
She turned, still under his arm, bringing her face to his shoulder. “For you? You felt accepted by them?”
He nodded, smiling into her warm gaze. She was close enough he would only have to lower his head a couple of inches to kiss her. He tightened his arm around her.
Bruce’s arm about her shoulders was strong and sure, like a promise given and fulfilled. Stella could stay there forever if life would let her. She searched his eyes, bright as the Montana sky at high noon. Her gaze went to his mouth. A firm mouth. She thought of kissing him. In one sense, as his wife, she had every right. Yet, would he welcome a change in their agreement? Would he think she was responding to Aunt Mary’s urgings rather than her own heart?
With another sigh, one that had nothing to do with the plans he had for a surprise, she eased from under his arm. “I need to check on the children.” They had gone to the barn once the company left and were safe there, but she needed an excuse. She hurried away. In the barn, she sank to the floor beside Donny and Blossom.
Both chattered about the other children and their pets, but Stella didn’t hear. She listened for footsteps to indicate Bruce had followed her. They didn’t come, and she told herself she wasn’t disappointed.
After a bit, she left the barn. Aunt Mary had gone inside the house. She didn’t see Bruce anywhere. Evening arrived, but still there was no sign of him. She called the children in from the barn.
She watched them approach, but her gaze went past them. Where was Bruce? She waited, was about to turn away, when he vaulted over the fence and jogged toward her. Her breath released in a whoosh that sucked her lungs empty.
He didn’t speak until he was close enough for her to hear him. “The milk cow freshened. We have a healthy heifer.”
He’d only been watching to see that the calf delivered safely. How foolish of her to worry that he had disappeared. She had to stop reverting to childhood disappointments.
Monday she did laundry. The day brought a brisk wind. Perfect for drying clothes.
Bruce returned to plowing.
Where was this surprise he’d promised?
She asked him that question as they sat outside at the end of the day drinking tea.
He only chuckled. Then said, “Happy Anniversary.”
“What?”
“A week ago today, we were married.” The gladness in his smile blessed her. Filled her with such sweetness she felt it leaking from her eyes.
“A week?” she stammered. She managed to keep under control the emotion that almost stifled her. A week hardly seemed long enough for such depth of feeling to have evolved.
“Yup. A week.” His grin seemed to say he was more than satisfied with how things were going.
She looked away. How did she know what to trust? What was real? What was fleeting?
“Is that the surprise?”
“Nope.” He looked away, a grin plainly visible even at that angle.
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
She teased, she prodded, she pretended to pout and be annoyed, but he wouldn’t reveal what his planned surprised was, and she finally conceded defeat. She would simply have to wait.
She should be good at that, but as she lay on her bed, she tried to think of every possible idea he might consider a surprise and finally fell asleep with no idea what he meant to do but with a smile upon her lips.
* * *
The next morning she rose, determined not to let not knowing bother her. Told herself it might turn out be a trick.
She had just finished the breakfast dishes when she heard the sound of an approaching rider. She went to the door to look out.
“Flora? What she’s doing here?”
“Maybe that’s the surprise,” Aunt Mary said. Bruce had refused to tell her the details too.
“I don’t understand.”
Flora dismounted, and Bruce came from the barn, leading two saddled horses. One bore her side saddle. Were they going for a ride?
A bubble of anticipation raced up her throat and lodged on the back of her tongue.
Flora and Bruce crossed the yard together, Bruce leading the horses.
Blossom and Donny had been playing under the tree in front of the house. They raced over to the approaching pair. Donny caught his sister’s hand and made her stop before they ran up to the horses.
“Good boy,” Stella murmured.
“Are you talking about Donny or Bruce?” Aunt Mary asked.
Stella chuckled. “Donny.” Though the idea of going for a ride with Bruce certainly made her think the same about him.
They reached the house, and Stella ducked back inside. Flora entered with Bruce on her heels.
“I’m here to take care of things,” Flora announced. “So, you can show Bruce our beautiful country.”
Stella didn’t offer one word of argument but grabbed her hat, took Bruce’s arm, and steered him back outside. She paused only long enough to tell the children to mind Flora.
Bruce helped her into the saddle. She took the reins. “What would you like to see?”
“Everything. I’m new to the country.”
“Then let’s go.” She rode to the east and then veered south. He stayed close to her side as she pointed out various landmarks. “There’s an old cabin some trapper used to live in.”
He looked the direction she pointed. “It’s almost falling back into the woods.”
“No one has lived there as long as I can remember.” She sniffed. “Can still smell the woodsmoke though.” She chuckled. “The place clings to its memories.”
They continued, riding in a wide circle, exploring the countryside. When the sun reached its zenith, Bruce reined in and helped her dismount. “Flora packed us a picnic lunch. This looks like a good place to eat it.” They sat in the grassy spot, surrounde
d by late summer flowers and feathery heads of grass.
She bit into a sandwich. “I love picnics.”
“Me too. Especially when I have pleasant company.”
She smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.” Their gazes caught and held. She felt a sweetness blossom and looked around to see what wild flower grew nearby. She saw none and realized the feeling came from within. From her longing heart.
Longing heart? She dismissed the thought. “There’s the old man’s nose.” She pointed it out, hoping talking about mountains Frank had named would bring her back to rational thinking.
They finished eating but remained sitting on the grassy slope. Bruce sat cross-legged, looking into the distance. “It’s strange, but for the first time I can remember, I feel settled. It’s partly the country. So beautiful. So full of life.”
As if to prove his words, a doe and her twin, spotted fawns picked through the grass a hundred yards away.
Stella kept very still, not wanting to frighten them. The doe lifted her head as the fawns kicked their heels and butted each other.
Then something alerted the doe to their presence and she bounced away, her offspring right behind her.
Stella released her breath.
Bruce turned to study her. “What do you think of your surprise?”
“It’s wonderful. I’ve always enjoyed riding around. Seeing the mountains and the hills and the grassy slopes reaches into my very soul and refreshes it.” She ducked her head. “Now I’m being fanciful.”
“Not at all. You’ve simply put into words how the place makes you feel. I feel the same.”
She dared look at him again. The scenery faded to pale shades while his eyes caught the color of the sky and the hues of the distant mountains and shone them back at her. Promising her things she wanted without knowing names for them. Time ceased. Only her heart functioned, beating rapidly.
A crow flew overhead, its wings batting at the air. It cawed.
Stella jerked away from staring at Bruce. She gathered up the remnants of their lunch and went to her horse.
“I guess we should move on, unless you want to go home,” Bruce said.
