Bride For Gilbert

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “I love to watch them play together. It must be a twin thing how well they seem to communicate without saying anything at all.” Madelyn pulled out some cookies she’d made while the rest of the household slept that morning, sharing one with Bert.

  “My brother and I were the same. Sometimes. We would feel like we knew exactly what the other one was thinking ninety percent of the time. And then something would happen to make us wonder if we even knew each other. It was strange.” He accepted the cookie and bit into it, closing his eyes. “You truly have a gift in the kitchen.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad you think so.” As she watched, Millie fell and started to cry. Madelyn was on her feet running toward her before Bert had registered what the sound was. “Where does it hurt?” she asked, stroking the girl’s arm.

  “There.” Millie pointed to her ankle, and Madelyn felt along it, trying to see if anything appeared off.

  “I think it’s going to be okay. Let’s see if you can walk.” Madelyn helped Millie to her feet.

  Millie took a few steps. “It doesn’t hurt anymore! You fixed it, Mama!” Millie threw herself at Madelyn, wrapping her arms around her neck.

  Madelyn smiled. “I don’t know if I fixed it or it wasn’t hurt badly to start with.” She held the little girl close, amazed at how good it felt to have the small arms around her. “Do you want to come sit on the quilt with Daddy and me? Or do you want to play more?”

  “I’ll play!” Millie hurried away, picking up the ball and throwing it to her sister again.

  It was only then that Madelyn realized Bert had followed her over. “I’m sorry if I overstepped . . .”

  Bert shook his head. “You handled it beautifully.” He held his hand down to help her up from the ground. “You were born to be a mother, Maddie.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. I feel as if I was, but it’s so nice to hear you say it.”

  He kept her hand in his as he walked back toward the quilt, sitting back down. “Are you happy here?”

  “Mostly. Happier than I’ve ever been.” If she could just know that he was returning her feelings, it would help a great deal.

  “The girls are obedient to you when I’m not around?”

  She nodded. “So obedient it worries me at times. It makes me think they are worried if they make a wrong move, I’ll go away.”

  He sighed. “I hope they get over that soon. I had no idea how traumatic this would all be for them. I guess I’ve been so worried about my own emotions, I neglected to think about theirs.”

  She wanted to ask if he’d come to any conclusions about his emotions, but she’d promised him a week. It hadn’t even been two days yet. She would have to wait. “I think they’re going to be all right. We just need to make sure that we keep showering them with love.”

  He looked down at her for a moment. She loved his children every bit as much as he did. It shone from her eyes as she looked at them. He didn’t want to fall for her, but he wasn’t sure he could hold out. If the girls had been just a duty for her, maybe he could have. But they weren’t, and it was obvious in her every action.

  Their eyes met, and she felt a tingle run through her body. She wanted to be held in his arms and kept there forever. Her heart beat faster, and she wanted to tear her gaze away, but she couldn’t. She felt as if she was drowning in his big brown eyes.

  He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, feeling as if he was under a spell cast by her eyes. The kiss was brief, but his entire body reacted as if he’d been struck by lightning. Even Sally had never made him feel this way.

  When he raised his head, he stroked her cheek. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Maddie, but I fear I’ll never be the same again.” With those words, he got up and walked beside the stream, obviously lost in thought.

  Madelyn watched him go, her fingers on her lips. They still burned where he’d touched them. What was he thinking now? Any other man would have asked her to walk with him, but Bert walked off alone. She took deep breaths trying to calm her racing heart. Soon, she hoped he would be able to kiss her without being wracked with guilt.

  The girls finished playing with the ball and hurried over, each of them reaching for a cookie.

  “Did you have fun?” Madelyn asked softly.

  Millie nodded. “We like to play with the ball.”

  “I’m glad! You girls should play with the ball while I’m hanging laundry on the line next time.”

  Mary shook her head adamantly. “No, we help!”

  Madelyn smiled. “You’re good helpers. What would I do without the two of you?”

  Bert was back a few minutes later, and he held his hand down to help Madelyn up, and then he picked up the picnic basket. “Let’s get back to the cabin. I’m sure we all have things we should be doing, and I know two little girls who are overdue for a nap!”

  “But, Daddy! I’m not sleepy!” Millie protested, rubbing her eyes.

  Madelyn couldn’t help but grin as the tired little girl protested. “I’ll make you a deal. If you lie down with your eyes closed for ten minutes, and you’re not asleep after that, you can get up.”

  Millie nodded emphatically. “I can stay awake.”

  Bert’s eyes met Madelyn’s, his full of laughter. “I think that’s a very smart deal. Then if they’re not really tired, they can get back up.” He obviously knew the same thing she did. They’d never make it more than a minute without falling asleep.

  He sat with her that afternoon while she finished the girls’ aprons. She had carefully embroidered each girl’s name on her apron, so they could start to distinguish their own names.

  He worked on whittling a doll head while she sewed, and they talked softly of the girls’ future, but never their own, as they worked. She desperately wanted to talk to him about the things that were important to her, but she knew he wasn’t ready.

  “I have overnight rounds to make tomorrow night. The other men have been covering for me since Sally died, but it’s time I took my own rounds back from them. It’s not fair for them to keep doing my work forever.” Bert watched her carefully as he told her this.

  Madelyn looked up from the dresses she was cutting out. “All right. How long will you be gone?”

  “At least tomorrow night, and maybe Tuesday night as well.”

  In a way, she was pleased he’d be gone, because fighting her feelings for him with him right there was hard. But she knew she and the girls would miss him a great deal. “I’ll pray for your safety.”

  He smiled at that, thankful she was the woman who was sent to be his wife. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “Will you go with one of the other men? Or will you be alone out there?”

  “I’ll be alone. Sometimes Andrew goes with me, but I don’t think he will this week. I’ll be fine on my own. I’ve done this once or twice before.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure you have. I’ll take good care of the girls.”

  “I know you will. I appreciate that very much.” His eyes met hers again, and he remembered what her lips had felt like under his. How she’d tasted. He had a lot of thinking to do while he was gone . . . and most of it was about his pretty new bride.

  “I’d better start supper,” she finally said, tearing her gaze from his. Why was she so attracted to this man? What was it about him that made him so much more special in her eyes than any other?

  She stood and started a casserole for supper, trying to force herself to breathe normally. The man she’d married was filling her every thought. Hopefully he’d make a decision about her soon, or she’d slowly go out of her mind.

  Once the girls were in bed that night, she started sewing their dresses while he continued his whittling work. “I’ll be riding out at daybreak tomorrow. Do you think you could pack me enough food for a couple of days?”

  She nodded. “I’d be happy to. I’ll get up early and fix you a nice breakfast and put some food together for you.” She was so happy to do anything he asked of her. Maybe if she w
as indispensable to him, he’d love her. It was worth a try.

  She was again awake when he went to bed, but she said nothing, staring at the wall on her side of the bed. She could just make it out by the trickle of moonlight coming in through the window.

  When he was certain she was asleep, Bert scooted toward her in the bed, wrapping his arm around her waist, his back pressed against her. He needed to be able to feel her against him.

  Madelyn was surprised at his gesture, but she melted back against him, loving the feel of his body against hers. Maybe his mind didn’t want to love her, but it seemed his body did. She’d have to accept that. For now.

  She closed her eyes and dreamed of him. Of the girls as she showed them their baby brother. Of tea parties and picnics.

  He laid awake all night, just holding her close. He’d lost his heart and had it broken when his first wife died. He wasn’t sure he could go through that again.

  7

  Madelyn woke early to get Bert’s meals ready for his time away. It was before three when she started her baking for the day, and she promised herself she’d nap when the girls did. But for now, it was her job to take care of her husband.

  He came into the kitchen not long before sun-up, yawning behind his hand. “How did you sleep?”

  She shrugged. “Fitfully, but I did sleep some.” She’d had his leaving on her mind, and she really didn’t want him to go. “How about you?” He had dark circles under his eyes, and she was afraid she already knew the answer.

  “Not well, but it’s all right. I’m used to it.” He had barely slept at all for a month after Sally died. How could he? He was the sole parent of two beautiful little girls, and he couldn’t think of anything but how he had to be everything to those two children.

  She scooped eggs out of the frying pan and added them to the bacon already on two plates. Putting the plates on the table, she poured them each a cup of coffee. “I’ve got bread in the oven that will be ready before you leave.”

  “Thank you for getting up so early to take care of me. I really do appreciate it.”

  She nodded once, trying to fight back tears. She couldn’t believe how sad she was at the thought of him being gone overnight. She’d only known him a few days. There had to be something wrong with her! “Be careful.”

  He looked at her with a frown. “Are you worried about me?”

  “Of course I am! You’re my husband.” She ate the last bite of her eggs before standing to get the bread from the oven. She dumped the loaf pan over and cut it into pieces. She’d make more later for the girls and herself, but this loaf was for him.

  She wrapped it up in cheesecloth along with some extra bacon she’d made for sandwiches along the way. She filled a thermos with coffee for him, so he’d have something warm to drink. She put it all into a cloth bag she’d found and set it on the table. “There. That should get you through.”

  He wiped off his mouth and stood, walking around the table and grasping her upper arms. “Take care of my girls for me!” With those words, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her sweetly. His arms wrapped around her, and she clung to his shoulders. When he finally lifted his head, he looked into her eyes. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.” He picked up his bag of food and left the cabin, and she stood leaning against the counter, staring after him.

  It wasn’t until she knew he was gone that she allowed the tears to fall. She sat down at the table and put her head on her arms and wept. She wanted him to be safe, but she wanted him to do his job. Most importantly she wanted him to be there with her and the girls.

  During his absence, she kept herself busy. She and the girls walked over to Ida’s house right after the girls finished their breakfast. Ida came to the door, and Madelyn smiled. “I was hoping you and Lily would come over for tea today.”

  Ida nodded, a huge smile on her face. “We’d love to! Lily was just saying she’s ready to make friends here.”

  “Then come over around three, and we’ll make it happen.”

  “Can I bring anything?” Ida asked.

  Madelyn shook her head. “No, the girls and I have it covered. I’m going to make some cookies and some tea.”

  Lily smiled at Madelyn from behind her mother’s back. “I like cookies.”

  “Me too!” Madelyn waved her hand. “We’ll see you at three!”

  Madelyn stopped in at the mercantile on her way back. She wanted to get everything she would need for the baking she planned to do. While she was there, she picked up a few more yards of a fabric she thought would look good on the girls. She needed something to occupy her mind during the long hours Bert worked.

  When they got home, she mixed up cookie dough, giving each of the girls a small portion to play with. She needed them to stay occupied.

  After lunch, while the girls slept, she stitched as fast as she could on their new dresses, wanting them to be done by the time Bert arrived home. She wanted to surprise him, and she couldn’t think of anything else.

  Just before three, she woke the twins and brushed their hair, making sure they knew how to be good hostesses. “I don’t want you to mention that Lily’s lip looks different, all right?” She wasn’t sure if the little girl was still sensitive about her appearance, but she knew that she might be.

  After getting an agreement from both girls, she put the kettle on for tea, and arranged the cookies nicely on a plate. She set out pretty plates for all five of them, and waited for their guests. They didn’t have to wait long. There was a knock on the door at precisely three. Madelyn hurried to open it and invite their friends in, and they all sat around the table, eating the cookies.

  Madelyn gave the girls mostly milk and a little bit of tea each. She and Ida had mostly tea with a bit of milk. All of them ate the cookies, and they had a nice conversation.

  Lily was a little older than her girls, but she didn’t seem to mind playing with children younger than she was. She seemed quite happy to have someone to play with for a change.

  “How does she like White Fox?” Madelyn asked when the girls had gone off to play on their own for a little while.

  “She’s shy, so she hasn’t really made any friends yet. She will soon, I hope.” Ida looked toward the girls’ bedroom where they played. “I think she’s afraid the other children will see her scar and make fun of her, so she closes herself off. Your girls are her first friends here.”

  “Well, I’m glad they’re her friends. I warned them not to mention the scar, hoping that would help.”

  Ida smiled. “Thank you for inviting us over for tea. It was really lovely, and it was nice for us to be able to get out of the house and do something fun.”

  Madelyn shrugged. “I’m just glad to have someone to talk to for a while. Bert left to do some overnight rounds. He said he’d be gone at least one night and possibly two. I wasn’t sure if I could keep myself from fretting if I was just here with the girls all day and night.”

  “Well, I’m around if you need me. I’m happy to bring my sewing over tomorrow if it would help you make it through the day easier.”

  “That would be wonderful, if you don’t mind. The girls could play while we work.”

  “Sounds good to me. I think Lily is having a good time with the girls, and I know I’ll enjoy your company while we sew.” Ida glanced at the clock. “We need to go now, though. I have to fix supper.”

  “All right. Thank you so much for coming over. What time should we expect you tomorrow?”

  “Why don’t we say around ten? That’ll give me a couple of hours to sew with you before lunchtime.”

  “You could stay for lunch, if you’d like,” Madelyn offered.

  “Thank you. I appreciate the offer. We might do that. It depends whether or not Andrew is coming home for lunch.” Ida got to her feet and called Lily.

  Lily came running. “Yes?”

  “It’s time for us to go.”

  Lily looked disappointed, but she immediately turned to Madelyn and said, “Thank you for invitin
g us. I had a lovely time.”

  “Thank you so much for coming, Lily. The girls enjoyed themselves playing with you.” Madelyn grinned at Ida. “We’ll see you in the morning?”

  “Absolutely. Lily will enjoy playing again, and maybe I’ll be able to concentrate on my sewing.”

  After they’d left, Madelyn made supper. She decided to do something simple since it was just the three of them, and she made some French toast. After supper, she sat with the girls and told them stories she’d read. After putting them to bed, she sat at the table and did more sewing by lamplight. It was a lot harder to sew without the natural light from the sun, but she managed. If she’d been in town, she could have flipped a switch to turn the electric lights on, but here in the country, they used lantern light.

  She went to bed much later than usual, not sure she’d be able to sleep with Bert gone. It was surprising how used to having him beside her she’d become.

  * * *

  After lunch on Tuesday, Bert started for home, excited to see his children, but surprisingly even more excited to see Madelyn. She’d already gotten under his skin in just the few days she’d been there, and he still wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  He was halfway back to town when it started snowing, and it wasn’t a light snow. It was a full-fledged blizzard, and he hadn’t seen it coming. He wasn’t sure if it was because he’d been thinking about his new wife and ignoring the signs or if there had been no signs. Either way, he was going to have to find shelter and fast.

  He remembered a farm house he’d passed just a quarter of a mile back. He knew the couple who lived there, both older with grown children. He was sure they’d let him sit out the storm.

  He would just have to wait a little longer before seeing the girls and his sweet wife.

  * * *

  Madelyn was positively gleeful as she put the girls down for their nap on Tuesday. She hoped that Bert had been right about making it home that night. She only had to hem the girls’ dresses, and they’d be ready to wear for him.