The Bride's Gift by Raine Cantrell

Author:Raine Cantrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Short Stories
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Brianna’s present announced its own arrival before cock’s crow in the morning.

The brown-eyed cow, left tied to a corral fence as Nick had arranged, created a racket that couldn’t be ignored. Brianna, running outside in her nightgown and shawl, promptly washed her, flipped over a bucket and sat to milk her. From the sweet crooning noises his wife made, he knew she was pleased with his gift. He was certain of it when she was done, for she hugged and scattered kisses where she could, her happiness infecting him.

“Ah, ’tis cream for your porridge an’ butter for your bread, boyo. That’s what your wondrous gift’ll mean.” She smacked her lips and licked them. Her husband, ever a man to take advantage where he could, swept her up into his arms and carried her back to bed.

When Nick drove the wagon into the yard, having spent the day repairing fences, he found that his wife had tied a piece of mountain ash to the barn door, and was fretting that she couldn’t find primroses to scatter in the cow’s stall. He found it difficult to ignore her superstitious mutterings. Unwilling to spoil the earlier, happier mood in which they parted, he kept silent.

Over supper, she shared the small happenings of her day, and he relaxed, listening to her, and seeing his land through her eyes. Everything was new to her, and she made it so for him.

“I was thinking we should go into town and place the order for your seeds and trees. By the time they arrive, we should have the ground cleared and ready for planting.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” he returned, chuckling at her wide-eyed look.

Brianna finished mending the tear on one of his shirts. She pricked herself with the needle on the last stitch, wishing she still had her thimble. But Nick was beside her in a moment, kissing the tiny drop of blood that welled up from her fingertip.

Hunkered down beside her chair, he held her hand, and looked up at her. “There, it’s all better now, isn’t it?”

She regarded him most seriously, for his level look and husky voice suggested a deeper meaning to his question.

She thought of her fears and doubts when making the long journey to marry a stranger. She knew he regretted Patrick’s choice of her for his wife, not that she doubted his desire for her. Of that, there was no question standing in her mind. He’d been kind and thoughtful and willing to share bits and pieces of his past with her. Of late, he had held his wicked tongue about her beliefs.

But she found herself wanting more. She wanted Nicholas Dowling to love her.

“Brianna?”

She looked into his eyes. “Aye, ’tis much better now.”

Drawing her up from the bench, Nick picked up his shirt that fell from her lap. He glanced at it, then placed it on the table.

“Your tending to wifely duties is a credit to you, but I’ve a need of your delicate hands elsewhere.”

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