“Good, we are going to take our walk now.”
“It is not too late?”
“Nay, we have several hours of light left,” he said as he led her out, picking up a small basket from off a table on the way out the door. “Mrs. O’Neal put together some food and drink for us.”
“Does she do everything around here?”
“Seems so some days, except when it is time for a heavy cleaning. Then she drags us all in and gives orders.”
“Abbie!”
Hearing her brother’s yell from the barn, Abbie hurried out the gate, dragging Matthew with her. “I think Reid just saw the wagon.”
Matthew just laughed as they ran down the road.
Chapter Eighteen
Matthew glanced down at the woman by his side. She was rather delicate, even in her coat, and he was embarrassed by the fear he had over speaking a few words to her. He reminded himself that she was a softhearted, caring woman, had revealed that many times over. She would do her best to be kind and gentle even if she felt she had to push him aside.
“There is our flock,” he said as they reached the top of the hill overlooking the grazing fields.
Abbie looked at all the white, black-faced sheep and smiled faintly. “They look nice from up here. I recall a boy I used to know who proudly took me to see the herd of cows he and his da were raising. The smell was horrible.”
“Weel, bigger animals, bigger stink. Although I think sheep can get pretty stinky. Different sort of stink. People who dinnae like the beasts are particularly sensitive to it.” He smiled. “Owen has gotten into a few fights over it. He doesnae always change his coat before heading into town. Tell the truth, I think he does that on purpose at times. It was cattlemen who cut his face.”
“Idiots. What is the use in fighting over what kind of animals you raise? But, then we have just spent four years killing each other. Whose house is that?” she pointed at the small cabin in the distance, painted green.
“That one is Owen’s.” He pointed to another one a few yards farther on. “The one painted red is David’s. He lives there with his wife. She is trying to interest Owen into marrying her sister.”
Abbie laughed. “Is it working?”
“Hard to tell with Owen, but he did once say he thought Amberlee was adorable when she got angry.”
“Amberlee?”
“Mother stuck her with it. She does have amber-colored eyes.”
“But why does Owen’s comment about her make you think he might be weakening?”
“It shows he is amused by the game. If all he is is amused, nay angry, then he just might be a bit interested.”
Abbie thought about that for a moment and then shrugged. “I just hope he isn’t mean to this sister.”
“Owen would never be mean or even rude to a lass, especially not a young lass with long shining black hair and huge amber eyes.” He took her by the hand and turned to head back to the house as she laughed.
“Oh, she sounds lovely.”
“She is.”
“I have to keep Noah,” she said abruptly but in a soft voice as if confessing some sin.
“Ye dinnae have to do anything.”
“Oh, but I do. I couldn’t possibly send him away. It was hard enough to leave him behind even though it was only for a while.”
He suddenly turned off the path to home and led her down another trail, helping her over the rocks and rough spots until they were on a flat grassy spot. Matthew spread his coat on the grass, sat on it, and tugged her down beside him. He wondered if he had the courage to speak out now.
“Explain this. Ye left the lad behind, but now that he has found ye, ye cannae send him back?”
“Yes, that is it precisely. I suppose you need to have a reason for what looks like a dramatic change of mind.”
“Aye, I do. Ye told the lad ye couldnae take him because ye had no home and no husband.”
“I know, and it was a very sensible decision.”
“I ken ye thought so. I am still of a mind to believe ye could easily turn aside gossip, just reminding people there was a war, which leaves orphans and widows.”
Abbie sighed. “I know it and, as far as Noah goes, I suspect he would tell them all about how he ended up alone.”
Matthew laughed. “With great embellishment.”
“Exactly. The boy talks well for his age. It is as if the first time he said a word he liked it so much he has tried to learn as much as he can. He listens to everything that is said. He is one of those children you have to be very careful around and watch what you say because he will absorb it and use it later, probably when you would really rather he didn’t. There is a part of me that is very sorry that I didn’t stay long enough to hear him try to convince me I was wrong.”
Matthew bit his tongue but quietly said, “Maybe ye were a little wrong.”
“Of course I wasn’t. Leaving him was wrong, certainly felt wrong, but the why I told him was not wrong.”
“Except that ye thought ye could choose a house without his help.”
Abbie laughed and flopped down onto her back, still laughing. “Little wretch.” She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t send him back though. I just can’t. It was hard enough to leave him behind to wait.”
He rolled until he was settled comfortably on top of her and brushed a kiss over her mouth. “I ken it. Ye didnae have to. I told ye that ye were coming to my house.”
“It isn’t just yours though, is it? I could not impose upon all the others. And I was already toting one baby.”
“Weel, Jeremiah was easily accepted. Ye saw that.”
“Exactly. I saw it, but accepting a baby is a lot different than accepting a boy, one who loves to talk, explore, and ask questions. Lots and lots of questions, some rather impolite at times. I shouldn’t have left them with Emily.”
“Why not? She has two close to their ages and Noah appeared to like Ned weel enough.”
“He did, didn’t he? He wasn’t close to the other boys at Mrs. Beaton’s house.”
“Nay, but I think that was because they came together, and he came later. They were already a pair.” She looked around. “Where are we?”
“At the riverside. This is a nice grassy spot overlooking the river. I thought ye would like sitting here watching the river pass by as ye struggled with your thoughts. Ye liked the other one we sat by until the Rebs came and spoiled it.”
“That would be lovely, but I don’t see the river. I can hear it but not see it.”
“Ye have to get closer.” He stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her up beside him, and walked toward the edge.
Abigail was not quite so sure about it when he led her to the edge and she realized exactly where she was. The grassy spot was a ledge on a steep hill that went down to the river. She clung to Matthew’s arm as she looked over the edge. It was a long way down to the water and it was steep.
“I think this is a lot more dangerous than the other one.”