Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,121
she should be lying in a grave. They’d cheated death by such a slim margin and that reality brought a chill up his spine.
Bodie helped him unhitch the wagon. “Is Addie okay? She’s bruised and cut up bad and looks horrible. Her ma too.”
“It’ll take some time, but I think she’ll be as good as new.”
“She didn’t say anything to me. Has she lost her voice again?”
“No. She’s just had a rough time. Give her a little extra help until she’s recovered. All right?”
“Sure.”
In hindsight, Ridge wished he hadn’t said anything to the kid, as Bodie immediately made a pest out of himself, insisting on doing everything, and just getting in everyone’s way.
Ridge’s gaze never left Addie. She seemed hollow inside, her eyes haunted. Without a word, she staggered up the stairs and lay on their bed, staring into nothingness.
Mrs. Jancy wiped her eyes, then pulled herself together and set about cooking supper. Addie had always said her mother was weak, but without Ezekiel, she appeared to get much stronger and surer of herself. Maybe it was being away from her husband that’d done it.
Finally getting tired of tripping over Bodie, Mrs. Jancy took him aside. “Thank you for being so kind and helpful. I wonder if you could fetch me some onions and turnips from that garden over there. I can’t bend over that well, and my old knees are pretty creaky. Then when you get back, you can sit at the kitchen table and cut up the turnips for me. I’d dearly like to hear all about your parents that you miss so much.”
“Yes, ma’am. I can surely do that.”
“Bless you, boy. You’re a godsend.”
Right then, Ridge knew that Mrs. Jancy—Ingrid—was a saint. Though she had no sons, she seemed to know exactly how to care for a half-grown man who grieved for his parents and home.
* * *
Addie lay low for a week. Ridge didn’t know how to help her recover except to give her some space and time to heal, but it killed him to feel so helpless. He held her in his arms at night and let her cry, then watched her during the days, careful not to hover like a brood hen.
Friday came, and Ridge saddled the horses. King would give her the comfort he couldn’t.
Addie was sitting in the parlor, Squeakers in her lap, staring out the window when Ridge entered. “How about a ride with me? The horses are champing at the bit for exercise, and I can’t stand much more of King’s moping around. Those sad eyes are getting to me and I think you could cheer him up.”
“I suppose.” She sighed and rose. “I’m sorry I haven’t been much good lately. I don’t know why I can’t get on with life. I’m scared.”
Ridge folded her in an embrace. “What happened to you was beyond understanding. You endured torture and pain that few others could. Your brain has to heal as much as your poor body. It’s something you can’t rush. But you’ll get there.”
She leaned back to look up at him. “I don’t deserve you. You’re so patient.”
“Don’t make me out to be a saint, because I’m not.” He covered her bruised lips with his and let the tender kiss do his talking.
Addie broke the kiss. “I thought the whole ordeal was a test of faith—faith that you’d arrive to save me. Faith that God wouldn’t let evil win. Faith that good would triumph over hate. But I discovered it was a test of strength. I had to be stronger than him, keep looking for a way to escape, never giving up even when it seemed impossible. Does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense.” Ridge breathed easier and his worry lifted. She’d started to examine what had happened and put everything in compartments. She wasn’t back to herself yet, but she was getting closer. “You’re the strongest lady I know.”
“Thank you for letting me work through this. I have to do it by myself.”
“I know.”
They walked through the house arm in arm and out the kitchen door. Addie went to King and laid her face against his neck, taking deep breaths. Ridge kept silent, unmoving, watching the blankness fade and love paint itself across her features. Long moments passed until she lifted her head. She rubbed the space between King’s dark eyes, caressing, massaging. “Hello, boy,” she crooned softly. “I’ve missed you.”
King snuffled and nuzzled her shoulder. It appeared to Ridge that the bond between horse and woman was healing both.