Read Online Ashley Merrick - India: Bride of Indiana (American Mail-Order Bride 19) by Ashley Merrick - Free Book Online

really not, but she just gets under my skin. You’ll see why when you spend a little more time around her.”
    India wasn’t looking forward to that. “What do we need to do to help with the event?”
    “There are a bunch of committees, each handling different aspects of the event. I am helping with coordinating the donations for the silent auction items and working with the hotel to choose the food and decorations. I can put you with me on both of those committees if you like?”
    “I’d like that. They both sound fun.” India didn’t know much about silent auctions but she did love food. It would be fun to be involved in choosing the menu.
    When the meeting ended, many of the women lingered over coffee. Laura and India went to say goodbye to Kay who was sitting with Olivia and her mother.
    “What did you think of the meeting?” Kay surprised India by asking. She’d hardly spoken to her at all since they’d met.
    “It was wonderful. A lovely cause. I’m happy to help,” India said.
    A curious gleam came into Olivia’s eyes. “I’m so happy to hear that. I have the perfect committee for you,” she began.
    But Laura quickly cut her off. “India has already gracefully agreed to assist me on the silent auction and hotel coordinating committees. She has expertise in both areas.”
    Olivia’s face fell. “Oh. Well that’s just wonderful then.”
    “Olivia is just doing a wonderful job as president,” Kay gushed. “Don’t you think?” She posed the question to the group at large, but looked at Laura who took a deep breath before answering. “Just fabulous, really. We should be going. See you all soon.”
    “Honestly, she’s a lovely woman, but I don’t understand her obsession with that Olivia,” Laura said as they climbed into her buggy and got Sammy settled in the back seat.
    “Well, it seems like her mother is a close friend. Maybe it stems from that?” India suggested.
    “You’re probably right. She’s actually not a bad person. She’s just so wrong for Richard. I’m surprised that Kay can’t see that.”
    “People see what they want to see,” India said. She was thinking of Richard and his belief that he was too scarred to be worthy of love. He didn’t see beyond his own scars. She supposed many people didn’t and she knew he was still bothered by the occasional stares he received when people saw him for the first time. She’d been with him at the mercantile recently when a young child had seen his face and started to cry. The boy’s mother pulled him close to her and immediately apologized to Richard, who told her it was nothing. But the telltale red flush that ran up his face said otherwise. He’d been mortified. He didn’t realize that children were easily upset at the silliest things, but especially things that were unfamiliar to them. It didn’t mean that he was a monster, though she could tell that he thought of himself that way and it made her sad for him.

Chapter 13
    R ichard was in a foul mood . It was three o’clock in the afternoon and he was sitting in his office at the factory surrounded by a stack of papers, all urgent matters that needed his attention as soon as possible. He had been too busy to stop for lunch and he knew he was as grouchy as a bear when he wasn’t fed regularly. His secretary, Elda, who was an older woman in her mid-fifties, had knocked on his door at half-past noon to see if he wanted her to get him something for lunch and he’d just barked at her that he was too busy to think about food. He wasn’t hungry enough at that point. He felt badly for a moment, because he rarely raised his voice, but she’d worked with him for over ten years now and knew him well. Sure enough, at 3:15, the door opened and it was Elda carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, both from the pub around the corner. She had a no-nonsense look upon her face as she set the tray down on a file cabinet by his desk and then faced him head