Read Online Indiana Goes West (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 1) by Ruth Hartzler - Free Book Online Page A

will do. It
is as far as my courtesy extends, however. Make no mistake of
that.”
    “Then in four days, she shall be with you
when that train comes in,” Indiana’s mother said, and outside in
the hall, unbeknownst to anyone, Indiana’s heart broke.
    Tears came and stung her eyes at once, and
the young woman pressed the back of her hand to each eye in turn as
she turned and hurried for the stairs. She was only halfway up the
stairs when she heard the door open behind her. She turned just in
time to see Cade Hollway storming out, and the door slammed shut
behind him.
    Misty was still in her room. “What’s
wrong?”
    “I leave for Texas in four days,” Indiana
choked out, as she shut her door. She kicked off her shoes and then
leaned against the wall, sliding down it. Her dress rose in a
mountain of fabric around her, and all Misty could see of her
friend was her red face as the tears slid down from her eyes,
leaving wet trails down her powdered cheeks.
    Misty sat beside Indiana and put her arm
around her shoulders. They sat like that for some minutes,
interrupted finally by the bedroom door opening and Deborah coming
in. She couldn’t see the girls until she stepped around the door.
She looked down at them, her lips but a thin line on her face.
    “Misty, a moment with my daughter,
please.”
    Misty hurried out. Indiana looked up at her
mother.
    “I can see that you overheard Mr. Hollway,”
she said.
    “I did,” Indiana said.
    “There is nothing I can do. It is time you
marry, and this estate stands to gain enough money to secure our
futures. I had hoped for another option, but now, it seems, time is
of the essence.”
    “I do not love him,” Indiana said defiantly.
“I do not even like him.”
    Deborah laughed softly and shook her head. It
wasn’t a mean laugh, but it stung her daughter just the same. “If
only we all could marry for love,” the older woman said. “What a
nice world that would be.”
    “I can marry for love.”
    “You cannot. I need this marriage, or
everything your father worked for will be taken.”
    “Why did he do this to us?”
    “What do you mean?” Deborah asked.
    “Father. He left us with nothing.”
    “He left me with something, and you girls are
supposed to marry. He knew that. He simply hadn’t planned on dying
before that had come to fruition.”
    Both women were silent for some time. And
then Deborah spoke again. “Perhaps not,” she said. “Perhaps
something else will make you love him.”
    “I shall never love him! Is that acceptable?
Would that be acceptable to you? If I never love the man you force
me to marry?”
    Deborah thought for a moment. “It’s the way
life is sometimes. Even if you don’t love him, if you don’t allow
yourself to—even if you don’t, you’ll love your children.”
    “I won’t have children with him.”
    Deborah shook her head and her tone grew ice
cold again. “This conversation is unfruitful. I will remind you of
your upcoming journey, and you will be packed and ready in three
days time. And need I remind you there will be no more trips out
with Mr. Chase?”
    “What?”
    “You cannot be seen around town in the
company of a man other than the one you are set to marry. It is
most unseemly. I had hoped… well, never mind. Mr. Chase has proven
to be too tardy.”
    New hot tears stung Indiana’s eyes, and she
glared at her mother. Deborah for her part looked somewhat upset,
but she turned and left with nothing else said between them.
Indiana got up and shut her door, locking it so Misty could not
come back in. Sure enough, within minutes of Indiana lying down on
her bed, the maid knocked on the door. “Let me in,” she
whispered.
    Indiana did not answer her. After several
minutes, Misty left, and Indiana was truly alone. She wondered if
she would always be alone, because that was exactly how she felt at
that moment. She rolled over onto her side, still wearing her
dress. The dress crinkled and ruffled audibly each time