Read Online A Good Man for Katie by Marie Patrick - Free Book Online
Authors: Marie Patrick
Tags: Western
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lightly skipped over the bridge and the mountain stream beneath it. Laughter escaped her. She couldn’t help herself nor could she contain her excitement. “Come on!”
Kathryne’s first glimpse of the teacherage through the window over a week ago didn’t quite prepare her when she opened the door. She’d known the little cottage needed a thorough cleaning, but she hadn’t expected to be assaulted by a putrid smell when she stepped into her new home.
She wrinkled her nose against the odor. As she moved further into the room and her skirts kicked up the dust on the floor, she sneezed three times in quick succession.
“Bless you!” Emeline murmured as she propped a broom against the wall.
Equal amounts of giddiness and apprehension rippled through her. Kathryne wanted to run through the house to inspect everything at once, but resisted the urge. She couldn’t hold back the wide grin that made her jaw ache or the squeal of delight as she surveyed the cozy parlor. Two burgundy and cream-striped wingback chairs and a small table, all coated with a fine layer of dust, were in the alcove by the big bay window.
Thick drapes hung from rods over the window. Once a dark red, they were now faded with dust. Cobwebs floated from the corners of the room. A desk and chair nestled beside a bookcase filled with books and joined a camel-backed divan upholstered in a flowered pattern to complete the furnishings.
The wall separating the parlor from the bedroom hosted a stone fireplace. Kathryne bent to run her finger against the grime accumulated there and noticed the fireplace opened on the other side as well to heat both rooms. She straightened and wrinkled her nose again. “What is that smell?”
Laurel entered the cottage behind her. “Maybe a squirrel died up in the attic. Happens all the time.”
“Let’s get the windows open. Maybe that’ll help.” Emeline moved to the window and flung aside the draperies. A cloud of dust swirled around her and she coughed and sputtered before she raised the sash to breathe in fresh air. The cool breeze didn’t alleviate the smell completely, but it did help.
“I’ll ask Mr. Jacobs to take a look in the attic.” Laurel blushed to the roots of her hair when she mentioned Ephraim Jacobs.
“I think someone’s sweet on Mr. Jacobs,” Emeline teased her.
“He’s a nice man and he’s very fond of Walter, but no, I’m not sweet on him.” Laurel defended herself. “It’s not easy being alone since James passed away.”
Emeline nodded in agreement and offered Laurel a few words of sympathy.
Kathryne listened to the exchange with half an ear as the exhilaration she tried to hold at bay threatened to break loose. Beyond the parlor, an arched doorway led to a well-provisioned kitchen where a small table and two chairs, an icebox and a wood and glass cabinet came into view. The shelves of the cabinet were stocked with plates, cups, saucers and tins clearly marked for coffee, tea, sugar and flour. She prayed the tins were empty, as she knew no one had lived here since the former schoolteacher eloped several months ago.
While Laurel peeked out the door to check on Walter and Emeline pulled the rest of the draperies from the rods, Kathryne wandered into the kitchen. Her first sight of the cast iron stove struck terror in her heart. She didn’t know how to boil water, let alone cook. Frankly, if she didn’t need to go near the stove— any stove—it would be fine. She could subside on bread and smoked summer sausage and simple things she didn’t have to cook or she could use the coupons from the Wagon Wheel for her meals.
Emeline followed her into the room, carrying the old, faded drapes and waved the fine mist of dust from in front of her face. Kathryne turned toward her, expecting compassion. She didn’t expect Emeline to burst into laughter.
“Oh, Kate! You should see your face!” She laughed harder then sobered when Kathryne didn’t join in. “I know. I had the same
Kathryne’s first glimpse of the teacherage through the window over a week ago didn’t quite prepare her when she opened the door. She’d known the little cottage needed a thorough cleaning, but she hadn’t expected to be assaulted by a putrid smell when she stepped into her new home.
She wrinkled her nose against the odor. As she moved further into the room and her skirts kicked up the dust on the floor, she sneezed three times in quick succession.
“Bless you!” Emeline murmured as she propped a broom against the wall.
Equal amounts of giddiness and apprehension rippled through her. Kathryne wanted to run through the house to inspect everything at once, but resisted the urge. She couldn’t hold back the wide grin that made her jaw ache or the squeal of delight as she surveyed the cozy parlor. Two burgundy and cream-striped wingback chairs and a small table, all coated with a fine layer of dust, were in the alcove by the big bay window.
Thick drapes hung from rods over the window. Once a dark red, they were now faded with dust. Cobwebs floated from the corners of the room. A desk and chair nestled beside a bookcase filled with books and joined a camel-backed divan upholstered in a flowered pattern to complete the furnishings.
The wall separating the parlor from the bedroom hosted a stone fireplace. Kathryne bent to run her finger against the grime accumulated there and noticed the fireplace opened on the other side as well to heat both rooms. She straightened and wrinkled her nose again. “What is that smell?”
Laurel entered the cottage behind her. “Maybe a squirrel died up in the attic. Happens all the time.”
“Let’s get the windows open. Maybe that’ll help.” Emeline moved to the window and flung aside the draperies. A cloud of dust swirled around her and she coughed and sputtered before she raised the sash to breathe in fresh air. The cool breeze didn’t alleviate the smell completely, but it did help.
“I’ll ask Mr. Jacobs to take a look in the attic.” Laurel blushed to the roots of her hair when she mentioned Ephraim Jacobs.
“I think someone’s sweet on Mr. Jacobs,” Emeline teased her.
“He’s a nice man and he’s very fond of Walter, but no, I’m not sweet on him.” Laurel defended herself. “It’s not easy being alone since James passed away.”
Emeline nodded in agreement and offered Laurel a few words of sympathy.
Kathryne listened to the exchange with half an ear as the exhilaration she tried to hold at bay threatened to break loose. Beyond the parlor, an arched doorway led to a well-provisioned kitchen where a small table and two chairs, an icebox and a wood and glass cabinet came into view. The shelves of the cabinet were stocked with plates, cups, saucers and tins clearly marked for coffee, tea, sugar and flour. She prayed the tins were empty, as she knew no one had lived here since the former schoolteacher eloped several months ago.
While Laurel peeked out the door to check on Walter and Emeline pulled the rest of the draperies from the rods, Kathryne wandered into the kitchen. Her first sight of the cast iron stove struck terror in her heart. She didn’t know how to boil water, let alone cook. Frankly, if she didn’t need to go near the stove— any stove—it would be fine. She could subside on bread and smoked summer sausage and simple things she didn’t have to cook or she could use the coupons from the Wagon Wheel for her meals.
Emeline followed her into the room, carrying the old, faded drapes and waved the fine mist of dust from in front of her face. Kathryne turned toward her, expecting compassion. She didn’t expect Emeline to burst into laughter.
“Oh, Kate! You should see your face!” She laughed harder then sobered when Kathryne didn’t join in. “I know. I had the same
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