Read Online Amandas's Mail Order Cowboy: The Story of A Mail Order Bride and Her Mail Order Husband (Mail Order Brides Book 14) by Susan Leigh Carlton - Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Leigh Carlton
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twinkle in her eye. “I think I have a lot to offer. I’ve been truly blessed to have you and Abby. I would like to give back.”
“I wouldn’t mind you teaching, as long as you can do it within the bounds of safety, understanding the dangers. Frankly, I think our Indian troubles are just about over, but winter can be harsh and travel back and forth could be dangerous.”
“I understand. Another question just popped into my mind,” she said.
“Good Lord, woman. Is there no end to your questions?” he asked with a laugh.
“Probably not. But anyway, since Abby has no relatives you’re aware of, do you think it would be possible for us to adopt her?”
“Good question. We’ll look into that when we get home,” he said.
“Home. That sounds so good to me. Too good. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“There is no other shoe. And if one turns up, we’ll handle it. Together.”
“Yes, we will,” she said. Positive in her belief.
Later…
“Abby, would you like to stay here with me tonight, or go back to the hotel with Rance?”
Abby pointed. “You,” she said.
“I’ve been rejected for a school teacher,” Rance moaned. “”I’ll bring her things over tonight,” he said. “What time do you want to leave for church?” he asked.
“Services start at eleven, so ten-thirty will give us plenty of time. I’ll be ready, and have Abby dressed too. I need to decide what I want to wear to be married in. I should have bought something special.”
“You’ll be beautiful no matter what you wear,” he said.
“Thank you for that,” she said.
“What?” he asked.
“The compliment. Telling me I’m beautiful. I don’t think anyone other than Mama has ever said that.”
“He laid his large hand against her cheek, and said, “Amanda, you are a beautiful woman and I’m proud you’re going to be my wife.” Then he kissed her.
chapter Fifteen
A Wedding
Saturday evening…
“Abbie, I have something for you,” Amanda said. The things she had begun packing for the trip to her new home. She brought the doll that had been her favorite as a little girl out. “This is my most favorite doll from when I was a little girl just like you. Her name is Mary, and I want you to have her for your own. She handed Mary to her. Now your doll has a friend too.”
“My doll’s name is Sarah,” Abby said.
“Sarah is a very pretty name,” Amanda said. “Do you like to hear stories?”
“I don’t know,” Abby said.
“Would you like for me to read a story for you?” she asked.
Abby nodded.
From a shelf, Amanda got her book of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling and began reading it aloud, changing her voice for the different characters. Abby was spellbound. “Did you like it,” Amanda asked.
Abby nodded.
“Would you like for me to read a bedtime story to you every night?”
Abby nodded enthusiastically.
“Okay. That will be our thing. It will be just for you, Sarah and Mary. Now, let’s get you ready for bed.”
She washed Abby’s face, and helped her with her nightgown. She picked her up and sat in the rocking chair by the bed, and sang one of the lullabies her mother had sung. The relaxed stillness told her the little girl had fallen asleep. She laid her on the bed they would share.
She went downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen. She went to her, and hugged her.
“What was that for?” her mother asked.
“I just read a story to Abby and rocked her to sleep. It reminded me of our routine and you singing to me. It brought back some of my most pleasant memories,” Amanda said.
“You’re going to be a good mother to that little girl. She’s fortunate to have you,” her mother said.
“I had a good example,” Amanda said. I appreciate it more now than I ever did before. Thank you.”
Tears had welled up in her mother’s eyes. “No, thank you. It means a lot to me.”
The next morning…
“Did you have a good sleep?” Amanda asked Abby.
She
“I wouldn’t mind you teaching, as long as you can do it within the bounds of safety, understanding the dangers. Frankly, I think our Indian troubles are just about over, but winter can be harsh and travel back and forth could be dangerous.”
“I understand. Another question just popped into my mind,” she said.
“Good Lord, woman. Is there no end to your questions?” he asked with a laugh.
“Probably not. But anyway, since Abby has no relatives you’re aware of, do you think it would be possible for us to adopt her?”
“Good question. We’ll look into that when we get home,” he said.
“Home. That sounds so good to me. Too good. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“There is no other shoe. And if one turns up, we’ll handle it. Together.”
“Yes, we will,” she said. Positive in her belief.
Later…
“Abby, would you like to stay here with me tonight, or go back to the hotel with Rance?”
Abby pointed. “You,” she said.
“I’ve been rejected for a school teacher,” Rance moaned. “”I’ll bring her things over tonight,” he said. “What time do you want to leave for church?” he asked.
“Services start at eleven, so ten-thirty will give us plenty of time. I’ll be ready, and have Abby dressed too. I need to decide what I want to wear to be married in. I should have bought something special.”
“You’ll be beautiful no matter what you wear,” he said.
“Thank you for that,” she said.
“What?” he asked.
“The compliment. Telling me I’m beautiful. I don’t think anyone other than Mama has ever said that.”
“He laid his large hand against her cheek, and said, “Amanda, you are a beautiful woman and I’m proud you’re going to be my wife.” Then he kissed her.
chapter Fifteen
A Wedding
Saturday evening…
“Abbie, I have something for you,” Amanda said. The things she had begun packing for the trip to her new home. She brought the doll that had been her favorite as a little girl out. “This is my most favorite doll from when I was a little girl just like you. Her name is Mary, and I want you to have her for your own. She handed Mary to her. Now your doll has a friend too.”
“My doll’s name is Sarah,” Abby said.
“Sarah is a very pretty name,” Amanda said. “Do you like to hear stories?”
“I don’t know,” Abby said.
“Would you like for me to read a story for you?” she asked.
Abby nodded.
From a shelf, Amanda got her book of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling and began reading it aloud, changing her voice for the different characters. Abby was spellbound. “Did you like it,” Amanda asked.
Abby nodded.
“Would you like for me to read a bedtime story to you every night?”
Abby nodded enthusiastically.
“Okay. That will be our thing. It will be just for you, Sarah and Mary. Now, let’s get you ready for bed.”
She washed Abby’s face, and helped her with her nightgown. She picked her up and sat in the rocking chair by the bed, and sang one of the lullabies her mother had sung. The relaxed stillness told her the little girl had fallen asleep. She laid her on the bed they would share.
She went downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen. She went to her, and hugged her.
“What was that for?” her mother asked.
“I just read a story to Abby and rocked her to sleep. It reminded me of our routine and you singing to me. It brought back some of my most pleasant memories,” Amanda said.
“You’re going to be a good mother to that little girl. She’s fortunate to have you,” her mother said.
“I had a good example,” Amanda said. I appreciate it more now than I ever did before. Thank you.”
Tears had welled up in her mother’s eyes. “No, thank you. It means a lot to me.”
The next morning…
“Did you have a good sleep?” Amanda asked Abby.
She
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