Read Online Anna: Bride of Alabama (American Mail-Order Bride 22) by Lily Graison - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Graison
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Daughter, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, Alabama, Faith, misunderstanding, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, No Letters, No Ad, Single Father, Cotton Plantation, 12-Year-Old, Daughter Scheme, Marriage Resistant, New Mother
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beautiful place. Gabriel’s predicament made her position here even more precarious. How long would he keep her on as Julia’s governess when he had no plans to stay? Did Julia know what he was planning before she placed that ad for a bride in the paper?
She didn’t have answers to anything but she would find out. Her future depended on these people and if she couldn’t count on them then she’d have to take matters into her own hands, even if she was perfectly happy where she was.
Chapter Six
If there was one thing Anna learned about Julia, it was that the girl was too mature for her age and too smart for her own good.
A week spent trying to get answers from her produced very little as the girl always found a way to change the subject until Anna completely forgot about all the things she wanted to know. It was frustrating.
Anna realized the answers she needed were in front of her all along. Julia’s refusal to acknowledge the questions were proof she knew when she placed that ad that things weren’t going well. It was probably why she placed it. In her mind, if her father were happy, he’d want to stay.
A knock on her door tore her from her thoughts. She turned from the view that lay beyond the balcony and said, “Its open. Come in.”
Julia came into the room wearing a smile large enough to brighten her entire face. She was dressed in a pale pink dress typical of girls her age. “Good morning, Anna.”
“Good morning.” She shut the double doors and turned back to Julia. “I missed you at breakfast. Is everything all right?”
“Yes. I had to talk to father about a few things, which is why I’m here.”
“Oh?”
“We’re going into town to go dress shopping. I’ll meet you in front of the house in ten minutes.”
She left without another word. Anna stared at the closed bedroom door for long minutes before snapping out of her stupor and making herself presentable enough for a trip into town.
A simple blue skirt and white shirtwaist was paired with her best boots. She picked up her new straw hat and placed it on her head, making sure it was secure with a hat pin and gathered her reticule before heading downstairs.
Julia was waiting by the door and opened it when she saw her. “The carriage is waiting.”
She hurried down the remainder of the steps, pulling the door shut behind her. The red and black Surrey Franklin had picked her up from the train station sat in front of the small carriage platform only this time, Franklin wasn’t holding the horses reins. Gabriel sat in the front seat. He pushed the foot break and wrapped the reins around the lever before hopping to the ground.
“Ladies.” He bowed his head in a formal gesture of greeting. Julia laughed before walking to the platform and holding up her hand to be helped into the Surrey.
“Thank you, good Sir. We’ll be heading into town today. Please don’t dawdle.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Gabriel kissed the back of Julia’s hand the same way he’d done her the day they met in the parlor. The smile on Julia’s face was one of pure delight. Apparently this was a game they played often.
When Julia took a seat in the back of the Surrey, she situated her skirt and folded her hands in her lap. She looked her way and said, “Are you coming?”
“Yes. I’ve wanted to explore town since I arrived.” She walked to the platform where Gabriel was waiting and gave him her hand so he could help her up. Unlike he’d done for Julia, he didn’t kiss her hand, but he smiled and that was good enough for her.
He helped her up and she slid into the seat beside Julia, situated her skirt and folded her hands into her lap as Gabriel climbed in. They were moving within minutes.
The trip into town was made mostly in silence. The day was warm but it was early enough that it was still comfortable out. Julia pointed out where their neighbors were, even though all you could see were roads leading to their property.
The
She didn’t have answers to anything but she would find out. Her future depended on these people and if she couldn’t count on them then she’d have to take matters into her own hands, even if she was perfectly happy where she was.
Chapter Six
If there was one thing Anna learned about Julia, it was that the girl was too mature for her age and too smart for her own good.
A week spent trying to get answers from her produced very little as the girl always found a way to change the subject until Anna completely forgot about all the things she wanted to know. It was frustrating.
Anna realized the answers she needed were in front of her all along. Julia’s refusal to acknowledge the questions were proof she knew when she placed that ad that things weren’t going well. It was probably why she placed it. In her mind, if her father were happy, he’d want to stay.
A knock on her door tore her from her thoughts. She turned from the view that lay beyond the balcony and said, “Its open. Come in.”
Julia came into the room wearing a smile large enough to brighten her entire face. She was dressed in a pale pink dress typical of girls her age. “Good morning, Anna.”
“Good morning.” She shut the double doors and turned back to Julia. “I missed you at breakfast. Is everything all right?”
“Yes. I had to talk to father about a few things, which is why I’m here.”
“Oh?”
“We’re going into town to go dress shopping. I’ll meet you in front of the house in ten minutes.”
She left without another word. Anna stared at the closed bedroom door for long minutes before snapping out of her stupor and making herself presentable enough for a trip into town.
A simple blue skirt and white shirtwaist was paired with her best boots. She picked up her new straw hat and placed it on her head, making sure it was secure with a hat pin and gathered her reticule before heading downstairs.
Julia was waiting by the door and opened it when she saw her. “The carriage is waiting.”
She hurried down the remainder of the steps, pulling the door shut behind her. The red and black Surrey Franklin had picked her up from the train station sat in front of the small carriage platform only this time, Franklin wasn’t holding the horses reins. Gabriel sat in the front seat. He pushed the foot break and wrapped the reins around the lever before hopping to the ground.
“Ladies.” He bowed his head in a formal gesture of greeting. Julia laughed before walking to the platform and holding up her hand to be helped into the Surrey.
“Thank you, good Sir. We’ll be heading into town today. Please don’t dawdle.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Gabriel kissed the back of Julia’s hand the same way he’d done her the day they met in the parlor. The smile on Julia’s face was one of pure delight. Apparently this was a game they played often.
When Julia took a seat in the back of the Surrey, she situated her skirt and folded her hands in her lap. She looked her way and said, “Are you coming?”
“Yes. I’ve wanted to explore town since I arrived.” She walked to the platform where Gabriel was waiting and gave him her hand so he could help her up. Unlike he’d done for Julia, he didn’t kiss her hand, but he smiled and that was good enough for her.
He helped her up and she slid into the seat beside Julia, situated her skirt and folded her hands into her lap as Gabriel climbed in. They were moving within minutes.
The trip into town was made mostly in silence. The day was warm but it was early enough that it was still comfortable out. Julia pointed out where their neighbors were, even though all you could see were roads leading to their property.
The
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