Read Online Ashley Merrick - India: Bride of Indiana (American Mail-Order Bride 19) by Ashley Merrick - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ashley Merrick
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Family Life, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Indiana, Inspirational, Bachelor, Sisters, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, Community, widower, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Two Children, South Bend, Burn Scarred, No Romance, Name-Only Marriage, Financial Security, Best Friends Daughter, Mother Disappointed, Adversary
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on.
“I know you too well, Richard. You’re starving by now and you’ll eat. I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned to go and he called after her, his voice much softer than before. “I’m sorry I was such a grouch earlier. Thank you. You’re too good to me.”
She smiled as she backed out of the office and prepared to close the door. “You’re welcome. Now take a break and eat.”
He did just that, shoving some papers to the side to make room on his desk for the food. He was on his last bite of the sandwich when there was another knock on the door. He knew it wasn’t Elda this time. She wouldn’t be back to bother him any time soon, and the only people she would let by her would be one of his brothers or his father.
“Come in,” he called.
Ed walked in and made himself comfortable in a leather-backed chair that faced his desk.
“What do you need? I’m busy,” Richard said.
Ed yawned. “You’re always busy. Besides, you’re taking a break now. I picked a good time to pop in.”
Richard frowned. He had him there.
“What going on?” he asked again.
“I met a girl,” Ed began.
Richard sighed. Ed was always meeting someone new.
“That’s nice. Is it anyone I know?”
Ed thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. She moved to town recently with her family.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s old enough. Twenty-two.”
That was fine. Ed had only recently turned thirty, so it was a respectable age difference.
“Thing is, her father was promised a job at the new mill, but they lost a big account and they can’t bring him on now.”
“You want us to find him something?” Richard asked.
“Well, with Rick Spooner being out for a few months with his leg, we are down a man.”
“That’s true.” Richard thought for a moment. He knew what a blow it must have been to that man to move his family here for a job and then have it not materialize. He’d always been a believer that things happened for a reason and with Rick out, they could use an extra pair of hands.”
“Have him stop by tomorrow and ask for Jim. He’ll figure out where to use him.”
Ed grinned. “I was counting on you to say that.” He stood and prepared to go.
“You really like this girl?” Richard asked.
“She’s nice. Pretty little thing, like your India. I told her if she ever gets sick of you to come see me. I was only half-kidding. She seems like a great girl. Good for more than just watching your children.”
Richard felt his cheeks redden.
“I need to get back to work,” he said and turned his attention back to his paperwork. He didn’t look up again until Ed had left the office and closed the door behind him. And then he sighed.
He actually had allowed himself to consider pursuing something romantic with India. He’d gotten it into his head that she might possibly be interested and was thinking that maybe, possibly he could be in a real relationship again. That someone could find him interesting and even attractive. The very day that he’d made up his mind to speak to her about this, to possibly even surprise her with a kiss, was the same day his face had made a small child scream and cry. The effect was like a bucket of cold water, dampening any thought he’d have that India could ever really be interested in him that way.
Chapter 14
T he day after the women’s group meeting, Kay agreed to watch Sammy for the afternoon while Laura and India went to the hotel to finalize the appetizer menu and discuss the decorations. The charity event was only two weeks away. It was being held on the second Saturday in December, when everyone would be in the Christmas spirit and feeling generous. At least that was the hope.
India’s jaw dropped when she stepped into the lobby of the Windsor Hotel. It was the grandest hotel she’d ever seen. Not that she’d seen many, but the Northbridge in Lawrence was quite nice. The Windsor was absolute luxury. The lobby floors were gorgeous marble and heavy gold
“I know you too well, Richard. You’re starving by now and you’ll eat. I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned to go and he called after her, his voice much softer than before. “I’m sorry I was such a grouch earlier. Thank you. You’re too good to me.”
She smiled as she backed out of the office and prepared to close the door. “You’re welcome. Now take a break and eat.”
He did just that, shoving some papers to the side to make room on his desk for the food. He was on his last bite of the sandwich when there was another knock on the door. He knew it wasn’t Elda this time. She wouldn’t be back to bother him any time soon, and the only people she would let by her would be one of his brothers or his father.
“Come in,” he called.
Ed walked in and made himself comfortable in a leather-backed chair that faced his desk.
“What do you need? I’m busy,” Richard said.
Ed yawned. “You’re always busy. Besides, you’re taking a break now. I picked a good time to pop in.”
Richard frowned. He had him there.
“What going on?” he asked again.
“I met a girl,” Ed began.
Richard sighed. Ed was always meeting someone new.
“That’s nice. Is it anyone I know?”
Ed thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. She moved to town recently with her family.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s old enough. Twenty-two.”
That was fine. Ed had only recently turned thirty, so it was a respectable age difference.
“Thing is, her father was promised a job at the new mill, but they lost a big account and they can’t bring him on now.”
“You want us to find him something?” Richard asked.
“Well, with Rick Spooner being out for a few months with his leg, we are down a man.”
“That’s true.” Richard thought for a moment. He knew what a blow it must have been to that man to move his family here for a job and then have it not materialize. He’d always been a believer that things happened for a reason and with Rick out, they could use an extra pair of hands.”
“Have him stop by tomorrow and ask for Jim. He’ll figure out where to use him.”
Ed grinned. “I was counting on you to say that.” He stood and prepared to go.
“You really like this girl?” Richard asked.
“She’s nice. Pretty little thing, like your India. I told her if she ever gets sick of you to come see me. I was only half-kidding. She seems like a great girl. Good for more than just watching your children.”
Richard felt his cheeks redden.
“I need to get back to work,” he said and turned his attention back to his paperwork. He didn’t look up again until Ed had left the office and closed the door behind him. And then he sighed.
He actually had allowed himself to consider pursuing something romantic with India. He’d gotten it into his head that she might possibly be interested and was thinking that maybe, possibly he could be in a real relationship again. That someone could find him interesting and even attractive. The very day that he’d made up his mind to speak to her about this, to possibly even surprise her with a kiss, was the same day his face had made a small child scream and cry. The effect was like a bucket of cold water, dampening any thought he’d have that India could ever really be interested in him that way.
Chapter 14
T he day after the women’s group meeting, Kay agreed to watch Sammy for the afternoon while Laura and India went to the hotel to finalize the appetizer menu and discuss the decorations. The charity event was only two weeks away. It was being held on the second Saturday in December, when everyone would be in the Christmas spirit and feeling generous. At least that was the hope.
India’s jaw dropped when she stepped into the lobby of the Windsor Hotel. It was the grandest hotel she’d ever seen. Not that she’d seen many, but the Northbridge in Lawrence was quite nice. The Windsor was absolute luxury. The lobby floors were gorgeous marble and heavy gold
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