Read Online Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats - Book 1) by Shanna Hatfield - Free Book Online
Authors: Shanna Hatfield
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community.
Fortunately, their mean-spirited and conniving neighbor Marvin Tooley was out of town. Garrett hated to think what sort of trouble the man would stir up for Aundy once he arrived home and heard the news of Erik passing on to glory.
Admiring his newly widowed neighbor for her inner fortitude and bravery, Garrett wished he knew something he could do or say to make her feel better. It would take time for her to get used to living in a new place, for her heart and arm to heal, and for life to move forward.
Looking behind him, Garrett watched as she brushed at her cheeks with a handkerchief already soggy from both the rain and her tears. Taking a snowy-white square from his pocket, he reached behind him, handing it to her.
“Thank you,” Aundy said, between sniffles.
Nora patted her shoulder and wiped at her own tears.
“The ladies from church fixed a nice lunch,” Nora said, as Garrett stopped the horses in front of the church. “We’ll eat and let everyone express their condolences then take you home.”
Aundy nodded her head, knowing whether she wanted to or not, she was going to have to draw on every reserve of strength she possessed and get through the next few hours.
Losing Gunther had shattered her heart, watching Erik die had pierced her spirit. As she followed Nora into the church, she knew love or marriage would never be part of her future.
She couldn’t bear the thought of going through this sort of pain and anguish again.
Chapter Four
Sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea as she stared out the window, Aundy released a deep sigh.
A week ago, she smiled and graciously accepted all the condolences from Erik’s neighbors and friends as they laid him to rest. Nora or Garret, along with Dent, checked on her daily to make sure she was fine and Doc had been by once to look at her arm.
Rising from the table, Aundy wandered through the house, admiring the gleaming china in the cupboard in the dining room. Nora told her it belonged to Erik’s mother, and now her. She loved the dainty blue flowers on the creamy porcelain background and wondered if she’d ever feel like it was truly hers to use.
Walking into the front room, she looked around at the comfortable furnishings, purchased new by Erik when she agreed to marry him. Nora said Erik hired someone in town to make the curtains and throw pillows that finished the room.
Thinking about all the effort Erik went to on her behalf, all the money he spent to make sure she felt comfortable and welcome, was almost more than she could comprehend. Erik had been a generous and caring man.
Glancing at the closed door of what had been Erik’s room, Aundy couldn’t bring herself to venture inside, not when losing him was still so fresh. Turning back toward the kitchen, she walked down the hall to her bedroom.
According to what Nora shared with her, Erik and Garrett finished the room just a few weeks before her arrival. Wanting to make things as nice as possible for his bride, Erik added a large bedroom next to the newly constructed bathroom. Although he hadn’t moved his belongings into the room, it was clear he intended it to be the bedroom they shared.
Looking around the bedroom, she took in the big bed with a soft mattress, the rich, cherry wood furniture, and a large closet designed for two.
A padded rocking chair sat by the window and Aundy noticed the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains covering the glass. A small table next to the chair held an oil lamp and a stack of books, making a cozy place to sit and read.
With Nora’s help, her trunks had been unpacked, her belongings put away, and Garrett hauled the empty trunks out to the attic of a storage shed near the barn.
Thoughts of Garrett made Aundy’s stomach flutter with a nervous feeling that left her unsettled, so she pushed them aside.
Leaving the big bedroom, Aundy wandered into the third bedroom that had obviously belonged to Erik’s parents. A
Fortunately, their mean-spirited and conniving neighbor Marvin Tooley was out of town. Garrett hated to think what sort of trouble the man would stir up for Aundy once he arrived home and heard the news of Erik passing on to glory.
Admiring his newly widowed neighbor for her inner fortitude and bravery, Garrett wished he knew something he could do or say to make her feel better. It would take time for her to get used to living in a new place, for her heart and arm to heal, and for life to move forward.
Looking behind him, Garrett watched as she brushed at her cheeks with a handkerchief already soggy from both the rain and her tears. Taking a snowy-white square from his pocket, he reached behind him, handing it to her.
“Thank you,” Aundy said, between sniffles.
Nora patted her shoulder and wiped at her own tears.
“The ladies from church fixed a nice lunch,” Nora said, as Garrett stopped the horses in front of the church. “We’ll eat and let everyone express their condolences then take you home.”
Aundy nodded her head, knowing whether she wanted to or not, she was going to have to draw on every reserve of strength she possessed and get through the next few hours.
Losing Gunther had shattered her heart, watching Erik die had pierced her spirit. As she followed Nora into the church, she knew love or marriage would never be part of her future.
She couldn’t bear the thought of going through this sort of pain and anguish again.
Chapter Four
Sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea as she stared out the window, Aundy released a deep sigh.
A week ago, she smiled and graciously accepted all the condolences from Erik’s neighbors and friends as they laid him to rest. Nora or Garret, along with Dent, checked on her daily to make sure she was fine and Doc had been by once to look at her arm.
Rising from the table, Aundy wandered through the house, admiring the gleaming china in the cupboard in the dining room. Nora told her it belonged to Erik’s mother, and now her. She loved the dainty blue flowers on the creamy porcelain background and wondered if she’d ever feel like it was truly hers to use.
Walking into the front room, she looked around at the comfortable furnishings, purchased new by Erik when she agreed to marry him. Nora said Erik hired someone in town to make the curtains and throw pillows that finished the room.
Thinking about all the effort Erik went to on her behalf, all the money he spent to make sure she felt comfortable and welcome, was almost more than she could comprehend. Erik had been a generous and caring man.
Glancing at the closed door of what had been Erik’s room, Aundy couldn’t bring herself to venture inside, not when losing him was still so fresh. Turning back toward the kitchen, she walked down the hall to her bedroom.
According to what Nora shared with her, Erik and Garrett finished the room just a few weeks before her arrival. Wanting to make things as nice as possible for his bride, Erik added a large bedroom next to the newly constructed bathroom. Although he hadn’t moved his belongings into the room, it was clear he intended it to be the bedroom they shared.
Looking around the bedroom, she took in the big bed with a soft mattress, the rich, cherry wood furniture, and a large closet designed for two.
A padded rocking chair sat by the window and Aundy noticed the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains covering the glass. A small table next to the chair held an oil lamp and a stack of books, making a cozy place to sit and read.
With Nora’s help, her trunks had been unpacked, her belongings put away, and Garrett hauled the empty trunks out to the attic of a storage shed near the barn.
Thoughts of Garrett made Aundy’s stomach flutter with a nervous feeling that left her unsettled, so she pushed them aside.
Leaving the big bedroom, Aundy wandered into the third bedroom that had obviously belonged to Erik’s parents. A
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