Read Online Chevonne: Bride of Oklahoma (American Mail-Order Bride 46) by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page B

slumped when it came off easily in his hands, leaving stringy, rubbery threads between the two pieces. He plucked at the threads. They snapped back stinging his hand. Another failure.
    “Dang!”
    The concoction was still not right. Glancing at the next test object on the table, he wondered if this mixture worked better on another type of material. He gingerly picked up a Mason jar that he’d broken purposely so he could try to glue the pieces together.
    It held! As he stood there enjoying his handiwork the bottom half of the jar slipped away from the top and smashed on the floor.
    “Looks like it’s back to the drawing board.”
    Trey went to the pots on the stove. He’d been working on this particular formula for a while, fiddling with the various ingredients to get the right mixture. He’d used a combination of standard glue and other ingredients, including plant materials that had adhesive properties. But he still hadn’t got the combination right.
    He only hoped he’d be able to perfect it before Phinneas Gulch made his move. Of course, he couldn’t be sure that was why Phinneas was in town. Obviously, he was here selling his snake oil on Main Street. Could he have gotten wind of Trey’s experiments?
    Chevonne couldn’t have anything to do with the man. Trey frowned as he looked out the window. He’d been suspecting his new wife without even giving her a chance to defend herself. But, of course, he couldn’t give her a chance to defend herself without letting her in on his experiments.
    Maybe he should share it with her? No. Not just yet. Better to be safe than sorry.
    His eyes scanned the panoramic view of the countryside outside the window. He could see the cattle in the distance. Horses swished their tails against the flies in the field. Chickens clucked in the nearest paddock and goats bleated in q paddock past the barn.
    His eyes narrowed. Wait a minute. If he could see out, that meant anyone could see in. He’d been careful to make sure no one could get into his study by always keeping the door locked, but he’d neglected to consider that someone could just sneak up to the house and look in from the outside. Normally he wouldn’t be concerned about strangers at the ranch, but with Phinneas Gulch in town...
    He needed curtains. Maybe Chevonne could run some up with her new machine. And those roller shades he’d ordered had finally come in. He had to get them in town and put them up as soon as possible.
    He turned away from his boiling concoctions and headed for the door. He needed to make sure no one could get close to his windows, and he knew exactly how to do it. He just hoped he could get it done before Celia brought Chevonne home.
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    O n the way home , Chevonne and Celia chatted like old friends. Chevonne tried to keep up with the conversation even though her head was spinning with the idea of patenting her grandmother’s designs.
    She was relieved to discover that Trey was not at the house when Celia dropped her off because Chevonne had important business to attend to and she didn’t want Trey asking about her letter to the United States Patent Office.
    To gain some time, she put the bread loaves in the icebox to slow the rising so she could bake them later. It was still early and if she was in luck, she’d have time to jot off the letter and take the buggy back to town to the post office. She’d have to be quick, though, and not be seen by Trey.
    Chevonne put her fabric purchases carefully in the bottom drawer of the bureau in her bedroom. Then she pulled out some of Gram’s fine writing paper, her quill pen and a pot of ink. She sat down at her sewing machine table to write the letter.
    What did one say in a letter to the Patent Office?
    She didn’t want to give away her exact designs. What if somebody unscrupulous read it? Better to just say she had a design. Maybe they would send someone out to look at it, or mail her further instructions. Yes, that’s what she would do. She wrote