Read Online Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Johanna Jenkins
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Thompson may have exchanged a few words over you just a few minutes ago.” Clara smiled and gave him a wink. “Can I get you some coffee?”
“Love some, thank you.”
“Kale!” Alicia squealed, standing on the landing. She wore a very nice riding outfit with what looked to be practically brand new riding boots. “It’s so lovely to see you again.”
Kale straightened. His reaction to her was the sign he had been waiting for. “Nice to see you as, Miss Meyers. If we could, would you mind taking a short walk with me?”
“I’d love to accompany you.” Alicia smiled. Kale waited on his coffee and promised Clara he’d return it when he and Alicia came back. He went out the door and couldn’t help looking Mercy’s way. When her beautiful eyes met his, he gave her a wink and a grin before he turned back to Alicia. “A beautiful day, isn’t it?” Alicia nodded and followed Kale down the stairs, away from the boarding house.
“I have a confession to make Alicia,” Kale said. “I’m afraid that I find myself completely incompatible with you.”
“Incompatible?” she scoffed. “Why, we’re as compatible as cream and butter. We just need a little time to get to know each other better.”
“That is sort of my point,” Kale said, trying to let her down gently. “The first few days you were here, you showed me a great deal of yourself, without even knowing it. I’m afraid that given enough time you’ll come to resent this small town and the ranch I live on. You’re meant for a faster, busier life Alicia. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just not a good fit for me.”
“So you’re going to court Mercy?”
“We’ll continue to get to know each other, yes. I’m still not sure she’s the one for me either, but I know you and I would not make a good match.”
She sighed, tears springing to her eyes. “Al right,” she said. She seemed resigned to the facts as Kale walked her back. “I will, of course, pay for your passage back to Louisiana, with the hope that you will find the man God has set aside for you.”
“I don’t want to go back home,” Alicia said. “Would you pay my passage to Missouri, St. Louis?”
“I would advise against traveling to unknown parts by yourself, but I can’t stop you Miss Meyers. If St. Louis is where you want to go, then I’ll cover your passage.”
“Thank you Kale,” Alicia smiled. When they returned to the boarding house, Kale returned Clara’s cup to her, left enough money with Alicia for her to purchase passage to Missouri, and to get a room for her first night there. Then, with a sigh of relief he turned to collect Mercy.
He smiled warmly at Mercy. “You ready to go see Butch and Cassidy?”
“I am,” she smiled.
“I’m sending Alicia to St. Louis.”
“Missouri?” Mercy asked.
“Yes,” he said, turning to look at her. She really was a beautiful woman. Her long, dark hair was a stark contrast to her milky skin. It brightened her green eyes, making Kale take notice of her beauty. “I informed her today that she and I are not compatible enough to make a marriage work and that I intended to court you with that end in mind.”
***
Mercy blushed. It was one thing to entertain the thought of becoming Kale’s wife. It was another altogether to hear that same man mention it as a reality. “I have to admit Kale that I’m not extremely well-versed on courting rituals.”
“Me neither,” he chuckled. “I do know that I want to get to know you, to nurture a friendship that will serve as the solid foundation our marriage would need. I already see the lovely woman you are, inside and out. You have a quiet strength that speaks of hard work and integrity.”
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I learned all those things from my father and mother, before they passed.”
“If you don’t mind my asking. What took your mother?”
“My mother died of yellow fever near New Orleans. It was the last big epidemic of the disease. After she
“Love some, thank you.”
“Kale!” Alicia squealed, standing on the landing. She wore a very nice riding outfit with what looked to be practically brand new riding boots. “It’s so lovely to see you again.”
Kale straightened. His reaction to her was the sign he had been waiting for. “Nice to see you as, Miss Meyers. If we could, would you mind taking a short walk with me?”
“I’d love to accompany you.” Alicia smiled. Kale waited on his coffee and promised Clara he’d return it when he and Alicia came back. He went out the door and couldn’t help looking Mercy’s way. When her beautiful eyes met his, he gave her a wink and a grin before he turned back to Alicia. “A beautiful day, isn’t it?” Alicia nodded and followed Kale down the stairs, away from the boarding house.
“I have a confession to make Alicia,” Kale said. “I’m afraid that I find myself completely incompatible with you.”
“Incompatible?” she scoffed. “Why, we’re as compatible as cream and butter. We just need a little time to get to know each other better.”
“That is sort of my point,” Kale said, trying to let her down gently. “The first few days you were here, you showed me a great deal of yourself, without even knowing it. I’m afraid that given enough time you’ll come to resent this small town and the ranch I live on. You’re meant for a faster, busier life Alicia. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just not a good fit for me.”
“So you’re going to court Mercy?”
“We’ll continue to get to know each other, yes. I’m still not sure she’s the one for me either, but I know you and I would not make a good match.”
She sighed, tears springing to her eyes. “Al right,” she said. She seemed resigned to the facts as Kale walked her back. “I will, of course, pay for your passage back to Louisiana, with the hope that you will find the man God has set aside for you.”
“I don’t want to go back home,” Alicia said. “Would you pay my passage to Missouri, St. Louis?”
“I would advise against traveling to unknown parts by yourself, but I can’t stop you Miss Meyers. If St. Louis is where you want to go, then I’ll cover your passage.”
“Thank you Kale,” Alicia smiled. When they returned to the boarding house, Kale returned Clara’s cup to her, left enough money with Alicia for her to purchase passage to Missouri, and to get a room for her first night there. Then, with a sigh of relief he turned to collect Mercy.
He smiled warmly at Mercy. “You ready to go see Butch and Cassidy?”
“I am,” she smiled.
“I’m sending Alicia to St. Louis.”
“Missouri?” Mercy asked.
“Yes,” he said, turning to look at her. She really was a beautiful woman. Her long, dark hair was a stark contrast to her milky skin. It brightened her green eyes, making Kale take notice of her beauty. “I informed her today that she and I are not compatible enough to make a marriage work and that I intended to court you with that end in mind.”
***
Mercy blushed. It was one thing to entertain the thought of becoming Kale’s wife. It was another altogether to hear that same man mention it as a reality. “I have to admit Kale that I’m not extremely well-versed on courting rituals.”
“Me neither,” he chuckled. “I do know that I want to get to know you, to nurture a friendship that will serve as the solid foundation our marriage would need. I already see the lovely woman you are, inside and out. You have a quiet strength that speaks of hard work and integrity.”
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I learned all those things from my father and mother, before they passed.”
“If you don’t mind my asking. What took your mother?”
“My mother died of yellow fever near New Orleans. It was the last big epidemic of the disease. After she
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