Read Online Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) by Patricia Pacjac Carroll - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Patricia Pacjac Carroll
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Florida, Inspirational, Marriage, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, father, sea voyage, Leaving, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Sailing ships, shadows, Ultimatum, Followed Rules, Future Plans
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she had to answer an advertisement for a husband didn’t say much about her looks or personality. Yet, if he married her, he’d be free from the store and able to buy The Sea Wind and sail the seven seas.
As he walked the street toward home, he could only shake his head at his dilemma. Passing by the park, he noticed Edgar and Tess snuggled close to one another. Drake had to admit, seeing Father with Mother and his brother with his intended had opened a longing in his own heart.
He doubted if any woman could take the place of his yearning to go to sea, although Kimberly’s curves were giving him pause. He hoped she’d be in the kitchen when he got home. She looked so cute and homey in an apron.
After turning the corner to his street, he stopped. Doc’s carriage was outside his house. Mother . Fear sent him running. He rounded the iron fence, crashed through the gate, and stampeded up the steps.
Before he could get to the door, it opened and Doc came onto the porch. “Drake, it’s all right. I wasn’t able to come earlier. Mrs. Bunge had twins. Both fine and healthy.” He stopped talking and took a breath.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t the proper thing to say to you right now.”
Drake shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m sure twins are born every day. Not something I’m going to run from.”
Doc nodded and then patted his arm. “I’m glad to hear you talk that way. Seems your attitude has changed some.”
Kimberly came to close the door but stopped. Standing in the glow of the lights and laughter inside, Drake struggled to breathe. Was she his answer?
“Yes, I see perhaps why you’ve changed for the better. Nothing like a pretty girl to do that to a fella.” Doc patted him on the arm and left.
Drake couldn’t take his eyes from her.
“Well, are you coming in?” She moved the door, tempting him to hurry.
He stepped slowly toward her. She must want him for the game she was playing. So far, she’d kept him at arm’s length. He wanted her to desire him. Feel the way she was making him feel right now.
She took a step back and slowly pulled the door a few inches.
The twinkle in her eye gave away her feelings. He rushed to her and grabbed the door before she could shut it. He’d won the little game. Perhaps won her heart. He laughed and took off his coat.
She took it from him and hung it in the closet. “How was your day at the store?”
He stared at her. Images of Mother doing the same for Father played through his mind. “It was a good day.” He didn’t take his eyes from her.
“Your mother is doing so much better. She was up for half the day. That’s great progress isn’t it? Soon, you won’t need me at all.”
Her words brought his thoughts to a halt. He didn’t want her to go.
She backed against the hall closet and crossed her arms. “A penny for your thoughts?”
His heart jumped. Penny. Constance Penny. He’d really gotten himself into a mess now. He’d have to buy The Sea Wind just to escape Kimberly and Constance. There was sure to be an argument when they met.
Instead of an answer, he smiled and gestured to the parlor. “Sit and have a drink with me before supper?”
She laughed. “We all ate an hour ago. You must have had your nose in the books so much you didn’t realize what time it was.”
“Guess you’re right. The offer still goes.”
A blush pinked Kimberly’s cheeks. “Only for a few minutes. I need to help ready your Mother for bed.”
“I’ll sip fast.” He bowed to her. “After you.”
Her blush deepened. She turned, brushed past him, and walked into the parlor.
Drake hung his hat on the hat rack and followed her. Like a weak victim about to be ensnared in a spider web, he followed her into the parlor.
“God help me,” he whispered.
Chapter 8
Constance woke early. Today was the day she’d be in Apalachicola. Her old fears came at her. Especially after she looked in the mirror. Her hair was wilder than normal. She ran her brush
As he walked the street toward home, he could only shake his head at his dilemma. Passing by the park, he noticed Edgar and Tess snuggled close to one another. Drake had to admit, seeing Father with Mother and his brother with his intended had opened a longing in his own heart.
He doubted if any woman could take the place of his yearning to go to sea, although Kimberly’s curves were giving him pause. He hoped she’d be in the kitchen when he got home. She looked so cute and homey in an apron.
After turning the corner to his street, he stopped. Doc’s carriage was outside his house. Mother . Fear sent him running. He rounded the iron fence, crashed through the gate, and stampeded up the steps.
Before he could get to the door, it opened and Doc came onto the porch. “Drake, it’s all right. I wasn’t able to come earlier. Mrs. Bunge had twins. Both fine and healthy.” He stopped talking and took a breath.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t the proper thing to say to you right now.”
Drake shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m sure twins are born every day. Not something I’m going to run from.”
Doc nodded and then patted his arm. “I’m glad to hear you talk that way. Seems your attitude has changed some.”
Kimberly came to close the door but stopped. Standing in the glow of the lights and laughter inside, Drake struggled to breathe. Was she his answer?
“Yes, I see perhaps why you’ve changed for the better. Nothing like a pretty girl to do that to a fella.” Doc patted him on the arm and left.
Drake couldn’t take his eyes from her.
“Well, are you coming in?” She moved the door, tempting him to hurry.
He stepped slowly toward her. She must want him for the game she was playing. So far, she’d kept him at arm’s length. He wanted her to desire him. Feel the way she was making him feel right now.
She took a step back and slowly pulled the door a few inches.
The twinkle in her eye gave away her feelings. He rushed to her and grabbed the door before she could shut it. He’d won the little game. Perhaps won her heart. He laughed and took off his coat.
She took it from him and hung it in the closet. “How was your day at the store?”
He stared at her. Images of Mother doing the same for Father played through his mind. “It was a good day.” He didn’t take his eyes from her.
“Your mother is doing so much better. She was up for half the day. That’s great progress isn’t it? Soon, you won’t need me at all.”
Her words brought his thoughts to a halt. He didn’t want her to go.
She backed against the hall closet and crossed her arms. “A penny for your thoughts?”
His heart jumped. Penny. Constance Penny. He’d really gotten himself into a mess now. He’d have to buy The Sea Wind just to escape Kimberly and Constance. There was sure to be an argument when they met.
Instead of an answer, he smiled and gestured to the parlor. “Sit and have a drink with me before supper?”
She laughed. “We all ate an hour ago. You must have had your nose in the books so much you didn’t realize what time it was.”
“Guess you’re right. The offer still goes.”
A blush pinked Kimberly’s cheeks. “Only for a few minutes. I need to help ready your Mother for bed.”
“I’ll sip fast.” He bowed to her. “After you.”
Her blush deepened. She turned, brushed past him, and walked into the parlor.
Drake hung his hat on the hat rack and followed her. Like a weak victim about to be ensnared in a spider web, he followed her into the parlor.
“God help me,” he whispered.
Chapter 8
Constance woke early. Today was the day she’d be in Apalachicola. Her old fears came at her. Especially after she looked in the mirror. Her hair was wilder than normal. She ran her brush
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