Read Online Leora: Bride of California (American Mail-Order Bride 31) by Kit Morgan - Free Book Online

of that – and then of course the quilting will start this week …”
    “Quilting?”
    “Yes, a group of ladies make a Christmas quilt every year and raffle it off for charity. They meet in the church twice a week.”
    Leora’s heart warmed, even as a tremor of fear crept up her spine. “Will I be in charge of that too?”
    “No, but they’re sure to ask you to join them.”
    “I’ve never made a quilt before,” she said nervously.
    “They’ll be happy to show you,” he said with a smile as they went in the house. Theron took off his jacket and hung it on a peg by the door. Leora hadn’t bothered with her shawl when they left for the office after lunch, so stood and watched as he took a couple of books off a small table by the sofa and carried them into the dining room to set on the table. He then turned to her. “What’s for supper?”
    She blanched. He knew she could only make one thing. And did he even have what she needed to do that? “Soup?” she said tentatively.
    He smiled as his shoulders shook with mirth. “Soup it is, then. I have some studying to do. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
    She gave him a single nod, wiped her hands on her skirt (good grief, were her palms sweating?) and went into the kitchen. Once there she stood near the stove glancing this way and that. She didn’t even know where anything was yet. “Well,” she said as she rolled up her sleeves, “time to find out.”
    She did a quick search of the kitchen to find out where Theron kept everything, then set to work. He had a few potatoes and carrots, one onion and a slightly wizened bulb of garlic. That would do. He probably bought his meat from the local butcher along with his eggs and milk. She’d have to ask to go shopping at some point – his larder was definitely low on supplies.
    She soon had a pot of soup on the stove. At least she didn’t have to start a fire – Theron had banked it well after lunch. Time to set to work on a batch of biscuits – she’d seen Judith and Beth make them enough times when they lived together that she felt confident she could whip up a batch on her own.
    After she put the biscuits in the oven, she studied the kitchen again. It was such a large, wonderful room, and she couldn’t help but picture herself pulling a roasted chicken out of the oven and serving it to her family. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, would Theron expect them to entertain? Was she going to have to worry about making an entire holiday dinner or two?
    Leora shuddered at the thought and knew a visit with Mrs. Pleet was in order, before she got in over her head. What an embarrassment that would be! She was embarrassed enough as it was that she had so little experience with such things. Worse yet, what if Mrs. Rutherford and her cronies were there?
    But then, why would they be?
    “Is supper almost ready?” Theron asked as he came into the kitchen. “Smells good.”
    “It’s soup and biscuits,” she said flatly.
    He sat next to her. “You’ll be making a variety of things in no time.”
    “Yes, you should be thankful for Mrs. Pleet. Otherwise, who knows what you’d be eating. I’m glad she offered to help.”
    “You’ll enjoy spending time with her, too,” he said.
    “What … um, what are you planning to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas?”
    “I usually get invited to dine with someone. I’ve never had to prepare a meal. But this year will be different,” he said happily.
    What little culinary confidence Leora had, dropped to near zero. “Oh?” came out a chirp.
    “Yes, we can invite some of the poor to eat with us. I help with preparing the gift baskets, but to have some of them here, wouldn’t that be nice?”
    “As long as they’re not too picky.”
    He laughed. “Oh, stop that. Mrs. Pleet will have you cooking up a storm in no time, you’ll see. Besides, you have a few weeks to learn.”
    Leora sighed. “Thank Heaven for that.” She got up, pulled the biscuits out of