Read Online Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears - Free Book Online Page B

marry her immediately, she could tag along with Neil and Patricia, and they could court as long as he desired.
    But what if Dex’s kiss wasn’t indicative of anything deep? What if it was an accident, as he claimed? Her parents would spend her tuition on another printing press the moment she crossed the border between Missouri and Kansas. If Dex didn’t want to marry her now, he might not ever, no matter how many years she chased him.
    She had to be more certain of his feelings.
    She’d never pursued Dex, biding her time with books, mathematical equations, and Latin. Maybe the closed door she’d pined after needed to be knocked upon—or pummeled with both fists. Paul had constantly looked for a way to get to Rome. When thwarted, he kept trying. And he finally got there . . . when God sent him in chains.
    All right, maybe her analogy didn’t quite fit the way she wanted.
    Slipping to the side of the bed, she positioned herself to pray as she had as a little girl, feet neatly tucked under her skirts, folded hands against her forehead.
    Oh God, I don’t want to entrap myself in a bad situation by charging pell-mell into daydreams. But You know how long I’ve been smitten, and You knew he’d kiss me only a day before leaving. You’ve known I haven’t been excited about going to school as much as Momma is, that I’ve desired to be a wife and a mother more than anything.
    Do you disapprove of mail-order brides marrying strangers? Would You look down on me for throwing myself at a man I’ve only dreamt loved me? Because, unless You show me in some fashion that I’m wrong in the choice I’m about to make, I’m going to forget about school and reach for my heart’s desire.
    Though God would only approve if her plans honored Momma. She pushed against the mattress and steeled herself for the conversation she was about to have.
    She found her mother outside on the porch, reading The Inferno to the accompaniment of wind chimes.
    Rachel didn’t bother to sit. “I’ve decided not to go to school.”
    Momma dropped her book into her lap and frowned. “I thought we’d discussed this already.”
    Discussed, yes. Decided? Momma had, but she hadn’t—until now. “I’m going to see if Dex will marry me.”
    Momma puckered as if she’d suddenly found a lemon in her mouth. “Dex? Has he shown any interest in you besides these lessons?”
    She wouldn’t bother defending him. If Momma couldn’t see his merits in the fifteen years they’d lived in the same town, she’d not convince her in a few minutes. And she didn’t have that much time. “I think he has, though he hasn’t been overt.” Not until today. But she’d keep the kiss to herself.
    “But he’s going to Kansas. Your mind will go to ruin on the prairie.” Momma rubbed her temples.
    “No, Momma, it won’t.” She crossed her arms and raised her chin. Momma might have a whole slew of reasons for wanting her to attend school, but going farther west wasn’t going to magically turn her mind to mush. “I could educate my children, use my analytical skills to help him choose what plants or animals to raise, maybe teach in the area’s first school or keep books for Neil for some extra income.”
    Momma shifted in her seat, a smug look on her face. “Has Dex Stanton asked you to marry him?”
    “No.”
    “Go with him?”
    “No.” She kept her head held high.
    Momma shook her head. “Darling, he’s had years to court you, and he’s leaving tomorrow. If you weren’t standing in front of me, I’d think Patricia was talking. Now, I’ve always told you a smooth-talking man messes with a woman’s ability to think clearly, but I never thought you’d succumb.” She settled back against her seat, the way she did after putting Papa in check. “You’ll have plenty of time to find a good man in the city. An educated man with money. Not someone who’ll drag you west and hide the gem that you are in a dirt hovel.”
    Rachel clasped her hands together