Read Online Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janice Hanna
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to counterbalance the man’s physical appearance.
Bucky Williams, who ran the local gristmill, showed up next. With his hat in his hands, he explained that life would be much sweeter with a wife in the picture. Bucky was a handsome enough fellow, though exceptionally tall and thin. Still, he was quite amiable and always treated others with respect. Surely Belinda could find his perfect match. She promised to speak with Peter about something poetic to include with any letter she might write.
Ironically, Reverend Billingsley showed up next, looking more than a little nervous. He pulled off his hat then peered at her with embarrassment in his expression. “Belinda, I, um—well, I know you must find this rather shocking...a man of the cloth looking for a bride in such a way.”
“Heavens, no, Reverend!” She smiled, hoping to offer him a bit of reassurance. “The Lord moves in mysterious ways, after all.”
“Indeed.” The pastor sighed. “And to be quite honest, ever since Evelyn passed on, I’ve been quite lonely. I love preaching to my congregation, but I miss the joy of having a wife to come home to. And I need someone to aid me in my endeavors to win the lost. So if you’re able to put that into the letter, I would be grateful to pay for your services.”
“Indeed.” Belinda leaned forward and whispered, “How are you at writing poetry, Reverend?”
“P–poetry?” He paled. “Not good. Why?”
“I am a firm believer in wooing women with beautiful words. Perhaps you could write a little verse to include with my letter.”
He paused and appeared to be in thought about it. Finally, he snapped his finger. “Indeed! I know just what to do. I will include a verse from the Song of Solomon. It’s quite poetic.” After a moment’s reflection, his cheeks turned a ruddy color. “Of course, I will have to choose my passage carefully. The Song of Solomon is quite, well, romantic.”
“Yes.” Belinda stifled a laugh. “Please err on the side of caution.”
After the reverend left, several other men showed up, each anxious for a wife. She refused to take money from any of them, even as a retainer. No, until she located the women, she could not.
Once left her to her own devices, Belinda fetched copies of two newspapers—one from Kansas City, the other from Philadelphia. The one from Philadelphia was outdated, but she located the bridal letters inside just the same. One of the letters caught her eye at once. The woman, Marta Schuller, appeared to be highly educated.
Belinda settled into the chair at her desk to read:
F ORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD P HILADELPHIA NATIVE .
E DUCATED AT THE U NIVERSITY OF P ENNSYLVANIA, ONE
OF ONLY FOUR WOMEN IN MY CLASS. W ORK AS A PRIVATE
TUTOR . S EEK NEW LIFE IN S OUTHERN TOWN WHERE I
CAN USE MY COLLEGE EDUCATION AS WELL AS MY SKILLS
WITH CHILDREN .
Belinda could hardly believe her good fortune! Why, Marta Schuller was perfect for Mr. Lott, the schoolmaster. His scientific equal. No doubt about it. They could combine their efforts and teach the children while enjoying a life of marital bliss. Belinda wrote to her right away. Surely Myles would find the perfect poem from one of his books to sweeten the pot.
Next, she set her sights on finding someone for Bucky Williams. Someone who might make a good gristmill-owner’s wife. She had to smile as she stumbled across the perfect advertisement:
S OUTHERN GAL SEARCHING FOR A TRUE-BLUE
S OUTHERN GENTLEMAN . R EADY TO SETTLE DOWN AND
RAISE A FAMILY . S MALL-TOWN LIFE WOULD BE IDEAL .
As she read the rest of the piece, Belinda had to admit, this woman—Katie Sue Caldwell—sounded just right for Bucky. Belinda reached for another piece of stationery and filled it with an apt description of Bucky’s attributes. Once done, she tried to come up with something poetic to add, but nothing came to her.
Ironically, just as she gave up on the idea of composing a poem, Belinda heard a familiar voice. She looked up to see Peter
Bucky Williams, who ran the local gristmill, showed up next. With his hat in his hands, he explained that life would be much sweeter with a wife in the picture. Bucky was a handsome enough fellow, though exceptionally tall and thin. Still, he was quite amiable and always treated others with respect. Surely Belinda could find his perfect match. She promised to speak with Peter about something poetic to include with any letter she might write.
Ironically, Reverend Billingsley showed up next, looking more than a little nervous. He pulled off his hat then peered at her with embarrassment in his expression. “Belinda, I, um—well, I know you must find this rather shocking...a man of the cloth looking for a bride in such a way.”
“Heavens, no, Reverend!” She smiled, hoping to offer him a bit of reassurance. “The Lord moves in mysterious ways, after all.”
“Indeed.” The pastor sighed. “And to be quite honest, ever since Evelyn passed on, I’ve been quite lonely. I love preaching to my congregation, but I miss the joy of having a wife to come home to. And I need someone to aid me in my endeavors to win the lost. So if you’re able to put that into the letter, I would be grateful to pay for your services.”
“Indeed.” Belinda leaned forward and whispered, “How are you at writing poetry, Reverend?”
“P–poetry?” He paled. “Not good. Why?”
“I am a firm believer in wooing women with beautiful words. Perhaps you could write a little verse to include with my letter.”
He paused and appeared to be in thought about it. Finally, he snapped his finger. “Indeed! I know just what to do. I will include a verse from the Song of Solomon. It’s quite poetic.” After a moment’s reflection, his cheeks turned a ruddy color. “Of course, I will have to choose my passage carefully. The Song of Solomon is quite, well, romantic.”
“Yes.” Belinda stifled a laugh. “Please err on the side of caution.”
After the reverend left, several other men showed up, each anxious for a wife. She refused to take money from any of them, even as a retainer. No, until she located the women, she could not.
Once left her to her own devices, Belinda fetched copies of two newspapers—one from Kansas City, the other from Philadelphia. The one from Philadelphia was outdated, but she located the bridal letters inside just the same. One of the letters caught her eye at once. The woman, Marta Schuller, appeared to be highly educated.
Belinda settled into the chair at her desk to read:
F ORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD P HILADELPHIA NATIVE .
E DUCATED AT THE U NIVERSITY OF P ENNSYLVANIA, ONE
OF ONLY FOUR WOMEN IN MY CLASS. W ORK AS A PRIVATE
TUTOR . S EEK NEW LIFE IN S OUTHERN TOWN WHERE I
CAN USE MY COLLEGE EDUCATION AS WELL AS MY SKILLS
WITH CHILDREN .
Belinda could hardly believe her good fortune! Why, Marta Schuller was perfect for Mr. Lott, the schoolmaster. His scientific equal. No doubt about it. They could combine their efforts and teach the children while enjoying a life of marital bliss. Belinda wrote to her right away. Surely Myles would find the perfect poem from one of his books to sweeten the pot.
Next, she set her sights on finding someone for Bucky Williams. Someone who might make a good gristmill-owner’s wife. She had to smile as she stumbled across the perfect advertisement:
S OUTHERN GAL SEARCHING FOR A TRUE-BLUE
S OUTHERN GENTLEMAN . R EADY TO SETTLE DOWN AND
RAISE A FAMILY . S MALL-TOWN LIFE WOULD BE IDEAL .
As she read the rest of the piece, Belinda had to admit, this woman—Katie Sue Caldwell—sounded just right for Bucky. Belinda reached for another piece of stationery and filled it with an apt description of Bucky’s attributes. Once done, she tried to come up with something poetic to add, but nothing came to her.
Ironically, just as she gave up on the idea of composing a poem, Belinda heard a familiar voice. She looked up to see Peter
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