Read Online Love's Story by Kristin; Dianne; Billerbeck Christner - Free Book Online Page A

escort her or meet her at the camp,” Jonah said.
    Meredith cleared her throat. “I would not traipse in New York. But,” she shrugged, “here in the wild…”
    â€œYou assume incorrectly,” Mrs. Bloomfield said. “I also am from a city, Chicago. And I find your conduct here…”
    â€œIt is Miss Mears’s story that is important.” Mrs. Cooper gave Meredith a look of censure, yet flew into a long-winded exoneration on her part. “You see, long after Miss Mears has gone back to New York City, the things remembered will be her stories about Buckman’s Pride and Bucker’s Stand. Folks who read her articles back in the East won’t know that Miss Mears got her story traipsing across the country in men’s clothing.” Amelia Cooper gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
    Beatrice Bloomfield’s eyebrows arched.
    Amelia recovered and said, “But the things she writes are what they’ll remember.”
    Meredith cast Mrs. Cooper a grateful glance. The woman had tried to defend her, even if she did have a slip of the tongue.
    â€œWe shall see,” Mrs. Bloomfield said. “What a delightful dinner this has been.” She pushed back her chair.
    The men at the table bumbled to their feet when Mrs. Bloomfield stood.
    â€œMrs. Bloomfield, would you like to see my studio?”
    â€œPerhaps some other time, sir.”
    â€œI would like to see it,” The quiet-mannered banker said.
    â€œIt really is something to see, Beatrice,” Amelia Cooper urged.
    As the group of dinner guests moved outside to view Jonah’s photograph studio, Mrs. Cooper squeezed Meredith’s arm. “Come along with us, dear.”
    Meredith trailed behind the group, headed up by Jonah, then Herbert Bloomfield, the banker, whose gait was quite enthusiastic. His wife’s hand remained looped through his arm, where he’d placed it, but her back was rigidly straight. Jonah gestured and chatted, and Mrs. Cooper turned to wait for Meredith.
    â€œDon’t let that woman intimidate you,” Amelia whispered. “I have every bit as much say in this town as she does.”
    â€œLet’s hope Jonah can impress her,” Meredith whispered.
    His studio enthralled Mr. Bloomfield and held the others’ attention. Jonah explained some of the chemical processes involved in dry-plate photography and showed them photographs of the waterfalls from their trip.
    â€œThese are of the logging camp. I’m going to send them to
McClure’s
magazine to go along with Miss Mears’s articles.”
    Herbert Bloomfield adjusted his glasses. “They are quite good.”
    â€œI would love to take a photograph of the two of you.” Jonah included the banker’s beautiful wife in his gaze. “You could frame it to hang in the bank.”
    â€œOh. I wouldn’t want to be so prideful,” Beatrice Bloomfield said.
    â€œNot at all. If anything, it adds an air of respectability to an establishment.”
    â€œReally?” she asked. She released her husband’s arm and moved closer to Jonah. “And where would you take this photograph?”
    Jonah shrugged. “Anywhere you like.”
    â€œThat does give us something to think about, doesn’t it, Herbert?”
    â€œAnd Meredith could write a caption to put beneath the photograph. Couldn’t you?”
    â€œIt would be my pleasure,” Meredith said with an appreciative smile.
    â€œIt’s settled then,” Mrs. Cooper declared.

Chapter 9
    I see you and Mrs. Cooper are on a first-name basis now,” Jonah said.
    â€œI was wrong about Amelia,” Meredith said. She hovered over Jonah’s shoulder as he coated albumen paper with a silver solution.
    â€œI’m just glad to see the two of you getting along.”
    â€œMe, too. Those are great, Jonah.”
    â€œThey could be better. See the shadows there? I’m still experimenting with