Read Online Patience: Bride of Washington (American Mail Order Bride 42) by Caroline Clemmons - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Caroline Clemmons
Tags: Fiction, Humorous, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Business, Washington, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, wealthy, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, destined, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, distrust, complications, Forty-Two In Series, Getting Acquainted, Turbulent Period, Older Gentlemen, Respectable Boarding House, Commercial Apple Orchard, Job, Future Stepson, Mother Deceased, Younger Son, Compromise
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striking dress I’ve ever seen.”
Harriett walked over to her. “Don’t you wonder how the dressmaker managed to match the stripes so well?”
Patience said, “I’m the dressmaker and I had difficulty on the back flounces.” She turned so the other women could see the entire garment. “I’ll admit I had to buy extra fabric to make the effect possible.”
Harriett grasped the material between her fingers. “What lovely twill and the skirt harmonizes perfectly. I’m so envious of your ability. I have to stay with simple patterns.”
“You’re kind to say so. I enjoy a bit of a challenge when I sew.” Patience noted that Jenny hadn’t mentioned her clothing.
Instead, Jenny said, “I suppose you’re going with Andrew Kincaid?”
“Actually, both Andrew and Stone are escorting me. Andrew will be judging the food.”
Jenny sniffed. “He always has to lord over the festival. You’d think he invented apples.”
Agnes appeared horrified. “Jenny, don’t be petty. You know Kincaid Orchards are one of the largest orchards around Destiny and probably in this part of the state.”
“Ha, you’d be less lenient if you’d had to give up your room for his fiancée.”
Patience walked over to Jenny. “What do you mean, give up your room for me?”
Harriett rushed over. “It’s nothing, Patience. Don’t be upset, but Jenny had your room. When we learned you’d be staying here, Jenny moved into my room to share for a month.”
Patience plopped onto a chair. “I had no idea. I do apologize for your inconvenience.”
Agnes patted Patience’s hand. “Don’t concern yourself. Mr. Kincaid owns the boarding house, you see. Mrs. Shaw wanted to please him so she asked Jenny to switch for the month until your wedding.”
“Andrew owns this boarding house? I thought Mrs. Shaw was the owner.”
Agnes shook her head. “She’d like everyone to think that, but she only leases the building. Her lease is up in two months and she feared that turning you away would prevent his renewing her lease. I don’t think so from what I’ve seen of his business dealings, but a woman in business has so little power.”
“I’m horrified you’ve been uprooted on my account, Jenny. Please accept my apology. And poor Mrs. Shaw believes herself in a difficult position. What a terrible situation.”
Jenny appeared mollified. “I see I was wrong about you. I thought you knew and approved. I don’t suppose Mr. Kincaid is aware I was moved out of my home.”
“I’ll make other arrangements today.”
Jenny shook her head. “No, there are no places for you to stay. The other boarding house is mostly men and not at all suitable for a lady. Besides, it’s only for three more weeks.”
Patience’s distress increased. Only three weeks until her wedding to a man she barely knew. Right now she wanted to hurry to the rail station and board the next train that would take her to Mercy.
Agnes stood. “Come on, we should get going. Mrs. Shaw has already left to enter her apple cake in the contest.”
The other two joined Agnes and they called “Goodbye” before leaving.
“Goodbye,” Patience responded, but she hardly registered their departure. Andrew owned this house. No surprise then that Mrs. Shaw was so agreeable about her violating a couple of rules. The poor woman was terrified.
When she heard a buggy stop out front, she rose and walked outside. Stone had started up the walk to call for her. She closed the door behind her and walked to meet him.
“You look as if you’re in a daze. Feeling all right?”
“What? Oh, yes, I just had a bit of a shock. Did you know your father owns this house?”
“Of course. I thought you knew we own several buildings in Destiny. We can’t have all our eggs in one basket. Or, should that be all our apples in one crate?” He helped her into the buggy then climbed in beside her.
Andrew smiled at her. “You’re looking lovely today, my dear.”
“Thank you. Andrew, why
Harriett walked over to her. “Don’t you wonder how the dressmaker managed to match the stripes so well?”
Patience said, “I’m the dressmaker and I had difficulty on the back flounces.” She turned so the other women could see the entire garment. “I’ll admit I had to buy extra fabric to make the effect possible.”
Harriett grasped the material between her fingers. “What lovely twill and the skirt harmonizes perfectly. I’m so envious of your ability. I have to stay with simple patterns.”
“You’re kind to say so. I enjoy a bit of a challenge when I sew.” Patience noted that Jenny hadn’t mentioned her clothing.
Instead, Jenny said, “I suppose you’re going with Andrew Kincaid?”
“Actually, both Andrew and Stone are escorting me. Andrew will be judging the food.”
Jenny sniffed. “He always has to lord over the festival. You’d think he invented apples.”
Agnes appeared horrified. “Jenny, don’t be petty. You know Kincaid Orchards are one of the largest orchards around Destiny and probably in this part of the state.”
“Ha, you’d be less lenient if you’d had to give up your room for his fiancée.”
Patience walked over to Jenny. “What do you mean, give up your room for me?”
Harriett rushed over. “It’s nothing, Patience. Don’t be upset, but Jenny had your room. When we learned you’d be staying here, Jenny moved into my room to share for a month.”
Patience plopped onto a chair. “I had no idea. I do apologize for your inconvenience.”
Agnes patted Patience’s hand. “Don’t concern yourself. Mr. Kincaid owns the boarding house, you see. Mrs. Shaw wanted to please him so she asked Jenny to switch for the month until your wedding.”
“Andrew owns this boarding house? I thought Mrs. Shaw was the owner.”
Agnes shook her head. “She’d like everyone to think that, but she only leases the building. Her lease is up in two months and she feared that turning you away would prevent his renewing her lease. I don’t think so from what I’ve seen of his business dealings, but a woman in business has so little power.”
“I’m horrified you’ve been uprooted on my account, Jenny. Please accept my apology. And poor Mrs. Shaw believes herself in a difficult position. What a terrible situation.”
Jenny appeared mollified. “I see I was wrong about you. I thought you knew and approved. I don’t suppose Mr. Kincaid is aware I was moved out of my home.”
“I’ll make other arrangements today.”
Jenny shook her head. “No, there are no places for you to stay. The other boarding house is mostly men and not at all suitable for a lady. Besides, it’s only for three more weeks.”
Patience’s distress increased. Only three weeks until her wedding to a man she barely knew. Right now she wanted to hurry to the rail station and board the next train that would take her to Mercy.
Agnes stood. “Come on, we should get going. Mrs. Shaw has already left to enter her apple cake in the contest.”
The other two joined Agnes and they called “Goodbye” before leaving.
“Goodbye,” Patience responded, but she hardly registered their departure. Andrew owned this house. No surprise then that Mrs. Shaw was so agreeable about her violating a couple of rules. The poor woman was terrified.
When she heard a buggy stop out front, she rose and walked outside. Stone had started up the walk to call for her. She closed the door behind her and walked to meet him.
“You look as if you’re in a daze. Feeling all right?”
“What? Oh, yes, I just had a bit of a shock. Did you know your father owns this house?”
“Of course. I thought you knew we own several buildings in Destiny. We can’t have all our eggs in one basket. Or, should that be all our apples in one crate?” He helped her into the buggy then climbed in beside her.
Andrew smiled at her. “You’re looking lovely today, my dear.”
“Thank you. Andrew, why
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