Read Online Shadow of Deceit (Shadow #2) by Barbara Goss - Free Book Online Page A

Violet to his parlor.  She sat on a sofa and he opened his desk that stood in the corner of the room, and placed the letters onto her lap.   He took a seat beside her.
    Violet sorted the letters by postmarks, and ripped open the first.  She read it aloud:  “My name is Martha Rankin, as you can see from my return address, I’m from Virginia.  I would not mind your limp if you are a good person.  I would love to live in Kansas and get to know you better.  I received a large response from my ad, as you might imagine, but your letter stood out because of your honesty.  I hope to hear from you.  Martha.”
    Violet ripped open the second letter.  She read it aloud:  “Kansas!  I’ve always yearned to go west.  I like that you own your own home.  Here in Pennsylvania, we have cold winters.  Does Kansas have cold winters?  Anyway I’m willing to correspond with you, but feel it fair to tell you I’m also corresponding with two others.   Ellen Hodge.”
    Caleb sighed.
    Violet ripped open the third letter. “Hmm this is from Martha again.  She read it aloud.  “When I didn’t hear back from you I was disappointed, so I answered another offer I’d received.  We corresponded a short time, and he sent me a ticket to Kansas City, Missouri.  When I got there, he turned out to be a drinker, and an abusive man.  I stayed at the hotel there, and attended church where a kind woman offered me a room in her boarding house.  I’m in a sort of dilemma since I can’t go back home—I sold my house to move to Missouri.  The woman doesn’t charge me a great deal, but my money will soon run out.  I thought I’d take a chance that you might still be interested.  It wouldn’t take me long to ride out on the stage or train.  I hope you are still interested.  God bless you, Martha.”
    Violet folded the letter.  “I like Martha.  She sounds like a Christian woman.  You could at least write to her and ask her a few questions.  Who knows?”
    Caleb studied Violet.  She’d become the best friend he had and he loved her for it.  “You really think I should?” he asked.
    “Definitely.  Shall I help you write the letter?” she asked.
    “Sure,” he replied.
    Violet and Caleb put their heads together and wrote the letter to Martha.  Caleb was curious as to whether or not she had ever been married, since she’d owned a house.  Did she have children?  What was her age?  And then he told her that while he hated to be so selective, he needed a Christian woman.  Was she a good Christian?
    They had just finished the letter when Elsie called them to lunch.  Violet joined Caleb.   While they ate they joked about the women.
    “Ellen seemed more interested in the weather in Kansas than in what I was like,” Caleb said.
    “She didn’t sound very sincere,” Violet laughed.  “And to tell you she is corresponding with two others, what nerve.”
    “How did you perceive Martha?” Violet asked.
    “She sounds desperate, but perhaps not too smart to get herself into a situation like that.  Traveling to Missouri without a longer correspondance was a bad idea.  Don’t you think?” Caleb asked.
    No, I don’t think that.  It’s one of the risks you take when doing this mail order business—I mean people can lie about themselves.  Until you meet them, you are sort of leaving yourself to luck, basically.”
    “Which is why I’ve always shied away from it.  Maybe we shouldn’t post that letter to Martha.” Caleb said after further thought.
    “No, I think we should mail it and find out more about her, but I wouldn’t send her a ticket to Abilene until you were fairly sure of her.”
    “All right,” Caleb said.  “This could take months.”
    “It could,” Violet patted his hand.  “But you’re young, and there is no rush.”
    They’d just finished lunch when there was a knock on the kitchen door. 
    Caleb got up and opened the door.  “Miles!” he said.
    “Can I come in?  I need to