Read Online Silver Heart (Historical Western Romance) (Longren Family series #1) by Amelia Rose - Free Book Online Page B

"If you were a teacher, I wouldn't expect you not to teach," he said, which before Dr. Horton's visit, would have not made sense to me.  He met my gaze.  "You must do what you feel best.  I will be home at sundown.  Will you have supper waiting?"
                  I would.  And I'd unpack, in the hopes that would make him stop offering me the chance to escape. 
                  And I'd have gone into Gold Hill, and met with Mrs. Barnett. 
     
                  Kitchen first, then on to unpacking, because it made me nervous, having an escape so conveniently at hand.  Being upstairs kept me distant from Matthew, who was growing bored and talkative.  I'd left him whittling, a fine mess I'd need to clean later.
                  Once the kitchen was put away, and supper decided – string beans, potatoes, a roast someone had brought after the word of Matthew's accident had gone 'round – I went out to the garden.
                  It was well tended, offering up corn I could harvest for supper, or possibly cut down into a corn pudding or corn and buttermilk pie.  There were apples that would be ready come fall, and peaches that needed picking now.  I could can some of them, maybe give some away.  I'd have to ask Hutch what he'd been doing.  Perhaps he traded the garden bounty for cleaning services.  Greens grew in profusion, onions, peppers, carrots.  A few berry bushes looked unamused at the desert climate and I pumped extra water for them.
                  Mid-afternoon, I quit the garden and took myself inside, avoiding the sitting room until I'd had a chance to check my appearance, and tame my hair and wash the dirt from my face.  Then I gathered a few of the ripe peaches in a basket, found one of my hats that hadn't flown off in a wild wagon ride, and went in to tell Matthew where I was going.
                  "How's your – " leg , I started to say, but it sounded forward and I changed it to wound . 
                  "Aches a bit," he said, but there was color in his cheeks again and his blue eyes were awake and clear.  "My night wasn't so good, but doc – " he stumbled a little – "Drained it and pain's going."
                  The pain would be going if he'd gotten a shot, as well, but I didn't think he had and couldn't think of any good reason to discourage him.  I handed him two of the peaches, fetched some water, and announced my intentions.
                  At that, Matthew's face clouded.  "Maggie," he said, easily using my familiar name.  "You know about Ellie, don't you?"
                  I liked him for that.  "I do.  And Hutch knew what I am before I came out, and knows my intentions now."
                  His expression didn't soften.  I added, "I can help, Matthew.  It will be all right."
     
                  I hadn't even made it as far as the street, armed with a basket of peaches and directions from Matthew to head south, when I was hailed and turned to find a beautiful woman about Hutch's age bearing down on me, waving, her dark hair sleekly pulled back, her blue eyes bright.
                  "Hello?" I asked.
                  "Hello!"  She came through the gate as if we'd been friends forever and as if she came and went through that gate on a daily basis.  "Maggie?"
                  "Annie?"  Had to be.  She had the same coloring as her brothers, and the same smile.
                  "I'm so glad to finally meet you!"  She took my hands, which were wrapped around the basket handle, and squeezed them warmly.  "You're the talk of the town, everyone is interested in the bride coming all the way from Boston!"
                  She meant nothing by it, but my cheeks flamed to be the center of gossip, and to feel like a mail order bride.
                  But she was warm and