Read Online Spring Creek Bride by Janice Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janice Thompson
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the void left by his parents. Watching Idawith her friends and family left him feeling lonelier than he’d ever felt in his life.
Would he ever again have a sense of wholeness—of family—like he’d had as a child before his parents passed away?
No. Likely he never would.
And the realization left a hole in his heart the size of Texas.
Chapter Ten
M ick awoke the following morning with a splitting headache. He wasn’t sure which had made it harder to sleep through the night—the ruffians in the street or the sounds of retching coming from the room next door. Regardless, he could scarcely function when the morning light streamed through the window of the hotel room.
He hadn’t been able to stop the images of Ida Mueller in that blue dress—maybe that was the real reason he couldn’t sleep. He’d wanted to catch a glimpse of her up close, but she’d walked right by him, never even looking his way. Had she done so on purpose, avoiding him deliberately?
He shook her out of his mind and sat up slowly. Plenty of work awaited him, and he needed to get to it.
He dressed quickly, and made his way out of the hotel and onto the street.
Ambling down Midway, he was amazed to find it nearly empty at this time of morning. Except for afew railroad men gathered at the station, the place was quiet. The morning dew left the first hint of a pleasant aroma in days. He paused for a moment, thinking perhaps he’d stumbled into a different world altogether.
At last, Mick came to the property. His patch of land. Within the hour, workers would begin to clear the spot. In his mind’s eye, he could see how different the lot would look without the overgrowth of weeds. Come Monday, the foundation would be laid, and then the beams erected. Then the exterior walls would come together in no time at all.
Mick glanced over at the mercantile and saw Ida place the Open sign on the door. Their eyes met and he tried to read her expression. The hardness he’d sensed yesterday still remained. Surely there had to be more behind that look than his plans to build a gambling hall.
Mick’s thoughts were interrupted by a child, probably four or five, running out the door with a puppy in his arms.
“Carter!” Ida scolded. “Your mama’s told you a dozen times to keep that mongrel out back. She doesn’t want you dragging him through the store.”
“He’s hungry, Ida.” The pup wriggled loose from the little boy’s grasp and ran out into the street.
Mick reached the squirming ball of fur just as it bounded onto his property. He walked to the mercantile and handed the pup to Ida with a smile. “I do believe this belongs to you.”
“Thank you so much.” He noted her attempt to muster up a stern look, but a hint of a smile took its place as the playful pup settled back into her arms. “We’re so grateful.”
“Puppy!” Carter took the little fur ball from Ida and headed back into the store.
“He’s quite a handful,” Ida said, “but the dearest thing in the world to me.”
Mick looked away. His heart now rushed with a new emotion, one he’d never felt before. What would it feel like…what would it be like to have a woman like Ida to come home to? And a child?
Mick could hardly believe the thoughts that raced through his head. Men like him didn’t marry, at least not until they were old or out of money. He had no real need for a wife. And she—whoever she was—would certainly not tolerate his desire to put financial dealings before matters of the heart. No, family was not for him, no matter how lonely he’d been feeling lately.
He tipped his hat then turned back to his property, happy to get away from Ida Mueller and those blue, blue eyes that made him forget himself.
“Ida, I can’t thank you enough for coming in on a Saturday morning.” Dinah continued to fuss with her hair, then turned to Ida with a shrug. “How do I look?”
“Wonderful, but you’re going to be late for the meeting.”
With the wave of
Would he ever again have a sense of wholeness—of family—like he’d had as a child before his parents passed away?
No. Likely he never would.
And the realization left a hole in his heart the size of Texas.
Chapter Ten
M ick awoke the following morning with a splitting headache. He wasn’t sure which had made it harder to sleep through the night—the ruffians in the street or the sounds of retching coming from the room next door. Regardless, he could scarcely function when the morning light streamed through the window of the hotel room.
He hadn’t been able to stop the images of Ida Mueller in that blue dress—maybe that was the real reason he couldn’t sleep. He’d wanted to catch a glimpse of her up close, but she’d walked right by him, never even looking his way. Had she done so on purpose, avoiding him deliberately?
He shook her out of his mind and sat up slowly. Plenty of work awaited him, and he needed to get to it.
He dressed quickly, and made his way out of the hotel and onto the street.
Ambling down Midway, he was amazed to find it nearly empty at this time of morning. Except for afew railroad men gathered at the station, the place was quiet. The morning dew left the first hint of a pleasant aroma in days. He paused for a moment, thinking perhaps he’d stumbled into a different world altogether.
At last, Mick came to the property. His patch of land. Within the hour, workers would begin to clear the spot. In his mind’s eye, he could see how different the lot would look without the overgrowth of weeds. Come Monday, the foundation would be laid, and then the beams erected. Then the exterior walls would come together in no time at all.
Mick glanced over at the mercantile and saw Ida place the Open sign on the door. Their eyes met and he tried to read her expression. The hardness he’d sensed yesterday still remained. Surely there had to be more behind that look than his plans to build a gambling hall.
Mick’s thoughts were interrupted by a child, probably four or five, running out the door with a puppy in his arms.
“Carter!” Ida scolded. “Your mama’s told you a dozen times to keep that mongrel out back. She doesn’t want you dragging him through the store.”
“He’s hungry, Ida.” The pup wriggled loose from the little boy’s grasp and ran out into the street.
Mick reached the squirming ball of fur just as it bounded onto his property. He walked to the mercantile and handed the pup to Ida with a smile. “I do believe this belongs to you.”
“Thank you so much.” He noted her attempt to muster up a stern look, but a hint of a smile took its place as the playful pup settled back into her arms. “We’re so grateful.”
“Puppy!” Carter took the little fur ball from Ida and headed back into the store.
“He’s quite a handful,” Ida said, “but the dearest thing in the world to me.”
Mick looked away. His heart now rushed with a new emotion, one he’d never felt before. What would it feel like…what would it be like to have a woman like Ida to come home to? And a child?
Mick could hardly believe the thoughts that raced through his head. Men like him didn’t marry, at least not until they were old or out of money. He had no real need for a wife. And she—whoever she was—would certainly not tolerate his desire to put financial dealings before matters of the heart. No, family was not for him, no matter how lonely he’d been feeling lately.
He tipped his hat then turned back to his property, happy to get away from Ida Mueller and those blue, blue eyes that made him forget himself.
“Ida, I can’t thank you enough for coming in on a Saturday morning.” Dinah continued to fuss with her hair, then turned to Ida with a shrug. “How do I look?”
“Wonderful, but you’re going to be late for the meeting.”
With the wave of
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