Read Online Texas Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday - Free Book Online Page A

“I’ll just bet.”
    From the corner of her eye, Delta saw Mr. Abercrombie watching. His face got tighter and more furious with each passing second.
    â€œWell, as absolutely fascinating as this conversation has been, I have work to do, Mr. Thorne.”
    â€œThen I bid you good day.” He tipped the brim of his hat to her. The bell over the door tinkled when he left.
    Despite the fact that she should count her blessings every day that she hadn’t married him, she couldn’t stop herself from hurrying to the window to watch him walk down the street. That loose-jointed saunter of his… oh my , it made her pulse race. It was a lot like watching a lazy river meander along its course as if it was in no hurry at all to get there.
    Part of her would give anything—
    Stop it right there. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. No use thinking of things beyond her reach.
    Snatching up her cleaning rag, she turned her attention to the unruly shelf. In removing every scrap of paper, every receipt, and every bit of clutter, she knocked a book to the floor. Something flew out.
    Delta bent and picked up a small envelope. On the outside in flowing penmanship were the words To my darling John .
    Unsure what to do with it, yet sensing it was something important, she took the envelope to Mr. Abercrombie. “Sir, this fell out of a book when I was cleaning just now.”
    â€œWell, what is it?” he snapped.
    â€œIt looks like a letter or something. Might be important.”
    â€œDid you read it?”
    â€œOf course not! I would never do that.”
    The man jerked it from her. “I don’t have time for such nonsense. You’re always messing with my things, and I’ll thank you to leave ’em alone.”
    Anger rose. “Sir, you can be angry with yourself, or life, or your circumstances, but I’ve given you no cause to treat me worse than a guttersnipe. Whatever is inside that envelope is probably from your wife. The least you can do is look at it.”
    Delta turned away, blinking back sudden tears. She didn’t know why people, men especially, were so quick to criticize or sling blame. She’d faced more than one such man in her life. Langston Graham had been worst of all. She could say nothing to excuse the man who’d fathered her. He’d passed her on the street every day in Cedartown with no word, not a speck of kindness, not even so much as a smile. She’d been invisible to him.
    A child he’d never wanted, much less acknowledged.
    His utter scorn had turned her heart to stone.
    Shaking herself, she forced her thoughts back to the present. She’d wasted enough tears on that matter. She put Langston Graham out of her mind and returned to her shelf.
    When she next cast a glance at Mr. Abercrombie, it broke her heart. He stood clutching a paper valentine to his chest. Tears streamed down his gaunt cheeks. Her hunch had been right. He’d never seen it before.
    She stood, undecided what to do. Though she longed to comfort the shopkeeper, she didn’t want to intrude on his privacy, or worse, wound his pride.
    All of a sudden, he crumpled to the floor, heaving great sobs. She quickly went and put an arm around his shoulders.
    â€œI’m so sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have—”
    John Abercrombie’s watery eyes met hers. “It’s from Nell. A decorated valentine. This was probably one of the last things she did before she died the morning of February 15. Which book did you find it in?”
    â€œCharlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre .”
    â€œThat was her favorite book. She kept it in the store and read every spare minute. She must’ve stuck the valentine in there, intending to give it to me, but she passed too quickly. This means more to me than anything on earth. I’ll always treasure this. Thank you for finding and insisting I open the envelope.”
    â€œYou’re very welcome,