Read Online The Anonymous Bride by Vickie Mcdonough - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Vickie Mcdonough
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Western, Man-Woman Relationships, Love Stories, Texas, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Mail Order Brides
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shook her head, thinking of the three baby boys she’d lost. Still, she mustered some excitement for the kind lady she’d met at church. “They must be delighted. How is she doing?”
“Fine, last time Hank checked.” Martha let out a sigh and looked down. “I wish that I could become with child. We’ve been married two years now.”
Rachel watched a fly creep up her floral wallpaper as she considered her response. She knew that saying it was God’s will didn’t help one bit. “You’re still young yet. Sometimes these things take time.”
“Not for you. Guessing by the age of your daughter, you must have gotten with child on your wedding night.” Martha’s eyes went wide and her hand lifted to her mouth. “Oh dear. I beg your pardon. Hank talks freely to me of such things, and I tend to forget that such topics are not proper conversation.”
Rachel forced a smile. Martha hadn’t lived in Lookout back then, didn’t know the circumstances around her pregnancy with Jacqueline—but then, neither did anyone else. Once again she breathed a prayer of thanks that her daughter had been so tiny at birth. Everyone assumed she’d been born early. “Think nothing of it.”
“Hank is continually telling me to think before I speak, but I confess that I find it difficult. I tend to just blurt out whatever comes to mind.” She lifted her cup to her lips and gazed out the window. Her eyes suddenly went wide. She stood and set the cup and saucer on the end table. “I’m afraid it’s time I was going. I need to get Hank’s supper on the stove.”
Rachel peered out the window to see what could have disturbed her guest. Agatha Linus and Bertha Boyd barreled down the street toward the boardinghouse like a locomotive at full steam.
“Thank you for offering to make those pies for the church bazaar.” Martha tied on her bonnet and reached for the screen door. “Next time, you must come to my house for tea.”
“My pleasure.” Rachel waved good-bye to her friend and waited on the porch for the busybody train to arrive. Visiting with Agatha and Aunt Beebee, as Bertha was better known, was always an experience, but she needed to get supper started for her guests soon. She’d have to make the visit with the two older women short, if that was possible.
“H’lo, dearie.” Aunt Beebee waved her plump arm in the air as if she was at a hallelujah service. In her other hand, she balanced a pie. As she waved, the pie leaned precariously to the left. Rachel held her breath, but Beebee righted it before it could take a tumble.
Agatha smiled, looking embarrassed by her sister’s outgoing display. Where Beebee was wide, Aggie was thin. Beebee was vibrant and gregarious, while her sister was prim, soft spoken, and proper. After losing both their husbands within a short time period, the two older women had sold their neighboring ranches and taken up living in town, much to the chagrin of the townsfolk.
“Good afternoon.” Rachel smiled and held the door open to allow the two women to enter.
Beebee plopped the pie into Rachel’s free hand. “That there’s my prize shoofly pie.” She leaned toward Rachel. “Made with our grandma’s secret ingredient.”
“Why, thank you.” Rachel lifted the pie to smell it, wondering what it would cost her. Beebee always expected information in exchange for her treats, and Rachel doubted today would be any different.
Everyone in town knew Aunt Beebee’s secret ingredient was rum, though folks never let on they knew. Rachel would love to eat pie other than her own, but she didn’t partake of alcohol in any form. Her boarders would probably enjoy it though.
“Goodness me. Today must be the day to go visiting.” Beebee huffed past Rachel into the house, bringing with her an overpowering scent of perfume. “I just saw the doctor’s wife take her leave. Too bad she couldn’t stay a bit longer.”
Rachel nodded
“Fine, last time Hank checked.” Martha let out a sigh and looked down. “I wish that I could become with child. We’ve been married two years now.”
Rachel watched a fly creep up her floral wallpaper as she considered her response. She knew that saying it was God’s will didn’t help one bit. “You’re still young yet. Sometimes these things take time.”
“Not for you. Guessing by the age of your daughter, you must have gotten with child on your wedding night.” Martha’s eyes went wide and her hand lifted to her mouth. “Oh dear. I beg your pardon. Hank talks freely to me of such things, and I tend to forget that such topics are not proper conversation.”
Rachel forced a smile. Martha hadn’t lived in Lookout back then, didn’t know the circumstances around her pregnancy with Jacqueline—but then, neither did anyone else. Once again she breathed a prayer of thanks that her daughter had been so tiny at birth. Everyone assumed she’d been born early. “Think nothing of it.”
“Hank is continually telling me to think before I speak, but I confess that I find it difficult. I tend to just blurt out whatever comes to mind.” She lifted her cup to her lips and gazed out the window. Her eyes suddenly went wide. She stood and set the cup and saucer on the end table. “I’m afraid it’s time I was going. I need to get Hank’s supper on the stove.”
Rachel peered out the window to see what could have disturbed her guest. Agatha Linus and Bertha Boyd barreled down the street toward the boardinghouse like a locomotive at full steam.
“Thank you for offering to make those pies for the church bazaar.” Martha tied on her bonnet and reached for the screen door. “Next time, you must come to my house for tea.”
“My pleasure.” Rachel waved good-bye to her friend and waited on the porch for the busybody train to arrive. Visiting with Agatha and Aunt Beebee, as Bertha was better known, was always an experience, but she needed to get supper started for her guests soon. She’d have to make the visit with the two older women short, if that was possible.
“H’lo, dearie.” Aunt Beebee waved her plump arm in the air as if she was at a hallelujah service. In her other hand, she balanced a pie. As she waved, the pie leaned precariously to the left. Rachel held her breath, but Beebee righted it before it could take a tumble.
Agatha smiled, looking embarrassed by her sister’s outgoing display. Where Beebee was wide, Aggie was thin. Beebee was vibrant and gregarious, while her sister was prim, soft spoken, and proper. After losing both their husbands within a short time period, the two older women had sold their neighboring ranches and taken up living in town, much to the chagrin of the townsfolk.
“Good afternoon.” Rachel smiled and held the door open to allow the two women to enter.
Beebee plopped the pie into Rachel’s free hand. “That there’s my prize shoofly pie.” She leaned toward Rachel. “Made with our grandma’s secret ingredient.”
“Why, thank you.” Rachel lifted the pie to smell it, wondering what it would cost her. Beebee always expected information in exchange for her treats, and Rachel doubted today would be any different.
Everyone in town knew Aunt Beebee’s secret ingredient was rum, though folks never let on they knew. Rachel would love to eat pie other than her own, but she didn’t partake of alcohol in any form. Her boarders would probably enjoy it though.
“Goodness me. Today must be the day to go visiting.” Beebee huffed past Rachel into the house, bringing with her an overpowering scent of perfume. “I just saw the doctor’s wife take her leave. Too bad she couldn’t stay a bit longer.”
Rachel nodded
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