Read Online The Bride's House by Sandra Dallas - Free Book Online Page A

made her blush to think she could be so bold as to dream she and Will would live there.
    “Her husband’d have to be awful rich.”
    “And she’d have to be awful lucky.”
    “If you was to say yes to me, I’d show you my cabin. It’s not so big as this, but it’s tight, and it’s got two rooms.” He looked hopefully at Nealie, but she was lost in thought about the house for a bride and didn’t reply.
    *   *   *
     
    It was not Charlie Dumas’s cabin that Nealie visited the next day, however. Will Spaulding called that Sunday, Nealie’s day off, and asked her to walk out with him. He waited on the porch while Nealie went inside the house to change into her boots, because a rain had stirred up the mud.
    Mrs. Travers followed Nealie into the girl’s bedroom, remarking, “You see, going out with Charlie Dumas did make Mr. Spaulding jealous.”
    “I thought you didn’t like him.”
    “Oh, I like him well enough, but he strikes me as a courting man, a fellow who’ll go after all the girls. You wouldn’t want to spoil things with Mr. Dumas. He’s as good a catch as you’ll ever find.”
    “Charlie asked me to marry him.” Nealie had not expected to tell Mrs. Travers. The words just popped out. She stood, the boot half on, looking at the older woman.
    Mrs. Travers sat down on Nealie’s bed, a cot really, neatly made up with a faded quilt. “He did, did he? I’m not surprised. What did you tell him?”
    “I didn’t. I don’t care to marry him, so I didn’t say yes. But I didn’t say no, either. I’m not for hurting a person’s feelings.” Nealie sat down next to Mrs. Travers, tugging at the boot, until it slipped over her foot. She tightened the laces.
    “It’s you I worry about getting hurt. Will Spaulding is as handsome as a foot racer, but don’t waste your time thinking he’s the marrying kind. You might lose out on Mr. Dumas.”
    “I guess I can take care of myself,” Nealie said.
    “Can you?”
    Nealie didn’t look at the older woman but, instead, reached for the second boot, annoyed, yanking it on. Then she laughed. “Except for almost getting my purse stole the day I got here. But I’m not taking my purse today.”
    When Nealie returned to the porch, Will held out his arm to her, and Nealie took it, glancing behind her to see if Mrs. Travers noticed. The woman did. She stood in the doorway and waved, because skeptical as she was, she obviously found the man likable and knew that Nealie cared to be with him. More than that, perhaps, she loved Nealie and wanted the girl to have a little pleasure before the cares of life in a mining town wore her down. The girl had only recently discovered happiness and did not know it would not last forever.
    “Where would you have us go?” Will asked. “We’ll walk anywhere you like.”
    “The depot. I like the depot,” Nealie said. “It’s so busy, and I always wonder where all those folks are going to or where they came from.”
    “Then that’s where we’ll go. Everybody there will envy me for being with such a pretty girl.” Will put his hand over hers and squeezed.
    Nealie was not used to such compliments and, instead of replying, she broke away, embarrassed, and took long steps down the board sidewalk. After a block or so, she turned and saw that Will lagged behind, so she slowed and matched her stride to his. A train whistle split the air just as they reached the station, and Nealie was delighted that they had arrived in time to watch the train stop. “Look at all those people,” Nealie said, as the two of them stood outside the depot and watched the passengers climb down from the cars, some standing on the platform looking around. “Why’s so many coming here?”
    “I’ll bet every one of them is here to seek his fortune. How many do you think will be lucky?”
    “I was lucky. I met Mrs. Travers right here at this depot. A man tried to steal my money, and she caught him. I’d have been in a pickle if she hadn’t. And