Read Online To Wed in Texas by Jodi Thomas - Free Book Online

edgewise. I figure it’s because I speak so many languages. Around my house you had to if you wanted everyone to understand. My
    madre
    was born in Spain, my Papa’s people were from France and my grandfather only spoke Apache from the time his mind started to go.”
    “Interesting,” Karlee had never met anyone quite like Valerie. In a few years she would be a great beauty, but the most attractive thing about her wasn’t her high cheekbones and warm sun-kissed skin. Her beauty was in her laughter.
    “It’s quite a story, how my folks met, but I’ve no time to tell you today. I’ve got tons to deliver. I’ll come at the end of my rounds Thursday and we can visit.”
    “I’d like that.” Karlee watched the girl pick up the huge basket.
    “One more thing,” Valerie whispered as she moved to the door. “Be very careful today. You’re wise to keep the door locked. My
    madre
    says trouble is in the air sothick it almost caused the yeast not to rise.”
    Karlee smiled and nodded a thank you. She didn’t put much stock in old cooks’ warnings, but her Aunt Violet did, and so did this girl. “I’ll be careful. I’ll toss salt over my left shoulder and shake the flour flat before noon.”
    Valerie’s face brightened again. “You stop by the bakery if you need anything, Miss Karlee. We’re real glad you’re here. The preacher is a good friend but he is lonely.”
    “I promise,” Karlee said as she slowly closed the door and threw the bolt. “Thanks.”
    She returned to the dining room but Valerie’s warning kept drifting across her thoughts. Instead of looking for any more secret panels, she went to the foyer and made sure she could slide the false wall open.
    As before the rifles were displayed against what must have once been the real foyer wall. Why would a preacher have such a collection of weapons? Why would he need so many? Unless he wasn’t exactly what he appeared to be.
    Karlee careful closed the sliding panel. She noticed it latched just above her head.
    A second pounding sounded from the kitchen. For a moment, she thought of reopening the wall and pulling out a weapon. Then she realized the caller was probably no more dangerous that Valerie.
    She ran to answer it before the pounding awoke the twins.
    “Who is it?” she called with her hand already on the bolt.
    “It’s Wolf, Carrot Top!”
    His booming voice made her jump.
    “Let me in.”
    Karlee didn’t move.
    “Hurry up, Cousin! I’ve got a lady with me who needs to be off her feet.”
    Karlee closed her eyes, trying to decide what was right. If he were someone Daniel trusted, surely she could do the same. But letting in a half-grown girl was a far cry different than letting in a man, even one she’d met.
    She unlocked the door.
    A woman, rounded with child, fell into Karlee’s arms as the light rushed into the kitchen. The sudden weight of her caught Karlee off balance, and she melted to the floor with the mother-to-be cradled in her embrace.
    Wolf stood above them, his hands moving in and out of his pockets as though he’d just been asked to pick up raw eggs with his fingers. He had no idea where to take hold of the puddle of females at his feet.
    “Who is she?” Karlee brushed loose strands of dark blonde hair away from the visitor’s face. She looked young, maybe a year into her twenties.
    “She’s Jesse Blair’s widow, AmyAnn Blair,” Wolf answered in his best effort to whisper. “She wants to make it through her husband’s funeral before she delivers. I told her she should take to her bed, but come hell or high water she says she’s going to the cemetery.”
    Karlee looked up at the helpless giant. “What time is the funeral?”
    “Daniel’s at the cemetery now. The body’s probably already in the ground.” He ran his huge hand over his face, brushing his beard in every direction. “I ain’t no good with women this close to mothering. You got to do something, Cousin, and fast.”
    Jesse’s wife moaned