Read Online West For Love (A Mail Order Romance Novel) by Karolyn James, Claire Charlins - Free Book Online

Thomas that wrote those letters admitted his
pain and was also willing to be open.
    “If you want to sit, I’ll serve
everyone,” Anna said. “It’s no trouble.”
    “Thank you, Anna,” Thomas said. He
stepped back and then hesitated. “I, uh, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad
everything worked out, traveling and all. In a little while, I’ll show you the
room. Our room.”
    Our
room.
    Anna swallowed and prayed to the
heavens her cheeks didn’t blush right then. The last thing she wanted to do now
was appear as some bashful woman who would burn red at the thought or spoken
word of a bedroom, sleeping in a bed with Thomas, or more.
    She nodded and said, “That sounds
lovely. Oh, I also have money for you.”
    “Money for me?”
    “Yes. From what you sent. There was
extra.”
    “Extra? I told you to spend it.”
    “Well, I spent what I needed, and
wanted. I won’t just spend money because it’s there.”
    Thomas seemed surprised yet
satisfied. The sides of his lips started to curl a little as though he was going
to smile. He rubbed his face and nodded.
    “Well, thank you, my Anna,” Thomas
said. “For being honest.”
    Anna couldn’t find words to say as
Thomas slipped away.
    My
Anna , she thought to herself. He
called me ‘my Anna’...
    Anna served supper with a smile so
large on her face that it actually started to hurt. She ate but couldn’t keep
her eyes off Thomas, watching how fast he ate. How he helped himself to
seconds. How satisfied he looked with the meal and the cooking.
    The same could be said about Jo,
who offered to take a small helping and leave the room. Both Anna and Thomas
insisted that she stay.
    “Well, that was the best meal I’ve
had in this house,” Jo said.
    “Oh?” Anna asked.
    “I’m not quite the cook you are,”
Jo said. “Isn’t that right, Thomas?”
    “The meal is almost too much,”
Thomas said.
    “Did I waste food?” Anna asked.
    “No, not at all,” Thomas said. “I
meant too much... in the sense that I’m not wealthy enough for this. This
should be served to the richest men and women in the state, not a farmer.”
    Anna smiled and felt the urge to
weep almost overtake her. That’s all she ever wanted to hear, something so
small but so meaningful. To some, it was a comment, maybe a compliment. For
Anna, it was romantic.
    “I’m going to go check on Thomas
Jr.,” Jo said, leaving Anna alone with Thomas.
    “Thank you for making this,” Thomas
said.
    “Expect the same every night,” Anna
said. “And morning. And afternoon.”
    Thomas smiled and nodded. “I could
get spoiled on this kind of food.”
    “No need to get spoiled,” Anna
said, “I won’t be going anywhere.”
    The second the words fell from her
mouth. She felt her mouth turn dry as Thomas looked down at the empty plate.
    It was probably the worst thing she
could have said right then.
    I
won’t be going anywhere...
    Anna felt her heart twist in pain wondering
how many times Thomas’s wife said the same thing to him. Of course nobody
thought about going anywhere, about dying. It’s inevitable for all... from man
to bird to plant. The first flower of spring will die during or right after
summer. The corn seed that becomes a magnificent stalk of corn will die. The
same for people. All who are born will die.
    The conversation fell silent.
    Anna stood and gathered her plate,
then Jo’s, and worked her way towards Thomas.
    “Are you finished?” she asked.
    “Yes,” Thomas said.
    Anna reached for the plate and just
as her fingers were about to retrieve it, Thomas placed his hand on her wrist.
    His grip was fierce, yet warm. The
fainting feeling came again but subsided when Thomas looked up at Anna.
    “Just you being here makes me feel
more alive,” Thomas said. “I’m truly sorry if I can’t usher you in like the
beautiful bride you deserve to be.”
    Anna put the plates she held on the
table and touched Thomas’s large hand gripping her wrist. Her hand shook with
nerves, but