A Bride for Noah Read Online Free PDF Page B

lips.
    â€œWait.”
    She stopped in the act of standing.
    â€œOn the other hand, I do not intend to repeat the same mistake.” The ends of his mustache rose with a smile. “This time I shall keep watch over my investment and oversee the spending personally.”
    For a moment his words made no sense. Then their meaning became clear. Hope flickered to life again. “Do you mean to accompany me?”
    His smile widened. “Of late I’ve had a desire—a deep longing to see the land my nephew describes in his letters. What better opportunity?”
    The memory of his wife’s disdain for Noah Hughes’s undertaking in Oregon Territory returned. Evie had a hard time imagining her standing idly by while her husband sank money in the venture. “Will Mrs. Coffinger agree?”
    â€œLeave Mrs. Coffinger in my hands.” He rose and crossed the room to open the library door, a clear gesture of dismissal. “Butperhaps it would be best if you did not mention our plans until after I speak with my wife.”
    Releasing an audible sigh, Evie nodded. With Mrs. Coffinger’s disdainful sniffle and arrogant countenance in mind, that was a request she had no trouble granting.

Three
    Chattanooga, Tennessee
    E vie folded the final skirt and laid it in the steamer trunk atop the rest of her belongings. It had hurt to sell the beautiful wooden chest that had once been her hope chest and replace it with this ugly trunk, but that had been the only logical step to take. The chest’s polished wood would no doubt have been scarred and scratched during the journey across the country and the sea voyage upon which she was about to embark. Besides, the chest had brought a higher price than she expected, and this trunk cost far less than she had planned for. She had been delighted to add the balance to her restaurant fund.
    She ran a hand across the fabric. The past two weeks had held far less pleasant tasks than selling her hope chest. Informing James of her decision to end their relationship was much harder than she expected. She closed her eyes against the image of his stunned expression.
    â€œBut…but what of our plans?” he had stammered, looking as though he’d suffered a physical blow.
    â€œYour plans,” she’d corrected. “I had no say in them.”
    â€œWe can discuss them. I am open to considering your opinions, Evie.”
    It was only in retrospect that she realized he had not offered tochange his course of action, only consider her opinion. And that he had not once during the difficult conversation professed his love, or acted in the least hurt. Merely surprised, and perhaps even a bit angry at the disruption in his plans. At the time she’d steeled herself against an unexpected wave of guilt and repeated as gently as she could that she had changed her mind and would not marry him.
    She did not tell him of her plans, and had battled more guilt in the ensuing two weeks. In the back of her mind she’d feared James would decide to join her in her restaurant venture, something she most definitely did not want. Better to let him learn of her departure after she was gone.
    She closed the trunk lid, clicked the clasp into place, and then turned to survey the room that had been her home since she’d lost Grandfather’s house. The narrow bed looked stark without linens, the small night table bare after having been stripped of its adornments. Her dressing table and chest of drawers crowded this tiny space more than she’d realized. Those too had been sold, leaving the room empty and looking a bit forlorn.
    A rap at the door interrupted her thoughts.
    â€œThe carriage has arrived.” Mrs. Browning’s whisper was barely audible from the hallway, in deference to the sleeping guests who did not wish to rise before the sun.
    Evie opened the door and watched as a burly man hefted her trunk onto his broad heavyset shoulders. She picked up her