Adela's Prairie Suitor (The Annex Mail-Order Brides Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

as I do, we don’t suit each other.”
    “Oh, I don’t care a bit. I found a man who wants me—real ambitious he is. He owns his own stage route.”
    Byron maneuvered the nail out of the way. “That’s good, Hilda Jane.”
    “Except Pa don’t want me marrying up with someone who’ll take me away, so don’t tell Pa.”
    Hilda Jane didn’t have to concern herself with him telling her pa anything. If she’d finally settled for one of the men she ran after, it suited Byron fine. That the man in question might take her away was even better.
    With the wheel finally free, he managed to get it out of the hole. At that moment the horse lurched back, shoving him with the wagon. For a moment he tottered trying to gain some purchase, then lost it, falling on his rear in the mud puddle.
    No need to worry about getting his hands dirty now, and from the stench of it, water wasn’t the only thing in the puddle. Some horse had left a good sized pile of manure at that spot.
    “Byron.” Hilda Jane had her hand at her mouth. “Are you hurt?” The horse and wagon were free. Hilda Jane ran toward him as Byron scrambled to his feet. “That stupid horse pulled right out of my hands. Oh, look at you. Your good suit is ruined. Is there anything I can do?”
    He didn’t bother to look up. “No, Hilda Jane, you’ve done quite enough. You can be on your way now.”
    “Well, you bring that suit to me later, and I’ll clean it for you. Thank you ever so much, Byron.”
    He examined the sorry state of his clothes while racing down the street. The train’s whistle sounded in the distance. Why today of all days would the train be on time? He couldn’t meet Adela looking and smelling like this. Scudding to a stop in front of the dry goods store, he went inside.
    Howard Davidson looked up from behind the counter. “Howdy, Byron. Can I help you?”
    “I need to buy a pair of pants. Fell into a mud puddle.” Byron marched to the table holding stacks of pants and overalls.”
    “Don’t have any to match your coat, but you might find a pair of denims.”
    Frantically, Byron shifted through the stacks. The only pair of denims that fit him in the waist was two inches short. They’d have to do.”
    “You can change behind this curtain.” Howard held the fabric strung up across the back.
    Byron darted through the opening. “Thanks, put it on my account.” A total waste of good money, not to mention time. He had an urge to strangle Hilda Jane—not a very Christian thing to be thinking.
    After changing, he wiped his muddy boots with the dry part of the ruined pants. The stench of manure followed him as he moved back into the store. “I’ll get the pants later, Howard. Thanks.”
    Howard raised his hand in acknowledgment, but kept his head down. Probably hiding his amusement. A loud whistle blast let Byron know the train had left its passengers and was leaving. He jumped onto the buggy. Frustration tightened around him like a vice, and he hoped Adela hadn’t found him missing and got back on the train. Sweat beaded his forehead, but a little sweat wouldn’t make him smell any worse.

Chapter 5
    Adela stood on the depot platform and watched Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins ride away in their buckboard. They’d kindly asked if they could take her to the Calhoun farm, but Adela refused. Byron promised to meet her, and she’d wait—all night if necessary.
    He had to have a good reason for being late. The idea that he might have forgotten her, or worse, decided against marrying her, was not to be born. Yet when the train pulled out of the station, the smallest doubt began to bother her.
    She sat on her trunk, no other place being available, and looked up and down the street. He wouldn’t strand her. She went over in her mind details he’d written in his letters. Maybe she’d missed something, but she didn’t know what.
    Every time a man came up the road, she strained her eyes, hoping it was Byron, only to be disappointed. She had his