Anna: Bride of Alabama (American Mail-Order Bride 22) Read Online Free PDF Page B

with a roof over her head and security for the time being and really, what more could she ask for?
     
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
     
    What was he doing? Gabriel could usually smell trouble a mile away and although Anna’s sweet demeanor seemed less threatening than Julia’s did most days, he knew this arrangement was a disaster in the making.
    The woman was too lovely to ignore. He hadn’t been able to do it on the train, what made him think he could do it now? He’d been truthful when he said he had no wish to marry again even if Anna was a temptation strong enough to make him rethink the notion. But inviting Anna to live in his home? He’d gone daft. There was no other explanation for it.
    The walk back to the house was long, the summer sun warm enough to cause a fine sheen of sweat to break out on his brow. The trees helped to keep a steady breeze blowing but just barely. Anna had yet to say anything and the silence was making him more uncomfortable by the second. “So, Anna, where are you from?”
    “Massachusetts.”
    “You’re a long way from home.”
    “There’s not much there to call home anymore.”
    “No family?”
    She shook her head. “No, they’re all gone.”
    “I’ve no family except Julia. We at least have that in common.”
    Long moments passed before she said, “Julia’s mother—?”
    “She died three years ago.” He gritted his teeth, the memories of her not pleasing. “She left us two years before that.”
    He could see her look at him out of the corner of his eye but she didn’t comment. He was glad of it. He wasn’t ready to discuss his dead wife with her. Not yet. The wounds Evelyn caused were still raw in places and would take a lifetime to repair. He wasn’t even sure why he told Anna she’d left them.
    They made it to the house and Julia met them at the door. She was smiling, her joy apparent when they climbed the steps.
    “Will you be staying, Anna?”
    Anna glanced up at him.
    “Yes, she’ll be staying.”
    Julia squealed and launched herself at him, hugging him tight before pulling Anna into her tight embrace. “I knew this would work out,” she said once she’d let her go. “Come, lets have our lunch and then we’ll get you settled in. We have so many things to do before the wedding.”
    Julia had Anna by the hand, pulling her into the house as she excitedly laid out her plans before either of them had a chance to tell Julia there would be no wedding. Anna looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes wide as she was dragged inside.
    He followed them in and sat Anna’s bags by the stairs and watched them walk the hall to the dining room. As much as he didn’t want a new wife, he’d be the first to admit, Julia’s excitement at the thought was enough to make him want to marry again just to see that pleased smile on her face everyday.
    Joining them in the dining room, he could tell by Julia’s silence that Anna told her there would be no wedding. When Julia looked at him, the sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.
    “I thought you said—“
    “I said, I would think about it and I have. This is the best I can do right now.”
    Julia stared at him long and hard before finally nodding her head at him. When she sat and directed Anna into the chair next to her, Gabriel wondered what she was up to. He’d yet to see a day Julia gave up so easily.
    Lunch was passed with light conversation. Julia prodded Anna for details of her journey south and asked about the things she saw. Marriage wasn’t mentioned once. By the time Ruth started clearing away the dishes, it was obvious Julia was taken with her new companion.
    “Julia, can you show Anna to one of the spare rooms?” Gabriel stood, laying his napkin on the table. “I need to get back to the stable. I left James by himself and you know he’ll over do it if I let him.”
    “Yes, go ahead. We’ll manage, won’t we, Anna?”
    Anna smiled up at him, a dimple in her cheek drawing his attention. It was one more