Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 40) Read Online Free PDF

appearance was decidedly untidy. He accepted her ticket and studied it before tearing a piece from it and handing it back. He noted her name and destination in a book in front of him. “Be seated please. The stage will be ready to leave in about one hour.”
     
    “I have someone down the street who I need to speak with. I shouldn’t be more than a few minutes.”
     
    “Just make sure you’re back in time for the stage. It won’t wait,” he warned.
     
    “I will be,” she assured him as she pushed open the door and left the office.
     
    It took only moments for her to hurry down the street to the Agency office. The bells tinkled as she entered. Lillibeth was seated at her desk and glanced up at the sound. “Cora, why are you back here so soon?”
     
    “I’m leaving for good today and I need you to forward any correspondence from Mr. Franklin to this address.” She produced a piece of paper on which she’d written Millie’s address and handed it to Lillibeth who read it quickly. “I’ll be staying with friends.”
     
    Lillibeth smiled. “I’m pleased you’re getting away from your father and brother. I’ll be sure to forward any correspondence from Mr. Franklin to this address. Good luck and take care.”
     
    The two girls embraced before Cora made her way back to the stagecoach depot.
     
    ***
     
    Rapid City, South Dakota
    Two Weeks Later
     
    “Letter for you John. All the way from Massachusetts. Looks like a females handwriting.” George, the Postmaster, thrust the letter into John’s hand and waited expectantly for him to open and read it.
     
    John turned it over in his hands wondering who in Massachusetts, could have written to him. “I have no idea who it could be from.” He shrugged. “I’ll open it when I get home.”
     
    The smile left George’s lips. Known as the town gossip, it was hard for him to accept that John was not sharing his news.
     
    “Anything for Ma and Pa? I’m headed to the store to see them before I head back.”
     
    George checked and handed John another four letters.
     
    “Thanks, George.” John clapped his hat on his head and left the office. As he strode up the street to the General store owned by his parents, he continued turning the mysterious letter over in his hands. He was so engrossed with wondering who it was from, he almost bowled old Mr. Rivers over as he entered the store. He placed an arm around the man and steadied him. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rivers,” he apologized.
     
    The old man grunted, “young whippersnappers never watch where they’re going. I swear, one of them will hurt a person one day.”
     
    John held the door open for the old man to leave and chuckled once he was gone.
     
    “He gets crankier every day,” his mother said as John hugged her and placed a kiss on her cheek.
     
    “Son,” his Pa said. “I hear things are good out at the ranch. Sam tells me you’re lookin’ at buyin’ in more cattle.”
     
    “Sam has a big mouth.” John glared at his best friend and foreman.
     
    His mother watched the exchange. “When are you boys gonna find yourselves wives and give me some grandchildren?”
     
    John and Sam groaned. Every time the boys paid a visit she asked the same thing. John’s three older sisters were married with children but it didn’t stop his mother from wanting the men to get hitched.
     
    Sam had become like a second son to Sarah Franklin. His own mother had passed when he was thirteen years old. He’d been devastated and John’s mother had helped to guide him through his grief. She had been there for him whenever Sam needed a motherly touch. He had grown to love and adore her almost as much as his own mother. It was a very special relationship.
     
    “Ma, you know there aren’t any women around here,” John protested.
     
    “Yeah, Ma. We work too much for a wife anyway,” Sam said.
     
    Sarah glanced up at John. “What about …..”
     
    John interrupted. “You know things didn’t work out. She