Della: Bride of Texas (American Mail-Order Bride 28) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hit Della hard. It was more like they didn’t value family as much as she did. Different priorities, different lives. “I just wanted a fresh start,” Della said, forcing a smile on her face to lighten her mood.
    “Well, you’ll certainly get that here,” Roy said. “I came to Fort Worth about ten years ago. Wife wanted to stick Mary in one of those places for the blind, but I wouldn’t hear of it. Came here for work, so she could stay home and raise her properly. Can’t say Helen was too happy about it, though.”
    “I admire your decision,” Della said. It was obvious that this man put family first, and she envied Mary for having someone so determined to keep her around and safe within the arms of a family. “So you’ve worked in the General Store the whole time?”
    “No,” said Roy. “Started out as the town marshal, working under Sheriff Lockhart. But some people just ain’t cut out for dealing with rustlers and wild cowboys and that includes me. Working the General Store is more my pace.”
    Della could understand that. Who would want to go to work each night having to encounter rambunctious criminals and rowdy folk? Yes, Della thought. Roy Jennings and I are going to get along just fine.
    The house sat just outside of town. It was a small frame home with a neat fence around a dirt yard that had obviously been swept until the dirt was smooth. There was a small garden in one corner of the front yard and some droopy flowers planted around the front stoop. It could have been a sweet cottage if someone took the time to paint and plant more flowers.
    Roy pulled up and hopped off the wagon, coming around to Della’s side to help her down as well. As she gathered her bags, an excited young woman opened the front door and reached her arms out toward the porch railing. “Pa!” she shouted happily. “You’re home! Did you bring her?”
    Roy laughed as he grabbed one of Della’s bags and bounded up the steps to embrace his daughter, Mary. “I sure did,” he said. “Wait till you meet her!”
    Della walked over to the house, eager to meet her host’s family. “Pleased to meet you,” she said to Mary, holding out her hand.
    “Is she trying to shake my hand?” Mary asked, a huge smile flashing across her face as she turned her head in Roy’s direction.
    “Yep,” Roy laughed—an inside joke Della didn’t seem to understand. She lowered her hand, feeling like she’d somehow offended the young woman. She had forgotten that Roy told her earlier that his daughter had no sight.
    Mary laughed and approached Della closer. “Don’t worry,” said Mary. “Everyone does it. I can’t see your hand, though. Do you mind?” She held her hands up close to Della’s face as if she were about to touch it.
    “I reckon I don’t,” Della hesitated, unsure what it was she supposedly didn’t mind. Mary stood before her, almost as tall, and gently moved her hands over Della’s face. Mary’s touch was tender, not intrusive, and her face beamed with joy as if she were opening some fantastic gift. She was a beautiful girl—hair the color of wheat, which cascaded over her shoulders like a warm, soft blanket. Her eyes had an ethereal appearance—blight blue, but almost like you could see right through them.
    “She’s beautiful,” Mary said, turning her head in Roy’s direction.
    Roy turned to Della and said, “She sees with her hands.”
    “What color is your hair?” Mary asked, her hands now caressing Della’s long, blond locks that had fallen when she removed her bonnet.
    “Blonde,” said Della, unsure how to describe color to a person who couldn’t see.
    “What’s it like, Pa?” Mary said, turning to Roy.
    “Like the color of corn, only lighter,” Roy said. “Or the color of the sun on a bright, warm day.”
    Mary shook her head in approval as she lowered her hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Della Owens,” she said, now holding her hand out for Della to shake, which she did.
    “Nice to meet