Gabrielle: Bride of Vermont (American Mail-Order Bride 14) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Here are their names and address. You can trust them completely. Does that help?”
    Gabrielle exhaled. She felt like she’d been holding her breath forever. "Yes, this helps. Thank you.”
    “I knew it would. Now, on to the next big thing and please pardon my frankness, but I must ask. I’m sorry, but there’s really no way to be delicate here. Are you prepared to live a life of celibacy?”
    Gabrielle laughed out loud and then quickly covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were going to ask me something hard!”
    Elizabeth looked at Gabrielle with raised eyebrows, clearly questioning her response.
    “I’ve remained pure. I have no desire to be otherwise. To tell you the truth, when I read Mr. Dillingham’s letter I felt as though I’d been given a gift. I have no need of romance or physical affection. My mother married a man who had charmed and delighted her when they first met. He turned out to be something other than the image he portrayed in their early marriage. Nothing could please me more than finding a man who will understand my desire for… well, let’s call it a desire for peaceful companionship, with a clearly marked boundary for appropriate physical distance.”
    Elizabeth shook her head and shrugged. “I’ve been a matchmaker for many years and have seen many ladies come and go. I don’t think I’ve ever matched a pair who both so clearly express a desire against physical intimacy. It makes me wonder what your outcome will be. I do hope you’ll stay in touch!”
    The women spent another half hour chatting and discussing arrangements before Elizabeth accompanied her to the train station to purchase a ticket to Dallas, Texas. “Do you want to leave tomorrow, or would you prefer to wait another day?”
    “Tomorrow is fine. I’d leave today, if it were possible.”
    “When you arrive in Dallas, you’ll need to make arrangements to ride the stagecoach into Wiggieville. There’ll be one going out that same afternoon.” Elizabeth tried to remember anything else she should tell Gabrielle. “You’ll have an overnight rest in the city of Topeka, Kansas. The Brody Hotel is a good place to get off the train and enjoy solid ground for a night. It’ll give you a chance to freshen up. You’ll be more than ready for it by then.”
    Elizabeth gave Gabrielle the ticket, as well as money for her trip. She offered to meet her early the next morning and walk with her to the train station, but Gabrielle declined. Most young ladies were nervous or fearful the day before their travel, but not this one. Gabrielle seemed to have worked her way through whatever misgivings she had and was ready to meet her destiny head on.
    “Any last-minute questions?” Elizabeth smiled warmly at her newest mail-order bride when she shook her head. “I guess that’s it, then. You’re all set to go. I wish you all the best.”
    Elizabeth started to lean in for a quick hug, but gently clasped the hand Gabrielle offered instead.
    “Goodbye, Elizabeth. Thank you for everything. I’ll be in touch.”
    Gabrielle turned and walked away. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, raising her chin just the slightest bit, exuding a sense of confidence that she didn’t quite feel.
     
    *******
     
    Standing outside of the church building, Gabrielle waited for some kind of signal. She thought she’d hear someone tell her it was time to meet her groom. But she waited and waited, and nothing happened. She peered inside, shocked to see that the church was not anything like she’d expected. There were bolts of cloth leaning against the walls, from the back of the room all the way to the front. Her groom waited, but she couldn’t see his face. It was covered in a shadow of some sort.
    Suddenly she heard her name being called. “Gabrielle! Come now or you’ll be too late.” Panicking, she flung open the door to hurry inside. She couldn’t disappoint her groom on their first meeting! She heard a tearing noise