Judith: Bride of Wyoming (American Mail-Order Bride 44) Read Online Free PDF

want to hurry though the wedding ceremony? “I’m sure my sister will let us know what arrangements she’s made. If I know Eloise…” He said the name louder so his sister would know it was safe to return. “…she’s already set a plan in motion.”

    After both siblings left, Sean to finish the work day and Eloise to meet with the preacher to set the marriage ceremony in motion, Judith fell into a chair and sat in stunned silence, not sure what to think. According to Sean’s sister, the priest had insisted on marrying them immediately. But she’d asked for at least a week to get things together. After all, what would the priest do? Come and drag her away?
    The house was quiet, except for the soft sounds of the wind outside and the chirping of birds through the window. The peacefulness helped her settle. Upon Sean’s return, she’d begin prompting him for conversation so they could get to know each other better.
    For one thing, before she married the man, she’d at least like to spend an entire day alone with him. A part of her felt grateful for the respite, but it’s what she would have also asked of the now deceased John. It was best they spend some time getting to know each other before marrying. Sean was willing to pay for her to stay at a boarding house until they exchanged vows. She’d informed him it was neither here nor there now, as she was already ensconced in his house.
    She assessed the house. It was a small home with a large front room that consisted of a kitchen and eating area and a small space with several chairs and a rocker. Judith wondered absently if someone had gifted Sean the chair after Bethany came to live with him. To the left of the room were two bedrooms, one larger than the other. The one she was presently sleeping in was the smaller of the two. Behind the kitchen were a privy and another smaller room that was used for storage.
    It was best to get her mind off the marriage, so she let out a long breath and decided to concentrate on doing what she could to make the home more presentable. Although there was something akin to curtains over the windows, they’d seen better days. The dingy, threadbare fabric framing the windows barely served as a covering and certainly did little for privacy. “This certainly will not do,” Judith mumbled. “Not for the home of a seamstress.”
    She lifted the baby and smiled at her when the dark eyes met hers. “You are definitely Sean Montgomery’s daughter.” The baby cooed in response as if agreeing. “We’re going out, Miss Bethany. Surely the mercantile cannot be too far.”
    Since there wasn’t a carriage of any kind, once she’d combed her hair and bundled the child, Judith set out to find fabric for curtains.

    It was a cloudy day, but the weather did not dampen her spirits. With a plan to sew curtains and perhaps some pillows for the chairs to brighten up the house, Judith looked forward to perusing through the fabrics. It was easy to find the mercantile, as Sean’s home was at the end of the same street. Unsure of how to explain who she was, she decided to tell the truth.
    “Good morning.” A woman smiled broadly as Judith walked into the mercantile. It was a large store with bins filled with every item one could think of. Shelves were replete with notions, pots, pans and jars. On one wall, there were a variety of baskets and miscellaneous household items that made Judith itch to purchase. She considered the money she’d brought and being that she’d now have a home, she felt relief at knowing she could shop and purchase things that would otherwise be considered frivolous.
    The woman came to her and grinned at the baby. “She’s getting bigger by the day.” Her eyes met Judith’s. “I’m Lorna Brown. You must be Judith, Bethany’s caregiver.”
    It took her aback for a moment. But she quickly realized it was a small town and everyone there probably already knew she’d arrived to marry a dead man. Certainly a mail order