Julia: Bride of New York (Amercan Mail-Order Bride 11) Read Online Free PDF

budget pays for the employees’ meals.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. Now hurry on down there and tell Marvel at the café to put it on my bill.”
    “Your bill? I thought the sheriff’s budget paid for it.”
    He sighed. The woman had more pride than ten men. While he admired that in her, it also made trying to help her almost impossible. “The town gives me the money for the sheriff’s budget and I report to them how I spend it.”
    “I would like to see the accounting. It’s probably a job I should be doing, anyway, as your assistant.” She re-buttoned her jacket, her eyes wide. “By the way. Does that mean I’m a deputy? Do I get a gun?”
    He made a choking sound. “No, Miss Benson. You are not a deputy. And God help us, you don’t get a gun.” Lord save him from feisty women. He shuddered at the thought of her running around town with a badge and gun strapped to her… Never mind. It was best not to think of her body parts.
    “One thing.” She stopped with her hand on the doorknob “Since we will be working together, sort of like partners, I think you should call me Julia.” She sailed out the door, leaving him wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into.
     
     
    Julia enjoyed the walk in the pleasant morning air. Since she’d applied at just about every business lining the boardwalk with the exception of the undertaker—she shuddered—she was greeted with warm smiles and cheerful hellos. Wickerton was a friendly town. Nice people, tidy homes, thriving businesses. A place where she could be happy.
    She’d never cared for Lawrence. The factory dominated the town, and she often wondered how the businesses that had catered to the employees would survive since the factory had burned down.
    But Wickerton was pleasant. Coming from a small town, she preferred small-town living. If she had accepted the sheriff’s offer of marriage, this could be her town. Perhaps she was being foolish in turning him down twice, since right now her very existence depended on the man, anyway.
    But she felt she deserved more than just an “Oh, I know you need a roof over your head and food for your stomach, so let’s get married.” She wasn’t silly enough to think holding out for love was wise. Women in her predicament didn’t have that luxury, hence her debacle as a mail order bride. She just wanted more than what the sheriff had offered.
    Not that she didn’t think he would be a good husband. He’d certainly taken her under his wing. He was thoughtful, generous, and certainly not hard to look at. Her heart did another little pitter-patter when she thought of marriage to such a good-looking, strong man. Like most unmarried ladies, she’d heard horror stories about the marriage bed. With all the children her parents had produced, there must be more to it than just lying there like a dead fish.
    She pushed open the door to the café. Everything smelled wonderful, reminding her she was, indeed, very hungry, and how stupid she’d been to try to talk the sheriff out of buying her breakfast. She just hated being in debt to someone. Hopefully, she could find a real job, not one made up just to keep her off the streets. Then maybe she could rent a room in a boarding house and take care of herself.
    The restaurant was almost full, mostly men eating breakfast before going about their business. She walked up to the counter. “The sheriff sent me for breakfast.”
    “Aren’t you the gal who came in yesterday looking for work?” A large man with a handlebar mustache to match his size wiped his hands on the apron he wore.
    “Yep. That’s me.”
    “Sorry I couldn’t help ya out, little lady, but I just don’t need anyone right now.”
    “That’s all right. Right now I’m working for the sheriff. He sent me for breakfast.”
    The man’s eyebrows rose to where he would have had hair at one time. “You don’t say? Are you a deputy?”
    “No, I’m just there to organize and clean up. And get breakfast.” She gave