Katie: Bride of Virginia (American Mail-Order Brides 10) Read Online Free PDF

was so much she could do to make it better. “The house could use a thorough cleaning and straightening,” she said, raising her brows at the older woman. “Our home should shine for when we have guests.”
    The old woman cackled. “Guests? We don't have guests, unless you think the sheriff is a visitor.”
    A sense of uneasiness tightened her stomach, but Katie tilted her chin. “Any time he stops by, yes, he's a visitor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to get started.”
    Katie hurried from the room, wanting to escape the bitterness oozing from the old woman.
    Walking into their bedroom, she saw her virgin blood stained the sheets. Quickly, she stripped them from the bed and poured cold water on the spot, scrubbing at it until she feared she'd rub a hole in the cotton. Tears filled her eyes and her chest ached with disappointment. She'd had such dreams and yet none of them had come true.
    Why did it seem her life had been one difficult situation after another. She was due some good fortune, and receiving Daniel's letter and the subsequent wedding, she'd thought her luck was changing, but now she wondered.
    What had she gotten herself into? A husband who rutted her like a brood mare and now she learned he was about to lose his vineyard. But the worst revelation, he'd been married before.
    Maybe the old woman was crazy. She hoped so.
    What did she mean that didn't end well for her? Was she warning Katie to be wary of her own son?
    Taking the sheets outside, she finished hanging them in the cold sunshine to dry. Her mother's voice filled her head instilling her with strength.
    Work keeps the hands busy and the mind occupied.
    Maybe she should just wait and talk to Daniel tonight when he came home. Taking a duster, she went into the bedroom she shared with her new husband.
    She gave the room a thorough dusting, beating the curtains, sweeping the wooden floors and wiping down all the furniture. Picking up clothes, she rearranged the room to give more space. While her changes were small, at least she felt the room was cleaner and organized.
    Opening the armoire, she folded his undergarments, handkerchiefs and socks, lining them into two drawers for him and two for her. In the bottom of his underwear drawer, she found a folded piece of paper. Opening the parchment paper, she read the document.
    Death Certificate for Eloise O'Malley. Died, January 4, 1889. Cause of death--Exposure to Cold.
    Fear rose and bubbled inside her chest. She swallowed as she stared at the paperwork. His first wife had been dead more than a year. Exposure to cold. What did that mean? Was she somehow locked outside or did she become lost? What had caused the death of Eloise O'Malley?
    Staring at the death certificate, she hurriedly folded the document and slid it under his underwear, hoping he wouldn't realize she'd seen it.
    With a sigh, she hurried down to fix him his lunch. Should she ask Daniel about his wife or should she wait until he told her the truth. Surely, he knew he had to tell her soon because someone other than his mother would let her know about his first wife.
    #
    When Daniel came home that evening, he was surprised to see his wife had given their cook the night off. He’d gotten busy in the fields and missed lunch completely, even though he’d promised her he would come in.
    “Where's Martha?”
    “Her grandson is ill, so I sent her home. Dinner is almost ready. Go wash up and then we'll eat.”
    Walking into the bedroom, he noticed the way the furniture sparkled, the bed was made and even his dresser was cleaned off. The curtains were open to let in the setting sun and the room seemed brighter and cleaner. His wife had made progress today on his home and while that pleased him, he knew there was still much to do.
    Eloisa had hated housework and told him to hire servants. The only servant they had in the house was Martha, the woman who cooked and also helped with his mother, giving her a bath. But today, Katie was cooking and from