Laurel: Bride of Arkansas (American Mail-Order Bride 25) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and work out any inconsistencies with the staff. I’m looking forward to working with everyone.” She stole a quick glance his way, but kept her side of the conversation moving. She wanted him to know she could handle most any household situation. “I’m familiar with the ins and outs of running a house. If there are any special meals you want, I’ll be sure to have them on the menu.”
    “Laurel, I think you may have misunderstood  . . .”
    “Oh look!” As he drove the wagon around a bend in the road, the most beautiful valley she’d ever seen came into view. “Griffin, this is more gorgeous than I could’ve imagined, the river, the land, the house. Thank you.”
    “For what?”
    “For asking me to be a part of this with you.”
    “You’re welcome. I just hope you continue to feel that way after we get there.”
    “Well, of course, I will.” She slipped her hands around his arm and squeezed. Barely able to contain her excitement, she asked, “How much longer before we’ll be there?”
    “Maybe a half an hour. It’ll take us some extra time with the narrow road and the extra weight in the back.”
    He’d mentioned her trunks several times since he’d loaded them into the wagon at the train station. She didn’t care. In just a little while, she’d be home and that was all that mattered.
     
    ***
     
    “Whoa, there.” Griffin said to the horses. He set the brake and tied the reins around the handle, and then jumped to the ground from the wagon seat. He reached his hands around Laurel’s waist to help her down beside him. His thumbs and fingers nearly touched, emphasizing her petite size. The small trees he worked with were larger than she.
    She rested her hands on his forearms, looked up at him and smiled. “Is it all right if I go inside and look around?”
    “Yes, but I’d like to say something—”
    “Hey, Boss, you’re back!”
    His foreman’s sons raced over to them from the direction of the barn. He’d told them to find someplace to be when he came back with his bride. Since they were still here, he assumed they hadn’t done that or anything else he’d asked them to do. Reluctantly, he removed his hands from Laurel’s waist and introduced her.
    “Clem and Otto Hailstock, this is my wife, Mrs. Benning.”
    “Hello, I’m pleased to meet you both.” She offered her hand in greeting, but each one picked her up and spun her around instead.
    “Howdy, I’m Clem.”
    “And, I’m Otto.”
    Griffin rescued her and set her at his side, before Otto passed her back to Clem. “She isn’t a rag doll, boys.”
    “Thanks,” she said under her breath, as she straightened her jacket and skirt. “How wonderful that you’re twins. Be patient with me while I learn who goes with which name.”
    “Oh that’s easy, I’m Otto and I always wear a plain shirt, while Clem, he wears a plaid shirt.”
    “That is easy,” she agreed.
    “Yeah, unless we want to trick you.” Clem slugged his brother in the shoulder and the two heehawed their delight.
    “You won’t be trying to trick me, now, will you fellas?”
    “Um, no ma’am.” The boys hung their heads and answered in unison.
    Griffin covered a grin at the boys’ immediate change in demeanor. He’d wondered how Laurel would be with children, but if she could handle the eighteen-year-old Hailstock twins so easily, with their rough and tumble nature, then his girls should be a piece of cake.
    “Did you two do the chores I asked you to?”
    “Yessir,” Clem answered.
    Otto gulped. “Well, partly.”
    Uh, huh, that’s what he thought. They were supposed to have cleaned the inside of the house before he brought Laurel home. If it looked even remotely like it did when he left yesterday morning, she would likely start running toward town and not wait for the wagon.
    “Why don’t you go ahead and finish up that job, while I show Laurel around the yard and barns. We’ll join you in a little bit.”
    “Yessir!” Both boys took off