Leora: Bride of California (American Mail-Order Bride 31) Read Online Free PDF

Mrs. Rutherford, and she had a sudden image of two bulls locking horns. What was between them? What was their history? She knew so little about this man. Did he owe money to the bank? Mrs. Pleet did say that the ones that did, followed the woman around like dogs. But Theron didn’t seem the type, at least not from what she knew of him so far.
    She glanced at Mrs. Wingate, who wore a satisfied smile on her face. Did she know something the others didn’t?
    Theron squeezed her hand, then led her down the aisle and straight out the door. No one in the pews said a word and no one stood. Leora felt tears prick the back of her eyes. She shouldn’t let it bother her but it did.
    Theron pulled her to the left and led her along a path that wound its way around the church. “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “To my office. Mark and Lydia will meet us there. Then we’ll go to Mrs. Pleet’s for lunch and cake.”
    “Cake?”
    Theron smiled. “It is our wedding day. Mrs. Pleet made us a special cake.”
    Now a tear escaped. “That was sweet of her.” If only she could say the same for the rest of the people that thought it their civil duty to witness her wedding. Thank Heaven it was over.
    They entered Theron’s office through a side door at the back of the church. Mark and Lydia greeted them with happy smiles and Leora felt herself relax another notch. At least they were glad to see them married. Unlike the rest of the town …
    “Congratulations, Theron,” Mark said and shook his hand.
    Lydia hugged Leora. “Congratulations, dearie. I’m sure the two of you will be very happy.”
    Leora smiled and willed the rest of her tears to stay as they were, unshed. “Thank you – that means a lot to me.”
    They took care of the necessary paperwork, then made their way to the boarding house for lunch. For the first time, Leora noticed Mark had a limp – she’d seen he used a cane, but had thought it no more than a walking stick. She wondered what had happened to him, but the thought soon left once they reached the house as Mrs. Pleet fussed over the four like a mother hen over her chicks. “I had to leave before that Mrs. Rutherford and her brood of vipers said anything,” she complained.
    Lydia looked at Mark, then Theron. “Who is she? The local busybody?”
    Mark stifled a laugh.
    “It’s like I told Leora yesterday,” Mrs. Pleet said. “Her husband owns the bank and most folks in town owe him. She thinks that gives her the right to bully folks.”
    “ Not very neighborly,” Mark commented archly.
    “There’s not much one can do about it,” Theron said. “I’ve tried to avoid dealings with her until now.”
    “I think you might have more than your share now that you’re married,” Mrs. Pleet warned.
    “Why’s that? She obviously doesn’t approve of my choice of a bride, but that’s none of her business.”
    Leora felt her cheeks grow hot. “I think I’m the one who’s going to have to deal with her.”
    “Nonsense,” Theron said. “It’s true that, as my wife, there are folks who are going to want your attention and there’s a lot of work involved. But you needn’t concern yourself with the likes of Mrs. Rutherford. She’s more bark than bite.”
    Leora took a deep breath. She hadn’t had to deal with anyone like Mrs. Rutherford before and hoped that it stopped at the wedding, but if Mrs. Pleet was implying what she thought she was, then she hadn’t seen the last of the woman. Drat.
    “I’m sure you’ll be able to handle things when the time comes,” Mark said with assurance. “Now, how about that lunch?”
    “Right you are, Rev. Wingate!” Mrs. Pleet said and hurried to the kitchen.
    They had a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches, followed by cake and coffee. The cake Mrs. Pleet had baked was a simple white cake with white frosting, but she’d decorated it with flower petals and mint leaves. “Where did you get flowers at this time of year?” Leora asked.
    “Oh, we’ve got a