Madeline: Bride of Nebraska (American Mail-Order Bride 37) Read Online Free PDF Page A

but offered Madeline a degree of privacy.
    Madeline picked up the second bucket of hot water and used the corner of her shawl to protect her hands from the heat of the metal as she tipped it into the bathtub. She set the bucket down next to the tub and checked the water. She was surprised to find it as warm as it was.
    Given the amount of water in the tub, the two buckets they had just added should not have made it as hot as it was. Even with the proximity to the stove, the reverend must have been heating water for her while Ella had come to fetch her at the train station. Madeline could not remember ever taking a bath in such warm water and looked forward to the treat.
    Ella returned a few moments later with the bucket once again full of water. She closed the door behind her, set the bucket on the stove, and removed the leather gloves. She chattered away the entire time. “The reverend hasn’t heard a word from Mr. Stark, so he’s heading to the ranch now to find out what has happened. He agrees it’s very peculiar that Mr. Stark isn’t here yet. In the meantime, we’ll get you a nice hot bath. Ready?”
    Madeline couldn’t help but smile. Ella was a true godsend. Even if Mr. Stark never came for her, she was glad that she had met this woman. “Ready,” Madeline answered eagerly.
    While Madeline undressed for her bath, Ella turned her back and busied herself with moving the chair closer to the tub so Madeline could reach the soap and washcloth herself if she chose. She then moved a stool behind the tub where Madeline’s head would rest and turned to stoke the stove.
    Madeline stripped down and slipped into the tub. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back against the tub and relaxed. The hot water felt so good after days of riding on a train that she thought she might fall asleep. She could feel her sore muscles begin to relax almost immediately.
    Ella heard Madeline sigh and turned to see her relaxing in the bathtub with a look of sheer bliss on her face. “Exactly what the doctor ordered,” she said with a grin. “Shall we wash your hair first? That way I can comb it for you while you just relax before washing up.”
    “That sounds wonderful,” Madeline sighed. She sat upright in the tub and tipped her head back as Ella scooped and poured the hot water over her head with a tin cup.
    Ella took her time washing her new friend’s hair. Every bride deserved to be pampered a bit on her wedding day, and this one in particular. What on earth could have kept Mr. Stark from his bride today? He had seemed so excited when he had stopped by a couple of weeks ago to talk to the reverend about the wedding. She hoped it wasn’t anything too serious.
    *****
    Reverend Young was halfway to the Stark ranch when he spotted a rider coming toward him, fast. He pulled his horse to a stop and waited to see if the rider stopped or continued on past him.
    As the rider neared, he recognized Hank Sanders, Mr. Stark’s senior ranch hand. His blood ran cold as he knew without a doubt that something must be seriously wrong.
    Hank saw the reverend and pulled his horse up next to him. He quickly tipped his hat in respect before diving into the matter. “Reverend,” he mumbled by way of greeting. “Mr. Stark sent me to fetch you. It’s bad.”
    Reverend Young took in the grim look on Hank’s face and nodded. “The ranch?”
    Hank shook his head. “He’s at his brother’s house. Ben and Lily are dead. Murdered.”
    The reverend closed his eyes briefly and said a quick prayer. “And little George?”
    “He’s at the ranch with Walter. He walked all that way last night…” Hank was still shaken by the sight of that little boy, barely more than a babe, covered in blood as he was.
    At that, both men turned and galloped towards Ben Stark’s house. The reverend did not know what he was walking in to, but he knew he was needed. That was all that mattered. Thoughts of the bride and the wedding flew out of his mind like