Mail Order Bride: Emma's Escape: (Clean Historical Western Romance) (Brides of River Valley Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

property. The closer they got, the bigger it became. As Henry didn’t appear showy in his appearance, Emma knew that this was a man who wanted a family. He had the house ready now, it just needed to become a home.
    Having stopped the horse and wagon, Henry alighted and came round to carry Emma to his home.
    “Welcome to my home, Miss, er, Leah.” As Henry carried her through over threshold, Emma banged her head and then her sprained foot.
    “I’m sorry. I should have angled myself better. Are you okay?” The concern that crossed his face made Emma smile. He was a gentle, kind man. She didn’t feel any concern at being alone with him.
    “Henry, I’m fine. Set me down and let’s talk.” Henry did as he was bid.
    “Mrs. Giles very kindly prepared a basket of food for us. Let me get that from the wagon. I’ll have to unhitch the horse too. I won’t be long. Do you need anything before I go out?” Henry looked at Emma, who was looking very much at home in the chair that he had carved.
    “No, Henry. You do what you need to do. I’m perfectly fine here.”
    When Henry returned with the basket, he laid out the table and after settling Emma at the table, he finally relaxed.
    “Henry, are you from here?” Emma asked trying to make conversation.
    “No, I’m not from these parts but I had some good fortune and decided to buy this farm. I’m new to farming so every day I’m learning something new but my neighbor, Joel, is very good and I’ve learned a lot from him.” Emma had noticed how Henry didn’t go into his past or his reason for coming to River Valley. Had he a secret like she did and didn’t want to talk about it?
    Emma told him about her childhood and how she had ended up in New York. He was interested in her stories and seemed relieved when she didn’t pry into his background when his answer to what he did previously was “this and that”. They had an enjoyable time and when Emma accidentally knocked over her glass of water he had grabbed her hand and their eyes met. It was a like a spark passed between them. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. When Emma didn’t complain, he leaned forward again and kissed her on the lips.
    Henry was surprised by his own actions and pulled back from Emma. She had been kissed before by Lenny but Henry’s kiss was so soft and gentle. She was disappointed when he pulled away from her.
    “I apologize for my forwardness, Leah. It won’t happen again unless we marry.” Not wanting to appear forward, Emma just nodded. The atmosphere was uneasy between them now.
    “Henry, perhaps you could return me to the hotel, my ankle is giving me some discomfort and I’m feeling rather tired. I think it’s all this good air.” Emma was trying to lighten the situation but Henry was too preoccupied with own actions to notice.
    “Very well.” It didn’t take him long to re-hitch the horse and soon they were on their way. Emma didn’t want the day to end on a bad note so decided to talk about their kiss.
    “Henry, I wasn’t shocked by your kiss. It was rather nice.” But Henry’s body language was tense and guarded.
    “I shouldn’t have kissed you while we have a vague understanding between us. I haven’t promised to marry you; it wasn’t right to compromise you like that.” The conversation ended. For whatever reason which Emma couldn’t understand, Henry wanted to admonish himself for their kiss.
    As they neared the town, their wagon was stopped by two masked men demanding money. Still riled up over the kiss, Henry was in no mood to be set upon by vagabonds and before Emma knew what was happening. Using his whip, Henry had knocked one of the men off his horse and before the other man could do anything, Henry had pistol whipped him with the man’s own gun. The two men lay unconscious on the ground. Emma began to scream. Was history repeating itself? The frozen fear she had experienced seeing Lenny fighting was replaced by a scream and crying out in terror at what