Mail Order Bride Leah: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

would be less than happy for her to start a new life. The idea of Walter forbidding it, of having to either give up her dreams of life with Henry or go against her family’s wishes to travel to Montana—it was daunting, frightening, and so very sad.
    She was too grateful to her brother for all his attentions to their ailing father, and too sensible of the trouble he’d taken to clear out the business and see that she had a place to stay, to defy him outright. He deserved her respect despite his rude outburst. Leah was horrified that she must choose between Henry and her family. Dissolving into tears, she wept into Jane’s shoulder until Walter left the room.
    “What must I do?” Leah sobbed.
    “You must do what you know to be best. Your brother wants to keep you safe, though his methods might be a bit heavy-handed,” Jane explained. “If you had been more open with us—perhaps it would be best to leave off this Montana scheme and even, in time, answer a different advertisement and share your correspondence with us over dinner as I do my sister’s letters, and we could all be a part of your friendship and your decision…” Jane coaxed.
    “I can’t do that!” Leah said vehemently. “I want something of my own. I won’t have my private letters talked over at dinner! You want me to give up Henry, a life with him, because I kept it secret?” Fresh tears poured down her face.
    “Of course you want your own home and family. I know that. It’s the way you’ve gone about it that makes it seem you have something to hide, something improper in the letters themselves or something—wrong with the man,” Jane said gently.
    “I—I won’t. Tell Walter I won’t. I’m going to Montana. This is my one chance, Jane. You helped me find the ad. You must understand how I love you both but—I must go.”  Leah broke off, weeping into her hands.
    “Don’t do this, sister. Give me one letter to show him—I can smooth this over for you both. Do not let there be a breach with your only brother as you start this new life!” Jane pleaded.
    Leah shook her head, adamant for once. Jane left her. Leah had already given her letter of resignation to the board of education that morning and had begun packing her things. She wiped her face with a handkerchief, wondering if she’d known all along that Walter would oppose this, if that was why she had waited until the day before her journey to tell him. There was nothing for it now but to follow through.
    She folded the last of her things and closed the trunk, brushed the fabric of her traveling dress, and tucked Henry’s letters into her reticule with the train tickets and her money. Unpinning her hair and brushing it with her mother’s silver-backed hairbrush, she put on her nightgown and lay awake, waiting for the sunrise with a heavy heart.
    In the morning, Walter would not speak to her, would not help her get her boxes to the train. She walked to the station and gave some of her precious coins to a porter to come with a wagon to carry her books, her hope chest, her trunk of clothing. Jane rushed after her with a parcel and a dishcloth.
    “Here is something to eat on the train and—and something for your new home,” Jane said, tears in her eyes. The women embraced and Leah fled.
    The train ride was loud and dirty. The monotonous rocking made her feel sleepy, but she struggled against it because it would be improper to sleep in a public train car…as improper as it was for her to travel alone and unprotected to begin with. Eventually she gave way and slept. When she woke, a young woman had taken the seat beside her. She had bright red hair framing her pale, wide-eyed face. She looked questioningly at Leah.
    “I’m Rose. I am going to Helena in the Montana Territory to be—married.” She flushed.
    “Hello, Rose. I’m glad you’ve come to sit beside me. My name is Leah and I am going to Billings for the same reason,” Leah said kindly.
    “Oh, thank goodness!” Rose