Mail Order Brides: A Bride for the Banker (Bozeman Brides Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that he comes to understand how to live a good and moral life.”
    She gave him a small smile. “Do you think we could drop the Miss and Mr.?  We addressed each other much less formally in our letters and the titles make me feel like we’ve become more reserved.”
    He hesitated for a fraction of an instant, but she noticed. Still, he nodded and continued.
    “Margaret,” he started.
    “Margie,” she corrected, determined to wear down his formality.
    His jaw clenched slightly, but he capitulated. “Margie, I know from experience what young men who’ve lost their parents go through. This is a stage, but with the right guidance, he’ll be fine.”
    “I hope you’re right, Theo,” she replied, freely employing the nickname that she’d heard Ruth and Robert use. “Because I had high hopes that coming out here would help him change his life around. Not that it’s the only reason,” she added hastily. “But to be honest with you, it was one of them.”
    His smile didn’t waiver. “I figured that out yesterday. I’m not upset that your brother was the catalyst that brought us together. But to be honest, I was for a little while. I’m just glad you’re here. It doesn’t matter how it happened.”
    Margie blinked away the tears that threatened. “You knew?” she whispered. “But you didn’t say.”
    “Well, should I have cancelled our engagement because of it?” he asked with mock indignation. “What kind of man would I be if I refuse to rescue a damsel in distress?”
    She laughed in spite of her wretchedness. “You would have been well within your rights to send me packing, or even better, send a telegram telling me not to come at all.”
    “I did wrestle with it,” he confided as they made their way to the church. “I asked God to show me what to do, and I felt that He was saying to do nothing, to just let you come and He would do the rest. So, I submitted. I’m glad I did.” He gave a little shrug and then aimed a slight grin at her. “I’ve learned the hard way what happens when you try to live life your own way. It doesn’t turn out very well.”
    “So, you don’t have any reservations about marrying me now?” she fought to keep her voice light, but the weight of the question threatened to suffocate her.
    “If I did, they all disappeared the moment I saw you,” he admitted quietly, not looking her straight in the face. “I—I know that I’m holding you at a bit of a distance, but please just give me a little time.”
    She nodded her head in understanding. His answer lifted her burden and flooded her heart with hope.
    “I’d like to know more about you,” she said shyly. “I want to know about your childhood, where you grew up and everything.”
    She wasn’t prepared for the storm cloud that passed over his face. However, it cleared quickly and his face resumed its usually pleasant expression. “It’s not something I like to dwell on. Please believe me when I say it wasn’t at all good. I know it’s part of who I am, but I hate thinking about it. So many things are still not resolved. Maybe one day…” He swallowed and didn’t say anymore. She knew when not to press, so instead focused on the people who were greeting Theo.
    “Good morning, Theo,” a middle-aged couple said in unison. “How are you?”
    “Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Thomas, may I present Margaret Davis, my…fiancée.” He said the last part with a hint of pride. Margie smiled widely as the older couple gaped.
    “Very pleased to meet you both,” she murmured graciously, inclining her head toward them.
    They walked on with slight smirks. “That was fun,” Theo murmured. “Let’s do that again.”
    And they did. Over and over again he introduced her to people as his intended and they received the same reaction every time. People were astounded that such a respectable man would be engaged to someone out of the blue, but everyone was too polite to question him. Margie enjoyed herself immensely.
    “So no one