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

knows I’m a mail-order bride, I take it?” she leaned in to whisper after they found their seats near Ruth and Robert.
    Theo shook his head. “I was just planning to say it was an arranged marriage if that suits you. If people press, I’ll mention that Ruth arranged it, which is the complete truth.”
    “Are you embarrassed?” she asked, more curious than offended.
    He regarded her with surprise. “Not in the least, but I wanted to protect you from any rumors.”
    “Oh.” She didn’t know how to respond. Never before had any man taken her reputation or feelings into consideration the way he had. She looked at him carefully, taking in the strong lines of his face, the wide, honest brow and felt a quickening in her chest. She’d come West to marry a good man for the benefit of her brother, but instead, she realized that God had brought her West to marry a good man for herself.
    She had all the more reason to sing the familiar hymns loudly and didn’t even care that people were looking her way. Her joy had to have its voice and she would not be ashamed. Her God had seen her through the hardest times and she had every reason to believe that the best was yet to come.
     
    ***
     
    Theo listened with pleasure as his bride-to-be sang in a sweet, if somewhat off-key voice. It was still a beautiful sound to his ears. He’d prayed with great fervor to find a wife who loved God, was free of deceit and would be a helpmate and friend to him for his whole life long. His expectations had been more than fulfilled. Despite his initial reserve, he would follow God’s leading.
    His voice, too, rose in volume and passion to worship the One who saw fit to give them each a gift. But what had he expected. God was a good Father who loved to bless His children. He wouldn’t soon forget this. He couldn’t. Not when he had Margie here to remind him.
     
    ***
     
    Outside, down the street near the saloon, the voices of the Bozeman congregation could be heard praising God. Even those who refrained from entering the church were pleased by the sweet sound. However, a group of three men looked less than enamored by the sound.
    “Bunch of holier-than-thou people thinking that they know what’s what,” one of them declared, spitting in the dirt as he did so. “Got no use for ‘em.”
    Another man tied up his horse to the railing, and shook his head. “Just ignore ‘em. They’re nothin’ to us.”
    The third, a silent, dangerous-looking man said nothing to the others. After they went inside to quench their thirst, he merely stared in the direction of the white building. “Enjoy your Sabbath, brother. It’s the last day of rest you’ll see for a while.” He grinned savagely and then pushed open the doors of the saloon. “Austin Davis at your service, gentlemen,” he called out to the sleepy patrons. “Who’s up for a game of cards?”
     
    ***
     
    Theo left the church with Margie on his arm and a smile on his face. The morning couldn’t have gone better in his estimation. Once Jackson’s behavior was well in hand, he was sure they would marry. God had given him an answer to this prickly issue during the morning’s service, but he was hesitant to mention it to Margie. It was altogether possible that she would misconstrue his intentions, so he delayed speaking to her about it for the time being.
    The four of them were heading back to the house for the afternoon when they heard a ruckus coming from the saloon.
    “I wish that Mr. Hanover would shut that place down, at least on a Sunday,” Ruth exclaimed vehemently. Theo saw the surprise cross over Margie’s face.
    “Ruth bears a strong grudge against such establishment,” he confided quietly, thinking she wouldn’t hear him, but she did.
    “And why not?” she demanded. “What has hard drink ever brought a man but misery?”
    Theo held up his hands. “I’m not arguing with you, Ruth.” He would never dare.
    Suddenly a man came tumbling out of the place and landed at