Marriage by Mail (Grace Church Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

his. It’s a blessing , she chided herself.
    “Heavenly Father, for what we are about to receive, we give thanks. Thanks for good food and for the kindness of our friends. Please bless…” Here he faltered.
    Rose opened her eyes, glancing at him in concern.
    “Please bless Rose. She must feel far from home. Please help her believe that she is home, in her new home. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
    “That was,” Rose didn’t know what to say. “That was lovely, Charles. Thank you.”
    He quickly served her a meal, not looking at her, putting far too much on her plate before serving himself.
    “There’s no way I can eat all this,” she said, laughing. “You must think I’m a… I’m a cowboy, that’s what!”
    “A cowboy!” He looked at her, surprised, and then grinned.
    They ate the rest of the meal in silence that somehow felt companionable to Rose. Maybe it was the sharing of a smile, or the sharing of a prayer. Maybe it was the simple act of breaking bread together, she thought.
    “Would you like to meet Rascal?” asked Charles as he put the dishes in the sink and poured some water from the kettle over them.
    “Yes, please,” she said eagerly. “Was he pulling the wagon, my first day here? I can barely remember the ride home.”
    “Yep, that was Rascal,” he said, holding open the back door for her, and taking her elbow carefully as they walked down the steps. At the paddock fence, he whistled, and Rascal came out of the barn. He was a tall, heavy boned horse, dark brown with a white blaze. He walked quickly, breathing out noisily from his nose.
    “Yes, I got some,” said Charles. “But mind your manners! This here is the lady of the house. Mrs. Smith, this is Rascal. Rascal, this is Mrs. Smith.”
    Rascal ate a lump of sugar from Charles’ hand and then turned towards Rose. He blinked his large, nearly black eyes and breathed in and out, lowering his head.
    “I’m sorry I don’t have sugar for you,” she said, her hands resting on the paddock fence but longing to stroke the horse’s soft looking nose.
    “Here you are,” said Charles, handing her a brown lump of sugar.
    “Thank you!” She held it out to Rascal, just as Charles did .
    Rascal delicately took the sugar with his lips and with one crunch, he had eaten it. He gently lipped her palm to catch any lingering sweetness.
    “He’s so gentle! Why, you’re not a rascal at all, are you? No, sir.”
    Charles felt warmth suffuse his chest as he watched Rose lean closer to his horse, speaking so confidingly.
    “Oh, would he let me pet him?” She turned eager eyes toward Charles, who had to clear his throat before he spoke. Her eyes looked lit from within, all golden and shiny.
    “Yes, you sure can,” he said, encouragingly.
    She reached out a tentative hand, stroking the side of Rascal’s face. He held quite still, his large eyelashes fluttering down. He sighed. Rose leaned closer, pressing against the fence, and smoothed his mane.
    “You look as though you know your way around horses,” said Charles. “You a rider?”
    “Oh, no,” said Rose, regretfully. “Well, just a little. My late grandparents had a farm in Concord. That’s near Boston. They had a horse I used to ride when I was a little girl. I loved riding their draft horse, Teapot. She was so sweet and gentle. But, my grandfather was usually right by my side, ensuring Teapot never went faster than walking.”
    “It’s a beautiful evening. Days are getting longer. Would you like to sit, or go back inside?” He wanted to make sure she got off her feet.
    Reluctantly, she turned from Rascal, and put her hand lightly on the arm that Charles held out. “Outside, please. Just a little longer.”
    He led her to a bench he had made and they sat down. Rascal whickered softly at them.
    “He misses us,” said Rose.
    “He wants more sugar,” said Charles, smiling. “Later, you rascal.”
    The horse shook his head and snorted noisily, beginning to walk around the paddock. He