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

kept his head lowered and ate bits of hay that were scattered about.
    “You’re going to make Mrs. Smith think I don’t feed you,” complained Charles, smiling to hear Rose laugh. He looked at her and suddenly wished there was less space between them. She should be able to lean against him. He decided to build a back for the bench. Then, she could rest on the bench under the apple tree in the afternoons if she wanted to be outside.
    “It’s so beautiful here,” said Rose, looking at the grass, trees, and hills in the distance.
    “You sure you won’t miss the hustle and bustle of Boston?” He worried about that. It was pretty quiet in Cutler’s Pass.
    “No, I don’t think I will,” she said thoughtfully. “I loved many aspects of living in such a thriving metropolis. I frequented several bookstores and the Boston Public Library. I attended lectures as often as I could. One time, I listened to a woman speak about moving out west to become a schoolteacher. I admired her. She showed daguerreotypes of her travels. I found the western landscape so different from New England’s, and I felt such a longing to see it all for myself. Perhaps God meant for me to come. West of the Mississippi , she said, several times. I found that phrase so evocative.”
    “Did you consider becoming a teacher?”
    “Yes, I did. I had actually commenced my training, but had to discontinue it when Mother and Susannah became ill.” She stared straight ahead, and he knew she was fighting tears. He thought hard about what to say.
    Some fog began to obscure the lowering sun, and the temperature began to cool.
    “I’ll get my shawl,” said Rose. “Can you believe Mrs. Chadding knitted one for me?”
    He stood up with her, holding out his arm once again, then taking her arm beneath her elbow as they went up the few steps. She retrieved the shawl from the parlor and wrapped it around her shoulders, holding it closely under her neck.
    “How about we stay indoors, since it’s getting pretty cool now that the fog is coming in,” he said, taken by surprise at how the bright amber color of the yarn brought out the warm color of Rose’s eyes.
    “I should get those dishes done, anyway,” said Rose agreeably.
    “I’ll do them,” he said quickly.
    “What in the world?” She smiled. “You’ve worked hard all day and I haven’t had a thing to do but kick up my heels and eat pie the entire live long day.”
    He sat on the settee and gestured for her to join him. “Here’s the notion I have. You traveled on a train for days. You left everything you knew behind. And me? What did I do? Not a thing. All I had to do was look out for the train and then say I do . Looks to me like I’ve got some making up to do. So, I need you to rest. Every day, just rest up until you get your strength back.”
    “Were you speaking with Doctor Petersen?” she asked quietly.
    Did she truly not realize how apparent her poor health was? “Well, yes,” he answered.
    “Well,” she said softly, keeping her head bent. “You must rue the day you began corresponding with me.”
    Charles shook his head, wordlessly. He felt guilty, thinking back to yesterday when he had thought Caleb’s intended was his bride-to-be.
    “You believe me, don’t you?” She glanced at him, and then looked back down at her tightly folded hands. “I did intend for Sister John to write my words, telling you that I was ill. I didn’t keep it a secret. I can’t imagine that she would have withheld that information. I did say it, for her to write it all down.”
    “Never for a moment did I doubt that this morning,” he said sincerely. “Or since. You’re my wife, you’re here, and everything will be all right. Don’t fret, Rose.”
    “I thought you knew, you see,” she went on bravely. “I thought you knew… and… wanted me anyway.”
    He felt as though an anvil had been placed on his chest. It was hard to breathe. “I would have. It doesn’t matter.”
    She looked at