No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

know what you mean.”
    She gave a small laugh. “Mr Goodwin always says I only visit a place twice, and the second time is to say how sorry I am about the first time. Anyway, that there is beef stew and dumplings. I’m taking the same to each couple, so I’d best get going before the others get cold. The two of you have a restful evening and you feel better soon, Miss Watts.”
    She took Amy’s hand and patted it, little wrinkles forming around her pale blue eyes.
    “Thank you, Mrs Goodwin,” Amy said with another smile that sent shivers up Adam’s spine.
    Mrs Goodwin nodded and turned to bustle out. In all the years he’d known her, which was just about his entire life, Adam had never seen Mrs Goodwin walk in anything other than a bustle.
    Out in the road that ran behind the back yard Mr Goodwin waited in a buggy with the reins in one hand and a pipe in the other. He raised the pipe to Adam. Adam nodded back and closed the door, relieved Mrs Goodwin had left without any further discussion on the unchaperoned night he and Amy would be spending in the house.
    “I was about to start supper, but Mrs G does make the best beef stew in the whole town, maybe the whole state. So if you have no objections maybe we can postpone your discovery of my mediocre cooking until after we’re married.”
    “I’m sure your cooking is easily the match of mine,” Amy said, lifting the cloth over the stew again and taking a deep breath, “but this may be the nicest thing I’ve ever smelled.”
    Adam walked over to her, placing two dishes onto the table beside the bowl. “Wait until you taste it. Have a seat.”
    He indicated one of the four chairs at the small table and she sat as he brought cutlery and napkins and glasses of water.
    “Mrs G sometimes brings me food, what with me being single,” he said as he walked back and forth. “I think she has an idea men starve without a woman to cook for them.” He set two plates of thick sliced bread along with a plate of butter onto the table, then sat opposite Amy. “I must admit, I haven’t done anything to fix that notion. She is a very good cook.”
    He reached both arms towards her and smiled. Amy stared at his hands lying open on the table, a confused expression on her face as if she didn’t know what they were for.
    The smile melted from Adam’s face. “Oh, I didn’t... we just have a habit around here of holding hands for the blessing.” He slid his arms back awkwardly and folded them in his lap. “I didn’t think. You probably have different customs back in New York.”
    She smiled slightly. “This isn’t New York.”
    Adam’s stomach did a little flip. Hoping he wasn’t misunderstanding her words, he reached his hands out again. When she slipped her hands into them, his heart tried to pound its way out of his chest.
    He lowered his head and closed his eyes, willing his voice to be steady. “Dear Father, thank You for this food You have provided. Thank You for Mrs Goodwin and her kindness, and please bless and keep her and Mr G safe as they deliver the rest of the meals.” He paused. “And thank You for answering my prayers and bringing Amy here. In the Name of Jesus, Your Son, amen.”
    “Amen,” Amy whispered.
    Reluctantly, he let go of her hands and removed the cloth from over Mrs Goodwin’s stew, releasing the full force of the aroma. Steam curled up from the dish of moist beef, vegetables and gravy, and plump, white dumplings. Adam took a deep breath in. He loved Mrs Goodwin’s cooking so much he’d often thought that if Mr Goodwin hadn’t been around he’d have asked the woman who was more than twice his age to marry him himself.
    “That looks wonderful,” Amy breathed. Her stomach rumbled and she pressed one hand to it, blushing. “Pardon me.”
    Adam smiled as he loaded the two plates with food. “I’m sorry, I should have given you something when you arrived.”
    She shook her head. “I’m glad I’m hungry. It means I’ll have more room