Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Read Online Free PDF Page A

John said. “He may not want to see anyone, but he needs to. I also want to see how the boys are.”
     
    The ladies talk…
     
    “How long are you going to be here, Martha,” Grace asked.
     
    “I really don’t know,” Martha said. “I have an open ended ticket, so there’s no set plans.”
     
    “If I had my way, she wouldn’t go back,” Sarah said. “We have plenty of room. I would love to have my favorite sister just stay here.”
     
    “You haven’t told me anything about that,” a surprised Martha said.
     
    “I just did. Jedadiah and I have talked about it and we think you would be better off here, than back in Owego, and we would love to have you.”
     
    “It would be nice to have you as Papa of our congregation, though we don’t see Sarah and her family here often enough,” Grace said.
     
    “I agree with you, but it is a real chore getting the children ready and driving in. It makes the day really long.”
     
    “John Lucas, tell your Papa we need to get things moving if we’re to get home before dark. We need to stop in at the store, also.”
     
    John did as his mother requested and they began getting their things together.
     
    With the wagon loaded, they rode to the store. Sarah introduced her sister to Asa Thompson and then proceeded to gather the things she needed for home. Finished, they bade Asa goodbye and headed for the J Bar B and home.
     
    Martha said, “I really liked Grace and John, and Rebecca is precious.”
     
    Sarah replied, “They’re special people. Jedadiah has known them since John got out of seminary. I stayed with them after I got here until the wedding.”

Chapter Six   Home At The J-Bar-B
     
    As the wagon rolled on, Jed pointed out some of the land marks. After two hours, he said, “That’s our land now on both sides of the road.”
     
    “You don’t fence the cattle in?” asked Martha.
     
    “No, we have open range, and then a roundup in the fall and another in the spring. The cattle are branded for identification. Luke’s property is next to ours and Rance Underwood is on the other side. At roundup time, we separate the brands, and in the fall, we drive a combined herd to the railhead for transport to Fort Laramie. All three of us have contracts with the army, so it’s not a complicated process. We are supplying some of Laramie’s needs.”
     
    “It’s quite an operation isn’t it?” Martha asked.
     
    “I guess so, but Luke’s is even bigger. We farm some, but Luke doesn’t, except for Clara’s garden. We supply a good bit of Laramie’s fresh vegetables.”
     
    They turned off the main road. Jed said, “Our vegetables are off on the left side of the road. If you look way out there, you can see Papa of our herd, but most of the herd is on the other side of the house.”
     
    “I’m impressed,” Martha said. “I had no idea your place was this big.”
     
    “We have over 2500 acres now. I’m looking to add more, but just haven’t gotten to it. Our house is at the end of this road. Just over the next hill, you’ll be able to catch sight of it.”
     
    When they pulled into the area between the house and barn, one of the ranch hands ambled over and asked, “Need any help, boss?”
     
    “Yes, thank you, Cale. Help me get the trunk into the house and see to the horses would you, please?”
     
    “Yes sir.”
     
    Sarah, the children and Martha went into the house. “Your home is huge, and I love what you’ve done. It is beautiful.”
     
    “Just after we had the idea, hoof and mouth disease got a good bit of our herd and things got tight. We almost didn’t build it, but then the copper came along and saved the day. We have no such worries anymore and Jedadiah tells me to do anything I want with the house. We’ve added on to it several times, but the biggest thing we did was to get water inside. I have a small garden nearby. We grow just about everything we need.”
     
    “Sarah Catherine, why don’t you show Aunt Martha