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

way to honor her life. There’s two little boys down there that lost their mother and now it’s beginning to look as if they might lose their father too. You are a pitiful example of yourself. Do you realize Clara is probably looking down right now and wondering what has happened to the man she loved. You’re stronger than this.”
     
    Luke stood, his fists clenched and a with a wild eyed look, stepped toward Jed.
    “Are you going to take a swing at me Luke? Go ahead if it will make you feel better. It would be worth it. Luke, you’re my best friend and I love you. Go take a good look at yourself in the mirror and then tell me you like what you see.
     
    We’re going home, Luke. Sarah, the kids, her sister and I came over to see if we could do anything for you, but I guess not. Goodbye, Luke.” Without another word, he turned and walked back to the house, gathered his family and went home.
     
    “Once home, he said to Sarah, “John’s going to come out and see how he’s doing. Maybe he can help.”

Chapter Seven   The Turn Around Starts
    The next morning, the Barnette family was sitting at the table having a late breakfast. They were planning to show Martha around the ranch today. There was a loud rap on the front door. “I’ll get it,” said Jed. He went to the door to find an abject Luke…
     
    Luke had shaved and cleaned himself up to the point where he looked like himself instead of one of the panhandlers on Grand Street in Laramie. “Could we go somewhere and talk, please?”
     
    “Come on in, we’re just sitting down for breakfast,” Jed said.
     
    “I’d rather not,” Luke said. “I’m not ready to face Sarah.”
     
    “Well, okay, let’s just take a walk,” replied Jed.
     
    “I owe you an apology, Jed. There was no call for my behavior yesterday. I think I was going to take a swing at you. You’re right, if Clara was watching, she would have been embarrassed and ashamed of me.” He was walking, head down, his boots scuffling up the dirt as they walked. “Jed, I lost so much, when she died, my world stopped. I forgot about the boys, my responsibilities, my friends and everything else. Will you forgive me?”
     
    “Luke, there’s nothing to forgive. That was your grief talking, it wasn’t you. I understood. You have my sympathy, but not my pity.” He extended his hand. Luke took it in his usual tight grip. They shook hands heartily. Jed pulled him into an embrace. “You told me once, “To have a friend, be a friend.” I’m your friend Luke. Whatever you need, I’m good for it. Now, I want you to do something for me. Come into the house with me. Sarah cares for you too, Luke. She lost her best friend. You don’t need to be embarrassed at facing her. Come on in.”
     
    They went into the house and into the dining room. Sarah stood, then came around the table to embrace Luke. “It’s so good to see you. The boys are with Hetty? How are they doing?”
     
    “Thanks to Hetty, they’re doing as well as can be expected. I guess having their Papa back might help. We can help each other. Thank you for the other day. Hetty told me all you did. I appreciate it.”
     
    Sarah stepped back. “Luke, this is my sister, Martha. She just lost her husband and is going to be staying with us, I hope for a long time. Martha, this is Luke Hastings, our dear friend and neighbor. Luke wrote a letter of reference for Jed before we married.”
     
    Martha stood, “It’s my pleasure to meet you Luke. I read your letter to Sarah and have heard nothing but good words about you from these two as well as from John and Grace.” She extended her hand.
     
    When he looked at her, he saw the resemblance to Sarah, they had the same long black hair and blue eyes. Martha was a bit shorter than Sarah and he could see the sadness in her eyes from her recent loss. “I’m pleased to meet you Martha. Your sister is one of our favorite people. She’s both a good friend and a good neighbor. I think now,