Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and their pies and cakes are wonderful."
    "How is the food situation at home?" she asked, thinking about the cooking and baking that would be expected of her.
    Karl frowned. "Well, there isn't any. I usually get a plate to go from Mrs. Norman's house. She does my laundry too."
    Sarah nodded. "Could we stop at a store on the way home? After lunch maybe?"
    Karl pulled out his pocket watch to check the time before nodding. "If you can keep it short, that would be fine. I'm much less worried about you getting me a lot for my money than I am getting in and out quickly."
    Sarah didn't even know how to respond to that. She'd been raised in an extremely frugal household, and money had gotten even tighter since she'd moved out on her own. "I will do my best."
    He stopped the wagon in front of a small diner, walking around the wagon to help her down. He led her into the small building, waving to the waitress. He took a seat at a small table by the window at the side of the building. "Do you eat here a lot?" she asked.
    He shrugged. "I can't cook, and I've never married, but I've been on my own for eight years. Mrs. Norman helps. I come here some. I eat a lot of things that don't need to be cooked. It's survival."
    "Why didn't you learn to cook?" she asked. She couldn't imagine not doing everything she could to be self-sufficient.
    "Why? I always knew I'd marry someday, even if my future wife was hideously disfigured." At Sarah's scowl he put his hands up as if to protect himself. "Too soon to joke about that?"
    "It will always be too soon," she answered, glaring at him.
    "I'm sorry. I really am. If it helps, I think you're beautiful."
    "I don't think how I look on the outside should matter much at all. Have you not read the Bible? Proverbs 31 talks all about the worth of a woman, and her appearance isn't part of it. You should worry less about my appearance and more about the kind of woman I am. Don't you think?"
    He sat back, stunned. "That is true. But isn't there something in the Bible that says a wife should not rebuke her husband as well?"
    She sat back, biting her lip. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have corrected you that way. You're absolutely right. I guess I may need to work on how I treat you as well as worrying about what you say to me." She sighed. "I'm sorry I said that. It was angry and judgmental. The Bible also says that I should remove the beam from my own eye before complaining about the splinter in yours." Her eyes met his. As shamefully as he'd behaved, she'd been just as bad by judging him. "I'm very sorry."
    He reached out and took her hand, winding his fingers through hers. "Maybe we could start over? You could try to forget I told everyone you were hideously disfigured, and I could remember that I need to see what's on your inside? And stop worrying so much about your physical appearance?"
    She nodded. "That sounds like a smart way to handle it, Karl. You're my husband now, and if we're to get along well together, there's no need to hold a grudge."
    "I'm glad. I don't want to start married life with an angry wife."
    He must be smarter than he looks. Sarah nodded, more determined than ever to make her marriage to this man work. She'd said the words that would tie her to him forever, so she needed to abide by her promise, no matter how crazy he made her.

Chapter Three
     
     
    After lunch, Karl took Sarah to the general store in town, introducing her to the proprietor. "Sarah, this is Mr. Fredericks. He owns the store, and if you come without me, he will put things on my account for me. Mr. Fredericks, my new wife, Sarah."
    "Why, Karl, what a trick you played on all of us! She's a beauty." The older man, with white hair, a beard, and laughing blue eyes, smiled. "We are happy to have you here, Sarah."
    Sarah smiled sweetly at Mr. Fredericks. "Thank you for the welcome. I'm happy to be here."
    "Hurry and get what you need, Sarah. I need to get back to work as soon as I can."
    Sarah nodded, hurrying through the store and