Tabitha: Bride of Missouri (American Mail-Order Bride 24) Read Online Free PDF Page A

world.” She rolled her eyes as she said this, and Tabitha chuckled again.
    “I promise to remember that.”
    After Mrs. Smith left, Tabitha put the mail under the counter in stacks, categorized so she could find everything easily. Then she grabbed a cloth and began to dust—not that there was any dust in the entire building, but she needed something to do. This was one of the things she’d disliked about working at the post office—once everything was sorted, if no one came in, the hours could be hard to fill.
    “Well now, if it isn’t Tabitha.”
    She knew even without turning to look who had just come in. Darcy Hamilton, arguably the prettiest girl in town, and definitely the most conceited. Tabitha set down her rag and smiled, reminding herself of her vow to stay happy. “Hello, Darcy. It’s good to see you.”
    “Is it? I was just trying to decide.” Darcy lifted an eyebrow and glanced around. “It’s been, what, two years since you left? You had all those big dreams about making it on your own—I’m so sorry it didn’t work out.”
    “It was a disappointment.” Tabitha wanted to explain how it had been out of her control—that she’d been doing just fine until the fire—but she knew that nothing she said would make any difference to Darcy. That girl had a competitive streak in her so wide, you almost couldn’t see across it.
    “Well, now you’re back safe and sound.” Darcy placed a letter on the counter. “I’d like to mail this, please. My beau is off in New York going to medical school, and I write him faithfully every other Sunday. It’s so lonely, studying to become a doctor. Of course, once he’s trained, he’ll have all the attention he could ever want.” She gave a light, vacuous titter, but Tabitha knew there was iron behind the words.
    “Medicine is a good profession.” Tabitha accepted payment for the stamp and tucked the letter away.
    “I guess I’ll be seeing you at the festival.” Darcy wiggled her fingers and left, the door closing firmly behind her.
    And that was the main reason Tabitha had left Atwater. Not just because of one thoughtless girl—no, she was stronger than that. It was the whole collection of thoughtless girls, combined with her family members. If everyone was like Mrs. Smith—accepting of all—she would have been happy here. Granted, an entire town full of Mrs. Smiths would be a challenging place to live, but at least it would be entertaining.
    A few minutes later, Clara returned with the day’s mail, and looked over the letters in the outgoing pile. “I’m going to make Herbert some tea. You all right here?”
    “It’s been very quiet. Please do whatever you need—I’ll be fine.”
    Clara nodded once and stepped into the kitchen while Tabitha pulled out the first set of letters that had just come in.
    The door opened with a chime of the bell, and Tabitha glanced up. “I’ll be right with you.” Then she stopped and looked again, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. No, it really was the young man from the train station the day before. Suddenly, she forgot what to do with her hands and how to speak. “Good afternoon,” she said at last, noticing how high and squeaky her voice had become. Gracious, she sounded like a mouse.
    “Well, hello again,” he replied. “I didn’t know you worked here.”
    “I do. As of this morning. May I help you?”
    “I certainly hope so.” He held up his right hand, which was encased in bandages. They looked hard and uncomfortable. “Seems I broke some fingers this morning.”
    Her heart gave a sympathetic tug at the sight. “Oh, no. That must have been painful.” Thank goodness, her voice didn’t sound so strained that time. “What can I do for you?”
    “I need to write a letter, but I can’t write.” He chuckled, holding up his hand again. “I wondered if you could possibly do it for me—if I tell you what to say.”
    “Well, I don’t know if that’s something a post office