The Springtime Mail Order Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

Betsy.”
    Samantha smiled. All right … Aunt Betsy.”
    “Good. Now you sit there, and leave everything to me.”
    Samantha caught the gleam in her eye as she turned and practically skipped to a table laden with bolts of fabric.  Matthew peeked out from behind a shel f of goods, got her attention, and mouthed the words: “Brace yourself, here it comes!”
    No sooner had he said it, than Aunt Betsy started in.  Within twenty minutes Samantha was buried underneath several bolts of calico fabric, two coats, two pairs of boots, a pair of shoes, a basket Aunt Betsy filled with things for her hair, tooth powder, another basket she filled with yarn and several pairs of needles, and a hat.  But not just any hat. It was an enormous hat with a purple plume feather and red ribbons.  It was so horrifying, it was almost pretty, or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, Aunt Betsy looked exceedingly pleased to be getting rid of it.
    “Mother,” Matthew began as he eyed the hat sitting askew on top of Samantha’s head. “Are you sure you want to be sending that hat home with her?”
    “Of course, it goes perfect with her hair,” his aunt stated firmly.
    He stepped out from behind the counter and leaned towards his mother. “Isn’t that the hat Aunt Mary sent to the mercantile … what … four years ago?”
    “Yes, and I’ve never been able to sell it,” she said out the corner of her mouth.
    Samantha was so busy trying to balance the things in her arms, that she couldn’t add a word about the fashion nightmare on her head. She was having enough trouble hanging onto everything.  At least she was warm.
    It was then the door opened.
    “Oh gads! Aunt Betsy, no!”
    “Now Arlan, take it like a man, and help your bride get these things out to the wagon.”
    “No, I am not taking that … that … “ he stammered, then sobered. “There are no words to describe it. I thought you sold that thing years ago.”
    “Arlan, don’t get so excited. It’s lovely on her, don’t you think?”
    Samantha peered at her intended through the piles of goods she was holding.
    He closed his eyes and shook his head in resignation. “I haven’t time to argue, we need to go.”
    He went to where she sat, looked at her and smiled. “I see you survived.”
    “ Mmm hmmm,” she mumbled through the bolts of cloth.
    He began to chuckle. “Ain’t you a sight? C’mon, we’re losing daylight. Time to get married.”
     
    * * *

    Samantha’s knees knocked beneath her dress, and she prayed no one heard.  She’d never been so nervous.  There wasn’t time back at the mercantile, what with Aunt Betsy loading her up with things too wondrous for her to take in.  It was more than Samantha had ever owned in her life, and the woman’s generosity astounded her.  Matthew, she noted, made a list of everything in her arms, and she was sure the cost of the goods went far beyond Arlan Weaver’s budget.  But her future husband didn’t say a word about it. He was too concerned about the feathered monstrosity perched atop her head.  Maybe Aunt Betsy meant for it to be a distraction. If so, it certainly worked.
    They loaded up the wagon (along with Aunt Betsy) and were off to the preacher’s house. Once there, the preacher’s wife came out to greet them, and was happy to help with “preparing the bride” for the ceremony.  How Aunt Betsy smuggled a dre ss along Samantha hadn’t a clue, and within moments she found herself in the back room of the church wearing a pretty white frock fit for a wedding (minus the hat, of course) and holding a sprig of dried flowers.  That was ten minutes ago.
    Now she stood ne xt to Arlan in front of the preacher, and audibly gulped as the preacher’s wife sat behind a small organ, and began to play.
    There was no turning back now.
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Three
     
      “I just love weddings!” Aunt Betsy cried as they exited the small