The Springtime Mail Order Bride Read Online Free PDF

church.
    Samantha stood in shock, not to mention the clothes she arrived in.  As soon as the ceremony was over, Aunt Betsy and the preacher’s wife again took her to the back room, stripped her of the white dress, and put her back into her old clothes, including the hat.
    She stood braced against the cold, and blew the purple plume out of her face. “I’m going to need one of my new coats.”
    “Oh, of course, you mustn’t cat ch a chill!” Aunt Betsy said. She went to the wagon and rummaged through the supplies in the back as best she could. “Here we are!” She pulled a coat out and handed it to her.
    Samantha put it on and reveled in the woolen warmth.
    “You’ll want to knit yourself a few things. Spring may be coming, but it doesn’t start to warm up until late May. Then again, sometimes mother-nature decides to surprise us.”
    Samantha smiled . She liked Aunt Betsy, and wondered when she’d get to meet Mr. Quinn.  “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness. You’ve been very generous.”
    The woman put her arm around Samantha’s shoulders. “You’re family now, and besides, it’s your wedding day!” Aunt Betsy sighed and looked her up and down. “Do me a favor though,” she added.
    Samantha wrapped her new coat more tightly about her. “Yes?”
    “Get rid of that dress when you get to the farm. It’s not good for anything but rags.”
    Samantha gave her a half-hearted smiled. “I will, as soon as I’m able to make another. It … it could take me awhile. I don’t … know how to sew.”  Her face flushed red with the admission, and she fought the urge to turn her face away.
    “ Oh land sakes, don’t worry none about that. My sister Mary will teach you everything there is to know about sewing dresses, mending, hat making … er … she’s really very good at it … most of the time.”
    “Are we ready to go?”
    Both women turned at Arlan’s voice. He stood behind them, a sack of flour slung over one shoulder, and tossed it into the back of the wagon. “Where in Heaven’s name did you get that?” Aunt Betsy asked.
    “Mr. Davis just gave it to me as a wedding present.  He’s gone back to the mercantile to get another. He was asking after Uncle.”
    “Oh dear, where is your uncle? He should have been back by now.”
    “Where is he?”
    “He went out to the Johnson farm to help with some fences that need mending.”
    Arlan nodded, then turned to Samantha. “We best get going. It’s a long drive back to the farm.”
    “Arlan, can’t you stay the night? I’m sure Samantha could use the rest after having such a long journey. Besides, you don’t want to be out on the road on your wedding night.”
    Samantha’s eyes widened. Wedding night … there was something about the term that rang a bell, but she couldn’t remember what it was.
    Arlan looked down at her, and she up at him. He swallowed hard and quickly looked to the wagon.  “No, we need to get going, now. Do you want me to take you home?”
    Aunt Betsy sighed. “Oh, all right. Have it your way. And no, I’ve got some quilting to discuss with Mable here,” she said as she motioned to the preacher’s wife. She then turned to Samantha. “Don’t you be letting him boss you around at home, ya hear?”
    She smiled in return and stole a glance at her new husband. He’d gone to the wagon and was securing the load. Even his backside was handsome. “I’ll try not to,” she said.
      They finished saying their good byes then Arlan helped her up onto the wagon seat. After he climbed up and got settled, he turned to Aunt Betsy who stood with the preacher and his wife. “You take care, and we’ll see you when we can.”
    “You’ll be coming to church Easter Sunday, won’t you Mr. Weaver?” the preacher called up to him.
    “I can’t make any promises, there’s a lot of plowing to be done.” With a flick of the reins and a jangle of harness, they were off.
    Samantha turned on the seat and wa ved to the three