Tracie Peterson Read Online Free PDF

Nicholas had still not appeared, Daughtry grew frightened.
    “Are you certain this property belongs to Nicholas Dawson?”
    “Sure as I am of anything,” the man replied. “I’ve been bringing supplies out here for weeks now. He’s gone a lot, which would explain why he isn’t out here to greet us now. I notice his horse is gone, so there’s no telling where he is or when he’ll be back. Did he expect you?”
    “No. Well, yes.” Daughtry tried to answer reasonably. “He didn’t know what day I would get here. Tell me, what else do you know about Mr. Dawson?”
    The man eyed her suspiciously for a moment. “Don’t know much. He’s new to these parts. Took this old place off the hands of Widow Cummings and declared he wanted to turn it into a fine ranch again. Other than that, I don’t guess I know anything else.”
    “You have met him though?”
    “Sure,” the man said and scratched his head. “I take it you haven’t?”
    Daughtry shook her head. “No, I haven’t met him yet. I have his picture and a letter, but that’s all.”
    “You kin of his?”
    “No,” Daughtry replied and smiled weakly. “I’m his wife.” The man burst out laughing, and Daughtry felt foolish for having mentioned the matter.
    “Well, I’ll be. I heard he was after gettin’ himself hitched. Didn’t find any prospects in our little town though, and I heard tell he advertised in the papers for one. Is that how you came to marry him?”
    Daughtry felt completely stupid. “Yes,” she managed to whisper, “that’s how it happened.”
    “Well, I wish you the best, Mrs. Dawson,” the man said, climbing up into the wagon. “Here.” He turned to rummage under the seat of his buckboard and handed her something down. “You might want to order something, then I’ll have a reason to come back out this way.”
    Daughtry stared down at the Sears and Roebuck catalog the freighter had just handed her. Daughtry greatly needed his gesture of kindness. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You have been so very kind. What do I owe you for the ride out?”
    “Not a thing, pretty lady. Not a thing.” He retrieved his hat, tipped it to her, and moved his horses back out to the road. Within minutes, the dust of his wagon faded into the distance, leaving Daughtry all alone in the middle of nowhere.
    “I’ve brought this on myself,” Daughtry said, squaring her shoulders with a look of determination. “I’ve just got to make the best of it.”
    She took her bags in hand and headed toward the rundown house. Staring at it in the soft glow of early evening light, Daughtry realized it was sorely neglected. No wonder Nicholas needed a woman who was willing to work hard. Well, Daughtry thought to herself, this will be a challenge, and I will meet it head on and with a light heart.
    Her resolve lasted as long as it took to get through the back mud porch and into the kitchen. She could see well enough to realize that the place was hopelessly filthy and in need of more than just a little attention.
    Setting her mind to the work at hand, Daughtry decided to do as much as she could to put the place in order before her husband returned. She quickly lighted several lamps and explored the rest of the house in order to determine what should be done first.
    Through the kitchen, Daughtry found a small but promising dining room. This connected to a small parlor, and this in turn came out onto a short hall that blended into a vestibule of sorts that ended at the front door. Crossing the hall, Daughtry found a larger sitting room filled with an assortment of odd looking crates, furniture, and a wood stove that had been used recently but not cleaned in a long time. Finding more lamps here, Daughtry lit another and left it to radiate a cheery glow in the room, while she continued to explore.
    Back in the hall, she turned and opened the door to a small closet. Farther down, she noticed two more doors and opened one into a small room that looked as though