The Springtime Mail Order Bride by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online

depths as she waited for his words, and became vaguely aware of  a hand sliding across the table to her own. One of his fingers brushed against hers as he leaned closer. “Makes you pretty,” he finished on a whisper.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to get one room?”
    Arlan and Samijo flew back in their chairs at the sudden appearance of Mrs. Gunderson. She set a plate of food in front of Arlan. “I’ll even charge you half-price!”
    Arlan press ed his lips together and glared at her with one eye. “Mrs. Gunderson, did I not make myself clear the first time?”
    “Yes you did. But I think you’re an idiot.”
      Samijo burst into laughter. Arlan opened his other eye and aimed his glare at her.  She met the look head-on, and forgot about the issue of his brothers.  She was beginning to learn her new husband’s sense of humor and found she enjoyed it.  He might come across as gruff and maybe even a little mean at the onset. But she was quick to discover that Arlan Weaver liked to play, in a subtle sort of way, that is, and she wanted to play too. “She thinks you’re an idiot,” Samijo echoed.
    “What do you think?” he asked.
    Touché.  She leaned forward again, her mind racing as to what to say. “I think … that …”
    “ Yes ?” he drawled.
    “That you have nothing but my best interest in mind.”
    He cocked his head ever so slightly, studying her. “True. Now eat your dinner before it gets any colder than it already is.  Your new coat won’t be able to warm those potatoes up.”
    She laughed at his joke, picked up her fork, and they shared their first supper together.
     
    * * *
     
    When the meal was finished, Samijo watched her husband roam around the room and speak to the other guests while Mrs. Gunderson served dessert.  One man talked like he knew Arlan, as others listened politely and answered his questions about where they were from, where they were headed, and thanked him when he wished them luck in their travels.  His eyes said he was genuinely interested in them, and the men laughed when he told a joke.  The two women watched in fascination, especially the younger one, who, though older than Samijo, didn’t hide the fact she found Arlan a handsome man.  She looked at him the way Uncle Burr used to look at her, and Samijo’s stomach knotted with the unfamiliar fire of jealousy. It came out of nowhere and almost slapped the sense out of her.  For a moment, she wanted to march over to the woman and yank her hair.
    She took a bite of her dessert instead, and then a sip of coffee to still her mind.  She had no reason to be jealous, she was the one married to the man.  She blew some hair out of her eyes at her own foolishness, and continued to watch.
    It wasn’t long before the woman who’d been staring at Arlan got up, and sashayed her way over to her table. “May I join you?”
    Samijo’s jealousy reignited. “Of course,” she said stiffly and motioned to the chair Arlan had occupied. She picked up her coffee and took another sip to keep the jealousy at bay. The woman was very beautiful.
    “I’ve been through her e several times,” the woman told her. “But I’ve never seen you here before. Passing through?”
    “Not really, I live in the area. We left Nowhere too late, and so stopped over.”  Samijo felt disjointed. Her words sounded calm, but her insides were in turmoil.  There was something about the woman she didn’t like, but couldn’t figure out what it was, other than the obvious.
    “H ave you lived here long?”
    “No, I just arrived.”
    “I see. But how rude of me, I haven’t introduced myself.  I’m Olivia Bridger, and that’s my mother over there. We’re going home after visiting family east of here.”
    “Where’s home?”
    “It was Oregon City, but we’re meeting my father in Nowhere. We’re thinking of moving there.”
    “Oh,” was the only word to come to mind.  Olivia Bridger had to be close to Arlan’s age, and Samijo