Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

for you.”
    “Alright.” Kale started to smile and stopped himself. When Billy came back with a ribbon wrapped packet of letters, Kale couldn’t help his eyes from nearly bugging out of his face. He’d imaged one or two responses if he was lucky, not this many. Not in his wildest imaginings. “Thank you Billy.”
    “You’re welcome Mr. Preston,” Billy replied. The young man waved and then disappeared behind the service counter as Kale stepped back outside. He took the bundle, and walked down the street  and headed into Cynthia’s Café.
    “Hello Mr. Preston,” Cynthia, the owner, said as she waited on him. “What can I get for you today?”
    “Coffee, please. And a slice of peach pie if you would.”
    “Certainly,” she smiled. Once she’d headed off behind the counter, he opened the first letter. By the time Cynthia returned, he’d read through to letter five and although the women all seemed intriguing, none of them had truly caught his eye, let alone snared his interest. Sipping his coffee, infused with cream and sugar, Kale lifted the next letter so he could read its contents.
    Dear Mr. Kale Preston,
    My name is Mercy Elizabeth Thompson. I am twenty years old. I live in Marne, Florida. I have to admit that upon first reading your advertisement I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. You seem the sort of gentleman who knows the value of hard work and a dollar earned. I too, was brought up to appreciate hard work. My father, God rest his soul, was killed in a work accident just over a year ago and my stepmother didn’t take too kindly to my presence. I have been working and living at a shelter near my father’s home since his death.
    Truth be told Mr. Preston, I saw your ad as a ray of hope. I do hope, should you want to meet me that love might grow between us in time.
    I look forward to your response kind sir.
    ~Mercy Thompson
    Kale set the letter down and noted that his hand was trembling. He reread the letter and set it aside from the others. If none of the remaining letters moved him as Miss Thompson’s had, he’d definitely know then who he should send for. He spent another hour at the café enjoying his pie and coffee as he read the letters. Later that night he reread through the one’s that had piqued his interest. He found only one other letter that moved him like Mercy Thompson’s. He wrote each young woman back and asked how they’d feel about coming to Texas to meet him. Within two weeks he received replies and it seemed both women, Mercy Thompson and Alicia Meyers were both anxious to see some of the “wild” west and the chance to meet him. Mercy, in particular, seemed anxiously excited.
    Dear Mr. Preston,
    Your letter filled me with such hope. Although I have never been outside the small town I now live in, I feel an expectant excitement about coming to Westin to meet with you. If nothing else, it is an opportunity which I will likely not have again. If you still see fit to meet me, to see about our matching as a couple, I am more than ready to board the next train.
    Already dreaming of Texas,
    ~Miss Mercy Elizabeth Thompson
    Kale couldn’t stop thinking about the two women. They seemed, in their letters at least, as genuine as any young woman he’d ever met. He hoped that bringing them in at the same time was the right thing to do. He wanted to give them both a chance to meet him and he also wanted to tell the woman he didn’t choose, why, to her face. The next day he sent passage for each woman and then anxiously awaited their arrivals.
    While Mercy was heading his way from Florida, Alicia Meyers was coming from a much closer, Louisiana. Her train would arrive in just two days. Mercy’s wouldn’t be there for three days after that. The first Saturday of September, Kale headed to the train station to welcome Alicia to Westin. People poured off the train in droves so that he couldn’t tell anything or anyone apart. Eventually though, the crowd thinned and a pretty young girl