Falling in Love With Her Husband by Ruth Ann Nordin Read Free Book Online Page A

I
    returned to my room. I stared at it again. If nothing else,
    she was a friend. I packed it in my suitcase. I could always
    throw it out after I made it to North Dakota.

    40

    Falling In Love With Her Husband

Chapter Five
    Ann’s Point of View

    Wednesday after school, I started getting ready for
    the dance. I wanted to wear the nice emerald dress, but my
    mother insisted I wear the pink one.

    “But it"s so tight,” I argued. “I can hardly breathe in
    it.”

    “I know it"s uncomfortable, but it is your best dress.
    Discomfort is a small price to pay for beauty, my dear.
    Besides, you don"t want Rebecca showing up in a more
    expensive dress.”

    I sighed as Ginny pulled on the strings of my corset.
    I almost passed out when she was done.

    “You will be nice to Todd tonight, won"t you dear?”
    My mother handed the dress to Ginny who put it on me.

    “Yes, I promise.” I winced as Ginny fastened the
    many buttons up the back of the dress. “I might faint
    though.”

    “Once you are married, you may relax your dress
    code. I want to be sure you find a suitable bachelor.”
    41

    Falling In Love With Her Husband

    I nodded. I already knew who would make a good
    husband. Someone who wanted what was best for me.
    Someone who loved me and not my family"s money.
    Someone dependable. Someone I could trust. Someone
    like Todd. My parents were right, and it was time I listened
    to them.

    I looked up at the mirror. This was it. I"d come too
    far to back out now. I slipped on the pink gloves and hat to
    complete the outfit.

    I left my bedroom when the doorbell chimed. Todd
    was here. In the hallway, I glanced at my reflection in the
    mirror one last time. No one would guess my sudden plan.
    I would ask Todd to take me with him when he went to North
    Dakota.

    “Here"s your fan, for when you feel hot at the dance.”
    My mother handed the white lace fan to me. “Now, our
    servants are taking the rest of the night off, and your father
    and I will be visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Brothers at the
    Clemmens" house. We should be back shortly before
    midnight. Mr. and Mrs. Carson will be chaperoning the
    dance. If you should need anything, go to them.”

    “Does that include smelling salts?”

    “Yes, it does. A lot of ladies feel faint after dancing.”

    “Very well. Thank you, Mother.”

    George opened the door and let Todd into the parlor
    where he waited for me. I wanted to take a deep breath, but
    my dress prohibited the simple action. My mother wished
    me well and left me alone. Well, I was as alone as possible
    with George standing to the side of the parlor room.

    Todd held a bouquet of red roses. His blond hair
    was neatly combed back under his gray hat. It was a
    strange contrast to his black suit and gray tie. He was not
    bad looking. In fact, one might consider him to be
    handsome. I wondered how his appearance would change
    once he started farming.
    42

    Falling In Love With Her Husband

    “Good evening, Ann,” he said, smiling at the sight of
    me.

    “Good evening.”

    He motioned to the roses. “These are for you.”

    I nodded and took them. “Thank you. They"re
    lovely.”

    After I put them in a vase, we left for the dance.
    Once he sat next to me in the double buggy, I asked, “Aren"t
    you going to miss all of the comforts we"re used to?”

    He shrugged. “I"m not sure. Perhaps I will. Perhaps
    I won"t. I won"t know until I"m gone.”

    I fanned myself. This dress was already making me
    feel unbearably hot. The material was too thick for the warm
    Spring weather.

    We arrived at the dance, and he helped me out of
    the buggy. The horse neighed but I barely noticed it.
    Instead, I heard Rebecca"s familiar cackle. I groaned. Must
    she let the entire town know she won?

    I braced myself for seeing Kent and Rebecca as
    Todd escorted me into the building. Thankfully, he led me to
    the opposite side of the room from the two lovebirds. We
    danced to two songs. We discussed our classes, how warm
    the