Indiana Goes West (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 1) by Ruth Hartzler Read Free Book Online Page A

small
talk and gossip.
    “So, what did you think of dinner?” Morgan
asked her.
    “It was lovely,” Indiana said. “I am
delighted to have your company for dinner.”
    “As am I,” Morgan said.
    Just as she was about to reply, Indiana
noticed someone standing off in the distance, far beyond where
Morgan stood. Concealed behind a large pillar, she could see the
curious eyes of a man, but little else. As her chest tightened and
the sound of her heartbeat rang in her ears, she realized who it
was.
    Moments later, Cade Hollway was gone, leaving
her paralyzed and unable to speak.
     
     

Chapter 11

    Morgan stepped inside the Palace Hotel,
finally shielding himself from the dry heat outside. As he
approached the grand reception desk, he peered up at the massive
clock that sat at its center. Its hands currently pointed at 10:47,
reminding him that he still had a long day ahead of him.
    While heading toward the hallway back to his
room, Morgan noticed Mrs. Deborah White sitting at one of the
circular tables, her demeanor stoic and serious. She sipped at a
cup that steamed when she moved her lips away from it. Uncle
Charles had not mentioned anything about her being at the hotel
that day, so he wondered what her appearance might mean. “Good
morning, Mrs. White,” he said with a polite smile as he
approached.
    “Good morning, Mr. Chase. Won’t you please
join me?” Deborah asked, her voice sweet and kind despite her
emotionless face.
    “I would be honored,” he replied, pulling out
a chair and sitting down.
    Mrs. White smiled. “How are you faring?”
    “Well, thank you. How are you and your lovely
daughters?”
    Deborah ignored his question. “There is
something specific that I wish to discuss with you,” she said, her
eyes never blinking or looking away from him.
    Morgan was completely caught off guard by the
revelation, at once wondering what she needed to talk about. It
must have been rather important if she showed up at the hotel,
without being announced, for the sole purpose of speaking to him
about it. “Is something wrong?”
    “I suppose you could say that,” she said. “I
do not know how much you have heard about my family’s situation. My
husband’s inheritance has gone to our nephews, and we have but
little time to put our affairs in order before we must leave,” she
explained. Tears formed in her eyes, but she quickly wiped away her
display of emotion with one hand.
    “That is a most unfortunate state of
affairs,” Morgan said, wondering what the matter had to do with
him. His thoughts quickly filled with images of Indiana.
    “May I speak frankly, Mr. Chase?”
    “Of course, Madam,” Morgan assured her. He
wanted her to come to the point quickly, as curiosity had gotten
the better of him.
    “There is but one option open to someone in
my situation. I must procure suitable husbands for my daughters,
starting with the oldest, Indiana,” she said. “Actually, that is
why I came here.”
    Morgan was utterly confused.
    “I have come to speak to you about Indiana,”
she added.
    “Oh,” he said, still unsure what it all had
to do with him.
    Mrs. White appeared embarrassed, yet
determined. “I found Indiana a man to marry from Texas, but she is
refusing to agree. I fear she doesn’t understand the gravity of the
situation.”
    Morgan was delighted that Indiana had refused
to marry the man. Perhaps there was an inkling of hope for him,
after all. He had only known her for a short time, but his heart
leaped at the very mention of her name. Morgan glanced up at the
arched ceilings that lined each of the doorways in the lobby. It
made him think of stories about kingdoms far beyond the sea that
were read to him as a child.
    “I am certain that is the case, but it
doesn’t free her from obligations that will determine her future
and social standing,” Mrs. White went on.
    Morgan had been so lost in his thoughts of
Indiana that he had no idea what Mrs. White was talking about now.
Nevertheless,