Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online

sister-in-law Isabella, who looked as if she’d been carved out of the finest marble and should be put on display. No, hismail-order bride was a different kind of beautiful, one he couldn’t quite put into words.
    Daniel watched her take her first bite of stew. She hesitated, blew on a spoonful to cool it, then delicately put it into her mouth. The sight made his head spin. He wasn’t sure he’d make it through the meal.
    “It’s good,” she said.
    “Hank does all right. His roast beef is tough sometimes …”
    “I heard that,” Hank said as he hurried past their table, his arms laden with dirty dishes.
    “Ya need some help there, Hank?” Daniel asked.
    Hank stopped. “Are you offering, Danny boy?”
    “We ain’t leavin’ ‘til tomorrow. And ya do look like ya got yer hands full, kinda literal-like.”
    Hank laughed. “If your bride don’t mind, then I sure don’t.”
    “Ya don’t mind, do ya, sweetie?”
    She looked between him and Hank as he headed for the kitchen. “Maybe I can help.”
    “Ya eat first,” he told her. “It looks like it’s helpin’ ya.”
    “What do you mean, looks like?”
    “Before, ya were kinda pale. I guess Hank’s stew put some color back in yer cheeks. Sit a minute and finish yer lunch. I’m just gonna help him out. Unless ya need me to stay?”
    “It’s all right – you go ahead.”
    “Thanks, sweetie. This won’t take long.” He smiled, got up and followed Hank into the kitchen. Once there, he stopped for a deep breath.
    “That little lady make you nervous, son?” Hank asked.
    “I wasn’t expectin’ her to be so pretty. I didn’t think I’d get as lucky as my brothers, ‘specially Calvin. Look who he got!”
    “A woman can be the most beautiful thing in the world, but if she’s a harpy, what good is all that beauty?” Hank asked as he dumped dishes into a metal tub. “I’ll wash, you dry.”
    “Fair ‘nough. Ya ever been married, Hank?”
    “A long time ago, before I ever came out West. Lily was her name. Prettiest thing on two legs.”
    “What happened to her?”
    “Influenza. I’d never seen anyone cough up so much blood in my life. Terrible business. That’s something I never want to see again.”
    “I’m sorry, Hank. I never knew ya had a wife, and here I’ve lived here all my life.”
    “It’s not something I talk about. What for? Unless someone comes along and asks.”
    Daniel took up a dishrag and waited for Hank to hand him something to dry. “Does anyone else know ya were married before?”
    “Mr. Davis does. I told him one day when he was the only one in here, having some coffee and pie.”
    “Ya told Mr. Davis and the whole town still don’t know?!” Daniel asked in shock.
    “That’s because he obviously never told Mrs. Davis,” Hank commented, handing him a plate.
    They spent the next several minutes washing and drying before a knock sounded at the doorway. Daniel turned to see Ebba with her bowl in her hand. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to add one more to your pile, gentlemen.”
    Daniel smiled. “The more the merrier, I hear tell. Bring it on in and we’ll take care of it.”
    No sooner had she stepped forward than a man took her place. “Hey, Hank, can I get some coffee and pie?”
    “Sure,” Hank said. “Here, Daniel, you take over.” He wiped his hands on his apron and headed into the dining area, coffee pot in hand.
    Daniel watched him go, then turned to Ebba. “I’ll take over the washin’ if’n ya’ll take over the dryin’.”
    She smiled tentatively. “All right.”
    Daniel plunged his hands into the metal tub and flinched. “Hank must’ve just poured a kettle of hot water into this – it’s warmer than I expected.” He scrubbed a plate, dipped it into a smaller tub of water to rinse it, then handed it to her. “I bet the last thing ya expected when ya got off the stage was doin’ dishes.”
    “You’re quite right,” she said with a small giggle. “Maybe he won’t charge me