Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2) by Catherine Harper Read Free Book Online

"First one didn't end well."
    "Dead?"
    "Wish he was."
    May nodded her head. "I see." Carrying on with her work she continued. "But you didn't know this until after?"
    Picking a towel from the wash basket, Alice hung it. "Not until we got married. He was sweet for the first couple of days until I found out he had a trouble with drink—and then his fists."
    "I can't understand men like that. My own husband, God rest his soul, was far from that. The sweetest man you could ever meet. Had a heart that was as soft as his head." Chuckling over those words she looked to the sky. "Wondering what poor soul's up there tying up his boot laces. Damn fool couldn't do them for himself."
    Chuckling along, Alice found herself warming to the woman's sweet nature. "So what happened to him?"
    "Cholera. He used to work at the harbor, you know, laboring and stuff." Alice nodded. "Well, a boat came in a few years back—I don't think they realized it at the time—but it spread like wild fire. People all over the place were dropping with the disease. In fact, that's what John's wife died from."
    Alice stopped what she was doing. "I didn't know."
    "Yeah. She offered to help out at the local hospital. She used to work there before they got married. Well, when things got out of control she went back to help out. Poor girl caught it too. Very sad."
    "And how did he-?"
    "Cope? Not well. I think it almost put him over the edge. Only for little Amy, I shudder to think what might have become of him---could you pass me that last sheet?"
    Picking it up and helping her hang it, Alice heard her say. "In fact, it's been a while since I've seen him happy."
    "Probably because Tom's back to share the workload,” Alice added.
    May shook her head. "I don't know—maybe. He's been mighty busy lately, what with his father gone. But I think there's something more than that. Might even be you?"
    Alice smiled and shook her head on hearing this. "I don't think we'd be right for each other. I don't think I can give him what he's looking for."
    "Can't cook?"
    "I can, but that's not what I meant."
    "Most men think about only two things, their pecker and their stomach. Keep both of them happy and he'll never roam…" Realizing what she'd said, May rushed to pick up her laundry basket and apologized. "Sorry for my bluntness, I forgot who I was talking to-"
    Alice chuckled. "It's fine. Back where I used to work I heard a lot worse than that. Some things I think even you would blush at."
    May smiled. "That's good." Pausing for a moment she asked. "Anything I can get you, a cup of tea, some breakfast?"
    "I'm fine, May, thanks. I think I'll just sit by myself for another while. Got a lot of thinking to do."
    "Alright then," May nodded and walked off. Calling back over her shoulder she added, "But if you want my advice, you won't find a better man around here than John."
    Watching the woman head back in doors, Alice muttered to herself. "If only it was that easy." Not knowing what her next move would be, she went back to her seat and got back to her thinking.
     
    *****
    Going back to her room, Alice found Amy sitting on her bed.
    "Where were you? I searched the house and nobody knew where you were. I even asked father and he ignored me—I think he didn't get a good night sleep," Amy said. "So where were you?"
    Sitting on the bed beside her, Alice patted her on the leg. "So how long have you been here?"
    "Oh, a little while—so where were you?"
    Alice smiled and ruffled her hair. "In the garden, I couldn't sleep. Like your father I suppose. Did he say anything?"
    "No. Just grumbled about work or something…"
    "Didn't say anything about me?"
    "Nah. So why couldn't you sleep?"
    Alice reached over and gave her a squeeze. "What is it with you this morning and all these questions? Almost swear you were working for the law."
    "The law, what do you mean?"
    Alice shook her head. "Never mind. Alright, I couldn't sleep because I had a nightmare."
    "Oh, I hate them. Scary?"
    "A little.