Mail Order Melody by Kirsten Osbourne Read Free Book Online

more.
    He waited for a further explanation, but when he didn't get it, he changed the subject. "Were you an only child?"
    "No, I have a sister. She's two years older than me. I have two nephews who are twelve and ten. They still live in the town where I grew up in Upstate New York." She hadn't seen her family in two years. She had last seen them for Christmas. She couldn't even begin to express how much she missed them. "My sister's a widow," she added as an afterthought.
    "I bet you're a fun auntie."
    She smiled. "I try to be. I'm not very good with children, though." It was something she wanted to improve before she had a chance to have children of her own.
    "You're not?" He thought about that statement for a moment, before asking a question that occurred to him. "You want children, though, don't you?"
    "Yes, I really do. I think I'll be better with my own. I want at least a dozen!"
    He stared at her in surprise before letting out a bark of laughter . "A dozen? Is that all?"
    She grinned. "I don't want to be greedy." She was glad he took her words for what they were which was a jest. She did want children and would gladly take as many as God gave her, but she'd be content with just two or three if that's all she was blessed with.
    He put his lips against her ear and whispered, "I'll be happy to help you make them."
    She blushed furiously. "You're not supposed to say that to me." Did he not understand anything about manners or propriety?
    "You're my wife. I can talk about how much I like your body and how much I want you." His arm that was around her shoulders squeezed her tighter. He hadn't expected to enjoy being with his wife nearly as much as he did. She was fun to tease, though, and he was happy to know that he'd enjoy time with her both in and out of bed.
    When she didn't respond, he started to sing to her, a folk song that he really enjoyed singing. He didn't notice her cringe at his singing, and sang loudly and happily the whole way.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Eliza bought only the things she needed, and did her best to keep some of her face hidden by her bonnet so she wouldn't be recognized. She bought enough fabric for three aprons and two new flannel shirts for him. She also bought knitting needles and some yarn , planning to make him a scarf for Christmas. She had no idea what he really wanted or needed, and the holiday was only a few weeks away.
    As they were loading their supplies, Calvin waved to a young couple in a farm wagon. When they stopped, he introduced her. 'This is my wife, Eliza. Eliza, these are our neighbors, Abigail and Stanley Bond."
    Eliza smiled up at the other woman whose hand was resting on her swollen belly. She looked to be about midway through her pregnancy to Eliza's uneducated eyes. Eliza hurried forward. "It's so nice to meet you!"
    Abigail smiled down at her shyly. "I'm happy to have a woman close by finally. We don't have many around these parts."
    "That's what I hear." Eliza wondered how to request what she needed. "Why don't you come over tomorrow afternoon for tea? I'll make us an afternoon snack." She hadn't had time to just sit and talk to another woman for years. Her conversation with Elizabeth in Beckham was the longest she'd had in a long while.
    Abigail nodded, her face lighting up. "I'd like that a lot. What time would you like me to come?"
    Eliza thought about that for a moment. "Let's say two? Would that be all right?" That would give her time to clean up after lunch and start dinner before the other woman arrived. She could also bake some kind of treat if she could find a recipe for one in her cookbook.
    "I'll be there."
    Stanley raised his hand in farewell as he drove off down the street.
    Eliza turned to Calvin and smiled. "I haven't had a female friend in so long, I barely remember what it's like." She was all but bouncing up and down in her excitement.
    Calvin couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't been around women, but he didn't ask. When she wanted him to know more