Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) by Katie Crabapple Read Free Book Online Page A

as she opened her eyes and looked at the object in her hands.
    "It's a — " Sarah couldn't force the word from her mouth. Did the man really think this was a good gift to give his wife?
    "It's a rug beater!" Karl couldn't believe how well he'd done. His gift had left her speechless. "That's not all!"
    "Oh, there couldn't possibly be more!" All Sarah could think about was using the rug beater to hit the man on the head. What was he thinking?
    "There is! I almost got you a new washboard, but Mr. Fredericks said you'd bought yourself one." He brought his hand out from behind his back and handed her the new scrub brush.
    Sarah took it with a smile. "Thank you for caring enough to buy me gifts, Karl. I'm glad you thought of me while you were gone." She put the scrub brush on the work table and the rug beater propped in the corner of the kitchen. "I'm certain I'll get much use out of both."
    She pulled the roast she'd made for dinner out of the oven and carefully put it on a serving platter. When she realized he was watching her with a puzzled look, she said, "Wash your hands, Karl. It'll be time to eat in a minute or two."
    Karl hurried to wash his hands before taking his seat at the table. The food all smelled delicious, and he was glad he'd thought to stop to get her gifts on his way home. "Thank you for working so hard for me, Sarah."
    Sarah nodded, putting everything on the table before sliding into her chair at an angle from his. She put her hand into his and waited for him to pray over their meal. As soon as he was finished, she fixed their plates. "Everything smells delicious."
    Sarah smiled, not sure how to respond. She was trying to be sweet-tempered and positive, but she wanted to throw food in his face. Her Irish temper was sure to get the best of her with this obtuse man. "Thank you."
    Karl tackled his food with enthusiasm, cleaning his plate twice, before leaning back in his chair and patting his stomach. It was only then that he realized she'd barely spoken throughout the meal. "Did I do something wrong, Sarah?"
    "No, of course not," she said automatically, and then she took a deep breath. If she never told him what he was doing to hurt her, he would never change. How could he? "I expected a gift that was for me when you said you'd brought me something. Not cleaning supplies for the house." She looked at him to see how he was taking her criticism.
    Karl frowned. "You're a practical woman. You've shown me how frugal you are. How could you want something else?"
    She sighed. "Every woman wants to be spoiled and pampered by her man. Flowers would have been so much nicer. I would have put them on the table, and then dried them to help the house smell better when it's closed up all winter. It would have been beautiful but also practical. See?"
    He shrugged. "I thought you'd want me to give you things that were needed. It never occurred to me that you would want something frivolous like flowers! Would you have wanted candy or jewelry?"
    She nodded. "Every woman would. What you gave me was practical, but when a woman receives a gift, she wants something impractical that she'd never buy herself."
    Karl sighed. "Mr. Fredericks told me that's what you'd want, but I didn't listen to him." He shook his head at her. "I'm sorry. You really would want flowers and candy and not stuff you can use?"
    "Yes, I really would. I do thank you for thinking of me while you were gone, though."
    "I guess I should have thought a little harder."
    Sarah scooted her chair closer to his, and took his hand. "I thought about telling you that I loved it and going on, but I didn't think you wanted me to lie to you. Also, that type of gift will just continue to hurt my feelings if I don't say something, and you keep doing it. Better that it's out in the open now, right?"
    Karl nodded, brushing her cheek with the backs of his finger tips. "I just keep feeling like I'm a bumbler when it comes to you, Sarah."
    Sarah smiled. "You're only a bumbler if you