The Widow Finds Love (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton Read Free Book Online Page A

have plenty of wood for the stove,” Clint said, as he opened the door to the kitchen.  “One thing we have in East Texas is lots of wood,
     
    “You have a pump in the kitchen,” Sarah exclaimed. 
     
    “We had a big crop year before last, and I hated to see Ruth carry water, so I had it put in as a surprise,” Clint said.
     
    “It’s a nice cook stove.  Ours had belonged to my Grandma.”
     
    “Let me show you the rest of the house.  The girls are over here.  He started to open the door, but Sarah laid her hand on his arm to stop him.  She knocked on the door, and then called out, “Cassie, could we see your bedroom?”  Then to Clint, “A girl’s room is her sanctuary.  Unless it’s an emergency, always knock first.”
     
    Cassie opened the door, to reveal Rebecca sitting on the floor with her doll.  “Hello, sweetheart.  What are you playing?” Sarah asked.
     
    “We’re playing big sister, little sister, Mama,” Rebecca said. 
     
    “What a lovely room, Cassie.  I’ll bet you spend a lot of time in here,” Sarah said.
     
    “It’s Rebecca’s room too, Mama,” Cassie said,
     
    “Look at the butterflies, Mama.  Cassie’s Mama painted them,” Rebecca said.
     
    “It really is pretty.  A pretty room for pretty girls,” Sarah said.  “We’ll let you girls get back to your dolls.  Thank you for showing me your room.  I really like it.”  Cassie beamed, her smile brightened the room.
     
    “That was really thoughtful of you.  I never thought of her room that way,” Clint said.
     
    “It’s the way my mother treated my room and I’ve always done the same with Rebecca.”
     
    “I still have a lot to learn about little girls,” Clint said, ruefully.  “Come on, and I’ll show you the rest of the house.  He opened the door to a small bedroom.  The curtains were drawn and it was dark.  He opened them and the small room was transformed into a guest bedroom.  “I think you’ll want to stay in here, at least until Sunday,” he said.
     
    “Thank you for understanding.  I’ll be more comfortable this way.”  Her hand rested on his arm.  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.”  His cheeks reddened to show his embarrassment at the unexpected show of intimacy.  “Now, show me what will be our bedroom.”
     
    The master bedroom was large and airy.  It faced east, avoiding the hot afternoon Texas sun.  “It’s really nice,” she said.  “A lot bigger than mine was in my house.”
     
    “As I mentioned in the letter, we had the lumber and we wanted a big family, so we built a big house.  Pa, Arthur and Ruth’s father and brother helped build it.”
     
    “You really loved her, didn’t you?” Sarah asked softly.
     
    “Yes, we were childhood sweethearts.  There was never anyone else for either of us.  Her death nearly killed me.  If it hadn’t been for Cassie and my sister, I might not have made it.  With the war and everything, we didn’t have a lot of time together.  She was left with Cassie while I was gone.”
     
    “Where were you?  In the war, I mean.” Sarah asked.
     
    “I don’t really like to talk about it,” he said.
     
    “I didn’t mean to pry, Clint.  I’m sorry,” she said.
     
    “It’s all right,” he said.  “I’m being silly.”
     
    “No, I understand, really I do,” she said.
     
    “You’re an amazing woman, Sarah.”
     
    “I’m just a lonely woman who is being rescued from a dreary life.”
     
    They walked about the rest of the house.  “Show me where everything is and I’ll see what I can scare up for supper.”  They went back into the kitchen.  He opened a small door beside the stove to a pantry, whose shelves were well stocked with food. 
     
    “I love this.  Plenty of room for everything,” she said. 
     
    He showed her where the utensils and the dishes were.  “If you’re okay in here, I’ll go get the milking done and feed the animals.”
     
    “I’ll be