Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson Read Free Book Online Page B

then at Tucker. When they remained silent, she shrugged. “I give up, Abraham. What did the hat say to the hair?”
    “Top that!” Giggling, Abraham waved his hat, then plopped it back on his head.
    Tucker and Otis had both heard the joke that morning, but the woman’s carefree laughter was contagious, and so was Abraham’s cheery nature. He and Otis both joined in.
    “Funnier every week is right, Abraham. I have something for you and your brothers.” Miss Hattie reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a handful of Tootsie Rolls. “The newest treat to come out of New York City. You’ll see they each receive one?”
    “I will, ma’am.” He displayed them on his open hand. “But there’s six candies and only four of us boys.”
    Only four boys? Tucker had entertained the thought of having a family of his own. That was no longer an option. Not considering his responsibilitiesto his parents and his sister, and the traveling he did from one camp meeting to another.
    “I suppose your folks will have to eat the other two chocolates.” Miss Hattie smiled at Otis.
    “We’ll surely do that, Miss Hattie. Thank you. For now, son, you best stuff them into your shirt pocket till we get home.” Otis turned to Abraham and tipped his head, gesturing toward Miss Hattie.
    The boy obliged and gave the woman a tight squeeze. “Thank you lots, Miss Hattie.”
    “You’re welcome.” She faced Tucker. “Otis and Abraham always save my delivery for last. And now it’s time for some hot cocoa.” Miss Hattie pulled three mugs from a shelf.
    Tucker would rather hurry home and prepare a business plan for the banker, but the woman did have a certain charm about her and visiting with her seemed part of Otis’s routine.
    Abraham took a mug from the woman and glanced from the cupboard top to the small round table in the corner. “She always has shortbread cookies ready for us on Mondays. Where are they, Miss Hattie?”
    “The platter is in the parlor … with the three young women I left waiting for us.” She gazed at Tucker, her brow raised. “I’d like you to meet them.”
    “Is Miss Faith one of them?” Abraham removed his hat and looked back at Tucker. “Miss Faith lives here. She comes to the Gulch and teaches us on Saturday afternoons.”
    “Miss Faith is not home yet. She must still be at the school.” The landlady shifted her attention back to Tucker. “One of the young women is married to an accountant at the Mary McKinney Mine. Another is married to Dr. Morgan Cutshaw.”
    “I met Dr. Cutshaw at the hospital. He’s the doctor who treated my father.”
    “Then you must come in and visit long enough to get warmed up.”
    Tucker could tell the woman wasn’t accustomed to taking no for an answer, and he didn’t want to be the first to introduce such a concept.
    Miss Hattie sauntered out of the kitchen. Wisps of dark gray hair rode the high collar on her housedress. The landlady fairly swished across the dining room, down the hallway, and through an open doorway.
    Hat in hand, Tucker followed her into the parlor. He expected to see fine furnishings, but that wasn’t what attracted his attention. The three young women she’d wanted him to meet were those he’d encountered that morning at the depot. The one with the floppy topper and the projectile hatpin sat on the sofa, looking anything but mussed as she related a story to the others.
    Miss Hattie stopped at the end of the sofa, holding the mugs together in front of her chest as if they were lovebirds. “Pardon me, ladies.”
    The hatpin woman quieted and looked up. As soon as she saw him, her face blushed redder than a cardinal. She rose from the sofa and smoothed her skirt.
    The other two women stood across from her with amusement etched in their tight smiles.
    “Let’s see … where do I begin?” Miss Hattie tapped her fleshy chin. “Mrs. Cutshaw, Mrs. Archer, you’ve met Otis Bernard and Abraham.”
    The four of them exchanged nods and