A New Mam for the Girls Read Free Page A

area of the house.  They walked over to stand in front of their angry parent, their heads bowed.  Her heart went out to them, and she vowed that she was not going to permit the big man to take a switch to the little darlings.  They were precious with their braided blonde hair and big blue eyes.
    “Girls, what do you know of these letters?”  Seth’s voice was surprisingly gentle when he spoke to his daughters, much to Bridget’s relief.
    “We wrote them, Papa,” Susie admitted, her voice very small.
    “Miss O’Grady is the nicest of them all, Papa!” Sally told him.
    “Yes, she is.  And she is very pretty, too!” Susie added.  “She likes little girls, and Sally and I want a new Mama!”
    “We loved our Mama, but she’s gone to be with God, and we need another one.  Besides, Preacher Trimbull says you aren’t being natural, and that is just terrible, Papa!”
    Susie agreed with her sister.  “That mean ole Miss Nixon has set her cap for you, and we don’t like her at all!  So, we decided to be helpful.”
    “Please don’t be mad, Papa.  We wanted to tell you, but you wouldn’t go to town today when we asked,” Sally explained.
    “Miss O’Grady, we think you’d be a good wife for our Papa.  Won’t you please stay and marry him and be our Mama?” Susie pleaded with her, and Bridget’s heart went out to the child.
    “Darlin’, it’s no’ for ye to do the askin’,” she said as gently as possible, her Irish lilt all the more pronounced.
    “Please stay,” Sally added.
    “Girls, that is more than enough.  You both are in big trouble, and I want you to go outside to the woodshed and wait for me.”
    “Papa! Noooo!” Sally wailed, already crying.  Susie just grabbed her hand, whispered in her ear, and then hurried her out the back door.
    “Do no’ whip them!” Bridget pleaded with him, her green eyes beseeching him to be merciful.
    “They did something wrong, Miss O’Grady, and I have to be their father and punish them.  It is my duty.”
    “But…”
    “That is enough, child,” Preacher Trimbull spoke gently, but firmly.  “Seth is quite right to discipline his children when they do wrong, and bringing you across the country on false promises is very wrong.”
    “If I am no’ upset with them, then why should he be?” Bridget demanded, her temper flaring once again.
    “What do you intend to do about this situation, Seth?” Mrs. Trimbull spoke up. 
    “Do?”
    “Seth, this young woman traveled a long way to marry you, and she has no way to support herself.  I know you personally didn’t write those letters, but you are the girls’ father, and responsibility falls on your shoulders.  I’m positive that Judge Murray would see it this way, too.”  The Sheriff looked grim.
    “’Tis no’ his fault, Sheriff!” Bridget spoke up.  Her cheeks were tinged with embarrassment, but it was because she was absolutely broke and she had no way of paying her fare to get back home.  As it was, she’d skimped on meals to make the trip.  She didn’t want to be beholden to the man, however.
    “Zebulon, I insist you must do something.  Seth has no wife, and dear Bridget has traveled this far in good faith.  I think there should be a wedding right here and now.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Mrs. Trimbull.  I can’t marry this woman!”
    “Why not?” the Preacher demanded.  “It is not natural for a man to be alone.  Your Catherine left us over three years ago, young man.  It is time to put grieving aside and marry again.  If not for yourself, for those little girls of yours who are growing up motherless!  They need a woman’s gentle care and nurturing.  Catherine would expect you to provide this for them,” he argued.
    “I will no’ have the mon shamed into marryin’ me!” Bridget argued.
    “You are tired, Miss O’Grady, and not thinking clearly.  If your own Pa were here, he would insist you marry this man, and you know it.  It doesn’t matter who