Alma's Mail Order Husband (Texas Brides Book 1) Read Free

you’re thinking about that,”
Clarence returned. “Because your new husband could be the ruination
of all our plans and hard work.”
    “I know, Papa,” Alma assured him. “Believe
me, I know, and I haven’t thought about anything else in all the
time I’ve been writing to him. I told him all about it. He knows
I’ve been working the ranch with my sisters for five years, and we
worked with you for another five years before your accident.”
    “And don’t forget,” Clarence reminded her. “I
built this ranch from nothing over fifteen years before that.”
    Alma smiled to herself. “I haven’t forgotten,
and I told him that, too.”
    “It isn’t just us and the ranch that could be
ruined,” he continued. “This husband of yours—what did you say his
name is?”
    “I didn’t say,” Alma replied. “His name is
Jude McCann. He comes from Amarillo.”
    “Right,” Clarence snapped. “Jude McCann from
Amarillo. He’s coming out here to live and get married. He’ll have
a stake to defend in this ranch, too, just like the rest of us.
You’re walking a tightrope with this plan of yours.”
    “I know I’m walking a tightrope,” Alma
insisted. “And I’m ready to walk it. I know as well as anyone that
this family contains nothing but strong personalities and raging
egos. Just one of them could bring the ranch crashing down.”
    “Then why do you want to do this?” Clarence
sighed. “I shouldn’t even ask that.”
    “Good,” Alma exclaimed. “Then you understand
that we can’t go on this way forever. You can’t have three adult
daughters without at least one of them getting married sometime. We
won’t stay here, single and childless, for the rest of our lives.
We need husbands and children. Otherwise, all our work to build
this ranch and keep it going will be wasted.”
    Clarence took another deep breath and opened
his eyes, but he didn’t see the desert landscape around him. Did he
see anything at all, even when his eyes were open? “I know. The
truth is, I’ve expected this for a long time now. I knew it would
come some day. I just comforted myself with the knowledge that
there weren’t any men around for you to get mixed up with. I didn’t
count on Nature finding a way around that, too.”
    Alma patted his hand. “I’m glad you aren’t
upset about it. Now I have to get inside. It’s my turn to cook
supper.” She stood up. “Are you coming in?”
    “You go ahead.” He turned his bleary old eyes
to the eastern skyline. “I’ll sit here a little while longer.”
    Alma patted him one more time on the shoulder
and vanished around the corner of the house, leaving her father
sitting alone on the bench.

 
Chapter
4
     
     
    The Goodkind family kept the door of their
house open until the last glimmer of light left the sky. When the
darkness outside matched the darkness in the house, they shut the
door and lit their candles and, occasionally, a lamp.
    Alma put a platter of tortillas and roasted
meat on the table. Grilled chiles and chunks of prickly-pear cactus
in another bowl completed their evening meal. The sisters sat down
at the table with their father. After he mumbled a simple blessing,
a storm of reaching arms and hands followed before anyone said
anything.
    Each person took a tortilla, scooped meat and
vegetables into it with a spoon, and ate the wrapped package with
bare fingers.
    After an interval of chewing, Allegra broke
the silence. “So, what are you going to wear to the church?”
    Alma finished the mouthful she was chewing
and swallowed. “I was thinking about Mama’s wedding dress. It’s in
the bottom of that trunk over there. That is, if Papa doesn’t have
any objection.”
    Allegra glanced at her father. “Are you sure
it will fit you? You’re taller than Mama by a mile, I’d say.”
    “I’ll let it out,” Alma told her.
    “You—let it out!” Allegra snorted. “I haven’t
seen you with a needle and thread in your hand since…well, since
before Papa