Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4) Read Free

the day you intend to arrive and I will be sure to be at the station.
    I feel I should tell you a little more about myself, but perhaps you prefer to learn about me firsthand, so I won’t drone on endlessly about my life and ambitions. We can talk more when you arrive.
    Please do not concern yourself with your lack of experience. I, too, do not have much experience. Perhaps we can learn together.
    If you would be so kind as to include a photo, I would be much obliged. Of course it will not change anything, but it would be nice to see your face so that I can recognize you when you arrive.
    Yours truly,
    Geoffrey Wilson

    K ate’s eyebrows drew together at the casual tone of the letter. It seemed very informal to her, but perhaps people in the West were like that. She was a little annoyed at his request for a photo, and thought it was strange he’d sent one of himself, but perhaps that was just so they’d recognize each other?
    When she studied the photo of the serious young man, she realized that he was much younger than she’d expected. He probably wasn’t much older than her own twenty-two years. His face was pleasing, but she didn’t let herself dwell on the slight dimple that showed despite his somber expression. Nor did she pay any attention to the mirth that appeared to lurk in his smiling eyes. His dark hair had a slight wave to it, but it’d been pushed back with what she’d expected was a great deal of pomade. Without the product, his hair was probably unruly, she thought with a small grin. But then she chastised herself. Why should it matter what he looked like? He was likely married with a number of children. Perhaps he’d been hoping for an older woman to assist him. Still, he didn’t seem to be perturbed by her own lack of experience. She just hoped that his wife wouldn’t be jealous of his working with a younger woman, not, she admitted, that the woman would have much to be jealous of.
    With a deep sigh, she put the letter down on her bedside table and contemplated her options. In the time since she’d graduated, she’d looked around for jobs in New York, but without any great enthusiasm. For some reason, she’d been counting on this job in Bozeman. Now that she was being offered the position, she felt conflicted. Would this be the right move for her?
    “Where’s the housekeeping money?” It was her father. She knew it wasn’t directed at her, but tensed nonetheless because she anticipated what was coming next.
    “It’s my housekeeping money, so why should you care?” That reply was from her mother.
    “Because there’s no food in the house!” he roared. “Is the money gone completely? What is it this time, woman? Shoes? A new purse?” Her father’s voice rose in pitch and volume. She braced herself for the argument that was sure to follow.
    “Don’t think that you can fool me. I know what you want it for. If I need something nice to keep me in good spirits then no one should blame me! Better clothes than alcohol. You know what? Very few women would have stayed with you as long as I have, so stop pestering me!” Her mother spoke with venom, knowing that her father would never hit her no matter how she antagonized him. At least, he had never done so to Kate’s knowledge.
    “Well, there’s the door, woman! No one’s stopping you from packing up and going through it!”
    Kate burrowed her head under her pillow and pressed her hands to either side in an effort to block out the noise. She could still hear the voices, but the words were muted now. Even though she’d stopped crying over the fracture in her parents’ relationship many years ago, their arguments still upset her.
    When the noise had subsided, she removed the pillow and sat up in her bed. Her gaze rested on the small slip of paper wrapped around a ticket that could mean her freedom.
    Suddenly the choice seemed clear. She determined that she would go west. Who would stop her? She would send a telegram to the doctor and