Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2) Read Free Page B

not
matter to you, but…”
    “ Do not worry your head
about that,” he said as he offered an arm to her. “We aren’t as
picky about class as where you came from. A person makes their own
name here. If anything, rank just puts more pressure on the man to
live up to people’s expectations.”
    Misty gave a hesitant smile as she
nodded, but she was not convinced that a family rank in society was
taken so lightly, not even here, yet she made no comment. How she
had happened across Cody’s ad for a bride had been a small miracle.
The fact that they got along so well from the start was an even
larger one. There had no doubt been many other women who responded
to the ad of better rank than she, and she had contemplated the
risk of responding to a stranger many times. Had Indiana not been
in the same town as her suitor, she could easily have never put her
pen to paper.
    Cody had proclaimed that he was
content with how things were, so she was not going to push the
subject any further. She needed to have faith that his words were
as sincere as he sounded. If the difference in their rank was a
problem, then she would need to deal with each situation as they
came. No amount of discussion over the topic could change that. She
either needed to re-board that train now, or accept whatever might
come.
    After a moment, she lifted her free
hand and wrapped her hand shyly into his arm with a shy smile. A
grin spread over his face as he guided her to the carriage, proudly
pointing out some of the stores in sight of the platform as they
walked.
    She didn’t know what the future had in
store for her, but she was eager to see where this path led.
Especially with a man like Cody Mills by her side.
     
     

Chapter 3

    Cody’s mother lived in a house of
three stories with a large porch that wrapped around the front of
the house, and a balcony on the second floor which stood over the
porch in the front. It was white with blue trim and shutters, and
as Cody pulled to a stop, a woman who was sweeping the porch with a
broom hurried inside. When she returned, an older lady was with
her, and Misty was sure that the lady was Cody’s mother.
    They looked alike. Both had sharp
faces and strong jaws—a pleasing trait on the son, but a rather
unfortunate one on the mother.
    Misty looked around. The house was in
town, and the neighbors on either side were not far, but this home
was bigger than the others by a fair margin. The lawn was green and
well groomed.
    “ I am Mrs. Mills,” Cody’s
mother said haughtily, looking down her nose at Misty.
    “ Allow me to present Miss
Misty Fields,” Cody said.
    “ Yes, ma’am. It’s a
pleasure to meet you,” Misty said.
    Mrs. Olivia Mills made no response as
a porter arrived and pulled Misty’s bags from the carriage. She
turned and went inside.
    Misty, her heart in her mouth,
followed Cody into the large home and tried not to marvel too
openly at how grand it all seemed. It reminded her of Indiana’s
home, which had been destroyed in the earthquake. She thought too
of Mrs. Mills, and wondered if she was normally as abrupt, or
whether the special treatment was just for her. She was to stay
with Mrs. Mills until her marriage, but already she was dreading
the arrangement.
    And then Cody was back, and he took
Misty by the hand and led her back to the porch. “I have to go,” he
said. “I’m needed urgently at the ranch.”
    “ I understand,” Misty said,
hoping she was hiding her sudden sadness that Cody was leaving so
shortly.
    “ Get settled here, and I’ll
come by in the morning. I shall take you to see Miss Indiana.” He
took Misty’s hand and kissed it, and went to the carriage. She
stood on the porch, and watching him leave. When she went inside, a
maid was waiting for her.
    “ Would you like to go
upstairs and unpack, Miss?”
    “ Thank you,” Misty said as
she followed the maid upstairs.
    Her room was large, with two big
windows in one wall that looked out over the front, just next