RICKY: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 5) Read Free Page B

he made his way to the saloon and searched the bar for Sarah as soon as he stepped inside. He didn’t want to stay long, as he was exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep.
    He didn’t see her right away but figured she’d be around soon. Sure enough, two minutes after he ordered a beer from Nick and sat at the only empty seat at the bar, Sarah was by his side. He sensed her a moment before he saw her.
    “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he greeted her. She looked beautiful, as always.
    “Thank you. You look tired,” she said. “Long trip?”
    “Just hours on the train. Good, though. Things went the way I’d hoped.” It had actually been a very worthwhile and lucrative trip, and he’d established a valuable partnership that should pay off for the next few years if all went according to plan.
    “Oh, that’s nice to hear.”
    “So, are we still getting married on Sunday?” he teased her. His tone was light, but he was a bit nervous that she’d possibly reconsidered and changed her mind.
    “Yes, we are. I had some visitors earlier today, too. Colleen and Brianna. They said there’s going to be a little celebration for us at the regular Sunday dinner after church. And they’re both coming over in the morning to help me get ready.”
    He was pleased to see that she looked both relieved and a little excited. She hadn’t changed her mind. He was really getting married.
    “That’s wonderful!” He was grateful that the girls had made an effort already to make Sarah feel welcome. “And they understood that you’ll be finished here on Saturday?” He’d worried a bit about that too, that the saloon owner might give Sarah a hard time about leaving so soon after starting.
    “He wasn’t happy about it, at first. But then he said it would work out okay because there were two new girls starting soon anyway. He said he won a bet with another saloon manager and got to pick two of his girls to come work for him.”
    Ricky shook his head at that. It didn’t surprise him. There was a lot of gambling that went on in the saloons, even amongst the owners.
    “I’m glad that you’re going to be done here,” he said. He didn’t ever want her to step foot in a saloon again.
    “I don’t think I’m going to miss it,” she said and laughed.
    “Are you working the evening shift on Saturday?”
    “Yes. I asked for the day, but didn’t get it. They said the night is too busy and they need me.”
    “That’s fine. Why don’t I come by on Saturday afternoon, then, and get your things? We can move everything over to my house and you can just leave behind whatever you’ll need for Sunday.
    “That’s a great idea. It will be good for Andrew to see his new home. For both of us, actually.”

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    S arah was all packed and ready when Ricky knocked on her door early Saturday afternoon.
    “Is this all you have?” He seemed surprised that she only had a small trunk for the two of them.
    “We didn’t bring much. Just some clothes and a few other things that I thought we’d need. I didn’t know how large our living quarters would be and I had a feeling they might be small. Plus, it was easier to travel with less.”
    “Well, anything that you don’t have, and need, I can get for you.” He looked at the both of them and smiled at Andrew, who was standing tightly against his mother’s side.
    “Ready to go?” He easily hefted the trunk and followed them down the stairs. Although his house was just a short walk, he explained that he’d brought the buggy to carry everything over. He put the trunk in the back of the buggy and then helped Andrew climb into the back seat. Sarah sat in the passenger side and he jumped in and drove them down the street to his house.
    When he pulled up to the door, Sarah’s mouth fell open. Ricky didn’t just live in a house, he lived in an impressive home. It was stately and well maintained with a lush lawn and shrubbery lining the good-sized yard.
    He helped them out