Roberta: Bride of Wisconsin (American Mail-Order Bride 30) Read Free

have?"
    "I don't know. Something, I'm sure! I'll write all my secrets in a letter and mail them to you. Why, I'll write you once a week, rain or shine."
    "And I'll write you every third Tuesday!"
    Bobbie frowned. "Why only every third Tuesday?"
    Sarah shrugged. "Just sounds like a good number to me!"
    "Sometimes I wonder why other people don't see how sarcastic you are."
    "Me? Because I'm very quiet around people I don't know well. It's when I really get to know someone that my real personality comes out, and then look out world!"
    Bobbie laughed. "That's so true!"
    Sarah's face grew serious. "Let's pray together before we say goodbye. One last time."
    Bobbie nodded. She was happy to pray with her friend if it mattered so much to her.
    "Heavenly Father, we come before You, two of Your loyal subjects, as we embark on new lives. We pray that You will help us remember to put You first in our lives as we meet our new husbands and learn to live in a new way. We are both afraid of what life is bringing us, and only by relying on You will we get through this next phase in our lives. Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to die for us. We pray all this in His name. Amen."
    "Amen," Bobbie repeated. She turned to the aisle seat and hugged her friend tightly. "I'm going to miss you more than I can say. I look forward to your letters."
    "I promise, you'll get one as soon as I can send it."
    "Don't forget, we each promised to send a letter to Elizabeth Miller back in Beckham as soon as we arrive. She wants to know we're safe."
    Sarah nodded. She'd gone to meet Elizabeth with Bobbie, and was thrilled to write the matchmaker. "I've got her address in my bag."
    The conductor called out, "Colby, Wisconsin!" and the girls hugged one last time. "Goodbye, my friend. I'll see you soon!" Bobbie whispered, tears streaming down her face.
    "God willing." Sarah took her bags and walked to the front of the train, disappearing from Roberta's sight.
    Bobbie covered her face with her hands and wept. She could leave Massachusetts and everything she'd ever known so much easier than she could leave her friend. How was she going to face the unknown without her?
    The older woman sitting in a seat across from Bobbie reached out to pat her hand. "There, there. Was that your sister?"
    Bobbie shook her head. "No, that was my best friend. We've been friends since we started school together fifteen years ago. We're both going to be mail- order brides, but she's going to Minnesota, and I'm staying in Wisconsin."
    "Oh, but at least you can still write! Where are you going in Wisconsin? I'm Bertha Berthelot, by the way. Go ahead and laugh. I can see you want to." She shook her head. "What I was thinking marrying a man with the last name Berthelot, I'll never know."
    Bobbie smiled. "I'm headed to Superior. I'm Roberta McDaniel."
    "Oh, that's wonderful. I live in Superior. I've been visiting my daughter who just had a baby in Sheboygan."
    "Boy or girl?" Bobbie asked, happy to think about something other than how much she'd miss Sarah or about her impending wedding night.
    "It's a girl. Her fourth. We were hoping for a boy this time, but it didn't happen. Maybe next time."
    "Is she your only child?"
    "Heavens no! I had twelve children, like any self-respecting woman should. Three died in infancy and are looking down on us from heaven now."
    "How many grandchildren do you have now?"
    Bertha counted on her fingers. "Twenty-two. My youngest three haven't married yet."
    Bobbie's eyes widened. "Are you trying to single-handedly populate the Earth?"
    "Of course, I am! Well, populate Wisconsin, at least. It's a beautiful state and one I'm proud to call home."
    "I've enjoyed the things I've been able to see from my little window." Bobbie found it beautiful, but she wasn't sure she wanted to live there. She would miss the ocean a great deal. "I'm marrying Jakob Muller."
    Bertha tilted her head for a moment, and then her eyes lit up. "Oh, yes! Jakob Muller, the lumber baron. His