Romance: Mail Order Bride "The Ideal Bride" Clean Christian Western Historical Romance (Western Mail Order Bride Short Shorties Series) Read Free Page A

have a task, and Nora watched him tip the porter as he stored her suitcase for safety in a simple wagon and brushed his hands together as he stood before her.
    “We’re all set,” he said. “Are you ready to ride?”
    “I’m counting on you to lead the way, sir.” Her heart fluttered in her chest when he scrunched his nose and shook his head.
    “No need to be so formal,” he said. “After all, we’re going to be married.”
    For a single second, the entire venture seemed insane. Miles away from home on account of a few shared scribbles on a page. What if her mother was right? What if he was a mad man even as he glistened under the fresh light of the sun?
    “Of course we… if I’ve said too much too soon please forgive me.”
    It was strange to see a man so strong turn sheepish, and Nora took comfort in the blush spreading across his clean cheeks and dared to touch his smooth skin. He leaned into her palm, and she felt the breath on the back of his smile drifting over her palm.
    “Not at all,” Nora said as she folded her arm under his. “Please lead the way, Henry .”
    Looking as happy as a child on Christmas morning, Henry helped her up and furrowed his brow as he focused on her dress.
    “Is something wrong?” she asked.
    “Not at all,” he said. “You really are very lovely.”
    “So are you,” Nora said. “I mean that.”
    “Thanks for the compliment. And you have such a sweet voice.”
    He urged the horse forward, and Nora smiled as she took in the lay of the land.
    “So much space!” she declared.
    “Must be a lot for a city girl to get used to,” Henry said.
    The East 20s also stretched for miles. But it was one house on top of another as carriages crossed the pavement at all hours, and a patch of open air was hard to come by. Sometimes Nora made her way to the Hudson on foot and tried to imagine a wider world. But there were always barges and ferries blocking her view, and she returned home with a sag in her step. Was she destined to tread the same path until her hair turned gray after a life without love? Her students only provided so much comfort, and the thought of home without Emily seemed like a prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
    “But then everything changed,” she said.
    “Come again, Nora?”
    She had not realized that she was speaking aloud when Henry’s smile gave her strength.
    “I was wandering,” she started. “And then I picked up a paper and found your letter.”
    “First time you’ve ever done that sort of thing?”
    Maybe he had to ask. She pictured him wondering who was going to chance upon his sweet words sent to parts unknown. What if the wrong girl had decided to play a part and fleece him for all that he was worth?
    “The only time,” she assured him. “You can trust me, Henry.”
    “I like the sound of that.”
    They fell silent as the wheels continued to turn against the path bordered by sheaves of long grass, and when Nora finally caught sight of a proud house on the horizon, she squeezed his elbow.
    “Is this really all yours?” she asked in a breathless voice.
    Henry brought the horse to a halt and winked with a smile.
    “”No,” he said. Her face started to fall as he pushed one finger under her chin.
    “Ours,” he said. “Do you like what you see?”
    “Very much so,” she answered as he helped her down and led her up the steps of the wraparound porch. As soon as they entered the main room, Nora smelled freshly cut flowers and saw a bouquet of wild roses resting at the center of the table.
    “Did you do this for me?” she asked as she fingered the stems and watched him lower her suitcase.
    “Do you like them?” he asked. “I have so much more to show you.”
    Sniffing the petals as she nodded her head, Nora felt his large hand at the small of her back and instinctively leaned into his touch as he grabbed her hand and guided her away from the scent.
    “Your room,” he declared as he opened a door. It was clean and