Rose's Mail Order Husband - A Historical Mail Order Bride Story (Montana Brides) Read Free Page B

comfortable when the door swung open again and Jake Hamilton strolled into the house. He caught sight of her and his black eyes glistened.
    “Well, well, well,” he drawled. “What have we here? Shouldn’t you be down at the house getting all dolled up? Your sisters will be put out if you make yourself scarce at a time like this.”
    Rose smiled at him. “They’re already put out with me, and it isn’t because I’m making myself scarce. Quite the opposite.”
    Jake cocked his head to one side. “How’s that? They didn’t ask you to make yourself scarce, surely?”
    “No, but they might as well have,” Rose replied. “They’re mad because they say I’m acting strangely.”
    “And they aren’t acting strangely?” Jake countered. “You’re all acting strangely, I’d say.”
    “Do you think so?” Rose asked.
    “I’d say so,” Jake replied.
    “But you’ve never seen us acting any other way,” Rose pointed out. “You never saw us at all before two days ago.”
    “That’s true,” Jake admitted, “but I think I can tell when a woman is acting strangely.”
    “Maybe it’s because we’re all brides,” Rose suggested. “I’ve heard brides act strangely.”
    “I don’t think so,” Jake replied. “I’ve heard of brides acting strangely, but not this strangely. I think it’s because your guardian was just killed. That, and you’re marrying against his wishes, so you’re doubly confused about everything that’s happening.”
    “I don’t feel confused,” Rose countered.
    “You might not feel confused,” he told her, “but you certainly act confused. You act like you don’t know your head from your tail.”
    “That’s what Violet and Iris keep telling me,” Rose admitted. “If you think so, then maybe there’s some truth to it.”
    “Violet and Iris are acting the same way,” he added. “They’ve got nothing to complain about with you. All three of you are doing it. If they’re accusing you of it, it only means they don’t recognize it in themselves. I wonder the other guys haven’t pointed it out to them.”
    “Iris certainly has,” Rose acknowledged. “Last night, she came into my room and told me she wasn’t going to marry Mick. She said he wasn’t the man she thought he was, and she said I should reconsider marrying you. Now, this morning, it’s all back on. She doesn’t know her head from her tail, either.”
    “I wonder what that was all about,” Jake remarked.
    “I didn’t ask,” she replied, “and I don’t want to know. I don’t want to talk to them at all.”
    “Oh?” He narrowed his eyes. “Why not? Why don’t you want to talk to your own sisters? And on your wedding day, too!”
    “You sound like them,” she grumbled. “I don’t want to talk to anyone. You’re the only one who knows what’s going on with me anymore, and I wasn’t supposed to see you today before the wedding, you know. We’re all supposed to be in seclusion.”
    “I am in seclusion,” Jake replied. “That’s why I came up here, to be alone. And here you are.”
    “I came up here for the same reason,” she told him.

Chapter 5
    “But you’re supposed to be getting your dress on and your hair done,” Jake reminded her. “The minister will be here soon.”
    “What about you?” she shot back. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting cleaned up and dressed? I don’t know what men are supposed to do to get ready for their wedding, but you must be supposed to do something. Maybe the other men should pour tobacco juice on your head or something.”
    Jake chuckled. “Chuck and Mick are over there in the Fort House polishing every piece of clothing they have. And brushing their suits and all that, too.”
    “And you aren’t?” she asked.
    “I already did it once,” Jake told her. “I don’t need to do it five or six times. I just have to get dressed, comb my hair, and shine my shoes. Then I’ll walk down to the Main House and I’ll be ready.”
    “And I’ll be