The Stepmother: An Everland Ever After Tale Read Free Page B

like people showing up looking for help, but I don’t do house calls, neither. So what do you want?”
    For a doctor, he certainly didn’t speak like an educated man. Nor was his manner particularly gentle or civil. But at least it sounded like he was used to helping people. That was encouraging. The fact that he hadn’t acknowledged her name? Less than encouraging. “I’m Meredith Almassy... Meri?” she prompted when he continued to stare at her. She sighed, and put her own hands on her hips. “The woman you’re going to marry?”
    A slow blink, and then another, and then he curled his lip up and snorted derisively. “Lady, I’ve heard all sorts of tales over the last year, but that one takes the prize.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Mrs. Almassy, you can’t just waltz into a man’s home, drop something like that on him and not expect—”
    “It’s ‘ Miss’ , as you well know.”
    Her interruption had confused him. “What?”
    “My name is Miss Almassy.” It might’ve been Doctor Almassy, had she not allowed Bernard to scare her away from Philadelphia. “And I’ve answered both of your advertisements for a bride.”
    “…my what ?”
    “You are Doctor Carpenter, aren’t you? Peggy and Gertie said this was the doctor’s house.”
    “I’m Jack Carpenter, but I don’t know any Peggy or Gertie, and I still don’t know who the h—who you are.”
    She cocked her head to one side, and repeated her name again. “Meri Almassy. You have gotten my letters, haven’t you? You sent me stagecoach fare when I replied to your advertisements—”
    “What advertisements?” Either he was the world’s best actor, or the confusion she was seeing on his face thanks to the lamp’s dim light was real.
    She dropped one hand to the pocket of her jacket, reassured by the crinkle. “Your advertisements for a mail-order bride. I answered both, and you sent me fare.”
    “Why would I do a thing like that?”
    “So that I could come marry you.”
    He burst into laughter. The harsh bark made her wince. It sounded like he wasn’t used to laughing, like he wasn’t sure how. His laugh was rough and course, just like him, and wiped away the tiny bit of congeniality she’d been feeling towards him after she’d seen how he loved his daughter.
    Meri frowned. “Are you laughing at me, Doctor Carpenter? Because I was naïve enough to believe that you would follow through on your promises? Why would you send me the stagecoach fare if you weren’t planning on holding up your end of the bargain?”
    He sobered, although his laugh hadn’t been exactly cheerful to begin with. “Lady, I’m laughing because your story is ridiculous.”
    “You’re insinuating that I’m not telling the truth?”
    “I’m flat-out calling you a pretty little liar. I didn’t send for a bride.”
    He thought she was pretty?
    Wait, he thinks I’m a liar?
    “I am most definitely not lying, sir. You are the one who had the audacity to advertise for a mail-order-bride and then—”
    “Miss Almassy, do you have any proof of any of this? Any reason I shouldn’t just toss you back outside with your things?”
    If her back got any straighter, she’d be leaning backwards. Meri felt her ire rising even further, and she slowing inhaled, counting to ten like Lettie had taught her during the long months of studying when the books seemed overwhelming. “I will have you know, sir , that I’ve kept your advertisements as proof.” His brows rose, and she pretended it was because he was impressed with how calm she sounded in spite of her anger. “ Why did I keep the advertisements, you might ask?”
    “I didn’t.”
    “ I kept the letters because I wanted to remember how I met my husband. My husband, Doctor Carpenter, because I was coming here to marry you, and I wanted to be able to show them to Zelle and our other children when they asked.”
    In the lamp light, his face paled. She watched him swallow and glance towards the door to the