Free BRIANNA: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 4) by Ashley Merrick Page A

I don't want you to do that. I'm going to take care of it in the mornings."
    "Why?" Brianna asked. She hadn’t minded milking the cows once she got comfortable doing it.
    "I just think we should be careful. If anything went wrong, if the cow was agitated and kicked and you fell—well, I just wouldn't want anything to happen to the baby, or to you."
    Brianna smiled. She liked that Paul was already protective. If he wanted to do the milking, that was fine with her.
    "How about if I gather the eggs each day, then? I'm happy to do that."
    "I think that would be fine," Paul agreed. And then his expression grew more serious. "How much longer do you intend to teach?"
    "I hadn't really thought about it. As long as I can, I suppose. It's not a very physical job, so I should be able to keep going right up until the end, I would think."
    "I suppose. Although if you're feeling at all poorly, we should reconsider. Your health and the baby's are too important."
    "I agree. So far, I've been lucky, though. I've had a fairly easy time of things compared to some women that I know."
    "That's good. Let's hope it continues." After they finished eating, Brianna cleared the table and then read for a little bit longer until it was time to go to church.

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    " I feel like we just did this," Jed joked as the house filled up with Donovans as soon as the church service ended.
    "Well, it's nothing fancy today," Naomi said as she set out platters of sandwiches and bowls of fresh fruit. "It's a day of leftovers."
    "Is there leftover cake, too?" Jimmy, one of the youngest Donovan brothers, asked.
    "There's not much, but there is some."
    After everyone ate, the men gravitated towards the living room to talk about who knows what, while the women cleaned up and chatted in the kitchen.
    "How's it going so far?" Colleen asked. Naomi had stepped out of the room for a moment, and both Julia and Emily leaned in to hear her answer.
    "It's fine, but not terribly interesting. I'm afraid I'm a bit boring. We came home last night and I pretty much went straight to bed. I was exhausted."
    "Well, I can certainly understand that," Julia said as she settled herself onto a chair and adjusted her dress. She was just starting to show and was self-conscious about it.
    "How are you feeling?" Brianna asked Julia.
    Julia grimaced. "Well, I'm really not sure why they call it morning sickness. Lately, for me it's been any time sickness."
    "That sounds awful," Colleen said.
    Emma raised her eyebrows and said, "Just wait, you'll see soon enough."
    Colleen chuckled. "I don't think I'm in any hurry for that."
    "Once it happens to you, you won't mind it at all. Having a child is the best thing that ever happened to me," Emma added.
    "I couldn't be happier that I'm expecting," Brianna said. "Ted was so looking forward to this." She was quiet for a moment as a wave of sadness came over her. Emma reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
    "I'm glad that Paul will be there for you. I think he'll make a good father."
    Brianna smiled. "I think so, too." She glanced at Colleen. "It might not be that bad for you. I've been lucky. I've mostly just been more tired than normal. And hungrier!"
    "Well, you've come to the right place, then. There's plenty more. Have seconds." Naomi was back and Brianna didn't have to be asked twice.
    "Thanks, I think I will."

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    A few hours later after everyone had said their goodbyes, Paul and Brianna drove home and had a relaxing evening. Brianna read for a little while Paul worked on a wood-carving project.
    “How did you learn to do that?” she’d asked when he first brought the piece of wood in and started chipping away at it with a sharp knife.
    “My father taught me, years ago. He taught all of us, actually, but I was the only one that was interested. He used to make all kinds of things, but birds mostly. My dad loves birds.”
    “And you like ducks.” It looked like the shape was half-done and Brianna could make out a beak and the long body