Free Growing in Love with Her Mail-Order Husband by Mandy Wilson Page B

concept of another family had never struck him, but in her notice she had written Potential mate must be willing to accept this will not be a marriage of love .
    Her directness spoke to him. He knew he could never love another woman again, but he was beginning to question if a life alone was for him. Helping a lady out while entering a life of companionship without the expectation of love, appealed to him.  Ever since he’d arrived home in Maryland, he’d been itching to get back west and had been praying on where to go next. The same day he felt he had his answer that he wasn’t to return to California, was the same day he saw Maggie’s advertisement.
    Guilt nudged him and he knew he must tell Maggie the truth. He genuinely wanted a friendship with his wife and felt a growing fondness for her, just in the hours since they had met.  Several times already, she had brought him to a smile and once even to laughter, a feat not many could boast of.
    “Just about another hour until we reach the farm,” Maggie s aid, interrupting his thoughts and breaking their first lull in conversations since becoming man and wife.
    “Before we arrive, I need to confess something,” he began.  He saw her eyebrows raise and lips tighten. Hating that he caused her that concern, he quickly went about his admission. “When I answered your advertisement, I was not permanently living in Maryland and only there for a visit. I told you I am from Maryland and that’s the truth, but I can’t claim it as home.”
    “Why, that doesn’t seem like anything so bad. You had me a touch worried there for a second.” she responded lightly. “You did not mislead , but I appreciate that you felt the need to be completely honest when you felt you had.  Where did you claim home?” she asked him.
    “I traveled around the west for a few years after the war. All the way from Santa Fe to the Willamette Valley.  A few years had passed and I settled north of San Francisco.”
    “That sounds exciting.  Aaron and I always said one day we’d go see the Pacific Ocean, but we never made it.” A sadness cast over her face, and she looked away from him.
    An odd feeling settled over him that he didn’t understand. All he knew was he didn’t like seeing the desolate expression on her , and he wanted the smile back.
    “Perhap s after the harvest, we can have a belated wedding trip and take you to California. With the railroad stretching all the way to the Pacific now, it’s much easier to do,” he offered.
    The corners of her mouth turned up and he could tell she was attempting t o suppress a laugh. “If that doesn’t beat all,” she said. “I up and married myself a fanciful man. That’s all well to dream about, but I won’t delude myself to think it’s a probability. Even if we could spare the time away, the train ticket itself would cost more than what will be left after the loan is paid and supplies purchased.”
    “Maggie, I did not tell you before as I did not want to be chosen for this asset, but I am a man who does not lack for money. I have a fund my father created for me in addition to money from gold.  God has blessed me and I believe he has brought me to you so I can share those blessings.”
    Maggie stared at him in a daze , and he could see she was trying to comprehend what he just told her.
    “I’m not sure I understand.  Why did you choose to answer my advertisement for a husband?  What do you have to gain from this?” She seemed genuinely confused.
    He placed his hand on her forearm and looked her straight in the eye while his free hand controlled the reins.
“Because God told me too. I had been praying on where to go next, and then I saw your notice.  Loneliness was setting in, and my life felt empty.  Answering you would bring me companionship and helping you save your farm would bring meaning back to my life. And I knew you wouldn’t expect love in return.”
    “I’m not sure what to say, but I do believe God has