Free The New Year's Bride (Holiday Mail Order Brides Book Two) by Kit Morgan

stayin’ in Nowhere and puttin’ up with Nellie and Charlotte Davis!  Except maybe on Christmas.”
    Spencer moaned, grabbed his coat and hat, and left for the telegraph office.  He might as well stop by the mercantile and take Miss Barstow with him as he knew she wanted to wire New Orleans.  Maybe that’s what had her so distracted.  She might be the sort that had to have everything done that needed doing before she could relax and enjoy herself.  Well if that was the case then she should be more open to his wooing and courting before they got married.  He didn’t fancy going into a marriage with a woman who didn’t think highly of him, or with whom he didn’t share a mutual attraction.  He hoped that wasn’t part of her problem.  What a slap to his ego it would be to find she didn’t think him the least bit attractive!  The thought pained him and he picked up his pace.
    When he reached the mercantil e he found Miss Barstow draped in several bolts of white and ivory cloth.  He could see very little of her dress underneath and suddenly the image of a Greek goddess flash through his mind.  She was beautiful and it pained him to think this lovely creature possibly had no interest in him.
    “Spencer, what are you doing here?”  It’s only been a half an hour!” His mother admonished as she began to wrap Miss Barstow up in yet another bolt of cloth.
    She sent him a pleading look and he quickly took the cue. “I came to borrow my bride, mother. I have to wire Uncle Harlan and figured Miss Barstow could accompany me to the telegraph office.  I know she wanted to wire New Orleans.”
    “Oh yes!”  Miss Barstow exclaimed.  “I do!”
    Ah, touché’.  He was right, that was what was holding her back.  He smiled at the thought and strode over to the threesome.  Summer he noticed was sitting in a chair by the pot bellied stove reading a book.  She smiled at him and winked when he looked her way.  Apparently he must’ve come just in time.  Hi s mother and Mrs. Quinn were probably driving both Summer and Miss Barstow crazy.
    “If you don’t mind mother, we won’t be gone long.  Then you can finish up here.”
    His mother sighed in resignation. “Oh very well, but hurry right back!  I suppose Mrs. Quinn and I can start cutting what fabric is needed for the dress.”  She turned to Miss Barstow.  “You said you liked the ivory lace best dear?”
    Miss Barstow did her best to peel herself out of her wrappings.  “Yes, that will do nicely.  Thank you Mrs. Riley and I promise I’ll be right back!”
    Spencer noted the excitement in her voice and smiled.  He stepped over and began to unwind his future bride.  His mother and Mrs. Quinn had her wrapped up like a mummy.  As soon as he was done, he held his arm out to her.  “Shall we?”
    She smiled up at him in relief, grateful to be free of his mother and Mrs. Quinn for a short while. “Yes!”
    He chuckled, then steered her toward the coat rack by the door.  Yes siree, there was no stopping him now !  He was going to woo the stockings off of his future wife!  By the time they were married she would be in love with him!
    Spencer Riley would have it no other way.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Seven
     
    At last!  Elle could finally get a message off to Mrs. Ridgley!  Now all she had to do was wait for a reply and that shouldn’t take more than a few days, could it?
    “Did you find everything to your liking?  For the wedding I mean?”
    Elle shook herself out of her elated state and looked up at the man she was to marry.  That is with luck and a positive reply from Mrs. Ridgley.  “Yes, thank you for asking.  Your mother certainly does love to put together weddings!”
    “You have no idea!  She and Mrs. Quinn have had their hands in more weddings in these parts than I can count.  Now that she has her own family marrying, she’s beside herself.  You should have seen her with Summer and Clayton’s wedding.”
    “I