Free Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3) by Cynthia Woolf

Molly. “Why haven’t you come to see me before now? I get the feeling you’re avoiding me. Are you?”
    “Well.” Molly’s throat was suddenly dry. “I guess I was. I’m still not sure how I feel because Ben is still in love with you, you know.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” She waved her arm in front of her and frowned. “He knows I love Matthew. I always have.”
    “I know and he knows that, too, but he’s certain he won’t ever be able to love anyone again.”
    Julia cocked her head. “You’ve fallen in love with your husband, haven’t you?”
    Molly nodded and felt a tear run down her cheek. “I’d hoped we could have what you and Matt have. That we could love each other eventually, but Ben has made himself fairly clear that won’t happen.”
    “Pshaw. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
    Molly sniffled as she jostled Walt to keep him happy. “Oh, I think he does. He’s so… certain about it.”
    Julia leaned back against the sofa, her body angled toward Molly. “The change will come on slowly, but one day he’ll realize he loves you and then he’ll hope it’s not too late. Will it be too late, Molly? Can you give him the time he needs to discover what he really wants?”
    “Yes, I can give him the time.” She wiped a tear from her eye and slowly shook her head. “What else am I going to do? I married him and as I told him, I take my vows seriously.”
    “Good. I’m sure he does, too. It’s not like him to go into anything any less than wholeheartedly.”
    “Well, he said he does.”
    She nodded and held out her hand in Hope’s direction. “Then you can believe it. He won’t lie to you.”
    “Thank you, Julia. I hope, as Ben does, that we can be friends.”
    “Of course, we can. Ben is one of my, and Matthew’s, dearest friends. That also extends to his wife, if you would like it to.” She looked around at the diapers, stacked on the nearest chair, that needed folding and put away. “Perhaps when I get a more normal routine, we can have you down for dinner.”
    “I think the better idea is for you and Matt to come to the hotel for dinner. No cooking, no cleaning, and Sadie is the best cook I’ve ever seen. You can handle that, I’m sure.”
    “Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve nearly quit cooking. Matthew is a much better cook than I am. But I still do a right fine breakfast meal though.”
    Molly laughed. “I’ve been taking lessons from Sadie. I’ve got to learn the things that Ben likes or he’ll never come home to eat.”
    “I take it you’d like to have him home more.”
    “Yes, I would.” She felt guilty for complaining. She was safe and her circumstances were much better than when she was in New York. She should be grateful. “But he’s already told me he won’t be very often because of his business interests.”
    Walt started to fuss. His little mews were precious, but she was certain he could really holler if he wanted to.
    “It’s time for him to nurse. Do you mind?”
    “Not at all.” Molly handed the baby back to his mother. “I should go, anyway. Ben told me he’d have a surprise for me when I got back.”
    With one hand, Julia unbuttoned her shirtfront, and then she opened her dress and put the baby to her breast. “Do you like surprises?”
    “Sometimes.” She didn’t like the surprise of finding out Tom was here in Tombstone. “I’m hoping I’ll like Ben’s surprise.”
    “I’m sure you will. Mind if I don’t show you to the door?”
    “Since it’s right behind me, I think I can find it.”
    Both Molly and Julia laughed.
    “I hope you’ll come again and be able to stay longer when you do, don’t we Hope?” Julia looked at her daughter playing with wooden blocks on the floor in front of the sofa.”
    Hope looked up. “Bababababa”
    Molly laughed. “I will, and I will. Promise.”
    Molly let herself out and walked toward the hotel. There was a slight breeze which made the heat of the day less oppressive. She enjoyed