Free Mail Order Bride: Love On The Line: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance by Catherine Harper Page B

holding it out, she found an older child pull the youngster into a nearby apartment and slam the door. Left holding the candy in mid-air, Elizabet wondered if all the tenants where all as welcoming as these two. Putting the candy away she continued working her way upward. Making her way to the second floor, Elizabet took the piece of paper re-read the room number, room three o three. Thinking that it must be a floor above her, Elizabet listened as an argument blew up in the apartment across from her. Starting off low, the man and woman inside matched each other in volume until it ended with a loud slap and crying. Then things went quiet again. Staring at the door in disbelief, Elizabet wondered how anyone could live like this. She'd only been in the building less than five minutes and already she wanted out. Looking to the stairway that lead downward she considered abandoning her idea and never coming back.
    "Elizabet, is that you?"
    Elizabet turned and saw what at first didn't look like Alice. Coming down off the stairway above, she looked nothing like the happy woman she'd waved off weeks ago. The one that walked toward her was untidy with dark circles under her eyes. 
    "Alice?" 
    Running forward and throwing her arms around her, Elizabet found Alice's frame was also a lot thinner than it had been. Holding tightly to her, Elizabet though Alice's embrace was more of relief than a welcome. Holding her at arm's length, Elizabet looked her over.
    "It's so good to see you Alice, so how are you?"
    Breaking free, she said. "Fine, fine—so, how did you find me?"
    Elizabet pulled the paper from her purse and held it. "Well, I went to that last address I had of you, this one—and they said that…"
    Saying nothing in reply, she watched as a tear rolled down Alice's face. "I'm sorry."
    "For what?"
    "I couldn't tell you the truth."
    Looking around and wanting to get out of the building, Elizabet suggested. "How about you and I go and get a cup of tea."
    "Thanks, but I'm OK."
    Elizabet smiled and shook her head, "Have you changed that much? What happened to that girl I knew who loved her pastries?"
    "She's gone. She grew up."
    Throwing her arms around her and holding tight to her, Elizabet felt her own problems non-existent now. Giving her a hug longer than the first, Elizabet pulled away and held Alice's hands. "Come on. My treat, please."
    Alice shook her head, "I wouldn't be much company for you…"
    Elizabet took her arm and linked it with her own, "Nonsense. Well, I'm going for one. You want me drinking alone in a city where I know no one?"
    "Well, no-"
    Not giving her a chance to argue, Elizabet pulled her toward the downward stairs. "Good, now lead the way. I don't know about you, but I'd love a large cream bun right now."
     
    *****
    Elizabet took a sip from her cup and watched as Alice held on to hers tightly. Looking like she using its heat to warm herself, she'd again closed up and kept the conversation one sided. Wondering how she could help her friend, Elizabet thought maybe if she focused the conversation on her own life she could work her way into the truth. 
    "You remember that story, the one I couldn't tell you back in New York?"
    Alice lifted her head. "Yeah—what was that?"
    "You remember Charles—my father's friend-"
    "Yeah, the lawyer guy."
    Seeing her friend take an interest, Elizabet continued. "Well, he rewrote my fathers will and gave himself a controlling share of the shop."
    "He what?"
    Elizabet lifted a pastry onto her plate and held another one in the tongs for Alice. "You want one? I swear if you don't join me I'll eat them all on my own." Seeing Alice smile, she placed it on her plate. "Yeah, that's why I ran into you that day, he threatened me that if I said anything he'd do me harm."
    "You're kidding?"
    "Oh, it gets better than that."
    "Really, what?" Alice replied with her mouth full. Putting her hand to her mouth, she tried to excuse her manners.
    Lifting their tea pot and topping up both cups,