Free Patience: Bride of Washington (American Mail Order Bride 42) by Caroline Clemmons Page B

bridge, killing herself and the unborn child.”
    She brought her hand to her throat. “Oh, no. And you were blamed. I’m so sorry, Stone. Life must have changed drastically for you.”
    His face grim, moisture welled in his eyes. “In days I went from happy with plenty of friends to being a person barely tolerated. A couple of my long-time male friends, Ralph Larsen and Tom Mercer, believed me innocent but no decent woman in town would speak to me after that. People always believe the worst.” He shrugged again. “Since then, I’ve avoided contact with people in town. Life is easier that way.”
    No wonder he preferred working in the office to joining friends for a drink. “Thank you for even coming today. I’m sorry if you’re reminded of a bad situation over which you had no control.”
    He shook his head and rested his arms on his thighs. “To this day, I can’t think why she’d say those things. If she’d just told the truth and asked me for help, I’d have given her money to go somewhere until the baby came, maybe found a job for her afterward somewhere else.”
    “She probably wanted to hurt the father for abandoning her by making him think he had competition. Although she hurt you, she probably had in mind causing him pain. Obviously she wasn’t sane by then.”
    He straightened. “I never considered that. Not that it repairs my reputation, but you’ve given me a possible explanation and that helps.”
    She tugged on his arm and pulled him to his feet. “Let’s not talk of sad things. Take me to the rides and games and let’s be happy. I want to go on the carousel.”
    Reluctantly, he let her coerce him. “As good a way to get nowhere as any.”
    After two rides on the carousel, they walked down the rows of games and vendors. Stone was exceptionally good at the games. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t. Patience washed her hands at a fountain and dried them with her handkerchief.
    Later, they waited at the back of the food tent for the winning contestants’ names. Outside a banjo and fiddle kept pace with a woman enthusiastically singing “The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze”.
    “I’m so full of cotton candy and taffy that the baked goods don’t even appeal to me.”
    Stone patted his stomach. “I could go for a piece of Aunt Marianne’s apple pie. She’s not really my aunt, but was my mother’s best friend. She’s a widow and her name’s Marianne Hauser.”
    After the categories were read off and ribbons presented, Andrew joined them. “Did you find plenty to keep you busy?”
    Patience rattled off all they’d done and how much they’d eaten. “Stone thinks he could still eat a slice of Marianne Hauser’s pie but I can’t imagine how he could find the room.”
    Andrew held her elbow and guided her around a group of people. “She’s a wonderful cook, which is why she won the pie category. Mrs. Shaw’s winning apple cake was delicious and I wouldn’t mind another slice.” He shook his head. “But not right now, not after tasting so many sweets.”
    Under his breath, Stone mumbled, “Bet Aunt Marianne would like to remarry.”
    After a puzzled glance at him, she wondered why he didn’t speak loud enough for his father to hear. She turned toward Andrew on her other side. “Does every entry have to contain apples?”
    Andrew nodded. “Yes, although they can include other fruits as well. Destiny is home to some excellent cooks. Unfortunately, a few bad cooks also enter.”
    Stone chuckled. “Mrs. Gates got to you again?”
    Andrew put a hand on his stomach. “I have no idea what that woman does to a recipe to achieve a different result from all the others.”
    Stone clapped his father on the back. “At least she’s consistent, Dad. Maybe that’s why she’s a widow.”
    Andrew grimaced. “I always suspected her husband ran away. Probably living up in the mountains somewhere.”
    Patience laughed. “I’m sorry to make light of your suffering, but I want to meet