Free Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2) by Catherine Harper

her brush down and going to it, she opened it partly and found John there.
    "What up, something wrong?" Alice asked opening the door. Seeing him grin and say nothing in return, she watched him walk to the center of the room. "What's going on, John?"
    "Close your eyes."
    Alice looked him over, "Why? What is it?"
    "Just close your eyes, and hold out your hands," John said. "I've got a surprise for you."
    Seeing him smirk with excitement and not knowing what to expect, Alice found herself grin as well. Doing as she was told, she held out her hands and braced herself. "Alright. What is it? Will I like it?"
    "I think so, now no peeking," John said.
    Feeling something placed in her hands, Alice kept her eyes closed and tried to work out what it was. Opening her eyes she found exactly what she thought it was. Staring at it, she asked, "What is it?"
    "Open it."
    Wondering what was giving John his smirk, Alice tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. Looking up to see his grin grow wider, he nodded.
    "Go on, read it."
    Scanning the top of the letter Alice found Walter's name mentioned and paused, "What is this?"
    "It's a confession from Walter saying that he was abusive in your relationship and he's giving you full permission for a divorce-"
    "But how? I don't understand why would he?"
    Tom took the letter from her hand, "Guess he had a change of heart-"
    "He did and his eye, it was you, wasn't it?"
    John shook his head and acted hurt. "You know yourself, I never left your side this past week. How could I?"
    "Tom, then," Alice said.
    "Does it matter," John answered, taking her in an embrace. "Once we get this letter processed, there's nothing that can stop us getting married. I thought you'd be happy?"
    Alice took the letter and looked it over again. "I am, I am. If I'd known what you were doing, I would have-"
    "Honestly, I didn't know anything about it," John said and pulled her in for a long and lingering kiss. "Isn't it great news?"
    "Yes. I just wouldn't want anyone to get hurt for this," Alice said and found him take her once more in a passionate kiss. "I guess I better give Elizabet the good news."
    "She already knows," John smiled. "Actually it was her idea."
    "Seriously?" Alice asked.
    John nodded. "She said she had to repay you for what you did for her."
    "But I didn't do anything—so is there anyone in this house that doesn't know about this?"
    "Well, there is one person," John said. "I thought we'd tell her together." Taking her hand, they both left to give Amy the good news. 
     

Chapter 17
    Hearing a floor board creak, Alice opened an eye and decided not to pay it any attention. She was used to John's home by now and grown accustomed to its noises at night. Turning over she pulled the blanket closer to her cheek and tried to return to the dream she'd been having. Closing her eyes, she tried to put herself back to the moment when she and John were skinny dipping. Remembering vividly the part where their wet bodies were about to meet, she cursed the floor for its timing. Just on the verge of feeling John's hands explore her, the noise had taken her away it. Groaning to herself, Alice knew that another part of herself out there having the time of her life and she was losing out. Tossing again and thumping her pillow in frustration, Alice paused on hearing the floor creak once more. Sounding different than earlier, the creak was slower as if someone was trying to carry their weight over it in silence. Now curious, Alice sat up and looked around. At first seeing nothing to alert her to any danger, she found a shape that shouldn't be there. Wondering if one of the cleaning staff had moved her folding screen, she suddenly saw the shadow move. Realizing that she wasn't alone, she watched it cross the room quicker than she could scream. Grabbed around the mouth, Alice found her head thrown backwards and pinned to the pillow. Looking up in terror, she caught the smell of alcohol and instantly knew who it