Free Mail Order Bride: Deception (Historical Western Romance): Clean Romance Series (Western Mail Order Brides Book 1) by Samantha Price

mother.
    “Tell me about yourself, Leah. Where are your parents?” Mrs. Wright asked.
    After licking her dry lips, Leah said, “Both my parents are dead. Well, my father left us years ago, and never returned. I have to assume that he died, and my mother died a couple of years ago. The last two years I’ve been a mother’s helper, looking after children.”
    “What prompted you to come here?” Beth asked.
    “I couldn’t go on as I was. I needed to change. I guess I just wanted a new life. I bought a train ticket here with no real plans. I kept hearing stories that there was opportunity out here, and I guess I wanted to see it for myself. When I noticed Austin at the station, I was looking for a sign that I should stay in this town.”
    Mrs. Wright said nothing, but leaned over and picked up a white and pink china teapot. She delicately poured tea into a fine china teacup, and then passed the cup to Leah. “There you are. A nice cup of tea will make you feel better.” She turned to her daughter. “Beth, why don’t you cut us some cake?”
    When Beth stood up, Leah felt tears begin to well in her eyes once more, and sniffed. “Can I help you with anything, Beth?” she managed to ask.
    “No. We can’t have our guest doing anything.”
    Mrs. Wright stood up, walked to a drawer, and pulled out a large knife.
    Beth said, “Sit down, Ma. I can cut a piece of cake by myself. You have to get used to other people doing things for you.”
    Mrs. Wright’s lips turned down, but she obeyed her daughter, and sat down.
    “Just a small slice for me please, Beth,” Leah said.
    Once they were seated with cake and tea, Beth asked, “Now, what are we to do?”
    “I think I should leave. I don’t see what else I can do.” Leah looked down at the slice of cake that Beth had just placed in front of her. “I don’t think I can eat all this cake, Beth.”
    “Nonsense, you have to keep your strength up,” Beth said.
    Mrs. Wright laughed. “You’re becoming just like me, Beth.”
    Beth chortled. “Yes, you do like to feed people.” She turned to Leah. “Ma always likes to feed people.”
    Leah poked her cake with a fork, took a portion, and placed it into her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the two women stiffen. She looked into their faces, and saw that they were both staring over her shoulder. She swiveled to see what they were looking at, and it was then that she saw Austin standing in the doorway holding Violet. Leah nearly choked on her cake; she covered her mouth with her fingertips, and quickly swallowed.
    “Beth, you and I better go and see to that thing I told you about yesterday,” Mrs. Wright said.
    “Yes, I’m right behind you, and I’ll bring Violet with me,” Beth said, as she plucked Violet out of Austin’s arms, and hurried out of the room with her mother.
    Before Leah could say or do anything, she was alone with Austin. He leisurely ambled around the other side of the table, and sat opposite her.
    “I told them who I really am.” Her heart thumped hard against her chest.
    “I’m sorry if I was rude, Leah. I was shocked and surprised - I guess.” He put his elbow on the table and placed his chin on his knuckles. “I was wondering if I might offer you some help. I could give you money until you find a suitable position, and perhaps find you a place to stay?”
    “Thank you, that’s very kind of you, but your mother’s been kind enough to let me stay here tonight, and then tomorrow, I’ll be on my way.”
    “You’ll be on your way to where?”
    “I’ll send you money for those dresses that you paid for, I will pay you back every dime.” Leah did not look at him when she spoke, preferring to look at the lace tablecloth. She was nothing more to him than a charity case, a destitute woman.
    “I’m not worried about that,” he snapped. She looked up at him in shock. He breathed out heavily. “I’m sorry, Leah.”
    “No, you don’t need to be sorry; it’s all my