Free Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Kirsten Osbourne

before nodding.  “We could do that. There are other ranchers in the area, and even a new schoolmaster.” He didn’t want her to have to go through the trouble of preparing for a party if he could do it more easily.
    “A new schoolmaster?  Is he young?”
    Brody shrugged.  “I haven’t met him yet, but I believe so. The school is on a small portion of our land that I donated for it.  There are only five students. Jackson is his name.  Jackson Smythe.  He’s supposed to start doing church services in October as well.  We don’t have a preacher close enough to take on that duty.”
    She nodded. “Could we just invite him to supper? And skip the party? I would hope that a schoolteacher would be smart enough for my sister.”  She rolled her eyes. “I know it seems like she’s never going to find anyone, but I agree that neither of the men she’s met so far are suitable.”
    The door slammed open and closed, and the couple, who had been standing close, jerked away from one another to look at Coral.  “That man! He told me that I should let him touch me in very inappropriate places so that he could be sure that what I had was all me and not cotton!”
    Esther’s eyes widened, her hand going to her mouth. “I hope you didn’t let him!”
    “Of course not!” Coral looked at Brody. “I’m not impressed with the men who work for you!”
    He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.  “I’m sorry. Esther and I thought he was too old for you anyway.”
    “Well, of course he was. I thought you were so desperate to be rid of me, you’d dump me off on anyone, or I never would have stepped out with him!” Coral rolled up the sleeves to her dress with jerky angry movements. “I’ll wash while you dry, Esther. I need to do some scrubbing to get rid of this anger!”
    Esther hurried to her sister's side to dry the dishes as soon as she washed them.  She'd seen Coral in a fit of anger, and it wasn't something she ever cared to see again.  She was a good, caring woman, but if you made her angry, the world might just come crashing down on your head.
    While they worked, Coral grumbled under her breath, and Esther carefully dried each dish, putting it away.  "Why are men so ridiculous?  Why can't they understand women need to be treated with kindness if they want to—to—do that to them?"
    Esther grinned as her sister's enormous vocabulary failed her.  "Probably because they don't need the tender feelings that go with marital relations that ladies do.  A woman wants to know she's loved before she allows a man to touch her that way.  A man will touch any willing woman."
    "That's what I mean!  Why aren't they more discerning?  If word got around that I allowed him to touch me, all the other men would expect the same, but then they wouldn't marry me, because I was tainted. Men are stupid!"
    Esther nodded, willing to agree with anything at that moment to appease her sister's anger.  "They can be."
    Coral sighed.  "Are there no educated men with manners around here?"
    "We talked while you were out with Joseph.  We decided to invite the new schoolmaster over for supper. Brody hasn't met him yet, but he's heard good things.  If he's the schoolmaster, he must be smart.  And presumably, he's not a lecherous old goat. Hopefully, he'll be just perfect for you."
    "You'd do anything to marry me off, wouldn't you? You're choosing him over me."
    "Coral, you're being ridiculous, and you know it.  He's my husband.  There's no question of who I'll choose.  It's my duty to choose his wants and needs over everyone's."
    Coral nodded, her eyes filled with tears.  "I know.  I just—it's so hard to know I have to marry, and I'm not wanted."
    "You know I want you here!  The house is just too small. Maybe we could build a small cabin near the house, and you can come here for meals but have a different place to stay at night."
    Coral sniffed, wiping her nose with her apron.  "It wouldn't be safe.  There are too many