Free In Search Of Love: The Story of A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton

forgot family. The Murphys stick together and when one has a problem, they all work together to fix it. You had a problem and we helped take care of it, and from what I’ve seen so far, you did a magnificent job of it. I may give this a try myself,” James answered.
     
    “I’m a Murphy now and I’ll help you out. You can have my copy of The Matrimonial News. I won’t need it any more,” Katerina said.
     
    “I like this girl,” James said.
     
    “Just don’t like her too much,” Patrick said. “She’s taken.”
     
    “Let’s go home,” James said. “It’s time the family met your bride. They’re all anxious to meet her.”
     
    The wagon was loaded, Patrick helped Katerina onto the seat, James flicked the reins and they rode off with Katerina anxious to meet her new family.
     

Chapter 14:  Meeting the Murphy Family
    James stopped the wagon in front of the white clapboard house.  It was two stories and had a porch, facing the south to avoid the direct sun in the afternoon.  Patrick helped Katerina down from the wagon.  He took her hand and said, “Come meet the family.  James will take care of the horse and he and John will bring your things in.”

“When will we go to our place?” she asked.
     
    Patrick said, “We’ll spend the night here, you can get acquainted and we’ll go on to our place tomorrow.  I left our horse and wagon here, so we’ll go home in it.
     
    “Are you ready for this?  They will love you so don’t be nervous.  By the way, we’re a touching bunch, so be ready to be hugged,” he said.
     
    “I’m ready, let’s do it,” Katerina said.
     
    If Katerina had any doubts about being accepted by Patrick’s family, they were quickly dispelled by the greeting of his mother.
     
    “We are blessed by the Lord.  He brought you safely to us.  Welcome to our family Katerina.  I am Margaret, mother to this young upstart.”  She enveloped Katerina in a big hug.  Then she held her back at arms length and said, “My, aren’t you the pretty one though.”
     
    “May I call you Mama Murphy or Mama Margaret?” she asked.  “Thank you for such a warm welcome.”
     
    “Saints above, she’s polite too.  Patrick, you take care of this one or I’ll take my broom to you,” his mother said.
     
    Patrick’s father hugged her in much the same fashion.  “I am Michael, the father of this clan.  Welcome to Oregon, dear.”
     
    “Thank you.  If I may, I’d like to call you Papa.  My Papa is a special person to me and I think you will be also, “ Katerina said.
     
    Patrick’s two sisters, Mary Margaret, and Martha welcomed her warmly also.
     
    John, the second oldest of the Murphys, said, “Katerina, welcome to Oregon.  If you need help keeping him straight, let me know.  I’ve been doing it all his life and I’ll be glad to pass suggestions to you.  This is my wife, Hannah.  We live on the opposite side of this farm from you.”
     
    Hannah smiled and said, “I’m glad you’re here, Katerina.  Now I’m no longer the newcomer to the family.  You’re going to love it here.”
     
    “Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome,” Katerina said.  “It makes a long and difficult trip easier.  I’m an only child and coming to such a large and warm family is very different.  My Papa is a shoemaker and came to America from Germany, as did my Mama.  I finished the Teaching College in Columbus have been teaching in the Columbus public schools.  I hope to continue teaching here, and I hope to make Patrick happy.”
     
    “If you need any help, let me know,” John said.
     
    In Katerina’s home, the noon meal was the hot meal, whereas in the Murphy home, the evening meal was the big one, needed after a hard day's work in the fields.  For dinner, the family was seated around a large table with Patrick’s father at the head of the table and his mother at the other end.  Katerina was seated next to Patrick and his mother on the other