Free The Montana Doctor's Bride (New Brides of Montana) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page B

carriage.
     
    “Let’s go inside, and then I’ll come back for our things.”  He retrieved the key from the hiding place he and Jack Owens had agreed upon, unlocked the door and held it open for her. 
     
    “Let me show you around,” he said.  He led the way through the house, pointing out his office and the dining room he had used for surgery.  “I may have to change this if we need the room,” he said.
     
    “I love it,” she said.  “And so clean.  You’re a better housekeeper than I would have anticipated.  It looks so fresh.”
     
    He laughed.  “I suspect you’re seeing the handiwork of Letty Owens.  She is the wife of Jack Owens, the preacher at the Christian Church.  They looked after the place while I was away.”
     
    “I shall have to thank her,” she said. 
     
    “Why don’t you take a look in the kitchen and see what we might need from the store.  Silas keeps his shelves pretty well stocked, so we should find most of what we need.  I’ll get the rest of the things and put the horse in the stable.”
     
    When he came back in, she said, “Carter, off hand, I don’t see anything we need immediately.  The pantry seems pretty full to me.”
     
    “Letty again,” he said.  “You’re going to love her.  I consider the two of them my best friends.  The church is sort of a gathering place for the townspeople.  It is important to me, and I want to introduce you and Carter to everyone.  Having such a beautiful wife is going to make me the envy of everyone.”
     
    “I love the way you talk, Carter Palmer, and I love you.  I am going to be happy here.  It’s just as beautiful as you described in your letters.  I hope I can make you as happy as you have me.”
     
    “You did, when you agreed to marry me,” he said.  “It’s awfully quiet, where’s Carter?” he asked.  They went into the living room.  Carter was fast asleep on the floor, his legs scrunched under him and his behind in the air.  “Poor little guy, he’s exhausted.  It’s been a hard week for him,” he picked him up and deposited him in the bed.  He didn’t stir as they backed out of the room.
     
    “Delicious!” proclaimed after finishing the first meal Elizabeth had prepared in her new kitchen.  “It is certainly better than my feeble attempts at cooking.”
     
    “Thank you,” she said, “although I suspect you’d say that about gopher if I cooked it.”
     
    “I doubt it,” he said.  “I don’t think I would like gopher, though I may have eaten it when I was in the field with the army.  We called some of the stuff the cook prepared mystery meat, with added seasoning to disguise its spoiled nature.  When you’re out for a time, you live off the land, and there’s not much choice.”
     
    * * *
     
    “Are you ready to meet some of the townspeople?” he asked.
     
    “I’d like that,” Elizabeth said.  “I’ll get Carter dressed, and freshen up a bit and we can go.”
     
    “Which Carter do you mean?  There’s two of us, remember?”
     
    “I was talking about Little Carter.  You can dress yourself,” she said laughing.
     
    “Did I tell you yet this morning how much I love you,” he asked. 
     
    “I don’t think so, but if you did, it could bear repeating,” she said.
     
    Taking her in his arms, he kissed her.  “I love you, Elizabeth, with all of my heart and soul.”
     

Chapter 17:  Friends
    “Elizabeth, this is my friend, and the owner of the store, Silas Farmer.  Silas has been a big help to me since I came to Helena.
     
    “Silas, my wife, Elizabeth, and the little guy is Carter.  Elizabeth is the reason I went back to Maryland.  I didn’t want to risk anyone else getting her.”
     
    “Welcome to Helena, Elizabeth.  We think a lot of Doc.  We think he’s the best doctor in Montana.
     
    He patted Carter’s hand.  “What a handsome little man.  You have a nice looking family,” he said to Carter. With them here, maybe we have a good