Allegra's Mail Order Husband (Texas Brides Book 3) by Kate Whitsby

Author:Kate Whitsby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mail order groommail order husbandmail order bride in old westmail order bride old west romancemail order marriage
Publisher: Gold Crown

Chapter 18

Carl slid the barn door back and gazed around. The sun cast the shadow of his hat over his face. He squinted into the light, studying the surrounding countryside. Crisp white frost covered the red soil in all directions.

Across the yard, the door of the house swung open and a woman with long black hair looked out. She and Carl exchanged glances before she disappeared inside again.

A minute later, a huge man came to the door and stared across the yard at Carl. His enormous body completely blocked out the door. He had to stoop to get out of the house.

Once outside, he stuck a hat on his head and strode across the yard. He gave Carl a curt nod and stuck out his hand. “I’m Bruce Manfield. You must be Allegra’s husband.”

Carl grinned. “What gave it away?”

“Who else could you be, showing up after she just went to town to get married?” Bruce asked. “What’d you say your name was?”

“I didn’t.” Carl stuck out his hand. “I’m Carl Harris.”

“Good to meet you.” Bruce shook his hand. “You gave Alma a heck of a scare, though. Don’t ask me what she was expecting.” He peeked through the barn door. “Is Allegra in there?”

Carl nodded, but Allegra herself appeared behind him. “Good morning, Bruce. How’s it goin’?”

“Just fine,” he replied. “Alma just told me to come out here and straighten out some strange man in our barn. I told her it couldn’t be anybody but your man, but she insisted I come out and make sure. You two have a good day yesterday?”

Allegra smiled. “I thought we’d spend a few days in town, but there wasn’t anything to do but get married and come home. We got in late, so we decided to spend the night in here.”

Bruce shook his head. “You don’t have to explain yourselves to me. I won’t be sorry to get Amelia off by herself. It gets mighty cramped in the house with all those people around when you just want to snuggle up and have some time with your wife.”

Carl cocked an eyebrow at Bruce. “You’d have trouble fitting in a house that size, wouldn’t you?”

Bruce narrowed his eyes at him. “You might think so, but I fit all right. Anyway, why don’t the two of you come on in to breakfast? I can’t imagine you had a very comfortable night in there.”

“It wasn’t too bad,” Carl replied. “We kept each other warm.”

“I’m sure you did.” Bruce turned back toward the house. “I’ll tell Alma you’re comin’ in.”

He disappeared inside the house.

Carl jerked his head after Bruce. “He’s a regular brick, isn’t he?”

“He’s big,” Allegra agreed. “But you won’t meet a nicer man anywhere.”

Carl nodded. “What’s the other one like?”

“You mean Jude?” she asked. “He’s about as different from Bruce as you could ask for. But he’s mellowed since he got here. Alma softened him up, and after Flora was born, he got to be a pretty decent sort of a fella.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Carl replied.

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