Bluebonnet Bride by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Harlequin Special Releases
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Where was he? Linnea had been watching the yard since before sunup, and still there was no sign that he’d been here. No flowers and no flash of his impudent grin as he tried to outsmart her.

The sun blazed above the horizon, bright on a world of rustling grasses and fragrant prairie. Wildflowers streaked color through the fields as she tried to keep an eye out for him while she worked.

Plunk. The tin bucket flew out of her hand. Milk splashed across the front of her skirts and onto the dusty ground. The spray-legged, knobby-kneed calf hopped back a few steps in alarm and bawled at the top of its powerful lungs.

“Easy, little one.” Linnea held out her hand, and the doe-eyed calf raced back to the safety of her skirts. She rubbed velvety ears until the animal was comforted and then retrieved the pail. “Next time, don’t butt the bucket.”

The calf bleated and rammed his head against the pail.

Laughing, Linnea turned just in time to see a splash of purple-blue on the porch step.

That man! What had he been doing? Waiting for the one minute her back was turned?

She scanned the tall grasses, seed heavy and nodding drowsily in the warm morning breeze, but she couldn’t see him. He could be halfway home by now, hidden by the gentle roll and draw of the prairie. The day ahead of her suddenly seemed bleak because she hadn’t seen him.

There were the happy yellow faces of brown-eyed Susans in the bouquet today, mixed with the delicate bluebonnets. Beside the bouquet of flowers sat a small box tied with a pretty blue thread.

What was Seth up to? Heart pounding, Linnea eased down on the steps and cradled the box in her hand. She tugged at the bow, and the string fell away from the package. A folded note fluttered to her lap.

“Are you done with your chores, dotter?” Mama called cheerfully from inside the house. “We need to get an early start cleaning. What a hot day it promises to be.”

“I’m nearly finished.”

Linnea stared at the note in her hand, too afraid to open it.

It was only a piece of paper, she scolded, and unfolded the square of paper.

“Linnea,” she read in a man’s bold, disciplined handwriting. “I would like to come courting this afternoon. I’ll be by with my buggy at two o’clock and hope that you say yes.”

There was no signature, just, “Respectfully, your secret admirer.”

She folded the note into careful quarters and hid it in her skirt pocket. Her hands shook so hard she didn’t try to open his gift.

I would like to come courting. His written words echoed in her heart. He was a handsome, successful army major with a kind manner and a sense of humor she loved, and he was courting her. Her. Linnea Holmstrom.

She set the box she held on her lap and found the courage to lift the lid. Inside was a seamstress set, glistening with gold accents and hand-painted enamel.

* * *

Seth took one look at Linnea walking down the road in his direction and knew what she was doing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.