Caroline's Promise (Valentine Mail Order Bride 5) by Faith Parsons

Author:Faith Parsons [Parsons, Faith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sweet & Clean, Mail-Order Bride, Historical, Frontier, Western, Romance, Valentine's, Holiday, Cupid, Hearts, Flowers, YWCA, Bible Study Group, Christian, Inspirational, Religious, Short Story, Fiction, Forever Love, Faith, Spirituality, Bachelor, Single Woman, Seven Friends, Marriage Of Convenience, Orphaned, Factory Job, Okinawan Grandmother, The Matrimonial Times, Rancher
Publisher: Sweet Clean Book Club
Published: 2016-02-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Dressed in her Sunday best, Caroline followed Max out into the sunny churchyard to join the rest of the congregation. She’d slept on the parlor couch last night, thinking it best to give him time to cool off before they spoke again. It must have been the right decision, because he’d woken her up with an apology. He’d made coffee while she cooked breakfast, and by the time they’d finished eating, she had hope that whatever damage she’d done to their relationship would heal over time.

But that didn’t change the fact that they were up to their ears in debt.

She waited until Max was in deep conversation with the feed store owner to slip away on a mission of her own. She found Juliet drinking punch with several other teens, and beckoned for the girl to join her.

“Wasn’t that a lovely service? Did you see Elyse’s hat? She just got it from a specialty shop in Chicago. I didn’t know peacock feathers would be so shiny. Have you ever seen a peacock before?”

Caroline smiled. “Yes, yes, I didn’t either, and no. Who here works at the bank?”

“Mr. Carver is the teller,” Juliet nodded at a thin, light-haired man in a beige jacket, then turned to nod again at an older, portly gentleman in a pinstriped black suit, “and Mr. Maier is branch manager. Why?”

“I need to speak with them about our mortgage,” Caroline said, then realized Max might not be happy if he learned she’d been talking about their finances. “It’s a secret. You can keep a secret, right?”

Juliet’s eyes got big. “Yes, absolutely, without a doubt, my lips are sealed.”

Good grief. I’ll be lucky if that girl lasts a day without mentioning it to Bart. But maybe a day would be enough time to find a solution. If she could show Max a clear path out of debt, maybe he would forgive her for taking the initiative.

Glancing first in her husband’s direction to be sure he was still talking to the feed store owner, Caroline approached Mr. Maier.

The man smiled at her and offered his hand as he congratulated her on her wedding. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to attend the reception, I just got back into town last night.”

She nodded. “You’d be welcome to stop by any time for tea. It would be a pleasure to get to know you.”

“Thank you,” the older man said, but he glanced in Max’s direction. Caroline couldn’t help but wonder what arguments Max might have had with the banker.

“May I be frank, Mr. Maier?”

That got the bank manager’s attention. “Please.”

“I’m aware that my husband’s account keeping might not be entirely up-to-date, and I wondered if I might make an appointment to discuss our mortgage with you.”

“If you’re thinking to beg for mercy, I don’t know that it’ll do much good, ma’am. Max is already two payments behind. My hands are tied when it comes to a delinquent account. The home office has processes, and I’ve already done what I can to delay them.

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