Leora_Bride of California by Kit Morgan

Author:Kit Morgan [Morgan, Kit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Victorian Era, western, Thirty-First In Series, saga, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, short story, American Mail-Order Bride, Bachelor, Single Woman, marriage of convenience, Christian, Religious, Faith, inspirational, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Pastor, Congregation, Parishioners, Over-Zealous, Hilarious Romp, Strengths, Volunteer, Christmas Party, holiday, Mistletoe, California
Publisher: Angel Creek Press
Published: 2015-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

The next morning Leora found herself sipping tea in the parlor of Mrs. Oliver, a petite woman with dark hair streaked with gray and big chocolate-brown eyes. “Why yes,” Mrs. Oliver commented. “For years Mrs. Pleet was president, but it’s been a long time since she’s held the position. The current president has held it for far too long, if you ask my opinion.”

“Hildy’s right,” Mrs. Brown agreed. “We need a new president. Please tell us you’ll consider it?”

Leora bit her bottom lip and tried not to sigh in exasperation. She’d done enough of that the night before at the supper table. “With Christmas play rehearsals, I’m not sure if I’ll have the time.”

“You wouldn’t take the post until January,” Mrs. Oliver informed her. “You won’t have the Christmas play to worry about anymore.”

“Yes, but … there’s the winter concerts,” Leora stammered.

“Which also end before the post begins. More tea?” Mrs. Brown offered.

These women weren’t taking no for an answer. Hadn’t she already told them as much before the tea was poured? “You’re very kind to offer me the position, but I’m not sure if I’ll have the time, even if the position doesn’t begin until then.”

“Of course you will,” said Mrs. Oliver. “The post lasts for one year.”

“I thought you said the current president has had it for longer,” Leora said, then thought, did she say that?

The two matrons glanced at each other and began to fidget. “True,” Mrs. Oliver said, “our current president may have held the post longer than normal, but…

“Why?” Leora asked. “If the post is only supposed to be for one year, what is she still there?”

“Well … you see … it’s just that …,” Mrs. Brown began.

“No one was available for the post until now,” Mrs. Oliver finished for her.

“No one?” Leora asked in disbelief. “What makes you think I’m available?”

“Well, because you’re new here, of course,” Mrs. Brown said, as if Leora was naïve for even asking.

“What has that got to do with anything?” she asked. Really, this was getting ridiculous. “Who is the current president?”

The matrons paled.

“Oh no. Don’t tell me it’s Mrs. Rutherford?”

Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Oliver exchanged a guilty look. “I’m afraid so,” Mrs. Oliver confessed. “But she’s too busy for the post and … and doesn’t give it the attention it needs. The Ladies’ Society for Godly Living needs, er … fresh blood, you might say.”

Leora, not caring at this point about being ladylike, placed her elbows on her knees and put her face in her hands. “Mrs. Rutherford is going to have my head,” she mumbled through her fingers.

“Now, it’s not as bad as all that,” Mrs. Brown said, giving Leora’s knee a pat. “We vote on it, you know. It’s not like we’re going to just toss Ophelia out.”

Leora looked up. “But no one knows me. What makes you think I’ll get more votes?”

Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Oliver exchanged another quick glance. “Let’s just say that Ophelia has served the presidency past her term. She needs a break.

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