Mail Order Beau by Maya Stirling

Author:Maya Stirling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maya Stirling

CHAPTER TWELVE

The next morning she awoke in a new bed, in a new house and with no-one next to her. She reached over and rubbed the undisturbed pillow, thinking of the previous night. How could it have turned out so badly? Why had she done what she'd done? She couldn't figure it out at all. Her decision to deny him seemed to have come from a very dark place inside herself; a place she hadn't known existed.

Oh Martha, she thought. What are you doing?

She got dressed as quickly as she could. The early morning sun was bright when she looked out the window. Below, there was a bustle of activity. Men, some of whom she recognized from yesterday's wedding, were going about their business; they obviously believed in early starts on the ranch.

She was surprised to see the case containing the small amount of her things outside the bedroom door. She figured Logan must have brought it during the night; or it might have been Mrs. Proudie. The ache from the previous night burned in her heart, but she pushed it down and decided to get on with the day.

When she was ready, she went downstairs for her first day as the lady of the ranch. It sounded so strange when she thought of it like that.

She went to the kitchen and found Mrs.Proudie busy making a breakfast. It smelled good, and Martha realized she was more hungry than she had thought she was.

Mrs. Proudie turned when Martha entered the kitchen. She fixed Martha with a wide grin.

"Good morning Mrs. Crawford."

Martha stopped in her tracks when she heard herself addressed like that. It would take some getting used to.

"Good morning Mrs. Proudie," she answered. "It's a fine looking day."

"It sure is a lovely day. The perfect kind of day for you to start your new life, my dear."

"Can I help you with anything?" Martha asked.

"Not at all. You take a seat right there. I'm going to serve you up a breakfast fit for the new lady of the house."

Martha took a seat at the table. She wondered where Logan was.

"Has Logan had breakfast?" she asked Mrs. Proudie.

Mrs. Proudie nodded sagely. "You obviously don't know your husband's early rising habits."

"I take it he's already out at work," Martha said.

"He sure is. Like every morning. I have never known a man like him who can get up with the dawn. It's a good habit. Sets the tone for the rest of the ranch hands."

Martha tried to shake the sleep from her head. She was looking forward to the coffee she could smell. She had to admit to a certain disappointment that Logan hadn't waited around for her, so that they could share their first morning breakfast. She wasn't surprised after the events of last night.

She had woken a few times in the night, disturbed by the strangeness of the new house, and the unfamiliar noises. She had lain in the bed, in the dark. If she had been asked, she would have admitted that she had been hoping for his return.

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