Mail Order Promises by Julianna Blake

Author:Julianna Blake [Blake, Julianna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 18928143
Publisher: Timeless Hearts Press
Published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The next morning, the sun was up all too soon, as was Jake’s apprentice, Edgar.

“Mr. Morgan! What are you doing here?”

Jake was embarrassed to have been caught stretched out on a long bench in the smithy, with nothing but a wool blanket and a pillow he’d taken from the parlor settee at home. He had hoped to get up before his apprentice, and pretend that he’d come in to get an early start.

“Never mind that. Get the fire going and get started on the hinge pins for the Crowley gate.” It came out in a growl—far nastier than Jake had meant.

“Y-yes, sir.” Edgar scurried off to get the iron furnace started.

With a groan, Jake sat up. He’d spent a very long and restless night on the hard plank bench, unable to get comfortable and unable to forget what he had learned about his wife. The morning before, he had headed off to church services with a smile on his face, eager to spend the day with his charming bride. By Monday’s dawn he was sore, miserable, and exhausted, and married to a liar who carried the seed of another man—a violent man.

Have you no compassion? Maybe she did make a mistake—maybe she was selfish. But hasn’t she been through enough?

He made a noise that was closer to a grunt than a laugh. Good to know his conscience was alert and ready to face the day. The last thing he needed was to add guilt to the avalanche of emotions that had overtaken him during the night. He got up and folded the blanket.

She’s barely more than a child. She was looking for help—even if she went about it the wrong way. The real culprit here is Madeline Porter, who made a bundle off you, purporting to put the girls through an “interview process”.

“Ha!” he exclaimed out loud—then bit his lip.

“What was that?” Edgar asked.

“Uh…nothing. Just get that furnace going.”

Interview, my left foot. The greedy woman scooped up the money and sent me a bride with no moral backbone when it comes to the truth!

Jake went to get his leather apron, began tying it on, then tossed it down angrily and strode toward the door. “Edgar, I have some business to attend to. You get those coals hot, and get started on the hinge pins as soon as you can.”

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