Oregon Bride by Rosanne Bittner

Author:Rosanne Bittner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Historical
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

The day passed quickly. After visiting with the priest, Josh and Marybeth went inside the fort and bought supplies. Marybeth found a soft pink dress with a bodice that was cut in a scalloped design and revealed just enough of her full breasts to bring out all her womanly beauty. The fitted waist accented her own small waist, and when she looked at it in the mirror in a back room of the supply store, she was surprised at the happy face that looked back at her. Yes, she felt beautiful, more beautiful than Dan had ever made her feel. She bought pink combs to match the dress, which she would use to pull back her auburn hair at the sides. Her shoes were badly worn, and Josh insisted she buy new ones—a good pair for her wedding, and a sturdier pair for walking. He bought clothes for Danny and food and other supplies, and Marybeth bought a nightgown that she would not let him see.

“Josh, you’ll run out of money before we get to Oregon,” she fussed.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve never had much to spend my money on up to now, and I saved a long time for this trip; figured I might get married after I got there and would need money. I sure never figured I’d get married before I got there.”

Her eyes saddened. “I am so sorry I cannot present you with a dowry. In Ireland it is the custom. I am embarrassed.”

Josh lit a thin cigar and grinned. “Well, you’re not in Ireland, so don’t worry about it. Besides, you do have a dowry. You’ve got Danny, and he’s worth more than a few coins and property. And your own beauty is your dowry. Just getting you is treasure enough.”

She smiled softly, and they left the store, so loaded up they needed Delores and Aaron to help carry their supplies. “Now, don’t you think I had a good idea saying we’d wait a day?” Josh asked her. “We could never have done all this and got married, too, and we still have the wagons to rearrange.”

They slowed as they noticed the MacKinders coming toward them. Marybeth’s heart pounded wildly at the sight of John MacKinder back on his feet. He walked using a thick branch for a cane, grasping it with his left hand. His right arm still hung in a sling. His face was mottled green and purple, and at the moment he glared at Josh with more hatred than Marybeth had ever seen in any man’s eyes.

“Afternoon, folks,” Josh spoke up jovially. “Good to see you up and around, John. I guess a MacKinder man can still get up and hold his head proudly, even after landing flat on his back for the first time.”

Josh and Aaron both grinned at the remark, but it was obvious John saw no humor in it. He turned dark eyes to Marybeth, and Josh felt a silent rage at the thought of how the man’s brother must have once treated her.

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