Picture Bride by Yvonne Lehman

Author:Yvonne Lehman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

“See,” Clay said. “All that worry for nothing. Your sister is fine. It’s just that you two communicate about as well as our interisland system, which is almost nil.”

“Communication between me and my sister is not the problem, Mr. C. If this is on the level, then it’s a problem between you and your”—she paused—“your friend.”

How well he knew. But he wasn’t going to admit it until he had to.

“Send a wire to her,” she said. “Ask if she’s alone and where she is.”

He did. The words came back:

With Geoffrey’s parents. He and I are in love.

“Geoffrey?” she said, shaking her head and looking helpless. Her eyes closed as tears trickled down her cheeks.

How many times had he said he had never hurt any woman. He could no longer claim that. This one was hurting. “You want to send another message?”

“Just tell her I love her and be sure to telegram what time she will arrive.”

She turned to Matilda. “Breanna says she’s all right and in love with someone named Geoffrey,” repeating the message as if Matilda hadn’t heard it and Mary Ellen couldn’t believe it.

“Then she is all right,” Clay said.

“According to the telegram, yes. But I can’t be sure.” Her eyes threatened him. “She came to Hawaii because she was in love with you.”

He scoffed and heard his voice rise at least an octave. “In love with a photo?”

Her lips trembled. Her eyes became teary again, and she turned away. Matilda put her arm around Miss Colson’s shoulders.

❧

Clay dressed in his finest, taking particular care to look like a decent, respectable gentleman attending church. Before the service, he spoke to Jacob.

“Sorry I couldn’t bring Geoffrey with me, Jacob. But I talked to him, and he may be here on Monday. I’ll let him know you’d like to see him.”

Disappointment settled on Jacob’s face but he thanked Clay and turned to shake another person’s hand and speak to him.

“Good morning, Clay.” That was Rose’s voice. He turned to see her, Matilda, and Miss Colson. The older women, as usual, were dressed like owners of a dress shop, in latest Western fashion.

Miss Colson looked serene but lovely, as if everything about her was perfect, exactly as it should be. Any decent, respectable gentleman would be proud to win her approval.

Miss Colson did not extend her hand; she simply nodded as an acknowledgment that he existed.

He felt his pasted-on smile disappear when Matilda spoke in a reprimanding way. “Well, Claybourne Honeycutt. It’s about time you got yourself back in church.”

Leave it to Matilda!

“Matilda, Rose.” Jeannette Hammeur, holding her skirt with one hand and her hat with the other, rushed up to them. “Oh, Miss Colson. That’s right, isn’t it?”

At the affirmative nod, the woman frowned. “Did you find your sister?”

When Miss Colson said yes, Jeannette lifted her hands. “Praise the Lord. I prayed you would.” She turned to Matilda and Rose. “Do you have any word on that dress I wanted?”

Clay took the opportunity to try to show there was a hospitable side to him.

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