The Mail Order Bride of Break Heart Bend (Break Heart Brides Book 2) by Rachel Bird

Author:Rachel Bird [Bird, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Beastie Press
Published: 2019-04-17T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Abigail was in her element. The new Mrs. Overstreet was a tremendous success. After church on Sunday, everybody wanted to meet her, and when they did, they swooned with approval.

When the crowd lingering in the churchyard began to dissipate, Lavinia called out cheerfully, “Sally, Damon. It’s time to go. Look lively now.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lickety-split, the two former terrors clambered up into the back of their buckboard. Jonathan handed Lavinia in and proudly drove away.

“She’s a credit to you, Abigail.” Mrs. Grayson pronounced. “A welcome addition to our town.”

“She is a delight,” Mae agreed. “As is the large credit Jonathan has established for her with your store, I would imagine.”

As Abigail had predicted, Lavinia was now charged with redecorating the Overstreet farmhouse, every room, upstairs and down. Grayson’s Household Furniture stood to benefit handsomely.

“And a very good thing that he has,” Abigail said. “Commerce drives prosperity, and prosperity makes for a town worth living in.”

“I think we’re all of one mind on that subject,” Mae said.

Abigail was quite pleased with herself. The more marriages in Break Heart, the more families established, the more pressure there would be to close down Sweet Dee’s. The day that happened would be her sweetest triumph of them all.

The Graysons departed, and Mae joined Faith Steele and Lily Rose.

Abigail had conflicting opinions regarding Sweet Dee’s manager. She was an intelligent, competent businesswoman who deserved admiration for the way she ran the place. She’d raised it up from a mere bawdy house to something finer.

On the other hand, she worked for that woman.

On the other hand, she required that her girls maintain an elegant appearance which brought the modiste its steadiest source of custom.

And the Steele girls had accepted her friendship. Abigail let that be her guide, and she joined the three ladies.

“I’m coming around to your way of thinking,” she told Deputy Faith. She nodded at Polk, who was talking Teddy Gensch’s ear off as the Gensches left the churchyard. “From the moment that man found out who was the mayor, poor Teddy hasn’t had space to breathe.”

Faith nodded absently, but her attention was on the Deckoms, who’d shown up again today. Parson Hood and his sister were talking with Jessop, the other two Deckoms standing close by.

Abigail couldn’t believe their audacity. “This would never have happened if Brady were here. Polk’s of no use.” She suspected him of cowardice, on top of being an unctuous politician.

“Why the sudden interest in church, I wonder?” Mae said. The preacher appeared to be encouraging them to leave. “What are they up to?”

“No good, that’s what,” Lily Rose said. “You’ll notice they don’t let any of their girls come to church.”

Abigail couldn’t help liking Lily Rose for her own sake. It was to her credit the doves of Sweet Dee’s came to church. She might well be an instrument in their salvation.

“I think this is Red John’s way of getting to see a certain someone,” Mae said. “He’s over the moon for Charity, the poor girl.”

Humph. Poor girl my eye.

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