Victoria: Bride of Kansas (American Mail-Order Bride 34) by E.E. Burke

Author:E.E. Burke [Burke, E.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Victorian Era, Western, Thirty-Fourth In Series, Saga, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, Short Story, American Mail-Order Bride, Bachelor, Single Woman, Marriage Of Convenience, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Kansas, Jilted, Irish Suitor, Scrooge, Holidays, Christmas, Mistletoe, Greetings, Divorced, Daughter, Single Father, Proof, Troubled Child, Christmas Miracle
Publisher: Virtual Bookpublishing, LLC.
Published: 2015-12-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

One week later

“David’s returned with the trees!” Maggie’s shout echoed up the stairs, audible all the way to the kitchen where Victoria sat, helping Fannie with her lessons.

Fannie looked up from the primer and her eyes glowed. She used her fingers to spell.

Tree.

The little imp had picked up the sign language alphabet in a surprisingly short time, and could spell their names and simple words. Which just proved what Victoria suspected all along—Fannie was a very bright child.

Victoria closed the book and set it aside. Her charge was too excited to focus on studies this afternoon. “Enough reading. Let’s go find our Christmas tree, shall we?”

Fannie didn’t need to be told twice. She leapt up and raced out the door, pigtails flying, leaving Victoria to follow in her wake. The storeroom wasn’t as frigid as usual. Maggie must’ve added extra wood to the stove while David was away.

Outside, the temperatures had dropped, and overnight, several inches of snow had fallen. After sweeping and shoveling parts of the walk not covered by the porch roof, David had left to collect a shipment of Christmas trees. He’d encouraged Fannie to stay with Victoria and work on her lessons. That suited Victoria just fine. She needed time to strengthen the fragile bond forming with her soon-to-be stepdaughter.

Her doubts about David had all but vanished over the past week. After their confrontation, he’d undergone a transformation. Instead of avoiding her, he sought her out at every opportunity. During the day, he would happen to brush up against her, or touch her arm or fingers as he passed by. Each night he spent time sitting with her on the sofa, sharing his dreams and talking about their future. Once, he’d cornered her when no one was around and had stolen a kiss.

She had written to her friend Roberta and told her all about David, and how she could hardly wait until Christmas Eve. It wouldn’t be long now, and marrying him would be the best present she could receive.

As she entered the store, she smelled a sweet aroma. “Umm. Fresh baked pies?”

“Mrs. Murphy’s pecan pies, to be exact. You just missed her.” From behind the counter, Maggie gestured outside to where a stout woman bundled in a cape and bonnet was being assisted into a buggy.

Her burly companion turned to help David unload evergreens stacked in the back of the wagon. They lined up the lashed trees along the side of the building.

“This is the first year David has sold Christmas trees,” Maggie said. “I hope they do well.”

“I’m sure they will. They’re very popular in Boston.” A thrill of anticipation shot through Victoria. She caught up with Fannie near the front of the store. “We should go select our tree before the best ones are taken.”

“David will want the best ones left for the customers.” Maggie lifted a pie out of a box on the counter and bent down to set it inside the glassed display case. “Doesn’t matter anyway, he won’t allow a tree upstairs.

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