A Quiet Life by Charlotte Thorpe

Author:Charlotte Thorpe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: inspirational, inspirational romance, mail order bride, marriage of convenience, clean fiction
Publisher: Before Someday Publishing

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There was an old tree between the properties where they usually met. Caroline was already sitting on a low branch, her legs swinging excitedly. Ruth slowed her pace. She wasn’t sure she was in the mood for one of Caroline’s stories. Her friend’s escapism was more fun when Ruth could believe something might happen. But she had spent the morning receiving comments on reality and how she needed to face it.

Caroline waited for Ruth to pull herself onto the branch. She seemed to make an effort to calm herself before she said, “You look troubled today.”

“Laura is more determined to get me out of the house than ever.” Ruth sighed and looked back towards her house. “She’s bugging Pa to give me a deadline for choosing a husband.”

“You two have another fight today?”

“No. But only because I managed to hold my tongue. She won’t let me help with anything. When I tried to do some washing this morning, she went on and on about the washing that would need to be done over at Adam Blake’s place.”

Caroline made no comment. She only nodded understandingly.

“Adam Blake seems nice I guess and I know he could use some help with those boys but… They’ve gotten so wild. I know they wouldn’t mind me. I don’t… Daniel Weller is closer to my age but he’s… harsh and… Is it terrible to want to be able to have a conversation with my husband about something other than trapping?”

Ruth’s question was met with a tiny shrug. Caroline never said it out loud but they both knew she regretted her own choice of husband. She never offered opinions on the men courting Ruth. This may have been because she felt unqualified to give advice and it may have been because she didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s regret. It was enough for Ruth that she was listening.

“I know I should be happy that I even have a choice at all,” Ruth said. “I do want to move out to have my own family and I don’t have to be in love. I only want to like him. I wish Laura would give me more time for someone else to come along.” Laura was her father’s second wife. They wed when Ruth was fifteen, three years after her mother died. The two of them had gotten on fairly well at first. But Laura was now expecting her third child and had begun to resent having an extra woman in the house.

Caroline smiled sympathetically before her expression turned giddy. “I know who you’re going to choose,” she said.

“All right, do tell.” Ruth was more relaxed now that she’d shared her frustrations – again – and she closed her eyes to let her imagination take over. “Will it be the injured passerby or the neighbor I didn’t know I had?”

“He’s sort of both. Although he’s not injured. He’s sort of passing by but he used to be a neighbor. Now that he’s back he’s going to be instantly smitten with you and want to take you home with him.

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