Just a Closer Walk by Faith Blum
Author:Faith Blum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mail Order Bride, Mystery, The Solid Rock, Clean & Wholesome, Mystery, Inspirational, Romance, Wyoming, Short Story, Historical, Christian, Pinkerton
Publisher: Faith Blum
Published: 2016-06-26T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Twelve
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
The following Sunday after church, Joanna and Elizabeth were talking to each other when Joanna spotted a tall man with blond hair walking toward them. âHide me,â she said.
Elizabeth laughed. âWhatever for?â
âThat man is coming again.â
âWho?â Elizabeth looked around. âOh, itâs just Benjamin.â
âJust? Heâs out to befriend me.â
Elizabeth rubbed her forehead. âWhy is this a problem?â
Joanna glanced at the figure coming ever closer. âI donât think he wants to be just friends forever.â
Elizabeth faced her. âYou were coming here as a mail order bride. Whatâs wrong with finding a husband here the right way?â
âI never really wanted to marry. I only came here because I had no choice.â
âHello, Elizabeth, Miss Abernathy.â
Elizabeth spun around. âHi, Benjamin! How are you doing?â
âFine and dandy. Thanks for asking. How have you been? Lane been botherinâ you too much? If so, just let me know. He may be older, but I can still have a go at him if needed.â
Elizabeth laughed. âNo, heâs been a perfect gentleman. Oh, I see someone else I need to talk to. It was nice chatting with you, Joanna.â
Joannaâs eyes widened and her heart dropped to her stomach before jumping back up into her throat. Was Elizabeth really abandoning her?
Benjamin raised his eyebrows. âHow are you, Miss Abernathy?â
Joanna gulped. âIâm fine.â
âI think I heard you were helping Miss Martin with the Williamson children. How is that going?â
âGood. Theyâre sweet children.â
Benjamin smiled. âThat they are. Do you think Miss Martin and Luke will get married?â
Joanna nodded. âItâs just a matter of when. Katie doesnât really need help, but she needs a chaperone.â
They were both quiet for a minute. Joanna knew she should talk about something, but small talk wasnât her forte. That was Katieâs specialty. And Elizabethâs. But both of them were trying to play matchmaker, so she knew she wouldnât get help from either of them.
âDo you make your own clothes, Miss Joanna?â
Benjaminâs question shocked her out of her thoughts. âWhat? Um, yes, I do.â
Benjamin looked her up and down. Anyone else and this would have been downright uncomfortable, but for some reason, she knew he was looking at the dress rather than her.
âYou sew very well. It looks like a different design than most of the dresses the ladies wear.â
Joanna shrugged. âI came from out east. I probably just have a newer fashion than they do.â
âIâm surprised they donât come flocking to you to find out more about the design.â
Joanna smiled. âThey could probably figure it out just by looking at it.â
The conversation stagnated again and this time, Joanna was the one to interrupt the silence. âIt looks like Mr. Reese is ready to go home. Goodbye, Mr. Paul.â
âPlease, call me Benjamin. It sounds like youâre talking to my pa otherwise.â
Joannaâs cheeks warmed. âBut that wouldnât be proper.â
Benjamin shrugged. âOut West, we donât follow as many of those rules. Most young people call each other by their first names, even before they start courting.â
Joanna chewed her lip. âAll right, but then you need to call me Joanna.
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