Just a Closer Walk by Faith Blum

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. “Hide me,” she said.

Elizabeth laughed. “Whatever for?”

“That man is coming again.”

“Who?” Elizabeth looked around. “Oh, it’s just Benjamin.”

“Just? He’s out to befriend me.”

Elizabeth rubbed her forehead. “Why is this a problem?”

Joanna glanced at the figure coming ever closer. “I don’t think he wants to be just friends forever.”

Elizabeth faced her. “You were coming here as a mail order bride. What’s wrong with finding a husband here the right way?”

“I never really wanted to marry. I only came here because I had no choice.”

“Hello, Elizabeth, Miss Abernathy.”

Elizabeth spun around. “Hi, Benjamin! How are you doing?”

“Fine and dandy. Thanks for asking. How have you been? Lane been botherin’ you too much? If so, just let me know. He may be older, but I can still have a go at him if needed.”

Elizabeth laughed. “No, he’s been a perfect gentleman. Oh, I see someone else I need to talk to. It was nice chatting with you, Joanna.”

Joanna’s 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. “How are you, Miss Abernathy?”

Joanna gulped. “I’m fine.”

“I think I heard you were helping Miss Martin with the Williamson children. How is that going?”

“Good. They’re sweet children.”

Benjamin smiled. “That they are. Do you think Miss Martin and Luke will get married?”

Joanna nodded. “It’s just a matter of when. Katie doesn’t really need help, but she needs a chaperone.”

They were both quiet for a minute. Joanna knew she should talk about something, but small talk wasn’t her forte. That was Katie’s specialty. And Elizabeth’s. But both of them were trying to play matchmaker, so she knew she wouldn’t get help from either of them.

“Do you make your own clothes, Miss Joanna?”

Benjamin’s question shocked her out of her thoughts. “What? Um, yes, I do.”

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.

“You sew very well. It looks like a different design than most of the dresses the ladies wear.”

Joanna shrugged. “I came from out east. I probably just have a newer fashion than they do.”

“I’m surprised they don’t come flocking to you to find out more about the design.”

Joanna smiled. “They could probably figure it out just by looking at it.”

The conversation stagnated again and this time, Joanna was the one to interrupt the silence. “It looks like Mr. Reese is ready to go home. Goodbye, Mr. Paul.”

“Please, call me Benjamin. It sounds like you’re talking to my pa otherwise.”

Joanna’s cheeks warmed. “But that wouldn’t be proper.”

Benjamin shrugged. “Out West, we don’t follow as many of those rules. Most young people call each other by their first names, even before they start courting.”

Joanna chewed her lip. “All right, but then you need to call me Joanna.



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