New Love In the West by Beth Overton

Author:Beth Overton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mail order brides, 1800s america, four historical romances, four christian romances, bundle historical western romances
Publisher: Beth Overton

Charlotte changed into her dinner clothes and slowly unpacked her trunk. It seemed an eternity had passed since Jim had left the room and Charlotte was, perhaps unnecessarily, nervous about the outcome of his talk with Mrs. Zamzow.

She knew now, of course, that she would stay here with Jim no matter what. At the same time, she wondered how she could possibly live with herself if their marriage forced Jim’s mother to leave the farm.

After what seemed like hours, Charlotte heard a knock on her door.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Charlotte?” Jim’s voice answered, “Mama would like you to help her set the table for dinner.”

Charlotte opened the door to find Jim standing just outside. A question must have lined her face because he chuckled and lightly touched her arm.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “it’ll be fine.”

Charlotte smiled nervously at him and not entirely reassured, she made her way down the hall to the kitchen.

Mrs. Zamzow stood at the table with a set of four plates in hand. She looked up when Charlotte entered.

“Charlotte,” she said.

Charlotte was amazed to hear her first name come from Mrs. Zamzow. Until that point, she had always called her Miss Lewis.

“If you would, please get four spoons from the cutlery drawer. That is the one just next to the stove.”

Mrs. Zamzow’s voice was not the harsh and cold tone Charlotte had grown used to. This tone was soft, almost kind.

Charlotte slightly dumbfounded, went to fetch the spoons from the drawer.

When she returned, she put them at their proper place next to the plates Mrs. Zamzow was still setting. They worked in silence for a moment before Mrs. Zamzow spoke once more.

“Jim told me about what happened to you in Boston,” she said still fiddling with the last plate and refusing to look at Charlotte.

“I must say, I am glad that you were able to remove yourself from such a man. Lord knows, there were many times during my marriage when I wish I’d had such bravery.”

There was a moment’s pause during which Mrs. Zamzow continued to unnecessarily straighten the plate, as though she was afraid to look up. Charlotte had a feeling that she should say something to comfort her future mother in law, but no words would come. She simply stood mute by the final chair where she had set down her own spoon. The moment passed however, and Mrs. Zamzow straightened and seemed to collect herself.

“Now, Charlotte,” she said, regaining a crisp, clipped voice that, while devoid of the coldness, retained a certain harsh tone, “If you will kindly call the men to supper. We will have no dessert this evening, I am afraid,” she said moving into the kitchen, “however, tomorrow, I will teach you to make apple strudel. We will use my family recipe.”

With that, Mrs. Zamzow turned back to the stove.

Smiling, Charlotte walked down the hall towards Jim’s room remembering what he had told her when she first arrived at the farm, ‘Soon she’ll be sharing her famous apple strudel recipe with you. That’s how you know she approves.

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