The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson

Author:Mona Hodgson [Hodgson, Mona]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-307-73031-2
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2012-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

Carter glanced up at the mantel clock. Again. Half past five.

He and Boney Hughes had stopped by Miss Hattie’s Boardinghouse nearly an hour ago to talk with Vivian, and she still wasn’t back.

The landlady told them Vivian had gotten the job at the newspaper but had to quit due to problems working with the chemicals and ink. Miss Hattie pulled her teacup from the side table beside her chair. “Vivian’s been out looking for a job most every day.”

Commendable, and he hoped she found suitable work, but the thought of her returning home so late in the day made his shoulders tight. It wasn’t safe for a young woman like her, attractive and naive, having only recently come from the East. “You said Vivian … um, Miss Sinclair usually returns home by four o’clock?”

“Yes. But if she’s found work, those arrangements could detain her.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t forget … she does have a passel of sisters.” Boney drained his coffee mug. He’d chosen to sit on the brick hearth. “Could’ve met up with any one of ’em and stopped somewhere to jaw.”

Miss Hattie stiffened and narrowed her eyes at the miner.

“Now don’t go gettin’ your feathers ruffled, Hattie,” Boney said. “Didn’t mean any disrespect. Just sayin’ that those young women could outtalk a gaggle.”

Carter snickered, earning a scowl from the widow.

“Don’t encourage the old coot,” she said.

“Yes ma’am.”

“For your information, Boney Hughes, women don’t jaw.” She stuck out her pinky and raised her cup to her mouth. “We leave that to old miners.”

Boney chuckled, revealing gaps between his teeth.

Miss Hattie leaned toward Carter. “Are you ready for a refill?”

“No ma’am. Thank you.” Carter lifted the cup to his mouth and breathed deeply of the brew’s aroma, hoping to adjourn his nerves. Contrary to his first impression, Vivian wasn’t a mere girl. She was a bright young woman, and he needn’t worry about her. But he did, anyway. She was his friend, after all.

“Hattie, you might want to give the deputy a nice, calming chamomile next time.” Boney grinned, holding out his pinky.

Miss Hattie nodded and walked to the window. “You do seem a little edgy where our youngest Sinclair sister is concerned, deputy.”

“Miss Sinclair is new here. A single woman.” He probably shouldn’t have emphasized that point, given Miss Hattie’s reputation as a matchmaker. “She’s inexperienced with the West and its ways. I don’t like the thought of any young woman being out alone when the sun goes down.”

A woman like Vivian shouldn’t have to work for her livelihood. She should be courted and wed to a man who …

Who what? Carter argued. With himself.

A man who appreciated the love and affection of a bold and independent woman and provided for her.

Miss Hattie pulled the lace curtain back from the window. “Vivian has a good head on her shoulders. She’ll be in before dark. Why, that looks like her now.”

“See.” Boney looked Carter’s way, and then joined Miss Hattie at the window. “All that fuss over nothin’.”

Miss Hattie and Boney suddenly looked at one another.

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