Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) Read Online Free Page A

don’t think
I’ve ever been able to completely clear my plate whenever peas have been served.
You see, because of their shape, I simply can’t catch all those little rascals.”
    Everyone
laughed about the peas which put the whole table more at ease. And in this way,
the conversation began. They all had a fine time. The food was delectable, the
atmosphere relaxed and charming. But Corrin reserved her judgment. One
successful dinner didn’t mean this was going to be easy.
    And much to
everyone’s pleasure, Amelia enchanted them all with her wit and humor. It
astonished Corrin to discover how capable she was of doing many things without
the assistance of others. This lessened her apprehensions about the whole
situation considerably, and she soon allowed herself to enjoying the company of
her two closest friends and her charming niece.
    Amelia was
able to sustain a conversation about any topic, either by contributing her own
knowledge or by asking questions to gain the information she lacked. But Corrin
sensed her niece avoiding much conversation with her. She had the feeling
Amelia held a low opinion of her, probably because of her occupation. And yet
this girl wanted to live there with her? Corrin bristled at the thought. Why
had she signed those papers earlier today? Had Mr. Johnston somehow tricked her
into this? Surely she had a choice in the matter.
    Amelia
certainly kept the gentlemen’s interest by asking them about their lumber
operations which they were more than happy to talk about. They looked pleased
that she was showing such a genuine interest in their work. They informed her that
the Glory Gulch Sawmill, owned by Mr. Strupel, was located about a mile outside
of town on the Colorado River. His workers who didn’t have families in town
bunked up the mountain at the Cowan Brother’s Logging Company. They told her
that with the Denver-Rio Grande Railroad making its way through the mountains
and the booming gold and silver mining towns in the area, they were making a
small fortune in the lumber business with their green gold .
    “But, you
haven’t told us much abort yourself, Miss Jackson,” Jeremiah said.
    “Well, my
mother and I lived in a modest house. She kept me busy by always trying to
stretch my mind in one way or another. She couldn’t afford to send me to a
school for the blind, but she did send away for many of their textbooks and
taught me herself.”
    “What kind of
things did she teach you?” Corrin asked, hoping some of it would be useful to
her.
    “Well, how to
use this cane to get around without bruising myself and how to count paces
whenever I go somewhere so I could negotiate trips around town by myself. She
taught me how to read Braille and taught me geography, arithmetic, religion,
manners and music.” Amelia sighed and lowered her head a bit.
    Corrin’s heart
tugged at her. She knew this girl had lost everything just four months ago. She
studied her niece’s features---so like her sister Grace, so like her own. If
things had turned out different over two decades ago, would this have been her
own daughter eating dinner with her?
     “Miss
Jackson,” Paul said. “I don’t think you are aware of this, but you and Corrin
look very much alike. You even have the same hair color and both of you have
those lovely blue-gray eyes, even though I think yours are prettier.” He winked
at Corrin.
    Had he heard
her private ruminations? Her pulse quickened. She had to get control of her
thoughts, lest they betray her. She’d managed to keep them hidden all these
years; she’d now have to be very careful not to reveal too much.
    “Thank you,
Mr. Strupel. I’ve been told that I have my father’s eyes. But my favorite color
is pink.”
    Corrin stared
at her. How could a blind person possibly have a favorite color?
    “And why are
you so partial to the color pink?” Mr. Strupel asked, a smile playing across
his handsome face.
    Corrin had
always thought Paul to be handsome, but she had