Brides of Iowa Read Online Free Page B

His promises. If that verse was a promise, it surely wasn’t meant for her. Only people worthy of God’s love received His favor, and Papa always said she “wasn’t worth nothin’.”

    The morning sun fell across the ledger as Gideon added up the last column one more time. He totaled up the net profits and frowned at the number. The grim number remained the same no matter how many times he reworked the figures. Every month since Kilgore bought the Willow Creek Emporium, that number shrank a bit more.
    He blew out a noisy sigh and slammed the journal shut. The bell on the front door jingled, and Gideon looked up to see the preacher entering the store. “Hello, Pastor Witherspoon. What can I get for you today?”
    “Morning, Gideon.” The silver-headed pastor handed Gideon a scrap of paper. “Here’s my wife’s list. How’s business?”
    “Well Pastor, things are getting a little tighter all the time.”
    Fatherly concern deepened the lines around the preacher’s eyes. “That a fact? Does this have anything to do with Henry Kilgore taking over the Emporium?”
    Gideon pulled two cans of applesauce from the shelf and set them on the counter before pausing to look at the preacher. “I know every man has a right to make a living.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Kilgore is undercutting my price on just about everything. I understand that times are tough. If folks can save a few cents by going to the Emporium, I don’t suppose I can blame them.” He heaved a deep sigh. “But Pastor, he’s pulling so many of my regular customers away from me, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to stay in business. And I’ve cut my own prices to the bare minimum.”
    Gideon cast a glance toward the boardwalk and lowered his voice. “For the past two years, Kilgore’s been buying up businesses all over town. He owns the hotel and, of course, his saloons, the newspaper, the tannery, even seven or eight of the farms around here. He practically forced Mr. Lee to sell the Emporium last year. Cully told me Kilgore is trying to buy the livery. Why?”
    The preacher frowned. “I can’t understand why Kilgore is doing this. Besides the Emporium, seems like he owns half the town now, and I hear tell he’s trying to buy the bank.”
    “The bank? Can he do that?”
    Pastor Witherspoon scratched his head. “I suppose, if he’s got enough money.”
    “No doubt about him having enough money.” Gideon resumed filling the preacher’s order. “He wants to buy me out.”
    “What? Gideon, you mustn’t sell. If Kilgore gets control of this place, he’ll fix prices and we’ll all be at his mercy.”
    “I know that, Preacher. The fact is, my dream is to sell this place and start a horse breeding farm. I’ve been looking at some land, and I’ve sent out some inquiries about purchasing breeding stock.” Gideon placed a box of lucifers beside the pastor’s accumulated order and paused to search the kindly older man’s face. “Pastor, I want to sell the mercantile to anybody but Kilgore, but his is the only offer I’ve gotten.”
    The preacher rubbed his chin. “I’ll surely pray about this. You can count on that.”
    The bell on the door drew their attention as Tessa Langford walked into the store. Her faded green dress was clean, and her hair was neatly wound and pinned into a bun. When he smiled at her, she looked at the floor and twisted her fingers.
    “Hello, Tessa. It’s nice to see you again.”
    “Hello…Gideon. Hello, Pastor Witherspoon.” Her voice was so soft Gideon barely caught her response.
    “Tessa.” The preacher smiled at her. “I heard you and your father had already pulled out. I guess I was mistaken.”
    Tessa’s chin lifted a tad, and she straightened her shoulders. “No, Pastor, you weren’t mistaken. I think Papa left yesterday morning.”
    Gideon and the preacher traded looks, and Pastor Witherspoon’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, you think he left? Are you saying