Charlotte's Mail Order Husband (New Montana Brides series) Read Online Free

said. “What about Mama?”
    “Your Mama will not trouble you about this.”
    Her mother did not give up easily. She saved her next shot for Sunday, and for Father O’Malley.
    The following Sunday: Saint Anne’s Catholic Church…
    Before Mass, Father O’Malley approached Lottie. “Ah, “Charlotte, Child, I wonder if I might have a word with you?” Father O’Malley asked.
    “Father, I suppose my mother has spoken to you of my plans?”
    “She has, and your mother has a concern for your safety and well-being.”
    “ Father, I have a concern for my well-being. Is not marriage something the church encourages and wishes for all of its children?”
    “Yes, it is, but…”
    “Father, look about the church. Do you see any men my age eligible for marriage?”
    “Well, no but…”
    “Father, I want to be married and have children. I do not believe I can do this here.”
    “But what of this man. What do you know about him?”
    “I met his sister, twice. We talked for two hours. Father he is from Baltimore, He left here four years ago.” She fired her last salvo. “In the old country, is it not common for a marriage to be between two people that have never met?”
    “Yes, it is, but is this the same?”
    “The difference is, the sister is the go-between instead of the parents, and this is not a matter of dowry, as it would be there.”
    After his conversation with Lottie, the priest was co rnered by her mother. “Father, were you able to get this nonsense from her head?”
    “ A headstrong lass your daughter is. She has given this serious thought. She mentioned the arranged marriages in the old country. She does have a point about the dearth of eligible men for marriage. She also cited the church’s promotion of marriage for its children. Mrs. Jenkins, I’m afraid I cannot sway Charlotte in her plan.”
     
     
     

 
     
     
    chapter Six
    A Letter From Zebulon
    Dear Miss Jenkins,
    May I call you Charlotte or Lottie? I received your most welcome letter. It pleases me that my offer is acceptable to you.
    It sounds as if my sister may have gilded the lily a bit in her descriptions. In our childhood days, she did not hold me in such high regard. I assure you though, I have not exaggerated in my descriptions of Montana.
    You asked qu estions about the arrangements. I will utilize the services of Western Union to communicate with you as a matter of expediency. My bank here in Helena is a correspondent with the First National Bank of Baltimore, where I maintain an account jointly with my sister. I will wire authorization to the bank to provide you with funds for the purchase of your transportation. I assure you it will be an amount more than adequate to cover any enroute expenses you might incur.
    My only directions to you are to ensure you purchase the most comfortable accommodations offered. I have inquired about the nature of this, and have determined the train accommodations that would be best are a compartment or drawing room. For the much longer portion of your journey on the steamboat, I will telegraph the steamboat company and arrange the passage. I will only need the date of your arrival in Saint Louis. I want you to have a stateroom. Funds will also be made available to cover meals and any other incidentals. By separate letter, I have asked Mary to help make sure you have this. The arduous trek you are undertaking will be difficult, and your comfort is of the utmost importance to me.
    I am afraid there is no such thing as comfortable acco mmodations on a stage coach. Having traveled within Montana on the Overland Stage, I can attest to that. You should be aware passengers are allowed only twenty-five pounds of baggage on the stage. Not much for one who is traveling cross country.
    If you have any questions Mary cannot answer, then tel egraph me by Western Union collect telegram. I will receive any message you send the next day, so it is timely. When you have an approximate arrival date, please telegraph