Double Wedding: Sweet Historical Mail Order Brides of Lowell Read Online Free

east, lead everyone in singing the psalms.
    As happened on the ride from the train station on that first day, Annie somehow found herself seated between Molly and George. Since there were not enough song missals for everyone, Annie shared one with George. It was wonderful to hear his voice ring loud and true. Annie sent god a silent prayer of thanks for sending George into her life. He was everything she could have hope for in a husband. She also said a prayer of thanks that Molly was friendly and seemed happy that Annie was here to marry her brother.
    As they sat there listening to the pastor’s sermon on miracles and trust, George took her hand in his and placed it on his knee. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and caught him smiling. Little bubbles of excitement ran up her spine when his thumb traced circles on the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger. She lost track of what the pastor was saying as she enjoyed the moment. That was until she heard the pastor say her name.
    Annie felt the heat rise in her face. She had done more blushing since she’d been here than in her entire life. But her blush made the pastor’s smile grow wider. “George, please stand with your fiance so we can all add our good wishes.”
    George stood and gave her hand a small tug. When Annie stood next to him, George wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled down at her. The congregation broke into applause. Tears of joy threatened to spill, but Annie didn’t want to ruin this moment.
    They sat down and the process was repeated for James and Molly. Annie was almost as happy for her new friend as she was for herself. A smile lit both women’s faces throughout the rest of the service.
     
     
     

 
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
    Annie sat on the front porch peeling potatoes. Gone was the big hooped skirt and pearl-buttoned boots she’d worn the first day she’d arrived. Instead, she was wearing the plain cotton gowns and worn leather boots that had been her everyday attire at the mills. With each day here, she felt more and more like this was where she was meant to be. After almost a week, she barely remember her old life in the factory.
    She dropped a potato into the pot of water next to her and reached into the sack for another. George was spending more time with her since Sunday’s announcement of their betrothal.
    She still had trouble sometimes matching the man she was falling in love with to the words in his letters. But if he didn’t speak endearments to her like she knew he would have if he’d written her a letter, that was a small gray cloud in the far corner of a great blue sky.
    As if thinking of George caused him to appear, he strode toward her with purposeful strides and a smile on his face. He stopped and sat on the stair next to her. Reaching into the sack, he pulled a potato out and absently tossed it up in the air repeatedly. He looked so relaxed and handsome, Annie could hardly believe her luck.
    “How would you like a tour of the farm after supper?”
    “I’d love it.” She laughed and grabbed the potato in mid-flight. “Now, get so I can finish making supper.”
    George walked inside and left Annie with a smile on her face.
    Annie tried not to listen when she heard raised voices in the house. At first, the voices were muted as George and Molly must have been in the kitchen. Annie kept peeling her potatoes and enjoying the view out over the horizon. It still amazed her that one could see practically forever from one’s own front porch here.
    After a few minutes, the voices inside became louder. The pair must have walked into the main room and stood near the open windows. Annie had just placed her half peeled potato into the bowl with the skins. She would go for a little walk and give the two some privacy. But before she could get up, their argument became clearer and easier to hear.
    “You have to tell her.” Molly said.
    “There’s no reason, it’s in the past. It’s forgotten.” George