Mail Order Bride: Christy Read Online Free Page A

other day Brent would have been more than happy to help, even on a day off. But today was the last day he had to remember Annabelle, and to honor that memory. He was more than a bit anxious about meeting his new bride tomorrow as well, and had really wanted to take some time to think it all through to be sure he was doing the right thing.
    “Brent is there anything wrong?”
    Kip waited anxiously for an answer.
    “It was three years ago today Kip. Three years ago today that Annabelle had her accident. That's all.”
    The young boy's face turned ashen. “Sorry Brent, I didn't remember that.”
    Brent straightened his jaw. “I know Kip. It’s alright.” He turned back to the boy. “Come on now, you better show me that calf.”
    ***
    The following morning, after a long night tending to the sick calf, Brent awoke early after just a few hours' sleep. But even without the calf, Brent would have had trouble sleeping. For today was the day he was meeting, and marrying, Christy Hancock. He wondered what she would be like, and once again whether or not he was doing the right thing. Everything within him shied away from marrying a woman he'd never met. But that was just the trouble - he never met anyone. Not out here. The only people he ever saw were his married neighbors and their children, or the elderly folks and young families that attended the Baptist church on the outskirts of town, and the men down at the feed supply store. And since he never met any single, young women these days, it made sense for him to have a Mail Order Bride. But still, the whole idea of it made him so nervous his stomach was doing flip flops as he dressed for the day.
    Brent pulled on his best shirt and tie, noticing for the first time how dingy they were in the light. He tried to rub a clean spot on the dusty mirror in his late mother's bedroom to get a better look, but it didn't help the way he felt. He could see that his pants needed mending and his boots should have been cleaned long ago. Too late for that now though. He tramped outside to attach his wagon to his youngest driving horse. The bay horse was a little flighty still, being young, but he had good potential and a sensitive mouth. Brent was sure he'd make a fine driving horse one day. He climbed into the wagon and waved goodbye to Kip. For the second day in a row Brent was trusting the farm to his young farm hand.
    “Take care Kip,” he called out.
    ***
    Kip watched after his master as the wagon trundled down the long driveway towards town. He knew where Brent was headed and Kip was in awe of what Brent was about to do. He was off to marry a woman he had never met. To Kip the idea seemed both brave and crazy at the same time. Kip stood and watched silently as the wagon pulled away. He hoped that Brent’s new wife would be a good and kind woman. That she would be good to Kip as well as to Brent. He shook his head in wonderment at the entire situation and walked off to feed and water the horses.
    ***
    “Come on boy,” Brent said to his horse, turning him onto the main road. As they left the boundary of Brent’s property they passed by the field where Annabelle had perished. Three years, and one day. It was time to move on. And with God’s help, Brent was going to do just that.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Christy
    The train arrived at 10 am and Christy stepped onto the platform with shaky legs. For a moment her hand lingered on the door frame, one part of her wanting to leap back inside the safety of the carriage. But the whistle blew and the person behind Christy hurried her onto the platform. Startled, it took a few moments for Christy to get her footing as her eyes scanned the length of the platform, trying to pick Brent out of the crowd. She knew to look for a man carrying a bunch of daisies, but Christy couldn’t see anyone matching that description.
    Christy's stomach was tied in knots - she was terrified that she would be repulsed by the man she was there to meet. She knew she ought not to