Michelle: Bride of Mississippi (American Mail-Order Bride 20) Read Online Free Page B

Michelle: Bride of Mississippi (American Mail-Order Bride 20)
Book: Michelle: Bride of Mississippi (American Mail-Order Bride 20) Read Online Free
Author: Cindy Caldwell
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Family Life, Western, Short-Story, Twins, Religious, Christian, Christmas, holiday, Inspirational, Bachelor, wealthy, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, Mississippi, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Seasonal, Deceased, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Christmas Time, Mistletoe, Cousin Josephine, Sewing Skills, Clothing Business, Twin Sister, Tight-Fisted
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gentle touch.
    “You listen to me, Mr. Chandler. You’ve been here alone long enough. I know you miss the family--I do, too--but now with Mrs. Robertson gone, you’re going to need some help. Not just for them, but for you, too.”
    His heart thudded as he sat up. “I’m fine, Mable. Or I was fine before Adelaide died and the girls came. Besides, I have no time to think of myself. The shop--”
    Mable held her hands up, stopping him. “I know all about the shop, Mr. Chandler, don’t think I don’t. I’m sure you’ll make it right. You always have. But a man’s gotta have a life too. It ain’t natural for you to be all by yourself, losing your entire family.”
    He frowned as he stood. Since his parents died, all he’d done was to try to keep the shop going, tried to make ends meet. He’d never given a thought to whether or not he was lonely. Besides, no polite woman in Corinth would give him a second glance if she knew that although he had one of the biggest houses in Corinth, the silver had all gone to keeping it.
    “I know what you’re thinking, Mr. Chandler, and that’s why I think maybe this young lady might be just the thing. For you and for the girls.”
    She reached for a plate in the cupboard and set it on the table. As she filled it with several cookies, she said, “You go take Miss Blake’s bags up and keep an open mind. Tell the girls it’s cookie time, and let Miss Blake know I’m bringing up water for a bath.”
    Anthony grabbed a cookie and turned before Mable could swat his hand. He pulled the suitcases inside, glancing at the portrait of his parents on the wall in the stairwell as he headed up.
    “I hope I’m doing the right thing,” he said to them out loud as he turned on the landing, looking up as he heard Mattie and Missy giggle again.

Chapter 6
    “ H ow do I tell you two apart?” Michelle had asked as they reached the top of the stairs and the two girls pulled her into a large bedroom at the end of a long hall.
    She sat on the tall four-poster bed to catch her breath as one of the twins ran out of the room, returning in an instant with a book. She held it out with both hands and said, “If you read us a book, we’ll tell you.”
    The other twin giggled and covered her mouth as she climbed on the steps to sit behind Michelle on the bed. She’d never known twins before and cocked her head as the other one, her brown eyes wide with anticipation, climbed up the step stool and sat on her other side.
    She pulled off her gloves and tossed them on the white, lace doily on the nightstand. Pulling her hatpins out, she set them beside her gloves and took her hat off, throwing it behind her on the bed. She rubbed the back of her neck as her red curls fell around her shoulders.
    The twin on her left, the one with the freckle beside her eye, reached up and twirled a finger through one of Michelle’s curls.
    “Your hair is beautiful, Miss Blake. I’ve never seen such red hair before.”
    Michelle laughed and wrapped her arm around the twin.
    “You haven’t? Well, I’ve never seen twins before.”
    Both girls giggled and snuggled up to her, and Michelle’s heart swelled. Even if she was to teach the girls--read them books and maybe even how to read themselves--this might not be so bad.
    She opened the book, turning the pages slowly and making tiger or lion noises in all the appropriate places, the girls giggling as she went along.
    Closing the book as she finished, she said, “All right. Now tell me the secret. Who is Mattie and who is Missy?”
    The twins leaned forward and looked at each other and nodded.
    The one with the freckle said, “You must promise not to tell Uncle Anthony or Mable. We haven’t even told them yet, and sometimes they get us mixed up.”
    “Tell Uncle Anthony what?” Anthony stepped into the room, setting her luggage down beside the door. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his brow, smiling as he leaned against the door jamb.
    One of the twins gasped and
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