Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2) Read Online Free

to
that balcony. The floors were rich oak, and there was a bed in one
corner, and a dresser in another. Her two bags were sitting on the
bed. Near the window sat an old rocking chair. Misty made her way
to the chair and ran her fingertips over the back, feeling the
smooth cherry wood.
    “ Miss Fields,” a stern
voice said from the doorway. Misty turned to see Cody’s mother
there, her hands folded.
    “ Oh,” Misty said, searching
for something else to say.
    Before she had a chance, Mrs. Mills
Olivia went on. “I prefer conversing with someone who possesses
something more in the way of conversational skills, my dear, but I
suppose ‘oh’ is good enough for a maid, is it not?”
    Misty could not believe her ears. She
was so shocked that she could not speak.
    “ It is best that you
listen.” The woman sighed. “I was rather taken aback when my son
told me that he placed an advertisement for a mail order bride. I
am not sure why he felt the need to order a bride in that way, but
he informed me that he did not care for any of the women in town.
That itself is foolish. There are plenty of acceptable ladies
here.” Mrs. Mills stressed the word ‘ladies’. “Alas, I have no
influence over my son, as he is a grown man and can do as he
pleases.”
    Misty just stared, unsure of where
this was all going, but she knew it wasn’t going anywhere
good.
    Mrs. Mills continued. “I cannot
control who he marries. If he wishes to marry a maid from a city
which shook and burnt to the ground, I cannot stop him. I can
however speak to you. My son is a man of means, as his father was
before him. My father was a man of money. I do not approve of my
son choosing to marry you.”
    Misty’s mouth fell open.
    Unbelievably there was more. Mrs.
Mills went on, ignoring the look she could certainly see on the
younger woman’s face. “I know he will not stop this foolish
charade, so I shall give you the opportunity to do the right thing.
Leave here. I will pay you to return to where you came from. I will
pay you substantially more than it would cost for your journey
back. My son should not marry a maid.”
    The woman was done. Her last words
hung in the air like thick smoke.
    Misty felt tears stinging her eyes.
She finally spoke. “May I be permitted to use your
telephone?”
    Mrs. Mills nodded curtly. “Surely. It
is in the hallway outside the parlor.”
    “ Thank you,” Misty said,
and she hurried out of the room. She went downstairs as fast as
propriety allowed, and found the phone in the well furnished
hallway. As soon as she could, she dialed a number and sat on the
edge of a high backed chair as she waited for the other end to pick
up.
    “ Hello?” a woman’s voice
said.
    “ Miss Indiana?” Misty
asked.
    “ Misty, is that you? Where
are you?”
    That took Misty by surprise. She
hadn’t even noticed she was crying. Her eyes stung and tears rolled
down her cheeks. “I’m in Pioneer Town. May I come and stay with
you, please?”
    “ You’re in town? Here? In
Pioneer Town?”
    “ Yes!” Misty said quickly.
“I’m at Mrs. Mills’ house. Mr. Cody Mills’ mother’s
house.”
    “ Mrs. Mills? How do you
know Mrs. Mills?”
    Misty sighed. “It’s a long story. I’m
sorry to intrude, but please, will you come pick me up?”
    “ Of course,” Indiana
said.
    “ Thank you,” Misty said.
“I’ll explain when you get here,” Misty went back upstairs to what
had once been her new room, if only for a few minutes. To her
relief, there was no sign of Mrs. Mills. Misty took up her bags and
dragged them down the steps. She went out on the porch to wait for
Indiana.
    The door swung open and Olivia stepped
out onto the porch. She handed an envelope to Misty. “Here’s the
money,” she said quietly.
    “ I don’t want the money,
Mrs. Mills.” It was all Misty could do not to burst into
tears.
    Mrs. Mills narrowed her eyes, and her
cheeks flushed red. “I don’t understand. You are
leaving.”
    Misty steeled herself to