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

look the
woman in the eye. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I am leaving
to stay with my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Chase. I am not, however,
leaving your son.”
    Olivia looked as though she had just
bitten into a lemon. Her lips were a thin line across her face.
“Very well,” she said finally, and then turned and went
inside.
     
     

Chapter 4

    Misty hoped Indiana would arrive soon
to rescue her from the clutches of Cody’s overbearing mother. The
tension in the house had been palpable in the short time she had
been there. It was readily apparent to her that Cody’s promise that
things were different in Wyoming was not the case. Either way,
Misty no longer wanted to be left alone with his mother if such a
thing could be avoided.
    After what felt like an eternity of
waiting, a car came down the road slowly. Misty was overjoyed. It
would be the first time they had seen each other in ages, so
despite the uneasiness that stirred in her stomach, she was more
than excited that she would get to see her friend again.
    Before she could step off the porch,
Mrs. Mills hurried past her to greet the visitors the second they
alighted from the car. “How lovely it is to see you both,” she
gushed.
    “ Thank you kindly, my lady.
I hope we aren’t an intrusion,” Morgan said, removing his hat as he
flashed the woman a smile.
    Indiana hurried past Morgan to Misty,
and two embraced.
    “ Not an intrusion at all,”
Olivia said. “It is simply an unexpected but welcomed occasion.
Would you both care to join me for tea? I do believe Misty would
like some tea. Is that right, dear?” she said, her smile looking
more nefarious than friendly.
    “ Yes, Mrs. Mills,” Misty
said, offended that Mrs. Mills had referred to her as ‘Misty’
rather than ‘Miss Misty’ in an obvious attempt to put her in her
place.
    With that, Mrs. Mills nodded toward
the house. “Misty, please show our guests to the
parlor.”
    Misty felt like she was being given an
order, but no longer was she someone’s maid, or butler, at that. It
was difficult enough to forget her past life and leave it behind
without someone like Mrs. Mills poking and prodding about it every
chance she got. That was one of the primary reasons she wanted to
leave the woman’s house. She needed to be around those who saw her
as an equal, not less—she needed to be around friends.
    Brushing off the negativity that
threatened to cloud her mind, Misty led her guests into the lavish
parlor where they were to have tea.
    “ What are you doing here in
Wyoming? What is going on?” Indiana asked urgently.
    Misty sighed and then looked down, her
cheeks warming. Looking back up at Indiana, Misty took a deep
breath before she spoke. “I’m here because I responded to a mail
order advertisement that I found in the Matrimonial News. You are
aware that, after the earthquake, I went to care for my elderly
aunt? Well, she passed away, leaving me with nowhere to go and no
other options.”
    “ Oh, I am so sorry to hear
such a thing,” Indiana said, her eyes suddenly glossing over. “Why
didn’t you write me to tell me that fact?”
    “ Wait, so that’s why you’re
here?” Morgan asked, his hands tucked snugly into the pockets of
his jacket. “Are you talking of Cody? Cody said his new bride was
arriving—wait, that’s you isn’t it?” His jaw fell open.
    “ Yes,” Misty said, nodding.
“I did not realize it myself until I saw him at the train station,
but the man I was corresponding with was named
Claudius.”
    “ Realize what?” Indiana
said, glancing between the pair like she was being left out of a
private discussion.
    “ That the man she came to
marry was Cody,” Morgan said, scratching his head. “His real name
is Claudius.”
    “ You cannot be serious!”
Indiana said, clutching at her throat.
    Misty nodded. “It was a surprise to us
both that we had actually met prior. Of course, I was writing under
the name Michelle, and he was writing to me under the