One Heart to Win Read Online Free Page B

less expensive material. Still, she was obviously a city girl, not one of the farmers’ wives dressedin faded calico dresses. Jennifer also seemed to be traveling alone, which Tiffany thought was quite brave of her.
    A moment later, a young farmer joined them, too, wearing overalls and a misshapen hat that he didn’t remove. The harried waiter set down two more plates for him and Jennifer before rushing back to the kitchen. The farmer didn’t say a word, just gave them the briefest of nods before he lowered his head bashfully and started eating. He was probably embarrassed to be seated with women he didn’t know, or afraid they might be offended if a strange man spoke to them. Anna probably would have been, so it was just as well he didn’t try.
    Jennifer, on the other hand, was gregarious. “We meet again,” she said to Tiffany. “Now that we’re making a habit of this, I should probably introduce myself properly. Jennifer Fleming of Chicago. I’m a housekeeper by trade. My agency is sending me to Nashart for a year—or longer if I find I like it there.”
    Tiffany’s eyes widened, recalling what her mother had told her while helping her pack for the trip. Tiffany had asked Rose, “Why the new clothes, Mama? I’ll have no use for them on a ranch.”
    “You will use them. You will not change your routines just because you will be in Montana. I citified your father while I was there. He became used to a house full of servants, formal dinners, and the finer things in life. He may have regressed after I left, but you need only remind him of what you are accustomed to and I have no doubt he will adjust accordingly, if he hasn’t already. He wrote that he’s hiring a housekeeper from Chicago to make you feel more at home.”
    Tiffany hadn’t read that in his last letter, so it must have been in an earlier one that Rose hadn’t let her read. Could thisyoung woman sitting next to her be that housekeeper? How many housekeepers from Chicago could be going to a small town like Nashart?
    Tiffany laughed. “This could be quite a coincidence. I wonder if it is my father who has hired you. Franklin Warren?”
    “Indeed!”
    “I was under the impression you were already at the ranch,” Tiffany said.
    “I should have been. I had to placate my family, and my fiancé, who wanted me to wait until he could come with me. It was his idea that we start our lives together on this side of the continent. Though he favors California, he’s willing to give Montana a try if I like it there. He’s still quite annoyed at me for not waiting for him, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity when my agency offered it to me because it pays so well. Your father must be quite rich.”
    Tiffany had no idea if her father was rich, so she merely smiled in reply. Anna was giving Jennifer a disapproving look. Anna had met her fair share of housekeepers; so had Tiffany for that matter. Neither had met one who was such a chatterbox, or as young as Jennifer. But these were unusual circumstances, their traveling together on a hot, crowded train into a part of the country that was barely civilized. It could just be nervous chatter. Besides, Jennifer wasn’t working yet, so maybe she didn’t think she had to adopt a formal, professional manner with the daughter of her new employer until she reported for duty.
    Jennifer continued to chatter about the trip. The farmer never said a word, didn’t even introduce himself, just kept his head down the whole while. It was highly inappropriate that he even be sitting at their table, but understandable consideringmore men than women were on the train. Anna made her disapproval known though, at least to Tiffany, giving her all sorts of glances and nods directed at her plate. Tiffany almost laughed at the maid’s facial contortions, but she got the message: to finish eating quickly so they could leave. She did, and after they said good-bye to Jennifer, who said she’d walk up to their car for a visit