Romance: Western Mail Order Bride "Bethany's Love"-Clean Christian Historical Romance (Western Mail Order Bride Short Shorties Series) Read Online Free
leapt out of bed. Leaving his room, he treaded down the stairs with Bethany, hand in hand.
Chapter 5
French Prairie, Willamette Valley, Oregon
The weather was getting warmer as the harvest time approached. Matthew was looking forward to his first yield of sweet potatoes. With that came the selling. He had asked around the prairie about the Townsend brothers. Most of the farm owners he had spoken to had good things to say about them. It was only after his inquisitions that he decided to visit their office in Portland.
It was early morning when he ordered Fred to saddle his horse. Eating his breakfast quickly, he dressed in attire suitable for a town visit: an off-white frontier vest and brown range wear trousers with black boots. Staring at himself in the mirror, he smoothed his dirty blond hair and put on his dark brown hat. He felt overdressed, being used to wearing simple clothes fit for a farmer. Strapping on his watch, he went outside to where his horse stood, neighing and tossing its head around.
“He doesn’t like me.” Fred said, looking a little distraught.
“Easy there,” Matthew said, approaching the horse gently. Placing his hand on its beautiful black mane, he stroked it smoothly. The horse quieted down in Matthew’s presence.
“Good boy!” Patting its neck, he climbed onto its back and settled down in the saddle. He glanced at Fred and said, “I’ll be gone a while. Make sure to keep the rifle with you in case any raiders show up.” Pulling on the reins, he rode away, off to a town he’d never been to before.
The prairie was behind him as Matthew continued to ride at a leisurely pace. It was a fine morning. The sun wasn’t too bright yet. He took out a map of the area from his back pocket and looked around. He realized he had about four miles ahead of him before Portland began. He could see it in the distance.
The area between the Prairie and Portland was scarcely populated. He had crossed a native settlement a while back. He wondered what they felt like, their lands being taken up by the pioneers. Thinking of his family, he wondered if they were missing him as much as he was missing them. Reminiscing about them made him realize just how lonely he had been since he arrived here. Back in Nebraska, in his hometown of Omaha, his mother had been searching around for the perfect girl for him. He had indulged her, even meeting a few his mother had picked out for him. But there were none that he fancied. They all seemed too dainty and naive. He wanted someone who was diligent, strong and responsible, someone who could look after him and his home. Someone he could grow to love. Looking back, he understood he had not been ready to commit to anyone, which was why he rejected every girl he was introduced to. He was still quite young, turning twenty seven last December. His father had taught him the ways of farming since he was a little boy. It had seemed fascinating to him as a child, the feeling of the wet soil under his toes as he planted the seeds beside his father, sowing the seeds then waiting and watching the crops grow. The time of harvest had an air of accomplishment about it. All of their hard work paid off. This was why he loved what he did. It was something he would surely love to do for the rest of his life and would eventually teach to his children.
Looking ahead, he saw that he had reached the outskirts of Portland. “Only a mile to go,” he told himself. Nudging the horse with his feet, he rode a little quicker, wanting to be done with the deal as quick as possible. He did not feel too comfortable leaving the farm with only Fred and Leroy in charge.
Within minutes he had entered Portland. Taking out the Townsend brothers’ card and the map, he located the street and rode in that direction. A few turns later, he had arrived at their office.
It was a two story brick building with huge windows on each floor. The horse slowed down to a stop in front of it. Matthew dismounted, tying
Chapter 5
French Prairie, Willamette Valley, Oregon
The weather was getting warmer as the harvest time approached. Matthew was looking forward to his first yield of sweet potatoes. With that came the selling. He had asked around the prairie about the Townsend brothers. Most of the farm owners he had spoken to had good things to say about them. It was only after his inquisitions that he decided to visit their office in Portland.
It was early morning when he ordered Fred to saddle his horse. Eating his breakfast quickly, he dressed in attire suitable for a town visit: an off-white frontier vest and brown range wear trousers with black boots. Staring at himself in the mirror, he smoothed his dirty blond hair and put on his dark brown hat. He felt overdressed, being used to wearing simple clothes fit for a farmer. Strapping on his watch, he went outside to where his horse stood, neighing and tossing its head around.
“He doesn’t like me.” Fred said, looking a little distraught.
“Easy there,” Matthew said, approaching the horse gently. Placing his hand on its beautiful black mane, he stroked it smoothly. The horse quieted down in Matthew’s presence.
“Good boy!” Patting its neck, he climbed onto its back and settled down in the saddle. He glanced at Fred and said, “I’ll be gone a while. Make sure to keep the rifle with you in case any raiders show up.” Pulling on the reins, he rode away, off to a town he’d never been to before.
The prairie was behind him as Matthew continued to ride at a leisurely pace. It was a fine morning. The sun wasn’t too bright yet. He took out a map of the area from his back pocket and looked around. He realized he had about four miles ahead of him before Portland began. He could see it in the distance.
The area between the Prairie and Portland was scarcely populated. He had crossed a native settlement a while back. He wondered what they felt like, their lands being taken up by the pioneers. Thinking of his family, he wondered if they were missing him as much as he was missing them. Reminiscing about them made him realize just how lonely he had been since he arrived here. Back in Nebraska, in his hometown of Omaha, his mother had been searching around for the perfect girl for him. He had indulged her, even meeting a few his mother had picked out for him. But there were none that he fancied. They all seemed too dainty and naive. He wanted someone who was diligent, strong and responsible, someone who could look after him and his home. Someone he could grow to love. Looking back, he understood he had not been ready to commit to anyone, which was why he rejected every girl he was introduced to. He was still quite young, turning twenty seven last December. His father had taught him the ways of farming since he was a little boy. It had seemed fascinating to him as a child, the feeling of the wet soil under his toes as he planted the seeds beside his father, sowing the seeds then waiting and watching the crops grow. The time of harvest had an air of accomplishment about it. All of their hard work paid off. This was why he loved what he did. It was something he would surely love to do for the rest of his life and would eventually teach to his children.
Looking ahead, he saw that he had reached the outskirts of Portland. “Only a mile to go,” he told himself. Nudging the horse with his feet, he rode a little quicker, wanting to be done with the deal as quick as possible. He did not feel too comfortable leaving the farm with only Fred and Leroy in charge.
Within minutes he had entered Portland. Taking out the Townsend brothers’ card and the map, he located the street and rode in that direction. A few turns later, he had arrived at their office.
It was a two story brick building with huge windows on each floor. The horse slowed down to a stop in front of it. Matthew dismounted, tying
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