The Bride Price Read Online Free Page B

you on upstairs? You can lie down for a
little while and Nona will find you something decent to wear. I’ll
have Richard make some inquiries about your husband. We’ll make
certain the two of you are reunited as soon as possible.”
    “That’s very kind of you. Thank you, Nona.”
She stood and faced Richard. “Thank you, um, Mr. Madden, is
it?”
    “Yes ma’am. There’s not much of a chance a
man can get lost in this town. If he’s here, someone will know
where he is. You said his name is Jamie?”
    Sophie nodded. “His name is James—actually,
we call him Jamie. James William Ford is his full name.”
    Richard raised an eyebrow. “What does he look
like? I’ll ask down at the field office and see if I can’t locate
him for you.”
    “Tall, blue eyes, short dark hair, goat—”
Sophie stalled, he didn’t appear to be listening.
    His eyes met hers. “He has a goat with
him?”
    “No, sorry. He has a goatee—no, he had one,
but now he has a beard.”
    When Richard nodded, Sophie turned to follow
Nona up the stairs, her hands grasping the tie at the waist of her
pants, now threatening to fall below her hips. Richard stepped
behind her and bent to lift her, but Sophie pushed him away. “No,
I’m fine. I can walk up the stairs.”
    “Ma’am, you’ve had a nasty accident—”
    “— Don’t touch me,”
she interrupted. She put more distance between them, and waited for
him to step back before following Nona. Sophie felt as though they
walked past more than a dozen doors before arriving at the one Nona
referred to as the ‘blue room.’
    As she followed the doctor’s wife inside,
Sophie’s mouth dropped open. A large four-poster bed dominated the
room. A roaring fire in an elaborately carved fireplace made the
space feel warm and welcoming. Sophie crossed the hardwood floor to
admire a beautiful mahogany highboy and matching vanity that
flanked a large window. The furniture shone with a deep luster that
could only have come from elbow grease and copious amounts of
beeswax. She shook her head in wonder.
    Her love affair with all things Civil War era
had not prepared her for the opulence she was encountering. Who
would have thought people could have such beauty and civility
amidst the destruction of war? The snow outside was a blinding
white and it sparkled like fairy dust, vibrant and alive. The
wooden floors gleamed like honey, and the room she stood in was
awash in vivid blue.
    Blue floral wallpaper covered the walls, and
the china bowl and pitcher matched the design. A primrose blanket
and an embroidered quilt covered the bed. The items that didn’t
have some shade of blue in them seemed right at home, despite their
hue challenge. Everything about the room projected comfort and
welcome. It would be a perfect B&B and just the kind of place
she’d want to spend a cozy weekend snuggled in bed with Jamie.
Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of Jamie.
    I need him here. Where is he? Does he know where I
am or does he think I’m dead?
    She drew a ragged breath and allowed Nona to
help her change into a nightgown. Nona had also located a robe and,
although it was several inches too short, it was warm, which was
all Sophie cared about at the moment. Sophie got settled in the
large bed and clasped her hands together, uncertain what to do.
    “You should sleep and get your strength
back.”
    Sophie stared at her plain gold wedding band
and ran her finger over it. “I’m fine, Nona. My husband will find
me.”
    “I’ll tell you what. As soon as your husband
arrives, I’ll wake you.” Nona patted her hand.
    Sophie took a deep breath. “I suppose I am
rather tired. Please promise me you’ll wake me as soon as he gets
here. I’m sure he’s frantically trying to find me and is worried
sick.”
    As soon as Nona left the room, Sophie slid
from the bed.
    Wake up, Sophie. You are not in the middle
of the Civil War. You are not in the middle of a real life freakin’
reenactment. This is a dream.
    She