The Governess Bride: A Sweet Mail Order Bride Historical Read Online Free Page A

–. Oh just admit it , Gideon told himself, you've loved her from the moment you set eyes on her. And while you're at it, admit that you'd move heaven and earth not to lose her, either.
     
     
    * * *
     
     
     
    The day was coming to a close, and he was impatient to get home. But Gideon hesitated before mounting his horse. A day alone with his thoughts had helped him get a few things straight. He wiped the sweat from his brow and levelled his eyes on the wide open space before him. Wildflower prairie – as far as the eye could see, and then some. Strange to note a change in how he viewed the vastness of it all these days.
     
    Not so long ago the sight of these vast lands and skies had filled him with a sense of excitement. Possibilities. So what had changed? Why was it that lately when he looked out to the horizon, what had once thrilled him now had him feeling flat. What did you call this? he wanted to know. He saw and heard nothing but the wind stirring the grass. And he knew he had his answer: lonesomeness . The feeling he'd been struggling to name for Lord knew how long – the feeling he'd push aside every night and every morning – and countless times throughout the day… He was lonesome. In some deep and hidden place, in some part of him he didn't care to share with anyone – he was lonesome.
     
    Not so long ago, he'd thought his cup was full. But with Clara's arrival in his life – in all of their lives –  everything fell into place. Clara . There'd been a yawning hole in his heart, in his soul. Only now did he see that it had always been there. Only now did he understand why he had come up with one hundred and one reasons not to marry. He got it now. Clara was his missing piece. Clara was the answer to that lonesomeness in the deepest, quietest part of his soul.
     
     
    * * *
     
    Back at the ranch house Gideon stood quietly in the doorway; watching, listening. Little Charlie was sleeping sweetly in his crib. But little Abe had been restless the past hour or so. Clara was there, kneeling beside him, smoothing his little brow, murmuring one of her lullabies, "And so to sleep, my little dear, May your dreams be sweet, May the Lord be near, May your sleep be blessed by angels' charms, When you wake, you will find my loving arms…" She was still singing quietly, even as she backed delicately out of the room.
     
    "Oh!" she gasped, finding that she had backed all the way into Gideon's arms.
     
    "Sorry," Gideon whispered, his hands catching around her waist for the briefest moment. "I thought you knew I was here."
     
    Though it pained him to do so – though his instinct was to pull her even closer to him – Gideon removed his hands and took a respectful step away from her, ever aware of her guardedness around a man.
     
    "There's something I've been wanting to say, Clara…" he said in quiet tones. "And I should have said it by now, but I haven't – and for that, I'm sorry…" A muscle worked along Gideon's jaw as a wave of feeling coursed through him. "The little ones – Charlie and Abe – they've found… Well they've found an angel in you. And I want to thank you for that." Gideon shifted his weight from foot to foot and cleared his throat. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you for being here…" Gideon paused then, dropping his gaze a moment before bringing his eyes back to hers. "And thank you, Clara. For loving them."
     
    A long silence passed between them while the eyes of each searched the eyes of the other. Searching. Seeking. Wanting.
     
    "Loving them is the easiest thing in the world," she whispered, her eyes bright with tears; her voice as quiet as the moon. She wanted to add: Loving you is the easiest thing in the world – but she dared not; she could not.
     
    "Hungry?" she said instead, with a shy smile.
     
    "Yes ma'am," Gideon smiled back at her, a little shy looking himself.
     
    Gideon followed her to the kitchen. His heart was fit to burst out of his chest. Because he