Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel Read Online Free

herself in check. Did Cora ever walk anywhere?
    “We’ll manage.” Greta nodded at Zach, whose face showed relief. “We can take a short walk, and the morning air should be invigorating,” she said, ignoring Cora’s tightly pursed lips.
    Zach smiled. “That’s the attitude! I’d come get you, but we open at 8:00 a.m., and I thought you two might be a little tired from your travels.”
    “How very considerate of you,” Cora said sarcastically.
    “Ladies.” He tipped his hat and moved toward the cabin door that still stood open. “Sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.” The door banged shut behind him.
    ———
    As if I could sleep here in this cramped cabin! Cora grabbed the end handle of her trunk and dragged it to the nearest cot shoved against the wall. At least it had a quilt on top. She pulled it back and found there were no sheets on the lumpy mattress, which appeared to be a hundred years old. Now why am I not surprised? It was a miner’s cabin, after all. It probably belonged to a bachelor since she saw no sign of a woman’s touch anywhere. She took a deep breath and sighed loudly enough that Greta turned from the front window, where she stood watching Zach ride away.
    “What’s wrong?” Greta moved toward her.
    Cora sat down on the edge of the cot. “Everything! No groom, two brides, a miner’s drafty cabin to sleep in! What do you think?” She gave a hysterical giggle and knew that Greta thought she was losing her mind. “I don’t know why I let myself get talked into this even for one evening, much less three weeks. This just won’t work, I’m afraid.”
    Greta sat across from her on the other cot. “For now, I say we just make the best of the situation. If we feel differently at the mercantile, we could possibly find a job using other skills. You do have some other skills besides looking for a husband, don’t you?” she asked.
    Cora blinked, staring down at the knotty pine floor. At least it wasn’t a dirt floor. Should she tell Greta that she had no real skills other than playing the piano? She certainly couldn’t cook because her family had always managed to afford a cook. Her mother had insisted on it. Most of Cora’s time had been occupied with reading, visiting the sick, and attending to church matters. “Well . . . I guess I can do a few things. What about yourself?”
    Greta laughed. “I can always learn new things. At least I have an education. I could find something worthwhile to support me. I won’t starve.” She twisted sideways and pulled back the gaily colored quilt. “I see what you mean. I didn’t pack sheets. But I’m dying to get these clothes off and fall into a heap, sheets or not.” She kicked off her high-heeled leather shoes and proceeded to unbutton her bodice.
    “I packed sheets. I can let you borrow one, and I’ll take the other.” Cora pulled out soft linen sheets. “These were to be for my honeymoon,” she said, running her hand across the smoothness of the fabric.
    “Oh, we can’t use those. I’ll look around. Maybe they’re stored in a cupboard or one of the shelves.” Greta padded around the cabin in her stocking feet.
    Cora walked over to Greta and handed her a sheet. “No, really . . . take it. At least that way you can cover up with the quilt. The temperature has dipped with nightfall, and I’m sure it will only get cooler before morning.”
    She could see the reluctance in Greta’s eyes and thought that under any other circumstances they might have become friends. “I detect an accent, and you used a word at the depot that I’d never heard.”
    “I’m from Holland. I arrived with my sisters a little over a year ago.”
    “I see. Then that accounts for your fair complexion and blonde hair. I never knew anyone from Holland.”
    “Well, now you do,” Greta said good-naturedly with a bright smile.
    Cora thought Greta was pretty and energetic, which would definitely cause competition where Jess was concerned. One