Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas Read Online Free Page A

shifted her gaze. “He doesn’t know I’ve done this. I fetched her. For him.”
    At this, Greta’s eyes grew so wide that Belinda feared they might pop out. “Oh, Belinda, what have you done?”
    “Do you think I’m awful?”
    “Impulsive, to be sure. Awful, no. Your heart is in the right place, but I wonder about your method. Have you given this careful thought?”
    Both girls turned their attention back to the road, neither speaking for a moment. The horses’ hooves clopped along, creating a steady rhythm. Unfortunately, Belinda’s heartbeat moved much faster—so fast that she had trouble breathing. Or was it just the heat?
    Greta finally broke the silence. “Truly, Belinda, what sort of nonsense is this? Who is this woman? Does Georg even know she’s coming?”
    “N–no.” Belinda shook her head but quickly explained. “Her name is Corabelle Watkins. She’s from New York. I...well, I paid for her train ticket. I’m sure Georg will reimburse me later, when he realizes that she’s the perfect woman for him.”
    “He will?” Greta did not look convinced. “But how do you know she’s the one for Georg? How would you even begin to guess his taste in females? He’s so reserved and closemouthed about such things. Always has been. Remember when we would tease him about girls in school? He would never play along. In fact, the only girl he ever spent time with was you, and even you couldn’t crack that hard shell.”
    “I know. But don’t you see? That’s what makes this so perfect. He would never do for himself what I can do for him. So I must do it. I have no choice, really.”
    “Hmm. Well, I do think you’re right in saying that he would never pursue a woman on his own. He’s far too shy. But what you’re doing for him isn’t exactly yours to do, at least from my vantage point.”
    Belinda groaned. “So you think I’ve overstepped my bounds? I prayed about this, Greta. I really did. And I felt like Corabelle was supposed to come to Poetry. She’s just what we need—a woman from the big city to share a sense of refinement and culture with those of us who, well, with those of us who need it.”
    “A refined city woman?” Greta shook her head. “Marrying a small-town barber? This, I must see to believe. And what about your scientific notion that a husband and wife must share common interests?”
    “I feel sure they are as much alike as they are different,” Belinda said. “Corabelle is a shopkeeper. Georg works in a shop as well. She is a godly woman. He is a godly man. I daresay they will get along splendidly.”
    “We shall see. But I have a feeling this refined city woman is going to take one look at our little town and board the next train back to New York.”
    Belinda bit her tongue to keep from adding fuel to the ever-growing fire. Instead, she lifted up a silent prayer, asking the Almighty to move mightily on her behalf.
    They arrived at the train station in short order, and Belinda waited alongside Greta for the two-fifteen from Dallas. After a cursory glance at her reflection in the station window, she turned back to her cousin. “How is my hair? Do I look a fright?”
    “You look fine, but why does it matter?”
    “Well, Corabelle is from New York, as I said, and I want her to think that we Texans are civilized. I don’t want her to bolt simply because she’s put off by the external.”
    Greta snorted again.
    Minutes later, a long blow of the whistle from the approaching train pierced the air. Belinda took a few steps closer to the track, her nerves more jumbled than ever. The grinding of the brakes tightened them even further. Plumes of dark gray smoke now filled the air, along with the familiar taste of ash and soot. Belinda put her handkerchief over her mouth to keep from coughing as the train came to a halt just yards from where they stood. Off in the distance another train unloaded cattle cars. A light afternoon breeze picked up the heady scent of the animals and blew