Nordin, Ruth Ann - South Dakota Series 02 - Bid for a Bride Read Online Free

Lucy’s belongings on the floor by the fireplace and turned to her. "You’ll be just fine here, ma’am. Addy will take good care of you, and if you’d like my opinion, the men will be more than happy to take you as wife. There aren’t enough women in these parts, and my eldest daughter is thirteen so she has a couple of years yet before the gents come courting."

    Lucy knew he meant to be comforting, but she didn’t feel like hearing about any of the men in town.
    At least not now. But she knew she’d be rude if she didn’t thank him so she did.

    He seemed pleased and headed out.

    Addy came down the hallway and peered into the room. "Did the marshal leave already?"

    Wiping her hands on her dress, Lucy said, "Yes."

    "What a shame. I’d have offered him something to eat or drink for getting that judge to take care of the mess for you." Addy shrugged and smiled. "Eliza and Brian left while we were gone. They even cleaned up the kitchen for me." She laughed.

    "You’ll learn that the Evans go above and beyond for their friends. Well, come along. You can sleep in my daughter’s old room."

    Not knowing what else to do and wishing to lie down and rest, Lucy picked up her bag and followed Addy up the stairs.

Chapter Three
    The next morning, Brian touched the smooth surface of the table he was sanding in the work shed. He felt a rough spot and rubbed the sandpaper over it. Then he traced the area with his fingers and was assured that the table was ready for staining.

    After he finished with his part of the job, he grabbed his walking stick and stood up. He stopped when he heard the sound of footsteps. Turning, he faced the open doorway and smiled at the familiar scent of peppermint. "Good morning, Preacher. Did you come to ask my pa and me to make you some furniture?" He sensed Preacher Davis’ smile.

    "Maybe next time. I wanted to talk to you about that woman who arrived in town yesterday. Lucy?
    You remember her?"

    "It’s hard to forget a stranger in this small town." He motioned to the chair his pa usually sat in. "You want a seat?"

    "I’d be much obliged."

    Brian returned to his chair and waited for the sound of the preacher sitting before he asked, "You want to talk to me about Lucy?"

    "Yes. About her…" He cleared his throat. "She’s been through a rough time."

    Brian nodded. He already surmised as much. From the trembling of her hand when he shook it and the slight shakiness of her voice, she hadn’t been having a great day. But then, what could be expected from a woman deserted in a strange town?

    "You see," the preacher continued, "the man who ran off had married her, but he already had a wife and children."

    "Oh?" Brian blinked in surprise.

    "We’re not sure where he went or even where his wife and children are. But that’s not why I’m here. I came to ask you if you’d consider marrying her. The judge has annulled her marriage before he headed out to the next town. I tell you, God’s timing was behind that one. Had she gotten here today, she’d have to wait for him to return."

    Brian tried to focus on the details of what the preacher was telling him, but he kept going over the thought that he might marry her. His heart raced with an unexpected excitement at the prospect. He thought he might take a trip to town with his mother again to pay Lucy a visit but planned to wait, to give her time to get used to being in town.

    "Anyway," the preacher continued, "she has no one to provide for her, and I’m afraid with what’s happened… you know, with the annulment and all, that she might be expecting a child. She was with Adam for a week."

    His mind went back to the preacher. "You don’t think the other men will treat the baby well?"

    The preacher sighed. "There may not be a baby. It’s too soon to know, and she surely doesn’t know yet. If she’s not with child, then there’s no problem. She can marry anyone, and all will be well. But if she is expecting, there’s no telling if the