How Miss West Was Won Read Online Free

cold? I have apple cider.”
    Without waiting for an answer, the woman went to a counter where she took a pitcher of amber liquid from the corner. She poured a glass and presented it to Cordelia with a flourish. “I make it myself.”
    Cordelia took a tentative sip before she took a larger one. “Delicious,” she pronounced. “You are quite the cook, it seems.”
    “My mother taught me how,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “She came from Ireland.”
    “She did a good job.” Cordelia drank more of her cider. When she put down the glass, she could see Mrs. Dunlap looking at her in anticipation. Then she remembered what the woman had asked her; she wanted to learn more about her new ‘mistress.’
    “Where shall I start?” Cordelia said. “I am twenty-eight years old, my family is originally from England, but we have lived in the United States for the past forty years. I was born in New York City.” Cordelia paused to take a drink.
    “And you’ve never married?” Mrs. Dunlap asked.
    Cordelia had decided it was best to stay truthful in these matters. “I was engaged, but my future husband passed away a few years ago, before we could say our vows.”
    “You poor dear.” Mrs. Dunlap patted her hand. “Sick, was he?”
    “No.” Cordelia felt her throat tighten. “He was killed in a robbery attempt.” Here she had to be careful, because giving the full details of William’s death would hit too close to what he did for a living, and it would bring about questions Cordelia would rather not answer.
    “New York City is so violent,” Mrs. Dunlap said.
    “Actually, he was killed in Missouri,” Cordelia said. “He had come west to see about jobs in the area before we married.”
    The truth was he had come to the West to write stories about the men who had come home from the Civil War, and what they were doing to make a living now. He’d been knifed in a saloon when he had dared to ask one former soldier what he thought would have happened if the South had won.
    Those around him that night had written Cordelia to tell her William had had a little too much to drink when he posed the question. He should have seen, one friend said, that the young man he was talking too was already drunk, and itching for a fight.
    Cordelia wiped away a tear. When William had first died, she had thought she would die with him. But as time passed, she had learned to overcome her grief and live with the memories she had of him.
    “Poor child,” Mrs. Dunlap repeated. “You must have loved him so. Is that why you decided to marry someone you’ve never met?”
    That caught Cordelia by surprise. “Whatever do you mean?”
    “Well, it’s inevitable that a man dies before a woman. Perhaps not being in love with your husband will bring less grief when he dies.”
    Cordelia had never thought of that, but it was as good an excuse as any. She nodded. Then she wondered why Mrs. Dunlap was thinking about Mr. Bannister’s death. She asked her that question in no uncertain terms.
    The older woman had been peeling potatoes, and she stopped. “Well, the Bannister men, they don’t exactly… exactly… have longevity.”
    “Is Mr. Bannister ill?”
    “Oh heavens no,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “It’s just that… well, life is hard out here, and it seems to be harder on the Bannisters.”
    Before Cordelia could ask her to continue, the older woman rose from the table. “I’ve got lots of work to do, and you need to rest up for your… wedding night.”
    Cordelia’s mouth dropped open. “Oh I do not thi—”
    “Nonsense,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “He may have had me set you up in a second bedroom, but Mr. Bannister is a healthy man. After seeing you, I’m sure he’s going to want to exercise his husbandly rights. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt that bad, and soon you’ll come to enjoy it. I know Mr. Dunlap pleases me on a regular basis.” The older woman was laughing as she walked into the dining room.
    Husbandly rights. Cordelia’s mouth went