Mail Order Romance Bundle #1 Read Online Free

farm.
    It was the first time ever that he shared his story with anyone and it felt good to have someone outside of his family listen to him. And Enid was a good listener. Some folks are natural born listeners and Enid Ralphy was one of them. Maybe she'd just been being polite and even so, she had a way of listening that seemed as if she truly cared about what he was saying and was empathetic with the trials he'd faced.
    He was truly enjoying the company and the ride to town flew by, they soon found themselves on the outer edge of town, where stood a small, white chapel and next door to that was an even smaller, two-roomed house that served as the parsonage.
    As Jesse walked to the church steps with Enid following close behind, he had a bad feeling that he couldn't shake. The church, which usually had it's doors wide open on his trips to town, was all closed up. Once up the steps, they stood there in front of the door as Jesse tried to pull it open. It was locked.
    “Hmm...wasn't expecting that. Maybe the preacher is next door,” he said, motioning to the small house next door.
    But they didn't have any luck at the parsonage, either. Just like the church, the door was locked.
    “Reverend Hall?” Jesse said in a loud voice as he knocked on one of the front windows. He was starting to get desperate and wondered where Reverend Hall could be.
    “He ain't there,” he heard a voice behind him say. Jesse turned around to see an older man with a scraggly white beard and broad-rimmed hat smiling at him. He recognized him immediately as Abe Mullins, who worked at the livery.  Abe was walking up to his own house, which was next door to the parsonage.
    “Howdy, Abe!” Jesse said in friendly voice. “Any idea where Reverend Hall could be?”
    “He's been gone for two days now, out at the Rutherford place. Old man Rutherford took ill, real bad, and his son rode out to get Reverend Hall to be with him on his deathbed. Probably be back in a day or two I reckon.” 
    “A day or two?” Jesse asked with a trace of desperation in his voice.
    “I guess the church wasn't my destiny after all,” Enid said with a nervous laugh.
    Jesse kept trying at the door as if expecting it to still open somehow. He peered into the window and then gave a heavy sigh.
    He didn't know what to do with Enid; he couldn't very well just leave her in town to fend for herself but he needed to get back to his farm. He had to make a decision fast.
    “I know it's a bit unorthodox, actually, this whole situation is unorthodox, but you can stay at my place for time being. I can't think of anymore options here in town, and as it's almost sundown, I need to get back to my farm. You can stay at my place and tomorrow I can bring you back to the train station to catch your train.”
    Enid looked relieved and didn't hesitate to take his offer. She nodded and smiled at him. “Thank you, Jesse, for your kindness, I'm grateful to have a place to stay for the night.”
    They got back into the wagon and headed out of town to Jesse's farm.
     
    Jesse felt a swell of pride as they came upon his land. The beautiful fields, gardens, barn and his own little house. He led Enid inside, setting her bag down and lighting the kerosene lamp that sat on a table. Enid looked around as the light filled the large open room of the house that contained both kitchen and sitting room. He had done his best to tidy up as much as he could before bringing home Miss Laura Kate Whitley, though that didn't end up happening as he'd planned.
    Jesse saw Enid's eyes flicker to the big, oak kitchen table that took up a large part of the room. It looked big enough to hold a family of ten, she must have wondered why he needed a table that big. It was true that it was probably quite a sight to see him eating his dinner alone at that big table.
    He hadn't possessed much furniture when he left home for his new homestead, he was so focused on the supplies he'd need for the farm that he hadn't put any thought