Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle Read Online Free
Author: Indiana Wake
Tags: Romance, Historical, Western, Spirituality, Religious, Christian, Anthology, Inspirational, Collections, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, bundle, Faith, clean, Sacrifice, Mail Order Brides, responsibility, Forever Love, Single Woman, Pioneer, Love Inspired, Matrimony, Frontier, Five Books, Head West
but Ryan just rolled his eyes and sat back down. This was going to be hard, but she had survived worse and she would survive this. Mrs. Hawkins had made it abundantly clear that if things didn’t work out she would be provided with the train fare home. A lump formed in her throat, could she do that? Could she return home in shame? Swallowing she knew that if necessary she could. The people who loved her most were there and they would not judge her.
A servant came in and served them their food and then retreated to a corner.
As they began to eat, Ryan turned to her. There was malice in his eyes. "So Miss Montgomery, what brought you to this side of the country?"
Anna ignored the look he gave her and stared into his eyes. She was a lady and he would treat her with respect. "I applied at an agency for marriage. You were a potential and I chose to come meet you,” she said feeling uncomfortable saying all this out loud. It was embarrassing and she couldn't comprehend why he would bring it up when he knew her answer. Straightening her shoulders she looked directly into his eyes. “Perhaps I chose poorly."
The shocked look that crossed his face brought a smile to hers.
"Yes, it was something my brother insisted I do. In fact,” Ryan said. “I think he filled out the forms for me too, didn't you brother?"
Ian looked embarrassed at being called out, but he nodded and went back to his plate.
"Anyway, I did read your form and it was I who chose to meet you too but I don't remember reading about your limp anywhere in there. Why do you think that is?" He had a tight smile on his lips as if he was only being friendly, but his tone sounded more accusatory than anything to Anna.
Anna felt the color crawl up her cheeks and she wished that she could remain cool. "I made it abundantly clear on my form that I had a disability. The last thing I wanted was to come this far and meet the prejudice I found back home. I'm guessing, Mrs. Hawkins, the agent lady erased it from my form."
"And why'd you think she'd do that?" Ryan asked, looking at her. He seemed more curious than anything. At least the disgusted look had gone from his face.
Anna had left her shyness as she got angrier with his questions. So, he didn't know she had a limp. That still didn't give him the right to question her like she was some criminal or mastermind liar or something.
"I guess she felt sorry for me,” She replied in a curt voice. “Maybe she thought you were a decent man that you would not be prejudiced against me and that it did not matter. Or maybe she thought I'd have a better chance of meeting someone if they didn't know about my disability. I had a hard time catching anyone's eye back home. And it seems like her plan didn't work either. Perhaps I should board the first train home."
Chapter 6
There was silence at first as both brothers jaws dropped as they listened to her outburst. Anna wanted to just melt into the furniture and not exist. She never lost her temper, nor had she ever been so brazen and bold in her life. If she was honest, this was the first time she had stood up for herself.
After a few seconds of silence and gaping, both brothers broke into grins. Ian actually laughed.
"Well said, Miss Anna. You certainly put my brother in his place," Ian said.
Eyes twinkling, Ryan replied, "That she has little brother that she has." Turning back towards Anna, his face relaxed. "I'm sorry for how I reacted. I don't like to be lied to or to be played games with and so I assumed... I shouldn't have and for my previous behavior, I apologize. Please do not be hasty and leave us before you have gotten to know us properly." His eyes seemed much gentler and he was smiling at her.
Anna felt more heat flooding her cheeks. The brothers were most attractive when they were charming and she really shouldn’t have lost her temper. "I apologize for my behavior," she said quietly. “I will stay and perhaps we can start anew?”
The two men nodded and
A servant came in and served them their food and then retreated to a corner.
As they began to eat, Ryan turned to her. There was malice in his eyes. "So Miss Montgomery, what brought you to this side of the country?"
Anna ignored the look he gave her and stared into his eyes. She was a lady and he would treat her with respect. "I applied at an agency for marriage. You were a potential and I chose to come meet you,” she said feeling uncomfortable saying all this out loud. It was embarrassing and she couldn't comprehend why he would bring it up when he knew her answer. Straightening her shoulders she looked directly into his eyes. “Perhaps I chose poorly."
The shocked look that crossed his face brought a smile to hers.
"Yes, it was something my brother insisted I do. In fact,” Ryan said. “I think he filled out the forms for me too, didn't you brother?"
Ian looked embarrassed at being called out, but he nodded and went back to his plate.
"Anyway, I did read your form and it was I who chose to meet you too but I don't remember reading about your limp anywhere in there. Why do you think that is?" He had a tight smile on his lips as if he was only being friendly, but his tone sounded more accusatory than anything to Anna.
Anna felt the color crawl up her cheeks and she wished that she could remain cool. "I made it abundantly clear on my form that I had a disability. The last thing I wanted was to come this far and meet the prejudice I found back home. I'm guessing, Mrs. Hawkins, the agent lady erased it from my form."
"And why'd you think she'd do that?" Ryan asked, looking at her. He seemed more curious than anything. At least the disgusted look had gone from his face.
Anna had left her shyness as she got angrier with his questions. So, he didn't know she had a limp. That still didn't give him the right to question her like she was some criminal or mastermind liar or something.
"I guess she felt sorry for me,” She replied in a curt voice. “Maybe she thought you were a decent man that you would not be prejudiced against me and that it did not matter. Or maybe she thought I'd have a better chance of meeting someone if they didn't know about my disability. I had a hard time catching anyone's eye back home. And it seems like her plan didn't work either. Perhaps I should board the first train home."
Chapter 6
There was silence at first as both brothers jaws dropped as they listened to her outburst. Anna wanted to just melt into the furniture and not exist. She never lost her temper, nor had she ever been so brazen and bold in her life. If she was honest, this was the first time she had stood up for herself.
After a few seconds of silence and gaping, both brothers broke into grins. Ian actually laughed.
"Well said, Miss Anna. You certainly put my brother in his place," Ian said.
Eyes twinkling, Ryan replied, "That she has little brother that she has." Turning back towards Anna, his face relaxed. "I'm sorry for how I reacted. I don't like to be lied to or to be played games with and so I assumed... I shouldn't have and for my previous behavior, I apologize. Please do not be hasty and leave us before you have gotten to know us properly." His eyes seemed much gentler and he was smiling at her.
Anna felt more heat flooding her cheeks. The brothers were most attractive when they were charming and she really shouldn’t have lost her temper. "I apologize for my behavior," she said quietly. “I will stay and perhaps we can start anew?”
The two men nodded and
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