Page 3 of Mail Order Marvelous
He smiled.“Glad to hear it!”
The cabin was small.Just one room.There was an area with a stove, and a worktable that looked like it would be easy to use.The bed was in the opposite corner.It looked even smaller than the bed she’d shared with her sister growing up.She had no idea how she was going to share such a small bed, but she didn’t let herself dwell on it.
“There’s a well in the back.I don’t have any animals.Do you plan to go into business with your friends?”he asked.
Josie shrugged.“That is my plan if you don’t mind.”
He looked at her for a moment.“Of course, I don’t mind.Why would I?”
Josie didn’t tell him about the job her mother had taken so she could have some money of her own, and how her stepfather had reacted.After he’d broken her mother’s arm, she hadn’t been able to work, and that’s how he liked it.
“I just want to be sure.I don’t want to upset you on our first day as a married couple.”
He chuckled softly.“I’m an easy-going man.You’d have to work at angering me.”
“I’m going to try not to put that statement to the test,” she replied.She walked to the dresser beside the bed.She put her carpet bag atop it and looked in the drawers, wondering if there would be room for her clothes.The drawers were completely empty.“Is this not where you keep your clothes?”
He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.“Nothing I own is clean.”
She smiled.“I’ll take care of that tomorrow.I’ll even wash all the bedding as well.Don’t worry.This house will be shipshape in no time!”
“I like that idea.I’ve never been very good at cleaning or laundry.”
“You won’t have to be,” she said, immediately putting her clothes with his into a basket she found in the corner.“Is there anything else you need me to do tomorrow?”
“Just settle in.Don’t wear yourself out.You have years and years to get the house cleaned.”
She smiled at that.“I’ll do my best.We’re all planning on meeting up with the ladies who are already here at the store tomorrow.I’m sure we’ll decide who does what job then.”
He walked to her, and grasped her shoulders, pulling her to him.“I have a feeling I’m going to like having a wife.Thanks for traveling all this way to marry me.”He pressed his lips against hers.
She froze worried that he would expect her to consummate the marriage that night.She would if that’s what he wanted, but...she would prefer to get over her fear of him first.
When he straightened, he said, “Let’s put off our wedding night until we get to know each other a little better.”
“You don’t mind?”Josie asked, surprised at his kindness.
“Not at all.I want our marriage to last all of our lives, so I want to do things right.Getting to know you first, seems like the smart way to do that.”Jack caressed her cheek with the back of his index finger.“You just have to let me kiss you on occasion.”
She smiled.“I think I can do that.”
