Mail Order Devastation (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 4) by Julianna Blake Page A

“Don’t you see?  She’ll be right next door to help you with anything you need.  When you’re expecting, she can stop by to check on you, and see if you need anything.  She’s home for half the day, usually in the afternoons, so if there was any problem, she’d be there for you.  And when the children are born, she’ll be around to show you all the things that most new mothers have to figure out on their own.”
    Mollie shuddered.  The idea of Mrs. Jamison popping over whenever she liked was bothersome enough, but she knew couldn ’t endure the woman telling her how to raise Nell.  And it would be hard enough to convince Noah to let Nell stay.  Mollie suspected that if Mrs. Jamison stuck her nose into it, she’d be none too keen on the idea, and would try to ruin everything.  But what could she do?  The house was theirs, and Noah had been living in it for a week already.  Complaining would serve no purpose.
    “ I’m sure you’re right—it’s a lovely house.”  She forced a smile to her lips and squeezed his hand.
    The broad grin returned and Noah led her up the walk to the front door.  Once inside, she could see the home was furnished only with the barest necessities —a table and six chairs in the dining nook, and through the bedroom door she could see the bedstead.  On the wall in the empty living room was a photograph of Mrs. Jamison and a man that Mollie assumed was the deceased Mr. Jamison, encased in a heavy, ornate oval frame.  Other than that, the home was bare.
    “ As you can see, I left most of the furniture and decorating decisions to you.  Mother chose the necessities, since I insisted on moving in as soon as the home was ready.  I didn’t want you to come into a completely desolate-looking house.  I wanted it to feel a little like a home.  She wasn’t very happy that I was depriving her of the last few days of my company, but I thought it best.”
    “ It must have been nice, being able to spend a bit of time alone before taking on a new wife. We lived in a very small apartment in Boston, and it was a tight squeeze for the four of us, growing up.  I don’t know how the larger families in our neighborhood endured it.  Having an entire hotel room to myself was quite luxurious.”
    “ Do you regret not having more time in the hotel?”  Worry creased his brow.
    “ Oh, no!  I was very eager to move on with our new life.  But I did enjoy it while it lasted.”
    He sighed with relief.  “I’m glad.  I was eager to have your companionship.  I didn’t spend much time here this week—I slept here, and that was all.”
    “ You didn’t enjoy the quiet at all?”  Mollie was surprised.  Though she was anxious to get on with her new life and find her daughter, she had rev
    “ I didn’t have time.  I put in extra hours at the shop to make sure I had as many repairs done ahead of time as I could, so I would be able to close up shop for the wedding today, and go in late tomorrow.  I wish I could close the shop longer, but I can’t risk my repair customers going elsewhere—competition with the jewelers is already intense.  I’ve lost half my sales in pocket watches since the second jeweler opened up.”
    “ I understand.  We’ll have our evenings together.  But I hope you didn’t have to work too hard to get the repairs caught up.”
    “ Nah, not too much.  But it was busy.  I’d work until dark, then go straight home—I mean, to mother’s house—and eat dinner there, and unwind a bit.  Then I’d sleep here, get ready the next morning for work, and stop by next door for breakfast before Mother and I walked to the shop.  Honestly, I was glad for the extra work.  I didn’t like being here alone.  It didn’t feel like a home…but now it does.”
    He smiled and took her hand, leading her through the dining nook and into the kitchen. 
    “Here is your kitchen,” he said proudly.  “I hope it is to your liking.  I know you’ll be spending a great