The Sweetest Mail Order Bride (Sweet Creek Brides Book 1) by Jill Summers Page B

was dark, the curtains open to a view of the town and the night sky. Stars twinkled like dreams in the vast black, mesmerizing her as she closed the door behind her.
    She made her way to the window, set down her bonnet and reticule and eased onto the chair. She’d come so far with her hopes. When it was time to go, she was going to leave a piece of her heart in this town. A big, big piece.
    She propped her elbow on the windowsill, taking in the scene. A crescent moon presided over the sky, ruling over the glittering stars. The first star of the night had long gone from sight, so there was nothing to wish on.
    If only the happiness of the night hadn’t followed her home, because it made Caleb fill her thoughts. His laughter at the dinner table, the glances he’d cast her way, the moment in the kitchen when she’d inexplicably felt his heart near hers. How was she going to be able to do this? How was she going to bear to leave?
    Tears burned her eyes. She thought of the handsome man—stoic and reserved most of the time, but when he wasn’t, wow. How when he didn’t wear a hat, his dark hair swirled over his forehead framing his blue eyes. A day’s growth had shadowed his jaw, making him undeniably masculine. Her fingertips still itched to feather over that stubble and feel its coarseness against her skin.
    Feelings stirred in her heart, but she was swift, she was merciless, she cut them off like a steeled trap door. Fine. Her feelings for him had deepened, just as she’d hoped they would back when she’d been on the train. Her regard for him was greater than ever.
    But he was never going to love her. She had to be honest about that.
    With a slow sigh, she did her best not to feel the pain. When her hand was steady, she lit the lamp and went over to the small writing desk in the corner. She took out a sheet of paper from a stationary box and a bottle of ink. Her eyes blurred as she put her quill to the page.
    Dear Mr. Reynolds,
she wrote.
I am free to meet you. I am most grateful for your offer to come and get to know you. I am hopeful we will be compatible and I can accept your kind proposal.
    Her pen hesitated, and she lifted it from the paper before it left an ink blob. Tears scorched her eyes. Since she was alone, there was no one to see her cry. No one to know how much her heart broke because she’d done the unthinkable. She’d fallen in love with the man she’d come to marry.
    And he didn’t want her.

-Chapter Nine-
    Clementine thanked the attorney again and closed the door behind her. The mid-morning sun sprinkled through the boardwalk’s rails, laying bars of gold at her feet. It was a kindness that the lawyer had agreed to handle the deed transfer for the house at no cost. He said he was a long-time family friend of Caleb’s and was happy to help, especially seeing as she’d gifted the house to Katherine.
    Well, that was one more thing done and off her list. She tapped down the boardwalk, waved to Philomena who was driving by in a cute little buggy and slipped into the post office.
    “Hello there, young lady.” A kindly, grandfatherly man smiled at her from behind the counter. He was busy sorting mail but stopped to help her. “What can I do for you?”
    “I need to send this letter.” She pulled it out of her pocket.
    “Then you’re in a need of a stamp.”
    “Yes, I am.” She plucked two pennies from the bottom of her reticule. “Will it go out on this afternoon’s train?”
    “Count on it. No mail sits around gathering dust in my post office.” Philomena’s father reminded her of her own. Gentle, quiet, kind. Oh, it made her miss him.
    “Thank you.”
    “Any time. Have a good day, now.”
    “You, too.” She couldn’t explain why she felt in such a hurry to leave. But the doorknob was in her hand and she was crossing the threshold in a blink.
    The hot breeze puffed across her face as she headed down the boardwalk. Gathering her skirts, she hopped into the street and started down the