Bartered Bride Romance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake Page A

kept under Sam and Cricket. I should have thought about that.” Relief mingled with embarrassment. This gal was already seeing to the housekeeping and food supplies. Could it be that God had blessed him with a truly remarkable travel partner?
    “With everything else we need to do, I’m not sure salvaging the quilts is a good use of time. Do you object to leaving some of them behind and bringing more of yours along?”
    “I have plenty. As long as you don’t care …”
    “The only one I’m particular about is the wedding ring quilt. My Justine made it our first year, and I hold it dear.”
    “I’ll see to it.”
    Ethan waited at the end of the wagon while she separated the quilts. He’d posed the question tentatively, but after it was out, Ethan was glad he’d asked. She actually almost smiled. He should have realized how hard it was for her to give up most of her possessions. Women were, as a rule, quite proud of the quilts they spent hundreds of hours making.
    He looked at her ruffled day gown and glanced at the elegant way she’d styled her hair. It stretched his imagination to picture her cleaning, cooking, and minding the kids for more than a day or two. “Miss Davis, the trail is only going to get harder. It’s best you know from the get-go that I’m a man who isn’t fancy in the least. I reckon things are going to be difficult betwixt us because you’re a lady, and I’m a common man who lives by the sweat of his brow and the swing of a hammer.”
    She gave him the sweetest smile. “I cannot imagine better company. Jesus was a carpenter, too.”

Chapter 2

    E than Cole grinned. “You mentioned your Bible earlier. Am I to take it you’re a sister in the Lord, Miss Davis?”
    “Yes.” The way he phrased that let her know he was a believer, too. “Undoubtedly, our faith will ease things between us.” She drew a breath to bolster her gumption. “Mr. Cole, my father was about your size. You should go through his things and have first call. I don’t mean you any offense; but you’ve been without a wife, and my father had two women to care for him. His breeches and shirts were all newly made for the trip and should last you a long while. Whatever fits, you’re free to claim.”
    “That’s very generous of you, Miss Davis.” His compassionate brown gaze didn’t waver. Between his neatly trimmed mustache and beard, a warm smile tilted his lips. “In truth, I could use a few things.”
    “While I see to combining our sugar and cornmeal supplies, maybe you could go through Daddy’s things. There’s a crate holding his ammunition and pistols, too. I’m sure you’ll want those.”
    He stepped over a box and went to the front of the wagon. “If you stay put, I’ll roll this rig next to yours so we can set to work.”
    As he got the oxen from the rope-fence enclosure and hitched them, Charity cast out the mattress and three spoiled quilts. Once done with that, she untied the edges of the double-layered, homespun wagon cover and rolled up the sides. Air wafted through as she carefully examined each article of clothing. If space permitted, Charity quickly determined to bring along more of Mama’s clothing. The fabric in one of the wool skirts would yield a couple pairs of britches for Tad, and Cricket needed flannel nightgowns and another frock or two. Poor motherless children!
    Charity’s father bought whatever he felt necessary. A restless man, he’d come just for the sake of adventure. After Mama died, they discussed going back, but Charity declined. He had wanderlust, and she knew he would never be happy being tied down. Luckily, his inheritance had been enough to support them in whatever his whim happened to be. He’d spared no expense in outfitting them well with clothing, food, and trade goods.
    Ethan Cole, on the other hand, was a hardworking man of meager means. He’d laid by modest food supplies but obviously counted more on hunting than Daddy had. His clothing had seen far better