Mail Order Bride Leah: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Series Book 1) by Rose Jenster Page B

time. “God bless you, Helen Kathleen. May you be as beautiful as your mother and not as stubborn as your father.” He smiled.
    * * *
    The following day, when Leah was up and about again, he took the baby from her arms and laid the child in her cradle.
    “I’m needing to speak with you now,” Henry said.
    “Is something the matter?”
    “No, in fact everything is exactly right. I think everything has been right for some time but I was too bullheaded to know it. That woman, the mayor’s daughter, came back to town looking for me specifically. She and I had been—I had been in love with her years ago and she spurned me, thinking I was a joke.” Henry raked a hand through his hair.
    Leah looked at his hands, work-roughened and manly, more at home holding the reins of a horse than the cup of water he offered her thoughtfully. Nothing he could say could spoil the perfect happiness. She was so glad that he had finally decided to confide in her the truth about that wretched Melody. She knew it wasn't easy for him to express his past pain and show this side of himself.
    “At the dinner I went to, she tried to flirt with me and press me into dancing with her. I refused, of course. Yesterday, I went up to the church to say a prayer while you were in your confinement. She came upon me there and tried to gain my attention. I told her then how it was between us, that you, you and baby Helen, are all the world to me. She is nothing in my life; she was never anything but a foolish boy’s fancy. I should have told you weeks ago but I was too embarrassed. Forgive me, Leah?”
    “There’s nothing to forgive, darling. It only puts me in mind of a letter I should write. It’s time I was reconciled to Walter and we forgive one another.
    My brother ought to know he has a niece. He ought to bring Jane and little Walter out here for a visit in the spring. There’s a fine inn I know he could stay at, and there’s to be a restaurant there by spring as well,” Leah said proudly, taking up her writing box.
    The veil and distance between them was pierced and they were truly a couple. Holding Henry's hand, Leah  was in a state of deep peace with strong gratitude for being so blessed.
     
    THE END

Mail Order Bride Tess
    Montana Mail Order Bride Series
    Book 2 (Available NOW on Amazon)
    Tess Sullivan pressed a hand to her aching lower back and tried to straighten up from her crouching position. Mrs. Calloway harrumphed and glared down at her.
    “Will you kindly stop lounging and finish up?” Mrs. Calloway said.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Tess replied obediently, bending back over her work.
    She basted the hem to the appropriate length and sat back on her heels to survey the results. She checked the cuffs and pinned up another quarter of an inch on each one.
    “Now I want the hem to break right at the instep of my new boots, you understand,” Mrs. Calloway reminded her, displaying the delicate kid leather of her footwear.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Tess answered.
    Tess made swift notations in her book and stepped back, nodding with satisfaction. The burgundy walking costume would be the toast of that cross woman’s circle of friends. Tess had meticulously covered each tiny button with the fabric so the fastenings would blend in and not spoil the line of the fitted bodice and godet skirt. She would add black braid at the collar and cuffs after completing the alterations and it would be exquisite. She hesitated before stepping across the shop from notions to accessories and withdrawing a black lace parasol to show her customer.
    “This would provide shade for your complexion and be just the right accent for your new gown,” Tess said softly.
    “I should say not! Why, if I turned up with a black lace parasol Mr. Calloway would think all manner of frivolous things about me. I have this stout umbrella that does for me winter and summer alike,” she huffed.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Tess sighed, propping the parasol against a shelf dejectedly.
    “Well,