Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) by Katie Crabapple Page B

been feeling, because the emotions had been — well, conflicted and strange. He wasn't a man who ever expected to feel jealousy.
    "Would you tell me what I did so I know not to do it again?"
    He sighed. "Nothing really. I just — I wish you'd chosen to stay with me before the service and not wanted to be with Mrs. Norman instead." The words sounded stupid even to him. It was not enough to get upset over — and yet he had.
    Sarah gaped at him. "She was introducing me to the relief society, trying to help me make friends here in town. Surely you don't object to that!"
    Karl felt like a heel. "No, I don't object, but I wish it would have waited until next week. I was excited to introduce my beautiful new bride to my friends, and instead, you were with Mrs. Norman."
    "But you introduced me after church." In truth, they'd only spent about fifteen minutes apart. How could he object to that?
    "I'm not saying my feelings were right. I'm simply telling you what they were." He looked over at her for a moment. "I'm sorry I got upset."
    "Why didn't you tell me what it was when I asked earlier? Why did you wait?" That had been the hardest part for her. If he'd just told her why he was upset as soon as they left church, she'd have been saved a lot of conflicting emotions.
    "Because I didn't want you to think I was being stupid. I should have told you though. Will you forgive me?"
    She nodded. "Of course, I will. I'm very proud to be your wife, Karl. I hope I didn't make you feel otherwise."
    He thought about her words and realized that had been the root of his problem. Yes, he'd wanted to introduce her around, but he was worried she was embarrassed to be seen with him after he'd told everyone she was ugly. "I — I did worry about that."
    Sarah shook her head. "You're a good man, Karl, and a handsome one. How could I be embarrassed to be seen with you?"
    He shrugged, staring straight ahead. "Do you really think I'm handsome?" He felt his heart flutter a bit at the thought. It was strange how badly he wanted to be as attractive to her as she was to him.
    She laughed. "How could I not?"
    He relaxed a little at her words. He'd been very worried about how she viewed him. "So you still don't want to tell the pastor to introduce you to other men in the area?"
    Sarah rested her head on his shoulder, wondering how he could be so thoroughly confused. "Of course not. I'm keeping you, Karl, and you can forget about trying to get away."
    Grinning at her words, he drove straight out of town and kept following the lake front.
    Sarah enjoyed the peaceful drive. She liked the countryside the best. She'd been raised in the city, but she'd always been a country girl at heart.
    "Do you mind if I turn the room I'm sleeping in into a sewing room — after I'm done using it, of course." As soon as she heard the words come out of her mouth, she regretted saying them. She felt funny mentioning the time when she would share his room. It just didn't seem to be something she should talk to him about.
    "I don't mind at all. I don't know what its intended use is. Maybe it would be better if we made one of the upstairs rooms a sewing room, though. We'll want to use that as a nursery once we have children."
    She blushed at the thought of having children with him. "We'll have plenty of time to switch things around before then. Don't you think?"
    He shrugged. "Probably. I just don't want you to get too comfortable in there, because you'll want the babies closer than upstairs — all fifteen of them."
    Sarah shook her head. "You are one crazy German."
    "And you are a feisty Irishwoman. I think that's what I like best about you!"
    She laughed. "And here I thought you liked my cooking."
    Karl patted his belly. "I can already feel my pants getting tighter since I married you. I do like your cooking."
    He stopped the wagon in front of a farmhouse. "We should probably head back toward home. The sky looks like it might storm." He wished their afternoon could go on forever,