Adela's Prairie Suitor (The Annex Mail-Order Brides Book 1) by Elaine Manders Page A

like. I think I mentioned in my letters I like the old classics. Have you read the Canterbury Tales ?”
    “I have, and I love Chaucer and Shakespeare.”
    The discussion of books led to music, then to history, then to the seasons as Adela described the climate of New England, and Byron explained the beauty and unpredictable weather of the plains.
    He was telling her about the past winter when Ma stuck her head out the open window. “Byron, it’s my bedtime, and I’m sure Miss Mason is tired. You’ve been talking over an hour.”
    Jumping to his feet, Byron pulled out his watch, holding it to the light. Nine o’clock. How could they have been talking that long? “She’s right, Miss Mason. I’ve talked your ear off. Let’s go in, shall we?”
    “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Adela walked past him as he held the door open. “Good-night, Mrs. Calhoun.”
    He watched the sway of her skirt as she glided toward her room. She didn’t enjoy it more than he did.

Chapter 9
    Adela arose the next day, determined to make herself useful. Mrs. Calhoun was still adamant that she didn’t need help. Grand. Maybe Adela could find something to do outside.
    She stepped onto the porch where a brisk wind greeted her. After running back inside for her shawl, she knotted it and made for the corral. The cows were gone, taken to pasture, no doubt, but the horses pranced about. Wishing she’d brought an apple or carrots, she held onto the fence and made clicking sounds. After a few minutes, a roan mare came up, tossing her head.
    Adela reached through the fence to rub her nose. “You’re a beauty, girl,” she crooned. The horse was obviously gentle, and Adela wondered if she might ask Byron if she could ride. Did he have a side-saddle? Some western women rode astride, but she couldn’t imagine riding that way.
    She strode along behind the barn and found the pig pen. A sow and seven well grown pigs wallowed in the mud. Memories took her back to her parents’ farm. She’d been allowed to raise her own pig each year, and rather than it being slaughtered along with the others, it would be sold to another farmer. Never mind that the pig faced the same fate on another farm. At least Papa spared her from having to watch her pet being slaughtered.
    Best not get attached to either pigs or cows. She couldn’t expect Byron to skirt around her tender emotions. In time she’d probably be expected to kill a chicken for dinner as her mother had done. Hopefully, not for a long time.
    Shrill squealing drew her attention to where one of the pigs was caught between the boards of the pen on the other side. The pig had dug down until it got itself wedged in. Silly thing. All it had to do was back out. She’d always been told pigs were smart, but apparently this one was the exception.
    Making her way to the gate, she decided to rescue the stupid pig. With a fugitive glance to the sow, she slipped through the gate and secured it behind her. She grabbed the pig by its rump and pulled it backward. The pig’s death-curdling squeals caught the sow’s attention.
    Before Adela could make it back to the gate, the sow cut her off. The animal pointed straight at Adela, its head shaking. Trapped in the corner, Adela saw no escape except over the top. She grabbed the top railing and screamed. Heart pumping, she heaved herself up just as the sow charged into the fence. She didn’t have the strength to get over the top, but each time the sow circled and charged, she lifted her legs, letting her skirt take the impact of the blow.
    Her muscles screamed from the strain, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she wouldn’t have the strength to pull herself up. Was this to be the end of her dreams? Trampled in a pig pen. Shutting her eyes, she screamed again and again.
    Holding onto the last of her endurance, she felt strong hands go under her arms as she was lifted over the top of the fence.
    Fear ebbed away, and an entirely new emotion descended.