Grace: Bride of Montana (American Mail-Order Bride 41) by Debra Holland Page B

brides…. I’ll go iron your dress, while you wash up.” She tilted her head. “If you trust me with such a special gown, that is.”
    “You are so kind.” Grace briefly touched the woman’s arm. “I couldn’t possibly break tradition.”
    The older woman blushed. “My dear Miss Dickinson, it is absolutely my pleasure to welcome new brides to our town.” She picked up both pieces of the gown and, with her arms full, whisked out of the room.
    Mrs. Flanigan stared after her with a fond smile playing about her lips. “This brings back such memories. I was the first mail-order bride to come to Sweetwater Springs,” she said with pride. “But not the last. And I’m gratified to report, we all have happy marriages.” She reached for Grace’s hand and squeezed. “Frey is a good man, Grace…may we use given names, for I hope we’ll be friends?”
    As soon as she was able, Grace slipped her hand from Trudy’s and nodded permission. Somehow she doubted Trudy had to cope with a broken heart when she married Seth Flanigan. So much easier to fall in love with your husband if your heart is whole and your intentions are to do so. But still, she was curious. “Why did you become a mail-order bride?”
    Trudy moved to the washstand and poured water into the ewer. She handed Grace a washcloth. “I was bored with my life in St. Louis, and I wanted adventure.”
    Adventure? Grace couldn’t even imagine having such a dream, which seemed as opposite as could be from hers—wanting a husband and her own home. “Did you find it?”
    “Many would say life as a farm wife isn’t adventurous—a lot of mundane hard work, unless you count the cow getting loose in the garden yesterday. I was furious!” As if remembering the past, Trudy’s whole face lit up. “But yes, coming to Sweetwater Springs, marrying Seth, was a grand adventure. It wasn’t easy, mind you, as I’m sure you’ll find out for yourself, but I still feel my life has plenty of excitement—maybe a quiet kind; loving and peaceful. Like the time George first smiled at me—the way he grins with his whole face.”
    “Your baby does have an infectious smile.”
    Trudy waved a hand between her and Grace. “Take us being here, for example. This is an adventure.”
    Grace tilted her head in askance. “This is my adventure. But how is it one for you?”
    “In St. Louis, I had a set circle of friends—people in the neighborhood, women I’d gone to school with, the adult children of my father’s friends. Most I’d known for a long while. Sometimes, a new person would marry or move into the neighborhood or something, but meeting in the way you and I have….”
    Their circumstances were definitely different, although Grace supposed if the stroke hadn’t rendered her father unable to continue his work as a schoolmaster, her upbringing would have been similar. “I guess you’re right.”
    Trudy gestured between them. “And the two of us have an instant bond in common. After all, very few mail-order brides can be found in this country, even if there are a disproportionate amount in this area.”
    “Well, there are about to become far more, about fifty if I judge correctly. For I had a large group of acquaintances who elected to become mail-order brides.” Grace brought herself up short. Now isn’t the time to explain about the factory. She wanted to focus on more pleasant thoughts. “A story for another day,” she said lightly.
    “That’s right, Frey mentioned the fire. How very dreadful. And how sad you all couldn’t go to the same community—or at least several of you to the same place. What a comfort it was to have Lina and Darcy—two other mail-order brides from the same agency—join me. I’m sure my friends will soon become yours, too.”
    “You said your marriage wasn’t easy. Would…would you be willing to tell me in what way?” Maybe if I hear difficulties can be overcome…
    “Seth loved, or actually, thought he loved, another woman,