Hannah: Bride of Iowa (American Mail Order Bride 29) by P.A. Estelle Page A

to.
    “Put your gun away, Chad,” the other rider growled, disgust evident in his tone. “Sometimes you ain’t got no sense at all.”
    “There be two of us,” Chad argued loudly.
    “I said, put it away.” Carl’s tone was dangerous and Chad did as he was told.
    Carl’s horse took a few steps then stopped as he eyed Maddie from head to toe. He touched the brim of his hat. “Miss.” Glancing at Samuel, he smiled and the two rode off.
    Maddie helped Lizzy back onto the bench and then turned and grabbed the puppy, putting him in the girl’s lap. “See, your puppy’s fine.”
    Once Lizzy was busy with her new dog, Maddie asked Samuel who those men were.
    “Carl and Chad Skinner. They live about five miles from here. Their pa leased land from Tom Garst and did okay. One day he collapsed and since then, just sits. Doc says it’s a stroke of some kind. Mrs. Skinner was already sickly and the boys did nothing to keep the farm going. Tom felt bad and let them stay in the little house, but took the land back. Mrs. Skinner died soon after that and, well, since then the boys have run wild and don’t care a lick about anything or anybody. They’re useless, lazy, and I don’t trust them one bit.”
    They were almost home when the wind picked up it started raining. By the time they reached the house, it was bitter cold and the rain had turned to sleet.
     

 
    Chapter EIGHT
     
    The next morning, Maddie slipped out of her bedroom, stopping when she heard coughing. She peeked into Lizzy’s room. The little girl was sleeping peacefully, snuggled deep under the covers.
    She put her ear next to Samuel’s closed door and heard the coughing again. Hurrying downstairs, Maddie started a fire in the stove. It was cold in the house and she needed to warm things up. The puppy, who Lizzy named Mr. Wiggles because he wiggled everywhere, was sleeping soundly in a corner in the kitchen. Maddie smiled, thinking the poor little thing had probably cried itself to sleep.
    When she put water on to boil for coffee, a yip from the corner alerted her to the fact Mr. Wiggles was awake. Maddie picked him up and took him outside. It was cold, drizzling rain and the sky was still black; not a star to be seen. “Hurry up, Mr. Wiggles. It’s freezing out here.” The pup came running around the corner and the two hurried back into the house.
    Samuel came down the stairs later than usual. “Morning.” His voice was raspy.
    “I heard you coughing earlier. Are you feeling okay?”
    “Throat feels a bit raw but I’m fine.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m going to milk the cow.”
    “Samuel, let me go do that. You stay in here where it’s warm. It’s cold and rainy outside.”
    He buttoned up his coat. “I won’t be long.”
    She could hear him coughing as he walked to the barn.
    That afternoon Maddie insisted Samuel go to bed. He was feverish and his cough had gone down to his chest. She made him chicken soup for supper. He woke up when the bedroom opened. “I have some chicken soup and biscuits for you.”
    He groaned, as if it were a painful chore to sit up. “I can’t believe this, Hannah. I am never sick.” He groaned when he swallowed a bite of the biscuit. He handed it back to her. “I’m sorry, Hannah. My throat hurts like blazes.”
    “Samuel, you need to eat something to keep your strength up. At least try some soup.” She sat on the side of his bed and fed him a few spoonsful until he’d had enough. Maddie helped Samuel lie back down and made sure he was covered up.
    He mumbled something she didn’t understand before falling to sleep. She placed her hand on his face. His fever had not subsided at all.
    Maddie bundled Lizzy up and, along with Mr. Wiggles, the three of them went to the barn to feed, milk, and gather some eggs. Lizzy’s favorite meal was flapjacks and since Samuel wasn’t eating that’s what they had for supper.
    Once Lizzy was put to bed, Maddie made sure there was plenty of wood inside, took Mr.