Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2) by Catherine Harper
Authors: Catherine Harper
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and wiped a tear that trickled down her face.
"How about we say nothing more about you leaving," John said and kissed her on the forehead. "I don't know about you, but my appetites been very poor today. Are you hungry?"
Alice nodded her head. "Haven't eaten much today with everything playing on my mind."
"How about you tidy up and I'll get Anna to cook us a meal. Just you and I," John smiled. "By the way, she also bakes the best pastries I've ever tasted."
"You really know how to make things difficult for me, don't you? That's my weak spot, pastries," Alice said.
John nodded. "Good to know. That's something to keep in mind for the next you think of leaving me."
Smiling back, Alice knew he'd never have to use it to get her to stay. Once back to her room, the first thing she was doing was throwing away her suitcase.
Chapter 12
Paying for their tickets at the gate. John shook his head. “I can't believe you've never been to Woodward's Gardens before."
Alice said, "I never had a chance. What with you know who and then work. Never seemed to have a spare moment to myself until now."
"Can we see the monkey's first?"
John looked down at his daughter. "Alright, but don't forget, Alice is our guest today. So she gets to pick where we go." Looking to Alice he asked, "Is that OK with you?"
"Monkey's sounds like fun to me," Alice said, taking Amy's hand. "Lead the way." Once given the order, Alice found her arm pulled sharply to the left. Cutting a path through crowds of Sunday strollers Amy guided them to the monkey enclosure in record time. Finding a gap in the onlookers, she let go of Alice's hand and pushed her way through to the railing and watched the animals at play.
"So much for it being your day," John complained.
"Compared to us two, I think a bunch of monkeys are more entertaining," Alice replied. Hearing Amy squeal with delight at their latest antic, she added, "See, no comparison."
"I think we'll be here for a while," John said, looking around him. "There used to be a—ah there it is. Would you like a cup of tea, Alice?" Seeing a nearby tea stand, Alice nodded her head.
"Tea would be nice."
"Milk, sugar?"
"Both please," Alice replied. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"I'll be back as quick as I can," John said and then looked to his daughter in conversation with a boy around her own age. Watching the pair point and giggle, he added, "Not that it'll matter much."
"Forget about it, just get the tea," Alice called after him and turned her attention back to watching Amy. Seeing her clap at something unseen, Alice heard a voice behind her.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my sweet little, Alice."
Recognizing the voice, Alice felt a shiver run down her spine and spun around. Seeing Walter look her over, she searched for John and found him gone.
"Well, well, well, it looks like you've landed on your feet."
Stepping back and searching for something to say, the best Alice could do was say, "Walter…"
"That's right, it's been a long time Alice. Didn't take you long to jump into bed with another man-"
"It's not like that—John's a good man," Alice said and turned to check on Amy. Relieved that she was still enjoying herself, Alice turned to find Walter drinking from a hip flask. Pointing in Amy's direction he asked.
"That his brat?"
"You stay away from her—or-"
"Or what? I've seen you try to put up a fight, Alice, it's pitiful. Or maybe you were only pretending to fight me off. So is he good in bed—as good as me?"
Alice fought against the feeling of revulsion as she was brought back to that night. "You raped me, Walter-"
"Really? I don't think I'd see it that way. Don't forget Alice, you're still married to me. So whatever you think of this little thing between you and him, it's not happening."
"You're drunk, Walter," Alice snapped. "Drunk and deluded. I pity the next woman that's gets lured in by your bullshit." Surprised by what she'd said, and seeing the drunken grin fall from his face, she braced
"How about we say nothing more about you leaving," John said and kissed her on the forehead. "I don't know about you, but my appetites been very poor today. Are you hungry?"
Alice nodded her head. "Haven't eaten much today with everything playing on my mind."
"How about you tidy up and I'll get Anna to cook us a meal. Just you and I," John smiled. "By the way, she also bakes the best pastries I've ever tasted."
"You really know how to make things difficult for me, don't you? That's my weak spot, pastries," Alice said.
John nodded. "Good to know. That's something to keep in mind for the next you think of leaving me."
Smiling back, Alice knew he'd never have to use it to get her to stay. Once back to her room, the first thing she was doing was throwing away her suitcase.
Chapter 12
Paying for their tickets at the gate. John shook his head. “I can't believe you've never been to Woodward's Gardens before."
Alice said, "I never had a chance. What with you know who and then work. Never seemed to have a spare moment to myself until now."
"Can we see the monkey's first?"
John looked down at his daughter. "Alright, but don't forget, Alice is our guest today. So she gets to pick where we go." Looking to Alice he asked, "Is that OK with you?"
"Monkey's sounds like fun to me," Alice said, taking Amy's hand. "Lead the way." Once given the order, Alice found her arm pulled sharply to the left. Cutting a path through crowds of Sunday strollers Amy guided them to the monkey enclosure in record time. Finding a gap in the onlookers, she let go of Alice's hand and pushed her way through to the railing and watched the animals at play.
"So much for it being your day," John complained.
"Compared to us two, I think a bunch of monkeys are more entertaining," Alice replied. Hearing Amy squeal with delight at their latest antic, she added, "See, no comparison."
"I think we'll be here for a while," John said, looking around him. "There used to be a—ah there it is. Would you like a cup of tea, Alice?" Seeing a nearby tea stand, Alice nodded her head.
"Tea would be nice."
"Milk, sugar?"
"Both please," Alice replied. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"I'll be back as quick as I can," John said and then looked to his daughter in conversation with a boy around her own age. Watching the pair point and giggle, he added, "Not that it'll matter much."
"Forget about it, just get the tea," Alice called after him and turned her attention back to watching Amy. Seeing her clap at something unseen, Alice heard a voice behind her.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my sweet little, Alice."
Recognizing the voice, Alice felt a shiver run down her spine and spun around. Seeing Walter look her over, she searched for John and found him gone.
"Well, well, well, it looks like you've landed on your feet."
Stepping back and searching for something to say, the best Alice could do was say, "Walter…"
"That's right, it's been a long time Alice. Didn't take you long to jump into bed with another man-"
"It's not like that—John's a good man," Alice said and turned to check on Amy. Relieved that she was still enjoying herself, Alice turned to find Walter drinking from a hip flask. Pointing in Amy's direction he asked.
"That his brat?"
"You stay away from her—or-"
"Or what? I've seen you try to put up a fight, Alice, it's pitiful. Or maybe you were only pretending to fight me off. So is he good in bed—as good as me?"
Alice fought against the feeling of revulsion as she was brought back to that night. "You raped me, Walter-"
"Really? I don't think I'd see it that way. Don't forget Alice, you're still married to me. So whatever you think of this little thing between you and him, it's not happening."
"You're drunk, Walter," Alice snapped. "Drunk and deluded. I pity the next woman that's gets lured in by your bullshit." Surprised by what she'd said, and seeing the drunken grin fall from his face, she braced
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