Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Kirsten Osbourne
Authors: Kirsten Osbourne
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sound like you have a reputation for being a wicked woman.”
“Well, we both know it’s not that. I just—I need to find a way to control my urges to always show how smart I am. The boys in school were intimidated by me. Most people I’ve ever met have been.” Coral sighed. “I need to find myself a man who is either so brilliant, he outshines me in every way, or one so simple, he doesn’t realize how smart I am. Men just don’t seem to like smart women.”
Esther frowned at that. She’d had no idea her sister was insecure about her ability to catch a man. She knew that both Jeremiah and Brody were intimidated by her though. Why wouldn’t a man look at her and think about ways she could enhance his life? Instead of feeling like they were less because of Coral’s abilities.
“I wish I knew what to tell you. I certainly don’t think you can hide who you are for long.”
Coral shook her head. “I shouldn’t have to. I suppose men might be different in Montana, but we’ll see.”
The door opened, effectively ending their conversation. Brody looked at the two women lying in the bed, and wished he could be the one beside his new bride instead of her sister. There was always tomorrow.
*****
They arrived at Brody’s ranch in the middle of the next day. Brody helped each of the women down and opened the front door for them. “It’ll be time for supper in a couple of hours. You two get to work on that and settling in, and I’ll go check on my men. I’ll see you at supper.” He dipped his head to kiss Esther’s pretty lips before turning back to his horses. He was immediately in work mode.
Esther went into the house first, having no idea what she’d find there. It was more what she would call a cabin than a house, with two small bedrooms close beside one another and a fair-sized room that served as kitchen, dining room, and parlor all at once.
Esther closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of the beautiful home they’d been raised in. She would get used to living this way. She had to.
Coral pushed up her sleeves and walked to the kitchen, clearing the dirty dishes from the table. As soon as Esther saw her sister get to work, she realized what a mess the house was in. She hadn’t been able to see past the tiny house and lack of nice furnishings.
Esther was thankful to see a water pump in the kitchen so she wouldn’t have to walk out to the well every time she needed water. It would be especially handy in the winter months. Together they cleaned what was obviously days’ worth of dirty dishes and pots and pans. As soon as they were done, Coral found the entrance to the cellar, scouting out the food situation, while Esther swept the kitchen floor.
Esther continued through the small house, changing sheets and gathering dirty clothes, while Coral sorted out the food for supper. By the time Coral had made a simple stew out of the salt pork, potatoes and carrots she found in the cellar, Esther had the house looking like it merely needed a good cleaning, rather than like an army of very slovenly elves had resided there.
*****
Brody had five employees working for him, helping around the ranch, and he rode out to check on the work they’d done in his absence. It appeared the fence had been completed, and the herd had been moved into their new pasture. He was thankful his foreman had worked so hard to keep the other men on task.
He found all five men doing another round of fence inspection around the herd. He rode up to Jasper Eaton, one of his most trusted men. “How’d things go while I was gone?” he asked, staring out at the cattle.
“Seems like some of the herd have escaped since we built the fence. We’re working on making sure there are no holes.”
“That sounds good. Tell me, have you thought about marriage? My new wife’s sister came with her, and I’d love for you to meet her.”
Jasper shook his head. “No,
“Well, we both know it’s not that. I just—I need to find a way to control my urges to always show how smart I am. The boys in school were intimidated by me. Most people I’ve ever met have been.” Coral sighed. “I need to find myself a man who is either so brilliant, he outshines me in every way, or one so simple, he doesn’t realize how smart I am. Men just don’t seem to like smart women.”
Esther frowned at that. She’d had no idea her sister was insecure about her ability to catch a man. She knew that both Jeremiah and Brody were intimidated by her though. Why wouldn’t a man look at her and think about ways she could enhance his life? Instead of feeling like they were less because of Coral’s abilities.
“I wish I knew what to tell you. I certainly don’t think you can hide who you are for long.”
Coral shook her head. “I shouldn’t have to. I suppose men might be different in Montana, but we’ll see.”
The door opened, effectively ending their conversation. Brody looked at the two women lying in the bed, and wished he could be the one beside his new bride instead of her sister. There was always tomorrow.
*****
They arrived at Brody’s ranch in the middle of the next day. Brody helped each of the women down and opened the front door for them. “It’ll be time for supper in a couple of hours. You two get to work on that and settling in, and I’ll go check on my men. I’ll see you at supper.” He dipped his head to kiss Esther’s pretty lips before turning back to his horses. He was immediately in work mode.
Esther went into the house first, having no idea what she’d find there. It was more what she would call a cabin than a house, with two small bedrooms close beside one another and a fair-sized room that served as kitchen, dining room, and parlor all at once.
Esther closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of the beautiful home they’d been raised in. She would get used to living this way. She had to.
Coral pushed up her sleeves and walked to the kitchen, clearing the dirty dishes from the table. As soon as Esther saw her sister get to work, she realized what a mess the house was in. She hadn’t been able to see past the tiny house and lack of nice furnishings.
Esther was thankful to see a water pump in the kitchen so she wouldn’t have to walk out to the well every time she needed water. It would be especially handy in the winter months. Together they cleaned what was obviously days’ worth of dirty dishes and pots and pans. As soon as they were done, Coral found the entrance to the cellar, scouting out the food situation, while Esther swept the kitchen floor.
Esther continued through the small house, changing sheets and gathering dirty clothes, while Coral sorted out the food for supper. By the time Coral had made a simple stew out of the salt pork, potatoes and carrots she found in the cellar, Esther had the house looking like it merely needed a good cleaning, rather than like an army of very slovenly elves had resided there.
*****
Brody had five employees working for him, helping around the ranch, and he rode out to check on the work they’d done in his absence. It appeared the fence had been completed, and the herd had been moved into their new pasture. He was thankful his foreman had worked so hard to keep the other men on task.
He found all five men doing another round of fence inspection around the herd. He rode up to Jasper Eaton, one of his most trusted men. “How’d things go while I was gone?” he asked, staring out at the cattle.
“Seems like some of the herd have escaped since we built the fence. We’re working on making sure there are no holes.”
“That sounds good. Tell me, have you thought about marriage? My new wife’s sister came with her, and I’d love for you to meet her.”
Jasper shook his head. “No,
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