Morrow Mail Order Bride

1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 979-8-3509-0773-5
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 194 Seiten

Reihe: Mail Order Bride

Twenty-two-year-old Sarah Catherine McNairy and her mother Elizabeth leave Ireland in 1847 on a ship bound for America. Elizabeth dies on the ship; Sarah is alone and devastated. While working in a boarding house in Boston she answers a newspaper ad from a Willis Harwell, who owns a farm in Kansas and wants a wife. After months of corresponding, Willis sends Sarah money to come to Kansas. She arrives only to learn, Willis died and left two young children. She is overwhelmed and panic stricken. Sarah does not have enough money to leave and where would she go? Sarah meets Willis's family. His mother and father invite her to stay on the farm and help with the children, until she can decide what to do. Logan, Willis's brother begins to fall in love with Sarah, Jesse a farmhand is showing interest in Sarah. Logan becomes jealous. Sarah's Irish temper flares when Logan orders Jesse to stay away from her. In the midst of the turmoil, love shines through, and Sarah falls in love with the man of her dreams.

Linda Morrow has many hobbies; she loves to travel with her husband. Enjoys reading, and writing, crocheting, gardening, and is interested in genealogy. She is learning how to quilt. Each day Linda tries to find something creative to do. She exercises daily, says it is good for the body, mind and soul. Linda and her husband have two married daughters, and four grandchildren. All live in beautiful Southern California.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Morrow, Linda

Leseproben

Chapter Four Boston Harbor and
Molly McGuire’s Sarah noticed that inside the protection of the harbor the water was calmer. The sight of land was a comforting feeling, but also scary for her. The ship nosed into the wharf with a shudder and a thump. The rattle of ropes and shouting could be heard coming from the docks. Soon the gangplank clattered into place. A line of gulls, that had been following the ship rode with the wind, over the gleaming sea looking down at all the activity. Sarah made her way to the exit with the directions to Molly’s clutched in her hand. It was crowded, everyone couldn’t wait to set foot on solid ground, this new ground that was called America. Finally, Sarah reached the bottom of the ramp and was on the dock. She turned around and looked up to see if she could see Thomas. She spotted him and waved. He waved back. Sarah read Thomas’s directions. The streets were clearly marked which made it easy for her. The sun was shining and the warmth of it on her back as she walked on the cobblestones felt incredibly good. She passed men on the wharf sewing and mending fishing nets as they chatted with one another. Some men were getting off their fishing boats and unloading the fish they caught that day, putting them into carts to be taken into town and sold. Boston was a bustling seaport and a busy city. This was exciting to Sarah. She felt grown up all of a sudden with no one to take care of her and no one to guide her. She knew she only had herself and herself alone. She had to depend on her good judgment. No one was there to help her make decisions, and she was determined she was going to survive this, she was going to make it. After a fifteen-minute walk she arrived at Molly McGuire’s front door. She took a few moments to survey her surroundings. The house was a two story that was in desperate need of paint. There were other similar houses on the block. Several children played in the street and on the lawns. She noticed a sign over the front door that said, “Welcome to Molly’s.” The porch was long and curved around the side and front of the house. The wicker chairs had bright colored cushions and pretty ferns that hung from the beams. Seated at a table at the end of the porch were three men smoking cigars. They seemed so interested in themselves they didn’t notice her. It looked like they were playing a game of cards. She felt a little nervous as she approached the front door and knocked gently. After a moment the door swung open wide and there stood a very plump lady about five feet tall. She had on a bright blue dress with a long white apron. Her light brown hair was pulled up into a knot on top of her head with wispy tendrils falling down around her neck and face. “Hello there miss, I’m Molly. And who might you be?” “My name is Sarah Catherine McNairy. I just got off the vessel the Lady McNaughton from Ireland.” “I would never have guessed with that accent that sounds just like mine. Well, come in.” Molly reached out and took Sarah by the arm and led her inside. “I suppose you are looking for a place to stay?” “Yes miss, I am. Thomas told me about you.” “Oh, he did? Well, he better come and see me soon.” Sarah gave a smile and replied, “Yes, you just might get to see him as he is sending my trunk and belongings over. Maybe he will bring them himself. That is if you have room for me to stay?” “Oh, I do have an extra room. I’m sure it will be just fine for you.” Sarah instantly liked Molly. She was very outgoing, friendly and basically a very jolly person. Someone Sarah thought she could be friends with, even with the difference in age. “Well, come sit down here in this chair and tell me about yourself. You came here all alone?” Sarah nodded and began to tell Molly all about herself. That she was from County Kildare and about her father dying because of the potato famine. Molly nodded, and mentioned she had family that left Ireland because of the potato famine also. Sarah talked about being aboard the Lady McNaughton and having to travel in the steerage section. About her mother dying and then how Thomas moved her into the nice cabin. The trunk full of beautiful dresses, food from the cook for the people in steerage and finally her arrival in Boston and how Thomas told her to come here. Sarah also told her of the plans both she and her mother had of becoming seamstresses. But now she told Molly she didn’t know what to do. When she got to that part she just broke down and cried. Molly reached over, put her arm around Sarah and held her until Sarah stopped crying. Molly gave Sarah a handkerchief that was in her pocket. Sarah wiped her eyes and apologized. “Oh, you don’t worry about that at all young lady. A good cry never hurt anyone. Now let me tell you, I have a room here for you and you can stay as long as you want or until you decide what you want to do. There is plenty of work right here in this house if you want a job here. As far as a seamstress job, you can go into town and maybe find one, but you don’t have to do that today. You had a long trip, and I bet you would like to see your room and maybe have a wonderful bath. How does that sound?” Sarah nodded and wiped her eyes again. Molly told Sarah she had just made some wonderful rose water and she bet Sarah would love some in her bath. “Come on now.” Molly took Sarah by the hand and led her to the stairs. They climbed up with Molly leading the way. She said she really was in need of good help. “You know Sarah, a woman of my age can’t be doing this all-alone day in and day out. I have six boarders, all men, and boy can they put away the food. I have cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping so you can see I could really use some help. It doesn’t pay much, but if you would like to help me out temporally till you decide what you want to do, I would really be grateful.” “Thank you so much.” Sarah leaned over and gave Molly a kiss on the cheek. “Hey John,” yelled Molly. Soon a young boy about fifteen appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “Fetch some bath water for our newcomer. Her name is Miss Sarah.” John disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. “John helps me out on weekends and after school. His father works on the wharf and his mother died a couple of years ago. He is very handy with tools and he seems to be able to fix just about anything.” Molly opened the door to a beautiful bedroom. It was quite small with a window facing the street and one medium sized bed with a carved headboard. On top of the bed was a colorful blue and white quilt. “Oh, the bed is so pretty Molly.” “Well, thank you. It belonged to my grandmother.” In the far corner of the room was a stand with a yellow porcelain bowl and pitcher. A small mirror with the frame painted yellow was above the stand. The floor was a dark shiny mahogany wood with a blue, white and yellow rag rug that once belonged to Molly’s mother. Across from the bed was a small chest of drawers, the carvings matched the headboard of the bed. In the corner nearest the door was the tin tub. Sarah fell in love with the room. It was bright, airy and cozy. John came up the stairs carrying buckets of water, the steam rising up around his head making his hair damp. He nodded to Sarah and began pouring the water into the tub. “John, this is Sarah Catherine McNairy from Ireland.” “Glad to meet you Miss Sarah. I’ll be back in a flash with two more buckets.” When John left the room, you could hear him running down the stairs. Molly giggled and shook her head from side to side. “That boy. I’ve told him not to run down those stairs, but he won’t listen. One of these days he will fall flat on his face and break his foolish neck.” John returned with more hot water. “Thank you.” Sarah smiled. He nodded and smiled back. “Anytime Miss Sarah.” Molly waved John on. “I know you have some projects to do.” With that John took the stairs two at a time. “I’ll go get that rose water I promised you. It will make you feel wonderful.” It was just a minute before Molly returned with the container. “Now you put some of this in your bath water and get in and soak for a bit. Here is a big fluffy towel for you to dry off with. Then you can take a well-deserved nap. I’ll wake you up for dinner as soon as it is ready.” Molly patted Sarah on the back and closed the door. Sarah stood awhile just looking around the room and at the tub with the steam still rising. She walked over to the window and peered out and across the street, she could see children playing ball.Some smaller tykes were sitting in a row watching the bigger children play. Down the street came someone on a bicycle. It looked to be a middle-aged man. Sarah felt safe and secure here. Molly was right, no need to make any hasty decisions today. First that bath and a nap. Tomorrow she would talk with Molly more, and with a clear head, make plans for her future. Lowering herself into the tub she immediately felt the warmth of the water relax her tense muscles. After bathing, she climbed on the bed and pulls the quilt over her. She drifts off into a deep sleep until some loud noises downstairs wakes her up. She quickly dressed and ran a comb through her hair. She had no idea how long she had been asleep but rushed downstairs and found it was Molly making all the noise. It seemed the cat...