Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,44
Withdrawing so completely had been her way of coping with everything she had no control over. Not speaking had been what she’d needed for a while to help her heal from the horrible things she’d seen and endured.
But silence had no place in her life now. She wanted to step back into life. The overwhelming desire to talk descended on her.
Everything became crystal clear. But how could she coax the words back? That was the big question.
When the kettle whistled, Eleanor made the tea and filled their cups—all without saying a word.
Other than sitting with Ridge and Bodie the previous night, it was the best hour Addie had spent in a long time. At the end of her visit, she reached for her paper and wrote: “Thank you, Eleanor. I loved the quiet.”
“Me too, dear. Don’t worry. Your condition is temporary and will change in time. Please come to see me again whenever you want.”
Addie returned to the center of town, steeped in indecision. It was still too early to meet Ridge, and she wouldn’t go home without him. While she contemplated her next step, Tally Colby saw her and waved. She was carrying a small boy in her arms, and a beautiful woman accompanied her.
“Adeline, meet Melanie. She’s Tait Trinity’s wife, and a mail-order bride like us.”
So Melanie had been a sent-for bride too. Addie wondered how many women in the town had been. Melanie was clearly in the family way, and her warm smile brought out twin dimples. “Adeline, I’m so happy to meet you. I missed your wedding due to our nephew Jesse coming down with a fever, but I heard it was lovely.”
Addie’s nod and smile seemed sufficient. She studied Melanie, wondering about her story. One glimpse of those dimples, and Tait had probably been smitten.
“Come with me and Melanie. We’re going over to Nora’s to plan our September dance.” Tally’s smile widened, and a far-off look filled her blue eyes. “My Clay is quite fond of dancing, and when I first came here, Dallas Hawk would pull out his fiddle every night after supper and we’d dance up a storm. Now it’s only once a month. I miss the old days.” Tally scanned the town, and when her gaze landed on Clay, her face softened.
When Addie nodded that she’d come along, Tally shifted the toddler to her other hip. “I don’t think you’ve met my son, Dillon. He’s two and unruly at times.” Tally whispered, “He takes after his father.”
Addie didn’t know how to react to that, so remained noncommittal.
Melanie slipped an arm through Addie’s. “I don’t get to meet with the ladies often. Tait and I are raising his twin nephews and small niece. They came to live with us after their parents were killed last year.”
“I have to say that after a rough patch, they’ve adjusted quite well,” Tally said.
“They have.” Melanie laughed and showed her dimples again. “There was a time I wanted to strangle them, but I adore those boys and little Becky.”
Tally wiped Dillon’s nose. “I’m glad you and Tait weathered the storm. They’re sweet kids, and they needed you.”
It didn’t matter that Addie couldn’t speak, because the women kept up a running chatter all the way to the Bowdre house. Nora met them at the door and led them inside. She was a pretty woman, with generous curves and an infectious laugh that put Addie at ease. She learned a lot about these women by listening and remembering what Ridge had told her. Tally had once been held against her will in an asylum, and that brought a common bond. And all the women, mail-order brides themselves through Luke Legend’s service, had endured more than their share of trials.
Nora, Tally, and Melanie were as different as daylight and dark from the women of New Zion. Despite her initial comfort around them, part of Addie wondered what their motives might be for befriending her. Everyone had a motive, some way they tried to protect what was theirs. She’d had to watch every word she said around the women of New Zion lest they report her for an infraction. What did these women of Hope’s Crossing feed off? They seemed truly genuine; still, looks often deceived.
The cost of trusting could be steep. She had to be careful until she knew them better.
Once they got Tally’s and Nora’s children settled, out came tea and a plate of cookies.
Addie envied the glow lighting up Nora’s face. The woman had found her bliss, the