Rebecca (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #15) - Lily Graison Page 0,9

about her life in Charleston that was worth talking about but the beach made up for it. It was her favorite place. There, she watched the ships head out to sea and imagined herself on one of them. It hadn't mattered where they were going. Anywhere would have been better than her lonely existence in Charleston.

Caleb walked back into the room with the two boys. He fished something out of his pocket and handed it to them, their twin grins stretching from ear-to-ear before they ran out of the house.

Rebecca stared at Caleb as he pulled his coat off. Her soon-to-be husband—assuming she stayed and played along with the whole mail-order bride thing—was nice looking. He was tall, but being barely five foot herself, most everyone seemed tall to her. His hair was sandy blond, his eyes green, and a light dusting of stubble shadowed his jaw. He was staring at her, an expectant look on his face, and she realized he’d said something to her.

He raised an eyebrow before Amanda tugged on her arm. “You can hang your coat over here.”

Caleb nodded and she realized that must have been what he’d said to her. She pulled the coat from her shoulders, hanging it beside Amanda’s cloak, and smoothed down her skirt. She’d been in this particular dress so many days now, it was wrinkled right good and the hem was filthy from where it dragged the ground. Diana Hall must be tall.

An awkward silence filled the air and Rebecca’s gaze darted around the room. “You have a nice home.”

“Thank you. Would you like to see your room?”

Caleb was staring at her when she met his gaze. She nodded and followed him down the hall, Amanda right on her heels.

The room held several pieces of furniture. A bed sat along one wall, a long dresser, and a tall cabinet taking up the rest of the space. A small table holding a large bowl and water pitcher sat at the foot of the bed underneath a large mirror.

Caleb shoved his hands into his pants pockets as she stepped inside the room. She walked to the bed, laying a hand on it before giving it a push. It gave enough to tell her it was soft. No more sleeping on the hard ground and waking up with damp clothing from the dew collecting on the grass.

“I’ve cleaned out a few of the dresser drawers for you and there’s space in the cabinet for your dresses.”

She nodded, only half-listening as she walked around the room, running her hand over everything she passed.

“I’ll sleep elsewhere as per our arrangement but I’ve nowhere else to store my clothes so we’ll have to share the dresser.”

Per their arrangement? Rebecca wondered what that was exactly. She stopped by the bed. Caleb was giving her that same wide-eyed look he’d had on his face since he first spoke to her and she wondered if maybe he was experiencing the same shock she had.

Or maybe this whole situation is as awkward for him as it is for you.

She sat on the bed, bouncing a few times. It was soft.

“I’m sure you’re tired after your trip,” he said. “I’ll leave you to get settled in. Supper is at six.”

He backed out of the room and pulled the door shut behind him. Rebecca grinned and flung herself back onto the bed, arms spread wide. How did she get so lucky as to end up a mail-order bride to a handsome man who owned an entire house?

It wasn't luck. You stole someone's train ticket.

She pushed the thought away and rolled over, burying her face against the blankets. The scent that lingered there reminded her of hay and horses and something distinctly male. Her mind flashed back to Caleb and her smile widened. Her rotten luck had changed for the better. Getting on that train had been the smartest thing she’d ever done. She’d always known stealing from the baker would one day lead her down a path that would change her life. She’d just assumed it would lead her straight to jail. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she’d be living in a small town, promised to a handsome man while living a life of luxury.

She laughed again and curled up on the bed, her eyes growing heavy as she laid there staring around the room. She wasn’t sure what this arrangement Caleb had mentioned was all about but she had time to worry about it later. Right now, all