Bride of Paradise: Book 1 in Mail Order Ministers Read online

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  Kristen Walston hurried down the street. She’d just come from the orphanage where she spent every afternoon working with the children. She enjoyed her time with them, but she needed more in life. She was getting restless.

  She was nineteen, and had finished her schooling the year before. Her mother told her every day it was time for her to marry, but she just hadn’t found anyone she’d be interested in marrying. She hated the long ritual of courtship, and felt that people were just too lenient with it these days. Women would actually wander off alone with men to places that weren’t public. It bothered her, and she refused to be that way.

  And every time a man wanted to court her, they always felt it gave them license to touch her. She felt differently. She didn’t mind taking a man’s arm, when she needed to, but for the most part, she didn’t feel like touching should be part of courtship. Of course, she didn’t much like to touch people anyway.

  She shuddered delicately. Every time she even shook hands with someone she wanted to scrub hers with lye soap. There were very few people she was willing to touch in this world.

  She went into the mercantile to pick up a short list of things for her mother when she saw a note pinned to the bulletin board. “Needed: Single women of good moral standing willing to relocate for adventure. Please report to the seminary at 3000 Allen St. at seven pm on Wednesday evening. Refreshments will be served.”

  She stared at it for a moment before jotting down the address. That sounded like what she was looking for. Adventure. She was definitely of good moral standing, and had the reputation to prove it. Her pastor would vouch for her, she knew, and so would her entire congregation. Even the women at the orphanage would say she was who they were looking for. Whatever the job was, she was curious enough to go and find out.

  The merchant put the things on her mother’s list into a box for her to carry home. The box was heavy, but she’d always been strong despite her slender build.

  Kristen was five feet three inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. She’d been born in Texas, but her mother had come from Norway and her father from Germany. They’d met in New York City and had decided life in the crowded city wasn’t for them. Together they’d moved to Texas to start life fresh, and they’d both loved it there. Kristen, their oldest child, had been born three years after they’d arrived. She had a younger sister, Laura, who was still in school.

  When she arrived home, she pushed open the front door and set her box on the floor. “Mama! I’m home!”

  Ingrid hurried into the room. “Kristen! Did you get the things I need?”

  Kristen had no idea why her mother always asked her that. She never forgot to get the things her mother needed. “Yes, Mama.” She pointed at the box she’d put down.

  “Take it into the kitchen for me.” Ingrid hurried away, knowing her obedient daughter would do as she was told.

  Kristen picked up the box and carried it into the kitchen setting it on the work table beside the basin. “Here you go.” She watched as her mother dug through the items and found the salt, adding a little to the meal she had simmering on the stove. Quickly she washed her hands. She hadn’t shaken any hands on the way home, but the storekeeper had touched the wooden box he’d put her mother’s items in, and then she’d had to touch the box.

  “How was the orphanage today?” Ingrid had blond hair and blue eyes, and was a typical Norwegian mother from what Kristen could tell. She wished she’d gotten her mother’s looks, but she knew she was fine with her brown hair.

  “It was good. The orphans are running wild, because it’s summer, but I’m glad they have a little extra play time.” She sat at the table and watched her mother cook, knowing from past experience that if she tried to help, she’d only get in the way.

  Kristen was dressed in her July colors. She preferred each month to have a theme for her dress as much as possible. This month was a red, white and blue theme, due to it being the Fourth of July month. She wore a dark blue dress with short sleeves, a white sash over the dress as a belt, and a bright red bow in her hair. She hadn’t decided on an August theme yet, but probably something with pastel colors, because they made her feel cooler in the hot Texas summer.

  Ingrid nodded. “It’s good for the children to play more. Are they helping with the garden?”

  Kristen nodded. “Yes, I was in it with all of the older girls today. We did a lot of watering and weeding.” She sighed. “I wish they hadn’t planted the garden so far from the well, because we spend half of our time hauling water.” She didn’t mind getting her hands in dirt for some reason. It was human touch that bothered her.

  “Someone wasn’t thinking when they did that!” Ingrid clucked as she shook her head.

  “We’ll have to start canning for them in a few weeks. Could Laura help me with that? And would you be willing to come help again like you did last year?” When it was canning time, they needed all the help they could get. They set up temporary stoves outside and they all worked as quickly as they could. It was hard to get volunteers, though, because canning time at the orphanage was the same as canning time all over the city.

  “Yes, of course, I’ll help.” Ingrid smiled at her daughter. “You look like you have something on your mind, Kristen.” She put the last of the groceries away and walked to sit with Kristen at the table. “What is it?”

  Kristen shrugged. “I don’t know, Mama. I’m just feeling restless. I want to get away for a while. See what life in other places is like.” She looked down at the table, drawing a pattern with her finger. “I’m going to go to a women’s meeting at the seminary on Wednesday night. Okay?”

  Ingrid made a face. “Why would they have a women’s meeting there? Only men go to the seminary.”

  “I know that, Mama. There’s a meeting for women, though, and I’d like to go.” Kristen held her breath as she waited for her mother’s answer. She really wanted to go, but she wouldn’t disobey her mother.

  Ingrid seemed to consider for a moment. “That would be all right, I suppose. Are any of your friends going? Will you have someone to walk over with?”

  The seminary was only three blocks away. “Mama, it will still be light out, and the seminary is a ten minute walk. I can go by myself.” Kristen hated that her mother was so over-protective of her. Sometimes she felt like she treated her as if she were still a small child.

  Ingrid looked skeptical but reluctantly agreed. “You be careful.”

  “I will. Thank you.” Kristen hugged her mother and jumped up to go to her room, trying to decide what the right thing was to wear to the seminary. The right thing that was red white and blue of course. She had sashes and ribbons, so she really just needed to make sure she found a red, white or blue dress.

  She dug through her things and pulled out her newest white dress. She’d spent hours sewing the lace onto it, so it would be just right. Kristen liked to have her clothes be perfect at all times. It made her feel put together and confident. Her mother laughed at her, but she didn’t care.

  She decided on a blue sash and a pretty red bow for her hair. She’d wear it back in a twist with the bow woven through it. It would be perfect!