Page 9 of The Preacher's Bride

Now, as the train prepared for its arrival in Laramie, Mia realized that it hadn’t quite been a week since she had received the news that she was going to be a mail-order bride. It seemed that after she had made the decision, everything had fallen into place very quickly.

In her cabin, she slipped into the new dress she had just finished and looked in the mirror. It fit her perfectly with a fitted bodice, low neckline, and a full skirt. She took out a beige modesty scarf that matched her dress, slipped it around her neck, and tucked it in place. She wanted to look good, yet proper when she met her soon-to-be husband and his children.

Children.

Mia was going from being single and lonely to having a ready-made family, all in the course of a week. It would have been overwhelming if she allowed herself to think about it.

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door down the hallway, bringing her from her reverie. “Gather your things!” the steward announced as he knocked on another door. “We’ll arrive soon!” He said the same lines over and again down the hallway, making the same announcement along the way.

“Well, this is it!” Mia checked herself in the mirror one last time. Her green eyes were bright, and she pinched her cheeks, then dabbed a slight bit of rouge onto her lips, giving her a little color. “There.” She slipped the rouge back into her reticule. Satisfied, she glanced around the cabin once more to see if shehad missed anything. Then she slipped her reticule over her wrist and headed toward the exit, knowing the steward would get her bag.

The conductor offered her his hand. She took it and stepped gracefully down out of the train.

“There she is!” Ella yelled from the other side of the platform.

Mia’s heart leaped when she saw her friend.

Ella’s stomach was protruding, but in her face, she didn’t look pregnant at all. Mia was surprised at how pale she looked. Obviously, the pregnancy had taken a toll on her.

Colton stood beside his wife, beaming with pride, and on her other side stood a tall, handsome, muscular man with dark brown hair and blue eyes, holding a small, whimpering little girl, while trying to wrangle a fidgeting little boy. They all appeared to be dressed in their Sunday best.

Caleb took her in, and their eyes met and held, and something passed between them that she couldn’t quite put into words.

Ella pulled her in for a hug. “You look wonderful!” she gushed. “I just love your dress! Did you make it?”

Mia nodded, but before she could say anything more, Colton pulled her in for one of his famous bear hugs. “It’s great to see you again, Mia. How was your trip?”

“Good. Ella, thank you so much for arranging everything.” Mia glanced nervously over at Caleb, who took her in with his bright blue eyes, the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.

“Mia, this is Reverend Caleb Henley,” she said, and then turned to Caleb. “Caleb, may I present to you… Miss Mia Flynn.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mia smiled, extending her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” He touched her hand and electricity shot through her, but Caleb quickly pulled away.“Here.” He shoved the little girl into her arms, who was now crying openly, and then picked up the boy. “We have to meet the preacher here in Laramie in a few minutes.”

Mia’s eyes opened wide. “Preacher?”

Caleb nodded. “He’s going to marry us.”

“Now?”

Caleb let out an exasperated breath. “Yes. You can’t live under my roof unless we’re married. Since I’m the town preacher… and with the children… it just wouldn’t be proper otherwise.”

Mia nodded, thankful that she had chosen to wear the dress she had made, which would become her wedding dress within a matter of minutes. She was about to protest, but then again, that was what she had come there for, wasn’t it? She just hoped that she was making the right decision.

Ella pulled her in for another hug and whispered, “He really is a good man, Mia. I promise.”

Mia nodded. “It’s just that I thought we’d have time to get to know each other first.”

“Time is a luxury I don’t have at present,” Caleb said curtly as he picked up the squirming boy. “Are you ready?”

Mia nodded. “I guess I have to be.”

Caleb froze, staring into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

It was the oddest marriage proposal she had ever heard, but Mia guessed that it was the only one she was going to get. After all, they had arranged everything ahead of time. In her mind, she had hoped for a little romance, but she guessed that it was all a fantasy. She just hoped that romance would come later… maybe… someday.

“Yes, of course!” Mia turned her attention to the crying little girl in her arms. “And you must be Hailey.”