Page 21 - MailOrderBrideFlipBook

moment, everything was quiet except for the lapping of waves and the cargo crane starting to move crates to the dock. Jim looked from Eli to Anya, then back at Eli, and burst out laughing. “A mail-order bride! The preacher got a mail-order bride! I thought I’d heard it all.” He smiled slyly at them. “Perhaps I should leave you two alone. After all, the guys down town haven’t heard the news.” As Jim started thumping his way across the dock toward town, Eli panicked at the thought of being alone with this strange girl and not knowing what to say. “No, Jim, don’t leave! Jim, I...” But Jim just turned, pushed Eli back toward Anya with his cane, and, with a laugh, continued on his way. Eli forced a glance toward Anya. She shyly lifted her eyes to meet his and quickly lowered them again. She had already wrapped her veil back into place so her eyes were all that Eli could see, but they spoke volumes. Eli felt sorry for her, but he struggled with his own feelings about Molly. He tried to put his feelings aside for a moment and think of Anya and what she must be feeling. He began to speak, but stumbled over his words. “I, uh, I mean...” Anya’s voice trembled. “Send Anya home?” “Well, I don’t know if that’s possible, but it would probably be best.” “No like Anya?” “I can’t say I don’t like you. I don’t even know you.” Anya voice was pleading. “Anya good cook. Anya work hard, learn cook, sew, learn English. Anya speak good English?” 18