Page 25 - MailOrderBrideFlipBook

who were leading Anya off the dock toward town. Eli heard Mabel say, “Can you believe the nerve? And him the town preacher besides.” He heard Elizabeth add, “I can’t believe my eyes. And on a cattle boat, too.” Eli called after them, “I didn’t order her. And who said I was going to marry...” but they were gone. Whitman nonchalantly wandered onto the dock. Eli stood silently for a moment watching the ladies disappear up the road, and then slowly he turned back to Whitman. “Just what did you tell her?” Whitman was the picture of innocence. “Me? I just told her that your mail-order bride came in, and she had to ride a cattle boat all the way here.” “But I didn’t order her!” Whitman grinned. “You wanted me to get Agnes to let her stay at our house, didn’t you?” “I didn’t want you to make her think I ordered a mail-order bride! And why did you have to go telling Mabel and Elizabeth?” “I didn’t tell them. Agnes told Mabel on the way down here, and, I guess, Mabel must have told Elizabeth.” Eli groaned. “Now it will be all over town.” Whitman laughed. “Did you think there would be any way to stop that?” Before Eli could even answer, Jim came shuffling onto the dock, laughing to himself. “I just passed the ladies taking Anya over to your place, Whitman. I haven’t seen that much excitement out of them since old Mabel found out it was Mr. Tallcott, and not a weasel, who was stealing her chicken eggs.” “Whitman didn’t tell them the whole story,” Eli said. 22