Read Orphan Train Romance 1 - 5 for Free Online Page B

together?”
     
    “No, I don’t,” Craig said firmly.  “You are my wife and they are my children.  It is my responsibility.  I will pay for this.”
     
    Amanda stood there trying to decide if she should continue to argue or let it go and talk to him about money in a more private setting.  After all, he wasn’t aware of how much money she had. 
     
    Craig gave Estelle some bills and then said to Amanda, “In fact, I want you to pick out a ring, a wedding ring.”

 
    Amanda looked at him in astonishment.  A ring?  But she already wore one.  Then she realized she still wore her late husband’s ring and knew the time had come to remove it.  She nodded her agreement and took off the ring she wore and slid it into her dress pocket. 
     
    “Amazing,” Craig joked to Mrs. Davis who was watching the exchange with delight.  “She didn’t even argue with me.  That’s a first.”  He took her arm and led her to the display of rings nearby.  “Pick out the one you want.”
     
    Amanda found a simple gold ring that looked the least expensive and pointed to it.  “I like that one.”
     
    Craig immediately dismissed it, knowing she chose it because of the price.  “Never mind.  I will pick out the ring.”
     
    He leaned over her and picked out a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond in the center with what look like a leaf wrapped around it, also in gold.  He slid the ring onto her finger.  It fit perfectly. 
     
    “Do you like it?” he asked, all teasing gone from his voice.
     
    “Yes, I do,” Amanda said and looked up into his eyes.  “Thank you.”  Her throat felt clogged, as if were hard to breathe.
     
    She felt a tug on her dress and looked down to see Grace staring up at her with Jeremy standing nearby. 
     
    “Have you found what you wanted?” she asked them, hoping that her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
     
    Grace was holding a storybook and Jeremy had a harmonica in his hand.  They showed their prizes to Amanda and Craig.
     
    “Those are great choices,” Craig said approvingly.  “Do you know how to play the harmonica?” he asked Jeremy.
     
    The boy shook his head.  “I can learn though.”

 
    “I’m sure you can,” Craig answered.  “I actually know how to play and I can teach you if you want me to.”
     
    He turned to Grace.  “I’m sure your new mom will read to you tonight out of your storybook.” Grace nodded her head in agreement, still feeling too shy to talk.
     
    Within a few minutes, all their purchases had been loaded onto the wagon, the children sitting among them, and they were heading towards their new home.

Chapter 9
     
     
    It did not take long to get to Craig’s farm as it was located just outside the town.  It would only take a little while to ride into town to take care of her shop.
     
    As they got closer, Amanda started to get more apprehensive.  She remembered what it was like living on the farm as a child.  She had very few good memories living on that farm.  She was always grateful that she was able to find a job so quickly after leaving when her mother died. 
     
    She remembered when she first saw David.  He had come home from college, having just finished his schooling to become an attorney.  It seemed trite to say it was love at first sight, but that was what happened, for both of them.  They tried to keep their relationship a secret, mainly because Amanda did not think his family would accept her since she was just kitchen help and had grown up on a farm. Finally she agreed to marry him when she was 18.  She could not live without David any longer and David had finally convinced Amanda that he did not care what his family thought.  He loved her and he was going to marry her, with or without their blessing.
                 
    What Amanda feared did happen.  His parents did not approve and they threatened to disown him if he married her.  Instead of joining his father’s firm like his parents had