Mail Order Bride - Georgina Finds Love: Ruby Springs Brides, #2

By Karla Gracey

Georgina Chappel has everything a girl could wish for, except her freedom. As a daughter of a wealthy and influential man she is forced to be something she is not every single day. She knows that she has failed her parents, her Coming Out was a distinct flop and despite her wealth and good name she has yet to find a suitable husband. But she does not want any of the dull and insipid men of her circle. She wants adventure and a man who will love her just the way she is.

Martin Shaw has worked hard to establish the town's only bank. He loves his work, but feels there is something missing. Will he finally find a way to move forward from his past, or will it haunt him forever? 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karla Gracey Books
• Release date: Oct 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536588248

Book preview

Mail Order Bride

Georgina Finds Love

Ruby Springs Brides: Book 2

Karla Gracey

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue

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Chapter One

Good day to you Mrs Meakins, Martin Shaw said cheerily as the elderly woman waddled slowly to the counter. As the wife of the local Minister she was always busy, and his most regular customer, often undertaking errands for those not able to get to town themselves due to illness or infirmity. She smiled back at him and placed her capacious handbag on the counter.

I have three deposits to make, a withdrawal for old Mr Clayhorn and Michael asked me to check on our own accounts today, she huffed breathlessly. Foolish man wants to purchase a new buggy. I’ve told him we don’t need one, the gig does me quite nicely thank you.

No need to spend good money when you have what you need eh? Marty said with a wink. She grinned at him, her fleshy face lighting up making her eyes sparkle.

Quite right. I am glad to meet at least one man in this town with sense, she said. Marty took the bundle she offered him and separated out the different transactions, marking them carefully in his ledger and putting the cash away in the drawer.

I am a banker. Frugality will always prevail over recklessness, he reminded her. But, maybe the good Reverend is right, that you deserve something a little more comfortable to travel all over the county in. She harrumphed.

I get comfort in my rocker by the fire young Mr Shaw, I do not need it in my transportation. Marty chuckled and she giggled, almost girlishly.

He finished processing her transactions, then moved to the drawer where he kept each client’s personal records. He pulled out the drawer marked M to O. Quickly he thumbed through the files and found Reverend Meakins’ statement of account. He went back to the counter and presented it to Mrs Meakins. She looked it up and down. He could almost see her mind totting up the amounts, tallying it with her own record in her head. As I thought, she said. Though it would be affordable, it is an expense we might be better to put off for another year.

I don’t know whether to say I am happy for you, or commiserate with you, Marty said cheekily. But, if you do ever wish for a more comfortable seat to undertake your errands, you may always borrow my buggy Mrs Meakins. I barely use it as I am here all day.

You are a good man Mr Shaw, Mrs Meakins said, reaching across the counter to gently pat his cheek with her gloved hand. The cool white cotton scratched a little against his skin, but the gesture made him feel safe. His Grandmother had often done the very same thing to him to let him know he was loved, or had done something especially good.

I do try, though I know I probably do not try hard enough, he admitted.

I think that can be said of all of us.

Not of you Mrs Meakins. If you try any harder you will put the angels themselves to shame, he said honestly. She blushed and ducked her head, as giddy at the compliment as any vain girl receiving the flattery of the man she had set her cap at.

You should not say such things, but thank you. She picked up her things, bundled them back into her bag and bustled back out of the office, the bell above the door tinkling merrily as she opened and closed it behind her. The smile she left him with stayed on his face for some time after she had gone.

The bank was now empty. Marty moved out from behind the counter and towards the window and swiftly looked up and down the quiet Main Street. He sighed. Wednesday’s were always the same. A brief flurry of customers in the morning, but then not a soul would cross the threshold of his unexpectedly prosperous bank for the rest of the day. He had not expected to do so well when he moved