Bride of Paradise: Book 1 in Mail Order Ministers

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  Kristen climbed into bed in a huff, wearing her nightgown. Laura rolled to her side in their small bed and looked at her. “What’s wrong? You told Mama and Papa he was a nice man.” Laura knew her better than just about anyone.

  Kristen sighed. “He was rather rude actually. And he was filthy. He looked like he hadn’t bathed in a month or more. Doesn’t he know that cleanliness is next to godliness?”

  Laura stared at her in surprise. “He was rude? How?”

  “Well, he spent more time paying attention to his food than to me. He ate like it had been months since his last meal, which I know perfectly well isn’t true. And it was like he didn’t want me there. He’s marrying me in two days and he didn’t want me to be there? Is that really what I want from my future husband?” Kristen worked hard to keep her voice to a whisper. She didn’t want her parents to realize she was having doubts about her future husband.

  “Could he have just been tired? It’s a long drive.”

  Kristen shrugged. “It is a long drive, and I’m trying to take that into account. You’d think he’d have at least washed up before meeting me, though.”

  “Did he know you’d be there?”

  “Well, no, but he still should have washed up.” She made a face. “I guess I’m being unreasonable. I wanted our first meeting to be perfect. I wanted to look at him and wonder where he’d been all my life. I wanted our glances to meet across a crowded room and music to play in my head. Instead, I couldn’t even shake his hand because it was as filthy as the rest of him.”

  Laura looked as if she were trying not to giggle. “I can’t imagine you married to a dirty man, Kris.”

  Kristen shook her head. “I can’t either. I can’t imagine me married to a man who wouldn’t pay more attention to me than his meal either.” She sighed. “I sure hope it all works out between us.” Since she’d started this, she’d been sure everything would work out perfectly. Now, for the first time, she was having second thoughts. Could she really marry the man she’d met that evening?

  “It will.” Laura flipped to her side away from Kristen, and Kristen could feel the bed shake with her sister’s giggles.

  “Please, God,” Kristen prayed silently. “Let him be more than what I met today. Let him be cleaner and more godly. Let him be a man that I want to spend my life with, not just one that I feel obligated to marry. Let him be more polite and more interesting to be around. I don’t know if I can marry the man I met tonight.”

  Chapter Three