“Go on, Fairy, go to Ellie!”
Fairy trotted up to Ellie and sat facing her, gently panting. Ellie moved forward in her chair and petted the wiry gray whiskers on his cheeks. Fairy raised his paw to her, and she shook it.
“Oh, he’s saying how d’you do! Good dog, Fairy. That’s darling Jared, thank you.”
Jared put his head to one side. “Well, that’s a good trick all right, but that wasn’t what he came for. Look a bit closer. See anything different there?”
It was then that Ellie spotted a small box wrapped in brown paper hanging from Fairy’s collar.
“Go on, Ellie, that’s for you.”
Ellie reached to untie the box from Fairy’s collar and the dog obligingly stretched its neck up to give Ellie room. Finally Ellie retrieved the box, and as she opened the paper packaging, Jared explained. “I got it in Northcote today. It’s a ring from me to say let me be the one to court you. And don’t let Michael near you either. I would be honored if you would accept it to show the start of my chasing you.”
Ellie opened the box and laughed as she looked at the ring, a delicate silver band engraved with flowers. She looked up at him. “You’ve made me very happy, Jared. Thank you.”
Jared stifled a smile and continued. “I’m still your employer though, miss. So I have a request.”
“What’s that?”
“That you relax and stop working so hard. You must start having fun too. Have some interests outside work. Become a dog hairdresser or something.”
Ellie giggled. “I’m sure I can think of something to occupy me. Not sure the boys want their fur trimmed though.”
Jared glowed with happiness in the half light. “Oh, and something else, Miss Ellie.”
“There’s more?”
Jared paused a beat before he spoke in a low voice. “That I may start by kissing your cheek?
Ellie kept looking ahead and Jared could see her softly smile and dip her head in a yes. Then slowly, finally, he came closer. He gazed at her face as he touched her cheek with his warm thumb, and leaning in, closed his eyes to plant the sweetest, most angelic kiss on earth.
Author's Note
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind always be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
This book is dedicated to each and every one of my readers.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the story of how Ellie and Jared met and fell in love.
If you would like to leave a review, here is the link to the book on Amazon and Goodreads:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZANY52
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19384155-mail-order-love
I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at [email protected], find me on my blog at http://www.amyblakelear.com or find me on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/amyblakelear.
Mail Order Love is the first in the Mail Order Brides of Oregon series. I’d be delighted to put you on my email list so I can let you know when I release new books. Go to this address to add yourself to the list:
http://www.amyblakelear.com/subscribe
Kindest regards,
Amy Blakelear
Mail Order Love (Sweet Mail Order Bride Historical Romance Novel) (Oregon Mail Order Brides) Page 16
