Read Chevonne: Bride of Oklahoma (American Mail-Order Bride 46) for Free Online

plenty, but never had an opportunity to drive one. “I’ve never driven one, but I would love to learn. I think a woman needs to be self-sufficient out here, don’t you?”
    “I certainly do.” He nodded approvingly. “Luke can teach you to handle the buggy on the way into town. I’m sure you’ll take to it in no time.”
    “That would be nice.” Chevonne was delighted that Trey was giving her a lot of freedom. The more freedom she had, the quicker she would be able to accomplish her goals.
    “Is there anything else you need?” Trey asked.
    An uncustomary surge of shyness bubbled up inside Chevonne. “There is one thing ... it was a long train ride and I’d love a bath. Where do you ...?”
    Trey thrust his chin toward the screen door. “The tub is on the back porch.”
    Chevonne’s brows flew up in shock. On the porch? Where everyone could see?
    “It’s closed in a bit.” Trey frowned in thought. “Though I suppose that might not be ideal for a lady.”
    “It’s fine,” Chevonne cut him off. She didn’t want to cause a disruption and she realized the back porch was the easiest place to have the tub since it was next to the kitchen and that’s where the hot water would come from, and they could dump the used water off the porch. She’d just have to pick a time when no one was around. “I don’t have time today, anyway.”
    Another sponge bath would have to do, and perhaps she’d wash her hair in the sink, just like Gram used to do once a week. It wouldn’t do to meet Trey’s family not looking her best.
    After breakfast, she cleaned up the kitchen. Then she washed her hair in the sink, using the hot water from the kettle to take off the chill of the pump water. By the time she was changed for town her hair was dry so she pinned it up, settled a hat on her head and pinned it in place, then went downstairs to ring the bell for Luke. She was careful not to forget to lock her room.
    The bell wasn’t necessary. Luke was waiting in a rocking chair on the porch. A buggy was at the foot of the house steps, harnessed to a single powerful looking horse. Without a word, the old ranch hand offered his knee for Chevonne to climb aboard. She stepped gently on his knee and sat down on the buggy’s seat.
    Luke boarded the buggy and rumbled, “Watch close what I do.”
    He flicked the reins so they tapped the horse’s rump, and he made a clicking noise with his tongue. That was enough to set the horse going. Chevonne paid attention all the way into town, and marveled at how much Luke taught her without saying more than a word or two the whole way.
    Chevonne quickly made her purchases at the Gilpin and Frick store, where Luke brought her first, then she purchased the other items she thought she could use at several stores Luke brought her to when she explained what she was looking for.
    At each shop she followed laconic old Luke’s lead and ignored all the curious stares and whispers directed her way, presumably because she charged everything to Trey Garner’s accounts. They probably thought she was his housekeeper, unless the saying was true, that the two fastest forms of communication were telegraph and tell-a-woman, which meant that Sarah Perkins had been very busy.
    Luke loaded her packages safely under the buggy seat, then drove them back to the Gilpin and Frick store. The sewing machine and a small table she’d purchased on Trey’s account were loaded in a wagon before the store, both items safely wrapped in burlap.
    Luke held out the buggy reins to her. “You’re turn.”
    When she hesitated, the old man winked. That was all the encouragement she needed. Chevonne took the reins and drove the buggy home, happy to discover that it was, indeed, as easy as Trey had implied, and that Luke was an excellent, if silent, teacher. The Gilpin and Frick wagon followed them with the two purchases strapped down on a bed of straw.
    Once back at the ranch, Chevonne put away the kitchen provisions while Luke and