[Three Brides of Haines 01.0] Yearning of the Reluctant Bride

by Faye Sonja

  Lewis slowly ascended from behind the couch. He rubbed his hands together in the most mischievous of ways. He was dressed in green painted cardboard, a black curly mustache drawn on his own face. “You may not pass through these waters without my permission,” he said in a deep, deep voice.

  Robert and Ben come out then, dressed just like Lewis; with green cardboard body suits. The curly mustache a theme for the night. They too were rubbing their hands in mischief. Eve watched the entire play, holding her sides when it was time to laugh, and weeping throughout the rest. She’d known the story by heart, she’d even read it to the boys, but seeing it in front of her did something to her. A part of her broke. By the end of the play, she was standing on shaky feet, clapping with much enthusiasm, but still, there was sadness.

  Lewis and Clark came over to hug her first. She knelt down towards them and moved her hands through the dark curls on their heads. She kissed them both and they didn’t protest.

  “Mommy,” Lewis said, “Are you alright?”

  Eve nodded, but she didn’t speak.

  Clark tightened his hold on her. “Why are you sad?”

  Eve shook her head. “I love you both so much.”

  They both held her. Ben came over. “I’ll take them to bed.” She looked up and nodded at him too, but still she said nothing.

  When it was only she and Robert in the room, he brought her into his arms and held her. He’d taken the cardboard off, leaving only the layer of his shirt underneath her cheek, and through that, his warmth. Eve settled in and cried. Robert rubbed her back. “Had I known it would hurt this much, I wouldn’t have done it.”

  Eve whispered. “I miss him.”

  Robert just held her. There was no need to say his name. They both knew who she was talking about. “I know.”

  “This was so nice,” she said.

  Robert laughed. “If you’re going to cry at every nice thing I do, then no more nice things for you.”

  Eve laughed and then pulled back from him. “Why’d you do this?”

  Robert just smiled at her; his eyes a brilliant dark, and an alluring blue. “Because I wanted to share him with you.”

  “My father?”

  Robert nodded. “He meant a lot to me, but I know he meant more to you. I just wanted to have a moment to remember him. For, because of him, and his company, I have you.”

  Eve’s hand went to Robert’s shoulders. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Then Robert moved back and brought a paper from behind his back. “That’s why I’m giving you this.”

  Eve took the paper and read it. It was her shares of the company plus more, and they were all in her name. “How is this possible?”

  Robert smiled. “One of your partners sold out when they thought that we were selling.”

  Eve looked up at Robert with wide eyes. “How? Why?”

  Robert’s grin grew. “Rumors are nasty little things.”

  Eve laughed and looked down at the paper in her hands again. She now had enough shares to have complete control of the company. “Who sold? I don’t understand.”

  “Mr. Perch. A few days ago, Ben and I had a public, and very much staged conversation about selling the company and leaving Haines Press with nothing. Mr. Perch believed it and caved.”

  Eve shook her head. “I can’t believe it.” She looked at him. “Why are you giving these to me?”

  Robert brought her back into his arms. He placed his forehead against hers. “Because I never wanted you to doubt me again, Eve. That’s how much I love you.”

  Eve started to cry again. She ran her hands through Robert’s hair and silently thanked the Lord for the blessing she now claimed for her own. She thanked God for the trials that had come into her life. She thanked God that Robert had had the audacity to push even after she’d stopped writing him. Robert Manning; her arrogant, obnoxious, persistent, loving, beautiful, enchanting, mail-order husband.

  * * *

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  Robert closed the book in front of him and looked down at the sleeping woman who sat on his lap; Eve. They were sitting out on the back porch. Lewis and Clark was running through fields playing a game of tag, while Mr. and Mrs. Manning were cuddled together in a rocking chair.

  Robert looked at her deeply tanned skin; the dark lashes that fanned her cheeks, and the cute little beauty mark that sat just under her lips and thought her to be so beautiful. Her cheeks and lips were fuller than they had been; thanks to the pregnancy. Thinking about the baby made Robert rub a hand over her stomach. Only a few more months to go until the new addition to the family would make their presence known. Robert was looking forward to meeting him. Eve said it would be a girl, but Robert was sure it was a boy. Her stomach was too large for anything else. Of course, twins would be great as well, but Robert was too afraid to hope for that.

  “Why’d you stop reading?” Eve’s eyes fluttered open. A smile crossed her face. “She stops kicking when you read.”

  Robert returned the smile. “I’m sorry. I can continue if you want, but we are at the end.”

  Eve sighed and settled further into his arms. “Please, finish it.”

  Robert kicked a foot that started the chair in a slow and steady rock and then opened the book to where they’d left off. It was one of the fairytales that Eve’s father had written many years ago. Eve had given all the first editions to Robert for his birthday. She’d also put the company shares into both of their names, showing Robert once and for all that she trusted him. He kissed her head right before he began to read again. “The grass was cool underneath the young prince and Princess Evelyn. Up above her was the moon and the stars twinkling in the night sky. The frogs and creatures of the night made their calls and the wind blew all around her. Princess Evelyn closed her eyes and opened her mouth and said, ‘This was a grand adventure, but I cannot wait until the next.” But they did.

  * * *

  If you have enjoyed reading Yearning of the Reluctant Bride, Book1 in Three Brides of Haines Press series, you may want to check it out the Pioneer Hope & Love boxed set that might interest you.

  It comes with the entire THREE BRIDES OF HAINES PRESS series (Book1, Book2 and Book3) bundle together. Furthermore, it also includes addition BRIDES OF EL PASO SERIES .

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  Here’s a sneak peek at Book2 of Clara’s story:

  Denial of the Resistant Bride . . .

  Clara Cain’s black-heeled boots made a clapping sound across the hardwood floor as she made her way to the back of the general goods store. The sound echoed across the rather quiet store. Her stride was slow. She gripped a book with both hands, holding it over the lower portion of her face; hiding her smile.

  Across from her stood Lily Dawson; Joe’s pretty little sister. The dirty blonde haired twenty-year-old looked up with wide eyes and an open mouth; her wooden broom paused in motion. Clara shook her head and instantly, the other woman’s mouth closed. Clara inclined her head, before walking further into the room. Lily smiled before resuming her task of cleaning before the morning rush.

  Clara took a few steps further into the room and then turned right, down an aisle; spotting her target.

  Joe Dawson was crouched down on the floor stacking licorice on the bottom shelf of the last aisle, making it readily available to the children that frequented the store. His back was turned, which made Clara’s dark ocean-colored eyes glitter. Perfect, she thought. Her footsteps slowed and then came to a stop once she’d reached him; the toes of her leather boots inches from the upturned soles of Joe’s loafers.

  “Pow.”

  Joe spun around. His green eyes were wide, his mouth parted. His blond hair, which he normally wore slicked back and parted to one side, became amess with the speed of his move; a lock of golden hair hanging by his eye. “It’s here?”

  Clara’s smile grew in the hiding spot behind the forest green fabric
binding of the book. She closed her eyes, dropped the smile, and then slowly slid the book away from her face. “Are you ready for an adventure, Joe Dawson?” she asked.

  Joe’s face went from shock to a 98° sunny Kansas day in 0.2 seconds. It was like watching a flower bloom. His tan skin was in stark contrast to his white teeth; his lips tilted up more on the right side of his mouth; the perfect centerpiece for his strong jaw. His green eyes were a color unlike anything Clara had ever seen outside of a pure emerald gem. Clara’s heart flipped.

  Joe stood and held his hand out.

  Clara held out the book and then let the rough material slide across her fingers as it left her hands. Joe ran his own hand over the cover, as if the book held a genie that was ready to grant his every wish. “Jack Adams #13 by C.C. Reed.” His eyes came up and looked at Clara. He narrowed his eyes. “The book stores only carry the paper covers. How do you always manage to get a cotton cover when everyone else gets paper?”

  Clara rolled her eyes. Because I’m C.C. Reed. “Because C.C. Reed writes for Haines Press, so I simply ask Eve for it.”

  Joe shook his head, still running his large hand over the book’s binding. “I guess it’s a simple request to make when you’re the babysitter of the woman who publishes the book.”

  Clara shrugged. Eve Haines, now Eve Manning, one of Clara’s best friends, was the owner of Haines Press. Together, she and her husband published Clara’s books, all the while keeping the secret of her true identity to themselves. Clara wasn’t really a nanny. Sure, she watched Eve’s children when they came home from school, but short of stopping the boys from killing themselves, that was about it. What Clara really did for money was her writings of the Jack Adams series, but only a handful of people knew that.

  The world was not ready to know that C.C. Reed was in fact a woman. She wrote about hard crimes and dark mysteries, which were not considered to be of a woman’s genre. Women were only to write about love and happily ever after’s, but not Clara. Clara’s Jack Adams series dealt in the real world; a world lacking love. “I wanted a fabric cover, so I requested one. Ask and you shall receive.”

  Joe nodded, then tossed his head to the right, gesturing for Clara to follow him. They went to the front of the store and took the two stools that were pushed to a corner behind the counter. The chairs had been placed there for this exact purpose; to be pulled out for the reading of the Jack Adams’ novel.

  Joe positioned Clara’s chair by the counter and then went back for his own. He took a seat next to her and then slowly cracked open the book. He turned to Lily, who was still standing in the middle of the room with the broom her in hand. “Would you make some coffee?” The young girl nodded and then scurried away. Joe looked over at Clara. “Ready?”

  Clara placed an elbow on top of the glass counter, and leaned her cheek into it. She gave Joe a nod and then listened to him as he read the first lines of the book; a book that had taken her six months to write.

  * * *

  Joe didn’t stop reading when the first customers came in. He only glanced up, made sure they were people he knew, and then went back to the book. Haines, Kansas was like a big family for the most part. They knew not to disturb Joe’s reading of a Jack Adams’ book unless they truly needed something. Sometimes, Joe would get so deep into the tale that people would start to hang around just to hear him read. He wouldn’t stop unless a customer approached the counter for service. At the moment, it was the young Amy Howard. “Hey, Joe.”

  Joe smiled. “Hey, Amy.” He put the book on the counter, face down, and then pushed back his chair and reached under the counter. He pulled up a small box and put it on the counter.

  Amy played with the end of the light brown braid that hung over the side of her shoulder. Her dark brown eyes fluttered. “Is that my order?”

  “Sure is.” The order was already paid for, so he simply had Amy sign a receipt before handing it over to her. “It’s getting cold out there.”

  Amy’s brown eyes went wide. “Uh, yeah.” She smiled, taking the box from his hands; her fingers brushing his. Her pale cheeks turned red. “Sorry.”

  Joe smiled. “No harm done.”

  Amy’s eyes flickered over to Clara. “Clara.”

  Clara hadn’t moved. Her elbow still sat on the counter; a fist in her cheek. Her eyes were a strange mix of deep blues and greens. Depending on the light and her mood, they’d pick one color more than the over. Her short hair, a natural jet black, was done in finger waves that looked like a shiny dark river with ripples glistening in the moonlight. She looked over at Amy. “Hello.” Her voice was musical and deep.

  Amy huffed out a breath as she smiled. “It’s almost like you’re always here, Clara.”

  Clara’s smile crept slowly onto her face. “Must make it difficult for you to flirt with Joe, huh?”

  Amy’s eyes widened. She looked at Joe and then back at Clara. “I’m not flirting!”

  Joe shook his head. “Clara,” he warned.

  Clara sighed and turned her eyes away from them both; looking out at the store and giving Joe and Amy the perfect view of her profile. An upturned nose, long black lashes, small chin, and unblemished skin, the color of warm milk.

  Joe looked around and saw a few customers floating around the store. There was talking a second ago, but now everyone was silent; even motionless. The seconds went by as the customers stared at the random items on the shelves, but probably not seeing a thing; just waiting for whatever would happen next.

  Amy cleared her throat. “Joe, I was wondering if you’d come and help put up some stage props at the theatre for the rehearsal of the winter musical this year,” she spoke quickly. “Jimmy was going to do it for us, but he’s caught something and is sick at the moment. Could you step in?” Her voice had started out shaky, but had grown stronger toward the end.

  Joe sighed, letting out the breath he’d been holding. The women had decided to drop the other subject. The winter musical was a Haines, Kansas tradition. The city was known for its artistic talents. This year’s play would be Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw. He smiled. “Sure.”

  Amy’s eyes flew open before she readjusted herself, lifting the small box off the counter. “Great! See you later then!” She rushed out of the store, never looking back.

  * * *

  SEE HOW THE STORY ENDS . . . . .

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  Also By Faye Sonja

  Frontier Love 5 BOOK Boxed set

  LINK: FRONTIER LOVE 5 BOOK BOXSET

  Pioneer Love 4 BOOK Boxed set

  LINK: PIONEER LOVE 4 BOOK BOXSET

  Archer Sisters of Goldrush 4 BOOK Boxed set

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  Love of Change 5 BOOK Boxed Set

  LINK: LOVE OF CHANGE BOXSET

  Mail Order Brides Head West 5 BOOK Boxed Set

  LINK: MAIL ORDER BRIDES HEAD WEST BOXSET

  This book is copyright © 2016 by FAYE SONJA.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or deceased, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

  Published by:

  SPEEDY PUBLISHING LLC

  40 E MAIN ST, #1156

  NEWARK, DELAWARE 19711

  Cover Designed by Kevin Farnell.

  Digital Edition

  Manufactured in the United States of America

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