by Bella Bowen
She stood in awe of his flattery and his sincerity. She’d been called pretty all her life. No one had ever called her beautiful. And no one had ever been in danger of having a broken heart on her account. She was tempted to allow him to kiss her just to ease his pain. But then she realized that the truth might also relieve his mind.
“I am not engaged yet, sir.”
His eyes lit with hope.
“I am leaving on the train in the morning, destined for a place called Diamond Springs where I will be taught—”
“You’re going to that Wyoming Bride School? Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
He laughed. “Then you have no choice. You have to kiss me.”
“Why?”
“Because, if you don’t, I’ll write a letter to that Carnegie woman. I’ll tell them what kind of a girl you are.”
“And what kind of girl is that? I haven’t kissed anyone yet.”
“Oh, but I’ll tell her you go around kissing and tormenting young boys and men alike. Kissing and tormenting. Tormenting and kissing.” He clicked his teeth with his tongue. “Hardly the type of woman to represent the new school.”
Lizzy’s heart twisted. She so dearly wished to be the kind of young lady Mrs. Carnegie believed her to be. She’d received a letter stating she’d passed a number of tests she hadn’t realized she was taking and that Mrs. Carnegie herself was looking forward to meeting her and befriending her.
She simply couldn’t let Robbie’s brother ruin it all for her. But if she kissed him, she herself would be ruined.
But if no one knew…
“Fine. One kiss—”
“Two kisses.”
“On the cheek only.”
“Oh, no my dear. Only a kiss on the lips would be good enough to seal my silence, I assure you.”
It was as if the moon and stars collected together at that moment to reveal Mr. Shaw’s character. Light reflected off his black eyes and flashing smile. He was the devil himself. And he had the power to ruin her life.
But she couldn’t let him do it.
So she took a good hold of the man’s shirt front. She took a very deep breath, and stretched up toward the man’s face, smiling…
And screamed like she was being murdered.
Lizzy’s story will be released June 25th, 2014.
Visit my website (www.bellabowen.weebly.com) for a peek at the next cover, and to sign up for new release announcements. Who knows? The book you’re looking for might already be available!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE
Excerpt from Book 2 of the Brides of Diamond Springs Ranch
About the Author
About the Author
Bella Bowen lives just outside Ketchum, Idaho and shares her woods with her cowboy boot-wearing husband, two dogs, a mean cat that deserves no mention, and the ghost of Earnest Hemmingway. Every now and then, at ungodly hours of the morning, Hemmy whispers inspiration through the dusty screen on her bedroom window.
Visit her website at http://www.bellabowen.weebly.comto learn more about Bella Bowen and the Brides series.
