Mail Order Bride: Ultimate Mail Order Bride Collection: 6-Book Bundle ~ Clean Historical Romance (Shades of Romance Series)

by Jill Maguire

  “Oh Ethan, I’m so sorry.” She reached out to take his hand and an surprising warmth spread from the tips of her fingers clear through to her heart. For just a moment, she thought she saw something in Ethan’s eyes that said he had felt the same connection, but the moment quickly passed.

  Awkwardly, she withdrew her hand, saying that she too was hoping to receive a letter today. She explained how she had been waiting for word on a teaching position.

  “Good luck to you then,” Ethan said as he returned to his spot on the bench. Perhaps your news will be better than mine.”

  Cassie continued inside and was happy to learn that a letter was waiting for her. Too excited to wait until she got home, Cassie opened the letter then and there. Harriet watched as her friend scanned the single piece of paper.

  “Bad news?” she enquired, noticing how Cassie’s shoulders slowly slumped as she read.

  “I’m afraid so. There won’t be any teaching positions in this area come fall. I guess I’ll be looking for other work after all. Thanks Harriet.” Noticing Ethan still sitting on the bench, Cassie sank down beside him.

  “Looks like it’s a bad news day for both of us. There won’t be a teaching position for me this year.”

  “Cassie I’m sorry. What do you say we go for walk down by the creek? It’s shady there and quiet. We can be sad together.”

  As disappointed as she was, the idea of a walk with Ethan brightened her spirits instantly. “That sounds like a marvelous idea, but you know what I’d prefer?”

  “And what might that be?”

  “That we take that walk and be happy in it instead of sad. We have both faced disappointments today but we do both have a great deal to be thankful for, starting with our friendship.”

  Ethan looked at her for a long moment, and Cassie was sure that she saw something special flicker in his eyes after all.

  “I think I like that idea, and I agree with you.” Leaving Blue hitched where she was, the two of them strolled off towards the edge of town where the little creek flowed fresh and clear and the shade of giant willow trees brought cooling comfort.

  Chapter Seventeen

  After that day Cassie and Ethan spent many hours together both at his small cottage and at the farm. He found that Cassie was a great audience to practice his sermons on, and Cassie found Ethan to be quite adept at carpentry and woodworking.

  One day after they had stopped to rest from a very intense tilling section in the garden, Ethan commented on the fact that they made a pretty good team.

  “We really do,” Cassie replied. “And I want to thank you again for all the help you’ve given me.”

  “It’s been my pleasure. I’m going to miss coming out here to help you. In fact I’m going to miss spending this time with you when you go off to work somewhere.” With those words, he stepped towards her, a look in his eyes that made her heart race. “Are you going to miss having me here?” He said the words so softly, Cassie almost didn’t hear.

  She looked into his eyes and didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I am going to miss that very much.” As much as she didn’t want to ask, she felt it was necessary. “But what of your mail order bride endeavors? Will you apply again or write Miss Sarah to see if her situation has changed?”

  Ethan looked down at his hands as he twisted his old ragged hat that he had removed. Suddenly he found himself very nervous.

  “No. I am finished with that. If I’m to have a bride it will have to be one I meet and court in the old fashioned way.”

  A sly smile crossed Cassie’s lips. “Even if the letter was from a woman whom you thought sounded perfect?”

  Ethan shook his head. “Not even then.”

  Cassie grinned and suddenly headed towards the house. “Wait right there. I want to show you something.” She disappeared into the farm house leaving a very curious preacher standing with his hat in his hands. When she returned, she held a small white envelope in her hand. She handed it to him without saying a word.

  He raised his eyebrows in question as he took it from her. On the front his address was written in a very fine hand.

  “What is this? Did you not hear me say I wouldn’t accept any more proposals? I’m assuming that’s what this is. Does Harriet want you to convince me to try again?”

  Cassie laughed outright. Ethan thought it was the prettiest sound he had ever heard. “Just open it,” she said.

  Ethan opened and read the letter and then raised his eyes to meet hers. “I don’t understand.” Cassie moved forward and took both of his hands in hers.

  “Before I went back to Blakeford, Harriet convinced me to write it. I had seen you at the cemetery that day and she told me you were writing for a mail order bride. She suggested I give her my letter and she would give it to you.”

  “But you never did.”

  “No. I thought it a rather strange idea at the time. I returned to Blakeford to finish the year and completely forgot about it. By the time I returned, you were all set to meet Miss Ballantine.”

  Now it was Ethan’s turn to laugh. “And now here I am, an eligible bachelor with a most intriguing letter in my hand written by the most beautiful woman in the world. And she is standing right here in front of me.”

  Cassie blushed at his words. Their eyes locked as he took her into his arms. “You know what they say,” he said as he let his lips brush her ear.

  “What is that Reverend?”

  “That the Lord works in mysterious ways.”

  With those words, his lips travelled from her ear to gently meet with hers. It was a soft and gentle kiss that foretold a future of many more. When he drew back, the look in her eyes gave him courage.

  “Cassie Edwards, I accept your proposal to be my mail order bride. What do you say we start planning a wedding?”

  Cassie couldn’t resist teasing him. “Why Reverend Bradshaw. Don’t you think we should court for a while before you propose?”

  He took her in his his arms and spun her around, lifting her clear off her feet. “No Miss Edwards. You see, that’s not how this works. Once a man has accepted a mail order bride, the wedding takes place as soon as they meet. If anything, we are far behind schedule.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  They set the wedding date for August 31 at three o’clock. It was to take place in the church and Ethan had contacted a preacher friend from Carson Ridge, the next town over from Bent River. Cassie didn’t think she had ever been happier. As she and Ethan finished up the renovations on the farm they planned out their life together. They would live there and Ethan would rent out his little house in town. There was not going to be a honeymoon or any kind of trip away. The happy couple simply wanted to move into the farmhouse and start their life together.

  August flew by bringing with it the same heat that had broken temperature records across the country. Cassie was happy about the heat for one reason. She would be able to wear the light cotton dress she had sewn form the lavender fabric she purchased just before leaving Blakeford. She had planned to sew an everyday dress for teaching, but instead she made it into a long fancy dress trimmed with lavender ribbon.

  On the morning of the wedding, Ethan found himself pacing around his little house. Memories of waiting for Sarah Ballentine to get off the stage nagged at him. What if Cassie did the same thing? What if she suddenly got cold feet and changed her mind. His best friend Mathew Goodall tried his best to calm him down.

  “Cassie loves you, anybody can see that. And she isn’t going to leave you standing at the altar. And besides, it’s usually the groom who gets cold feet, not the bride.”

  Ethan stopped his pacing and looked at his friend. “Were you nervous before your wedding?”

  Mathew laughed. “I didn’t have time to be, remember? I met Olivia at the stage and brought her right over to you. We were wed within minutes of her arrival.”

  Ethan nodded, and then turning serious he asked, “And have you had any regrets?”

  Mathew shook his head without hesitation. �
��Not a one.”

  Later in the day over at the farmhouse, Cassie was indeed getting cold feet. Harriet had her sitting with her feet in a pan of ice cold water. “You want to look fresh for your wedding day, not all hot and flustered, and the best way to stay cool is to keep your feet cool.”

  Cassie had never heard of such a thing but she willingly followed her best friend’s advice. She certainly didn’t want to look all wilted on her wedding day. The lavender gown was hanging from the doorway and every time Cassie looked at it it made her think of Granny. Harriet had woven some pieces of lavender into Cassie’s hair and had tied together a beautiful bouquet of dried lavender and baby’s breath. Long tendrils of lavender ribbon trailed from the bouquet.

  Even Blue was dressed for the wedding. She too had dried lavender and lavender ribbons adorning her harness. Cassie had added a sleigh bell to the harness just for a bit of whimsy. At two thirty Cassie and Harriet climbed into the wagon. Harriet turned to her friend and smiled.

  “Are you ready to get married?”

  Cassie grinned happily. “I am!”

  Harriet urged Blue forward and took a leisurely pace to keep the dust from flying too high. Blue’s sleigh bell jingled, matching their light spirits as they drove down the road.

  Practically everyone from town had turned out for the wedding and the little church was full. Ethan and Mathew stood at the front with Reverend Keller and Lucy Bartell who was sitting at the piano ready to play. She was waiting for a sign from Sam who stood at the door watching for Cassie’s arrival. Sam waited while Harriet secured Blue to the rail and then he nodded in Lucy’s direction before heading out to help Cassie down from the wagon.

  All heads turned towards the door as the piano started to play the familiar wedding tune. Harriet came down the aisle first, walking slowly to the music and then taking her place opposite Ethan and Mathew. She grinned at Ethan who returned a small nervous smile.

  The music changed slightly and Sam and Cassie appeared in the doorway. Ethan couldn’t help the tears of love and joy that filled his eyes. He had never seen anyone more beautiful. Cassie glanced around the church smiling at all of their friends before her gaze finally met Ethan’s and remained locked there.

  As Sam stepped away, Ethan took both of Cassie’s hands in his. “My beautiful lavender bride,” he said softly.

  Epilogue

  As summer turned to fall, Cassie and Ethan settled into a happy life. Cassie didn’t look for work but busied herself helping Ethan with his sermons and joining him on trips to visit shut ins who couldn’t make it to Sunday services.

  In the spring, they would plant a large vegetable garden and raise some chickens. Cassie hoped to sell eggs and preserves to the mercantile to generate a bit of income and Ethan also had the rent from his house. They were comfortable and completely content.

  The old porch swing creaked and groaned as the happy couple spent the last warm evenings watching the sun set. Soon the snow would fly and they would be spending a lot more time indoors. On one of those last warm evenings, Cassie handed Ethan a little wrapped package.

  “What is this?” he asked. “It’s not my birthday.”

  Cassie simply smiled. “Open it and you’ll understand.”

  Ethan slowly removed the paper and unfolded a tiny hand knitted sweater and cap. “What am I to do with this? It’s for a baby, is it not?”

  He looked at Cassie as she nodded and a crazy grin exploded across his face. Now he understood.

  The End.

  But wait…….their story doesn’t end here!

  Catch up with Cassie and Ethan as they celebrate Christmas in this heartwarming short-story. ‘A Christmas Miracle’ is now available on Kindle.

  His Lavender Bride

  Copyright 2015 © Jill Maguire & Kalyn Keyes

  Prairie Wind Publishing

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise without written permission from the author/publisher.

  His Verbena Bride

  Copyright 2015 © Jill Maguire & Kalyn Keyes

  Prairie Wind Publishing

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise without written permission from the author/publisher.

  Cover Design by Renee Barratt @ www.thecovercounts.com

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  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Subscribe to our Newsletter

  Table of Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Shades of Romance Series

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Nora Sims sat up in bed and gazed out the tiny smudged window beside her. The sliver of early morning sun warmed her face and she let her eyes flutter closed to enjoy the precious moment of daybreak. If only the world could remain as simple and calm as it was first thing in the morning.

  Nora pressed her eyes closed, more tightly this time, forcing a few more minutes of darkness. It was at these quiet times that the visions of her husband were most clear -- his shy crooked smile and coffee brown eyes looking back at her with the same admiration she had for him. Oh, how she missed him.

  She felt a dull ache in her heart as she lifted her eyes and opened the drawer of the night table beside her bed. A faded photo was all she had left of her beloved Thomas and it was almost torn in two from holding it so tightly after he died.

  “Sweet Thomas,” she hummed, holding the aged photo to her chest. “I miss you so very much.” She traced her thumb over the faint image of his face and then tucked the delicate picture back on top of her Bible in the drawer.

  A loud knock startled Nora from the quietness of her thoughts.

  “Nora, dear? Are you awake?”

  “Yes, Clara. Please come in,” Nora answered quietly.

  The doorknob twisted quickly and Clarabell Blue, an ample woman with the personality to match entered the dimly lit bedroom. She was carefully balancing a tray full of food which made Nora suspicious.

  “That’s an awful lot of food Clara. Surely more than I will ever eat for breakfast,” Nora hinted.

  “Well, we need to plump you up a little,” the elderly lady suggested, taking a plate from the tray. “What are the townsfolk going to think if one of my girls is nothing but skin and bones? It’s not good for business you know. People may think I’m starving my boarders!”

  Clarabell settled the plate of food in Nora’s lap and plopped herself down beside her, almost catapulting Nora from the mattress. “Eat,” she instructed, waving her thick wrinkled hands at Nora’s breakfast.

  “To be honest Clara, I’m not that hungry.”

  “Nonsense! Nobody in this town would pass up Clarabell Blue’s breakfast special. You just ask any of the good men in this town, they’ll tell ‘ya.”

  “What good men?” Nora whispered. “The only men in this town worth mentioning are Reverend Sawyer and old man Sullivan over at the newspaper office. All the other good men are gone.”

  “Which is exactly why I came to see you this morning Nora
.”

  It was just as Nora had suspected -- something was definitely going on with Clara. In all of the six months she had been staying at Clarabell’s Boarding House, not once had the stout landlady ever delivered food to her bedroom.

  “I’m not sure I understand Clara,” Nora told her, nibbling at a piece of buttered toast.

  Clara lovingly put her hand on Nora’s knee. “I think it’s time you move on, dear. Thomas has been gone for almost a year now.” Nora almost spat out her mouthful of toast at the woman’s mere mention of Thomas. “You are a young, beautiful woman and I’m sure there’s another man out there who would love to call you his wife.”

  “His wife!” Nora shrieked. “I will never be another man’s wife. The only man I will ever be married to is laying six feet underground thanks to the brutal war.” The words burned Nora’s tongue like acid and the contents of her stomach lurched into her throat.

  “Don’t be foolish child,” Clara whipped, her eyes narrowing to slits, her brow strongly furrowed. “What did you think? That you were going to live here at the boarding house forever while you pine away over your lost love?”

  Nora sprang from the bed. “Well, I hadn’t given it much thought, but I……I….,” she stuttered. “I was hoping to stay a little while longer.”

  Clara huffed at the younger woman and stood, straightening the front of her dress with her hands. She paused for a moment and then walked toward Nora, her stern scowl replaced with a gentle softness in her weathered cheeks. Clara took both of Nora’s hands in hers as a tiny smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “It’s time to make a new life for yourself Nora. Thomas wouldn’t want you wasting away up here in your room all alone. He’d want you to be happy, to share your gifts with the world.”

  Clara reached into the pocket on the front of her apron and plucked out a small envelope. She slipped it into Nora’s hand. “Give it some thought. I think you’ll agree it’s for the best.” Clara didn’t say anything further, just collected the tray and left the room.