Mail Order Bride 22 Book Boxed set: 22 Brides Ride West :CLEAN Western Historical Romance Series Bundle

by Faye Sonja

  "I couldn't have done any of this without you, Ava. You've been by my side the entire time, as I've taken the town into reign, and started my new post."

  "You're doing a wonderful job," Ava gushed. "Everyone is proud of you, me especially."

  "I still can't believe that I'm the Marshall," Jackson declared, wondering at how the entire thing had come about when it was him who originally had been of the opinion that the town could function without any formal laws or law enforcement.

  "You're not regretting your decision to take on the role, are you?" Ava asked. "Not missing the long days and nights down at the mine?"

  He thought for a second before shaking his head. "No. It seems like it is the right thing to do, in a strange sort of way. It's funny the way these things work out, isn't it?"

  Ava let out a soft laugh. "Mama was just saying the same thing earlier. How it seems, perhaps, that there is a divine plan in place for all of us."

  Jackson leant down and took Ava's soft face between his strong hands and gazed at her delicate features, looking into her eyes and seeing the beautiful woman that she'd become. No, he corrected himself; the beautiful woman she had been all along.

  "Ava you're the most beautiful woman I have ever known in my life."

  She blushed a little, but kept staring up at her husband. "Do you have to say that?"

  "I mean it Ava. I don't mean just physically, which you are, of course, but in every other kind of way – in your strength, the way you rise up and face any adversity no matter what comes your way and the manner in which you hold yourself - some may say it's prim or proper, but I only see it as grace and elegance my dear."

  Ava bowed her head a little as her husband continued on. "Most of all though, your beauty is in your heart - your forgiving nature. The way you've put others happiness above your own, even when it was terribly hard on you. And now, Ava, all I want to do is give you all the happiness you deserve."

  "Come on now," she said coyly, almost embarrassed of all the praise, though her heart sang as she heard it, and took it all in. "Let's go home before it gets too dark."

  Ava sighed and stretched her arms up as the sun started to set behind them in the California sky, red, orange and pink dancing in rays over the rough land. She reached over for her cane so that she could walk easily back to the homestead. Jackson, instead, held out his arm for her. "Lean on me instead," he said.

  * * *

  THE SILENT BRIDE & THE HESITANT WIDOWER

  MAIL ORDER BRIDES OF

  WESTERN ROMANCE

  BOOK 2

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  b o o k 2

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  "Rosella, you can't speak, can you?" she nodded dearly wanted the wedding to continue. Rosella desperately wanted to be the bride of Benjmin-the horse whisperer. She is not dumb but silent for years.

  Can a silent women ever become a Horse Whisperer that he wanted for his bride?

  Will Rosella find her courage, and speak again?

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  1

  Rosella

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  “ Could this really be a fresh start?”

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  Chicago,

  1850.

  "Rosella! Come quick - she's about to burst!"

  Rosella dropped her pen at the sudden outburst. "I'm mute, not deaf," she thought, wondering why everyone always had to yell at her as if she couldn't understand what they were saying. She wandered over to the window and peered down onto the street. Below, she could see Mary huddled over a basket which contained a moving bundle of fur.

  "Oh no!" Rosella thought. "Not Maisy." She turned from the window and ran down the stairs into the cold Chicago street, speeding around the corner and almost knocking over a man in a suit. She put her hands up to show she was sorry, but the old man simply scowled at her, taking her lack of formal apology as rudeness. Rosella looked over her shoulder in distress.

  "Another misunderstanding." But there was no time to dwell on that. Her friend - and her cat - needed her.

  She came running ‘round the corner to where Mary was kneeling beside the pregnant stray. The younger girl turned around at the sound of Rosella, panic spreading across her face. In a basket below her, the pregnant cat was meowing in agony.

  "But it's too early. She shouldn't be giving birth yet..." Rosella thought. She and Mary had taken the poor stray in a week earlier when they'd found her, pregnant and starving, outside their residence. She still looked far too small to be giving birth. Rosella’s mind raced, wondering if the kittens would survive being born this early.

  "We need to get her inside," Rosella thought, tugging at Mary's sleeve. Once she had the other girl's attention she pointed back towards the barn. Mary nodded, showing that she understood.

  "She's in pain though - can we move her?"

  "It's the only way," Rosella thought. With Mary's help they wrapped the cat up gently in a cotton rug and carried her to the barn, shielding her from the harsh Chicago wind.

  * * *

  "Six kittens...all healthy and strong..." Mary said, shaking her head in awe. "I don't know what we're going to do with all of them. They can't stay here. We weren't supposed to have the cat as it was."

  Rosella thought about the cruel master of the house, Mr. Jenkins, and about what he would do if he found them with a litter of kittens hidden in their servant's quarters. It didn't bear thinking about. Rosella knew what she needed to do: she needed to take care of the kittens by finding them new homes.

  She motioned to Mary to show what she meant to do, pointing at the other houses on the streets and miming knocking on the doors. Mary nodded. "It's the only way, isn't it? Oh, I just hope we can find them all a good home."

  "So do I," Rosella thought. "A place where they will be warm, and safe, and looked after." The servant's quarters was no place for a litter of newborn kittens.

  * * *

  Knock knock.

  Rosella lifted up the basket, smiling hopefully. She pointed to the note on the front. Free, to a good home. The old man took one look, shook his head, and slammed the door shut on Rosella. She stepped back as the force of the door hit her.

  Patting the kittens comfortingly on the head, she continued down the street.

  "Oh, please don't snow..." she thought, looking up at the grey clouds that were starting to form overhead. The bad weather affected her twofold. For one, she didn't want the kittens freezing in such cold conditions. She held the basket tightly to her, making sure they were all safe and covered with the blanket.

  For two, this particular weather brought with it a storm of painful memories. It was a day like this when she had witnessed something that no child should ever witness...

  As the violent scenes threatened to intrude upon her thoughts she shook her head, trying to get rid of them. Her throat tightened and she felt her pulse quicken as she tried to get the gruesome thoughts out of her head. Below her, in her arms, the kittens mewed and she was brought back to the present moment. Relieved, she looked down and patted them on the head. She felt more comforted by them than they were by her, she was sure.

  She looked down on them, taking pity on the poor creatures. "I promise to find you a good home," she thought, closing her eyes.

  She then turned to prayer. "Dear God, please let me find kind people to look after these kittens. A house with plenty of food, and love, and shelter from the bad weather."

  She opened her eyes and looked up at the next door. She recognized it. It belonged to the Miller family, and Rosella had known Mrs. Miller since Rosella had been a little girl. She felt hopeful as she reached out and knocked on the door, knowing that the house would be full of children, who'd be excited about a new kitten in the family.

  * * *

  "I love kittens!" The two l
ittle girls jumped and down with excitement, crowding around the basket. "Oh, Mama, can't we take all of them?"

  Mrs. Miller looked down at the children with kindness, but a slight look of exasperation. "Can you promise me you'll be able to take care of all six?"

  Rosella waited hopefully for the answer, hardly able to believe her good luck.

  The children bounced up and down. "Yes! We promise, Mama."

  "We'll take all of them," Mrs. Miller said, turning to Rosella.

  "Are you sure?" Rosella wanted to ask. She looked around the house. It did seem as though it was a good home, and that the family had the funds to be able to look after the kittens. Plus, the children seemed like they would love the cats dearly, and make good foster parents for them. Rosella was so happy that the kittens would get to stay together. They'd be much happier that way.

  "You can sit down if you like, dear - can I get you a hot drink?"

  Rosella nodded with fervour. "Sounds wonderful," she thought, smiling at the kind woman. She marveled at the way that God had led her to the exact right place at the right time. Mrs. Miller left to boil the kettle and Rosella took off her hat and scarf, setting them beside her on the table, settling in.

  * * *

  Upon the table, something caught her eye. A newspaper, left open at the advertisements page. She never liked to be disloyal to her employee - even though Mr. Jenkins could be cruel at times, he'd still been good enough to give her work and a roof over her head - but every now and then she indulged herself by checking the 'help wanted' ads. She always looked for a position that had two vacancies - so that, if she ever did leave, Mary could come with her.

  But on this day it was a different kind of "wanted" ad that caught her eye.

  A "wife wanted" ad.

  "Animal lover wanted, to be wife of Horse Whisperer in Californian Gold Rush town.

  Must be kind, gentle, and a lover of animals. Willing to start over, to make a new life, and to help out on a farm and to be a helper to widowed Horse Whisperer."

  For some reason her heart began beating fast. "Animal lover?" That was her, alright. And a horse whisperer. “How wonderful,” Rosella thought. She put the paper down and let herself daydream for a moment, of a life out in the Californian sun, a thousand miles away from Chicago and everything that had happened here.

  "It could be a new life, a new start..."

  She got a grip on herself. "Don't be silly, Rosella. Your life is here, and, well, this is just your lot in life." Even though in Chicago, everything served as a memory of the tragedy that had taken place thirteen years earlier, when she'd been just sixteen. She was twenty-nine now, and even though she was older - almost a spinster in age - the memories still made her feel like that frightened girl that had witnessed her parents get murdered.

  "Running away won't change anything, Rosella..." she told herself. "It certainly won't make you speak again."

  She had to stop herself as that thought began to spiral. No, there was no sense in hoping that a change in scenery might make such a drastic change. She hadn't spoken in thirteen years, and a trip to the other side of the county wasn't going to make her magically snap out of it. If it were that easy, she would have spoken before now.

  Still, before her mind could stop her, her hands reached out and ripped the page out of the paper, shoving the advertisement into her pocket.

  "What am I doing?" she wondered, shaking her head. "I'll probably throw it away as soon as I get home."

  When Mrs. Miller came back into the room with a cup of tea, Rosella straightened up, remembering the reason she was there. The kittens. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Mrs. Miller hopefully.

  She smiled back. "Everything is fine - we'll take good care of all of them. There's just one issue with the kittens..."

  Rosella's face fell.

  "I'm not sure about the six of them..."

  Rosella's stomach fell as well. She couldn't bear to have the kittens separated, now that she'd had her heart set on them all staying together.

  Mrs. Miller continued on. "We think it's best...if we keep the mother as well. So that they can all stay together."

  Rosella beamed. Though she loved Maisy, she'd much rather the cat stay with her kittens. Plus, she knew that Maisy would have a much better home here. Oh, she was so glad. She nodded happily, and Mrs. Miller came over and placed a hand on Rosella's arm. "I'm glad to make you happy, Miss. It's been such a long time since I saw you happy..."

  Rosella's face fell a little, as Mrs. Miller sighed and continued on. "You were such a bright, happy child, as I recall. Always playing, making trouble. So loud, too!" She stopped and looked at Rosella, a strange look on her face. "Seems odd to think about it now, doesn't it?"

  Rosella pulled her arm away, still smiling, but a different feeling overtaking her. She was grateful to Mrs. Miller, and she knew the woman only meant well with the words she was saying, but Rosella didn't like to hear them. It pained her to think about the girl she once was. The out-going, bubbly girl...it seemed a lifetime ago. Seemed like a different person altogether. And in many ways it was.

  She made a move to show that she needed to go.

  "Alright, dear. And don't worry, we'll take good care of all the kittens for you."

  Rosella nodded. "Thank you," she mouthed.

  "Of course. Anything for you Rose..." the woman said, a look of sadness in her eyes, as she watched Rosella.

  Not wanting to see that look in her eyes, and the memories it brought back, she hurried away, wrapping a shawl around her tightly as she hurried away down the windy street.

  * * *

  That night she took the "wife wanted" ad out and read over it for the hundredth time.

  Animal lover. New life.

  There was excitement in her stomach as she read over the words, there was no doubt about that. Only one problem. The ad was for one person, not two. She glanced over and watched Mary sleeping. They'd done everything together since they'd met thirteen years ago. Mary had been Rosella's voice when she didn't have one. Whenever Rosella checked the 'help wanted' posts, she always made sure that there were two positions available.

  But this was something she was going to have to do alone.

  "Can I do it?" she wondered. "What will this man think of me, a silent bride?" She sat up with her thoughts for a while. In Chicago, she'd found it impossible to meet a man who wanted to marry her with her handicap. It was difficult for most people to see past. Some thought her odd, at best. At worst, her silence led to all manner of misunderstandings. The one she most disliked was the way that most people assumed she was stupid, just because she was mute. But Rosella was whip-smart, quick, and clever. Without words though, people over-looked her, spoke about her in front of her face as though she wasn't even in the room, ignored her...her silence made her feel invisible.

  She looked over the ad again.

  "Could this really be a fresh start?" she thought. A chance to begin again, to get away from all the pain that Chicago held for her.

  And a chance to marry.

  She wondered if this might be her only chance.

  That night she wrote to Benjamin, the Californian horse whisperer, sending a prayer along with her words.

  "Dear God - let this letter find him well."

  * * *

  2

  Benjamin

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  “ Could this really be a fresh start?”

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  "Hey girl..." he murmured, gently stroking the horse on the back. Ruby was the most difficult horse he had ever attempted to tame during his career as a horse whisperer.

  She snorted and flared her nostrils, taking a step back and rising onto her back legs. "Woah..." Benjamin said, putting his hands up in a reflexive position that said, "I surrender." Shaking his head, he had to wonder at the spirit of the horse. With her black coat Ruby was a majestic looking creature, but
she had a wild side that Benjamin just couldn't tame. Usually horses responded to his guidance and gentle instructions, but the term 'mind of her own' seemed to have been coined for this horse.

  Placing a hand on the animal's back, he made another attempt to calm her. She seemed to flinch.

  "Are you in pain?" Benjamin asked. "Is that what the problem is?" He shook his head as he looked over her. She seemed perfectly healthy, showing no signs of sickness or lameness. No, it was something else that troubled this wild horse. Something that went beyond his usual powers. Something he just could not understand. Whereas other horses responded instantly to his methods, Ruby held out, like there was a barrier in communication between them. Usually he felt as though he and horses spoke the same language, but he didn't understand Ruby at all.

  He sighed and walked away from the paddock. Another day, another failed attempt at getting Ruby to respond to him. Luck just seemed to fail him as far as this horse was concerned. Shaking his head, he walked back to his home, passing through the town of Gold Creek as he went. After almost a year in the new settlement, it was starting to feel like home. Originally settled as a gold mining town, it had now developed into a friendly little community, starting to settle down now that there was law and order established, and a new Marshall - Jackson - in charge.