by Lisa Prysock
The Belles of Wyoming, Book 36
Hazel’s Tribulations
________________________________
Lisa M. Prysock
Lady Hazel, Lady Stanton’s cousin, is on a journey of transformation, and you’re invited.
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Belles of Wyoming Series Page
Copyright
Book Cover
Book Description
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Theme Verse
Title Page | Hazel’s Tribulations | Belles of Wyoming #36 | Lisa M. Prysock
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Author Biography
Which book is next?
Coming Soon by Lisa M. Prysock
The Belles of Wyoming Series Page
Christmas 2018 (Theme: Holiday)
Book 1, Christine Sterling, Wynter’s Bride
Book 2, Marianne Spitzer, Holly's Christmas Wish
Book 3, Cyndi Raye, A Tin Star for Christmas
Book 4, P. Creeden, A Pony for Christmas
Book 5, Julia Ridgmont, Natalie's Surprise Engagement
Spring 2019 (Theme: Renewal/Redemption)
Book 6, Christine Sterling, The Homecoming
Book 7, Ginny Sterling, Blessings of Love
Book 8, Cyndi Raye, Mercy’s Gift
Book 9, P. Creeden, Moments of Grace
Book 10, Julia Ridgmont, Emeline's Redemption
Summer 2019 (Theme: Summer Love /Barn raising)
Book 11, Ginny Sterling, Lightning Strikes Twice
Book 12, Julia Ridgmont, In the Nick of Time
Book 13, Jenna Brandt, June’s Remedy
Book 14, Lynn Donovan, The Wrong Bride
Book 15, Marisa Masterson, Grace for a Drifter
Book 16, R. Castro, Lupe’s Luck
Book 17, P. Creeden, Blue Steel Bride
Book 18, Cyndi Raye, Stealing Her Heart
Book 19, Cheryl Wright, Eleanor’s Dilemma
Book 20, Jo Grafford, Wild Rose Summer
Book 21, Patricia PacJac Carroll, Summer’s Love
Book 22, Lisa M. Prysock, The Prairie Princess
Book 23, Marie Higgins, Whispers of Yesterday
Book 24, Amelia Adams, Butterfly Kisses
Book 25, Margaret Tanner, Flynn's Debt
Book 26, Mimi Milan, September’s Switch
Book 27, Julia Ridgmont, Daring to Love Again
Book 28, Christine Sterling, A Matter of Marriage
Book 29, Ginny Sterling, Change of Heart
Book 30, Christine Sterling, The Barn Raising
Winter 2020 (Theme: New Beginnings)
Book 31, Patricia PacJac Carroll, Setting Things Straight
Book 32, Marianne Spitzer, Charity’s Promise
Book 33, Marie Higgins, Too Many Secrets
Book 34, Marlene Bierworth, From Mourning to Joy
Book 35, Marisa Masterson, The Teacher’s Star
Book 36, Lisa M. Prysock, Hazel’s Tribulations
Book 37, Lynn Donavan, Nellie’s New Attitude
Book 38, Julia Ridgmont, The Trouble with Lucy
Copyright
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means- electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author.
Hazel’s Tribulations
Copyright © 2020 by Lisa M. Prysock
All rights reserved.
Clip art and illustrations used are public domain and illustrations by the author noted by initials LP or by Lisa Prysock, if any. Any internet links, addresses, or contact information in this book are not guaranteed for the life of the book.
Interior text edited by Rachel Skatvold.
Proofed by Tina Caudill Conder.
Author Photo by Alaina Broyles.
Cover Artist, Virginia McKevitt, www.virginiamckevitt.com.
Continuity Editor, Amy Petrowich
For information or to contact the publisher or author: Lisa Prysock, 7318 Autumn Bent Way, Crestwood, Kentucky, 40014, USA.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
This work is cataloged in the Library of Congress.
Unless paraphrased, otherwise noted or indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Hazel’s Tribulations
Copyright © 2020 by Lisa M. Prysock
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN: 9798600575097
Imprint: Independently published
Book Cover
Book Description
Wade Beauregard Jefferson, a handsome, rugged man from Cheyenne, has obtained recent employment from newlywed Joshua and Mia Stanton at Silver Aspen Ranch. He is faced with the formidable task of fetching Mia’s cousin, Lady Hazel Jane Brayden, from the stage when it arrives in Belle during an early January blizzard. However, her reputation precedes her.
After Hazel has caused an abundance of mayhem at Saxheim Manor, her father packs Hazel off to her cousin in Wyoming. After all, he’s heard Mia worked wonders with her former pupil, Ambrosia. At twenty and one years of age, Hazel has caused a great deal of trouble by playing pranks upon Ms. Beatrice Riggs, the woman about to become her stepmother and the future Countess. Perhaps a change of environment will do Lady Hazel Jane some good.
Lady Hazel intensely dislikes Wyoming Territory and Wade Jefferson from the start. Though she is somewhat drawn to Wade with his handsome and rugged good looks, he has a talent for catching her at the most inopportune moments. She senses his deep disapproval, in addition to the fact they come from vastly different worlds, one from privilege and class, the other forged in destiny through hard work and sacrifice. Even if they acknowledged attraction for each other, any relationship beyond friendship could never work.
Get your copy of this novella today and enjoy an inspirational, sweet, western historical romance with adventure and faith! Each of the novellas in this series may easily be read as a stand-alone.
Dedication
For my nephew, L’il Robert.
May the Lord hold you in His arms and show you castles and sunshine every single day.
Acknowledgements
Wow! Where do I begin? I like to start at the top. Thank you Lord for making me a writer.
Thank you to my family for picking up the slack when I can’t because I’m pushing it on a deadline for a book release.
Thank you to my editor, Rachel, and proofer, Tina, and continuity proofer, Amy. You ladies rock! Oh my goodness, you are answers to prayer, along with the best beta-reader team ever! A special thank you to my cover artist, Virginia. I’m continually amazed to have found my tribe.
Thank you to my writing friends who cheer me on, pray for me, and share insight. Danni, Rachel, Tina, Jo, Christine, Elaine, Kelly, Alexa, Kit, JoAnn, Harriet, Hallee, Shawna, Crystal, Ginny, Laura, Marlene, and so many more are among those who encourage me.
Thank you to the authors in this series. It has been a delight to work with each of you. I’m honored to write alongsid
e all of this amazing talent. Thank you for being supportive and fun to work with, and for including me in this adventure.
I’m so thankful to have a purpose and sincerely hope my readers enjoy these stories. May the Lord bless you!
Theme Verse
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV
Title Page
Hazel’s Tribulations
Belles of Wyoming #36
Lisa M. Prysock
Chapter 1
* * *
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Proverbs 10:23
November 20th, 1881, London, England, The Library at Saxheim Manor near Hyde Park
Lady Hazel Jane Brayden squirmed under the watchful eyes of her father as if she was still a schoolgirl, but even more so when he turned away to begin a discussion with Ms. Beatrice Riggs, his fiancée.
“Why...why do you look at me in such a manner?” Ms. Riggs sputtered as her eyes narrowed.
“Pardon?” Her father, Davis Brayden, the Earl of Buntington and Saxheim Manor, cleared his throat absently and appeared to focus on his fiancée’s hairline.
“Stop staring at me like that!” Beatrice Riggs grew flustered, a look of exasperation coming over her face.
“Like what?” Davis inquired, his left eyebrow rising a bit, though he did not appear to stop examining her hair.
Ms. Riggs glanced at Hazel with a look of disdain. “You’re staring at my hairline.”
Hazel wisely waited until her future stepmother returned her attention to her father before stifling a giggle.
Unable to deny his actions, her father spun around in his library, likely to buy some time to think of a way to begin the discourse. ‘Twas a habit of his Hazel had witnessed a thousand times when he wasn’t sure what to say or do next.
Beatrice, of whom Hazel was certain would become the next Countess of Saxheim Manor in a mere three days leading up to her father’s wedding, placed both hands on her silk clad hips and tapped an impatient heeled shoe on the polished, wooden parquet tiled floor. “You see! I told you so. Even the false rumor your brazen daughter began has reached your ears. You’re actually wondering if my hair is real, are you not?”
Hazel observed her father as he leaned a little left and hesitating, finally responded with an inquiry. “Well, it is real, isn’t it?”
Beatrice, keeping her elbows tight to her body, raised her hands into two balled fists. It seemed in that moment she might implode as her fists shook and she stomped her foot on the Italian imported wood tiles, the sounds she made echoing through the library and its tall ceiling. A guttural gasp and shudders escaped her mouth. “Surely you jest, Brayden! Of course this is my real hair!”
Hazel reached for one of the emerald green satin throw pillows on the luxurious sofa. She pulled it toward her face to smother her laughter. She couldn’t help it. She disliked Ms. Beatrice Riggs. The woman was not a suitable match for her father in her opinion, not that it seemed to matter.
Even if it had mattered, it was too late at this point. The wedding invitations had been sent. She would soon have a stepmother; although she didn’t need one at twenty and one years of age. Her own mother, the former Countess of Saxheim Manor, had died when she’d been at the tender age of eleven.
Her father appeared relieved to hear that his fiancée’s hair was her own, and in truth, Hazel hadn’t intended for the rumor to reach his ears—or had she? She couldn’t be certain of her own motives at this point.
“I’m sorry, my dear, of course ‘tis your real hair.” Lord Brayden took a step closer to her, but she backed away, crossing her arms over her heaving chest.
“Don’t you dare take one step closer.” She took another step away from him.
“Beatrice, my dear, this isn’t like you...” Her father used his calm, reassuring voice as he stopped in his tracks.
“Of course it isn’t like me!” she snapped at him, pausing before waving an arm in the direction of where Hazel was seated. “It is entirely her fault.”
The Earl glanced at his daughter and Hazel squirmed slightly. Overall, an unexplainable serenity came over her. Perhaps her father would finally see the true character and motives of his future wife.
“Have you looked outside at the north lawn of your estate today?” Beatrice asked, waving an arm toward the front windows.
“Looked outside?” he repeated. “The front lawn? No, I came in using the servant’s entrance this afternoon.”
She nodded, tapping her shoe impatiently again as he moved toward the long row of windows facing the north end and front of Saxheim Manor. He parted some of the velvet draperies to have a better look.
Still facing the windows, his voice might have sounded muffled, except that he spoke loudly enough for Hazel to hear him quite well this time. “Are those ladies’ petticoats, corsets, and pantalets spread out on my front lawn for all of London to see?”
Davis Brayden swung around from the windows to face Hazel. “Whose undergarments are on the front lawn?”
Hazel bit her lower lip.
“Hazel, answer the question,” he insisted, taking a few steps toward her position on the sofa.
“I-I don’t know, Father,” Hazel lied without looking at him. She kept her eyes firmly on the throw pillow in her lap as she traced a design in it with one finger.
“She knows very well those are my undergarments. I had the majority of my trunks brought here today since we shall be married in three days, and she threw all of my undergarments out the window while everyone fashionable was riding through Hyde Park.”
“Hazel, you did no such thing!” Aghast, her father’s tone indicated he knew she was guilty as charged.
“I have no idea how her trunks emptied onto the front lawn. I know only that it was too cold for most people to ride in Hyde Park today.” Hazel pretended to be distracted by a ring she was wearing as she held out her hands. In truth, she was thankful to have her mother’s wedding ring on her hand to study instead of the tension in her father’s vast library.
“Hazel Jane Brayden! You know our dear Beatrice has guests in the drawing room this very afternoon who are seated in full view of this spectacle,” Father chided.
“No, I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t know she had guests this afternoon,” Hazel lied once more. It would not do well for her to admit her sins at this point. Whether guilty or not, Beatrice would find a way to pin the events upon her. Hazel decided she would have to repent during her evening prayers.
Appearing baffled with Hazel’s answer, the Earl raked a hand through his dark hair fringed with a few strands of gray. Then Ms. Riggs began doing a little dance in the middle of the room. She ran toward the doors of the library, and then thought the better of it, and ran toward the bookcases and fireplace opposite the double doors. Then she ran toward the doors again. All the while she hollered, “Oh, oh, oh!”
“What’s wrong now?” Davis inquired, staring at his bride with an incredulous look spreading over his face at her bizarre behavior.
“You do realize I’ve spent most of the day in the powder room?” She stopped dancing long enough to position herself directly in front of the Earl as a look of pain spread across her face.
“The powder room?” Hazel’s father repeated curiously, a brow rising.
“Yes, because your monstrous daughter laced my tea this morning with a rather large dose of castor oil in...in lieu of honey!” Her future stepmother turned to glower and heave at Hazel.
Lord Brayden couldn’t help but chuckle at this point. Then he grew serious, but appeared to Hazel as though he might double over in laughter at any moment. “C-castor oil,” he managed to repeat as he stifled the next laugh threatening to escape his chest.
Turning back toward him, Beatrice removed her wedding ring and threw it at him. “Yes, castor oil! I emphasize, a large dose, and I do not find it one bit amusing. I’m te
lling you Brayden, either she goes, or I go. And I mean it!”
On this note, as the ring fell to the floor with a clinking noise, Beatrice Riggs gathered her skirts and raced, with her knees together in a most awkward manner, out of the library and then up the staircase to the powder room. They could only pray she arrived at her destination in time.
Chapter 2
* * *
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
January 1st, 1882, Belle, Wyoming, Silver Aspen Ranch
“Good morning, my love.” Joshua Stanton stopped whistling his happy tune to plant a kiss on his wife’s cheek as he entered the dining room. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the main cabin for a day of work on Silver Aspen Ranch without greeting his wife. He’d eaten his breakfast several hours ago at seven o’clock along with the other ranch hands and his daughter, Ambrosia, followed by two hours of pouring over the ledger in his study looking for any mistake in his figures. His daughter was settled into her studies, and the wranglers had gone to complete the morning chores, so now seemed the perfect time to steal a moment with his bride.
“Good morning, darling.” Mia looked up from the letter she held in her hands to smile at him, but he detected a look of something akin to bewilderment in her eyes. They’d only been married since late November—one month, one week, and two days to be precise—but he felt as though he’d known Mia her entire life. The days had been nothing short of wedded bliss in his opinion.
“Now don’t fret, my Prairie Princess. Everything will be all right. What seems to be the matter?”
Visibly trembling a little, she laid the letter aside where he could read it for himself if he chose. “I’m not fretting. Perhaps panic would be a better word in this case.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t work out. Tell me what’s happened.”
