by Leah Atwood
Besides, if he didn’t meet this lady at the train, what would happen to her? Weatherton was a good town, overall, but it wasn’t without its unscrupulous citizens. What if one of his sisters found herself in a similar situation, stranded by a cad of a man. Well, that would never happen as long as Sam were alive because he would never permit his younger siblings to travel alone and happen into such a circumstance. On his deathbed, Pa had charged his two eldest sons with care of the younger siblings, and Sam had no intentions of letting Pa down as he looked on from Heaven.
“Well?” Patrick looked at him, his eyebrows arched in query.
“I will on several conditions.” Squaring his shoulders, he looked his brother in the eyes. His erect posture against his brother’s slouching eliminated any height difference between the two.
Patrick rolled his eyes. “Whatever happened to helping family for the sake of being kind?”
Ignoring his question, Sam told his conditions. “First, you go to church with the family every Sunday for the next four months.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Straightening his stance, Patrick attempted using height to his advantage, but Sam wouldn’t be deterred.
“If you want my help, it will. The other children look up to us, and we need to be good examples.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” A groan followed the words.
“Yes. Secondly, after this final excursion, there will be no more. It is reprehensible what you are doing, but I have no power to stop it this time. All women deserve fidelity and you will honor Maeve, during your engagement and marriage thereafter.”
Patrick ran his tongue over his bottom lip before answering. He heaved a deep sigh. “Okay.”
“Thirdly, you will start carrying your weight around here. Ma has enough on her hands raising the young ones. Liza is coming of age and does a lot, but she’s a girl. She shouldn’t be helping with the cattle, especially when you should be the one doing it.”
“Not even here and she’s more trouble than she’s probably worth,” Patrick grumbled under his breath. “Any more conditions, brother?”
“Finally, you will marry Maeve by the end of the year.”
An ornery gleam filled Patrick’s eyes. “A lot can happen in six months.”
“Yes, it can.” From what he understood, most couples who arranged marriages of this fashion married immediately or within several weeks’ time. This situation was different. His brother had entered into an obligation he wasn’t prepared to fulfill. He hoped that by Christmastime, Patrick would mend his ways and fall in love with the bride for which he’d sent.
Either way, the Holden family was about to change. He prayed that it would be for the better, but when a horse in a nearby stall gave a sad neigh, Sam couldn’t help but wonder if that was a sign of things to come.
From Best-Selling Author Susette Williams
Jessie’s Bride
Jessie Kincaid doesn’t plan to follow in his three older brothers’ footsteps, which seems to include being bachelors. There might be twice as many men as women in their town, but there are still other ways to go about finding, or competing, for a wife.
Jessie begins writing Sarah Engle in hopes that she will become his mail order bride. Even though there are miles between them, he feels connected to her. He sends her money, along with a stage coach ticket, to come see him so that they can be married.
Not everyone is happy with their decision to wed. When the preacher said, till death do you part, did he mean literally? Or can a mail order bride and her groom truly have a happily ever after ending?
Montana’s Bride
Montana Kincaid figures if writing a mail order bride worked out so well for his youngest brother, why not try it himself? He’s made sure to ask all the right questions so he doesn’t end up with any of the surprises Jessie had. But life is often full of surprises—unfortunately, they’re not all good surprises!
Mary Dobson lost her parents when she was still a child. Her aunt and uncle took her in and to raise. Out of obligation, Mary corresponded with Calvin, a friend of theirs, but stopped writing him once she started receiving letters from Montana. Unsettled by a recent letter from Calvin, Mary decides it best that she join her fiancé, Montana, several months earlier than planned.
Did runaway brides exist as early as the 1800s? Or is there more trouble brewing on the homestead? The Kincaids are not strangers to danger, but this time, will they lose a new addition to their family?
