Libby started to protest but Bonnie interrupted her. “I’ve come to terms with it, Libby. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to marry. Unlike you and Gwen, though, I don’t subscribe to the fantasy that I will only marry for love. A business arrangement would suit me just fine, so I spoke to Elizabeth Miller, the lady who runs the mail order bride agency.”
Libby gasped at that. “Did you get a proposal? Are you leaving us?!”
“Read the letter,” Bonnie murmured.
Libby read it and looked up and her sister, confused. "But this letter is looking for three women, not one."
Bonnie nodded. “I was going to talk to a couple of other unattached friends my age but… Libby, we need to leave town as soon as possible. Did you see the look in Papa’s eyes? He’s really going to marry us off, and I suspect it’s to that trio of creepy old deacons from church he’s been speaking with every Sunday. I couldn’t stand that humiliation.
"No! Not them! He wouldn’t dare! I’m only eighteen! Mother wouldn’t let him.”
“Didn’t you hear her? She won’t protect you and Gwen anymore, Libby. I know that’s hard to hear since she’s spoiled you two so much, but I can tell you from experience, that when she gives up on you, it’s forever.”
Libby had a pained look on her face as if she was trying to figure out a puzzle. Bonnie knew to just wait. Sometimes it took her beautiful sister a little bit longer to catch on, but she always did…eventually.
“So instead of marrying those old lechers, we run away to Texas and marry strangers?”
“At least they’re young strangers, Libby. We can start completely from scratch without anyone knowing about this ridiculous scandal. Even if Papa doesn’t force us to marry his friends, no one else will want us for a very long time, if ever.”
Libby gave Bonnie a sly look. “Do we have to take Gwen?”
Bonnie smiled. “She may be annoying, but she’s our sister. She probably needs this more than either of us. Let’s rescue her from herself, Libby. What do you say?”
After a moment Libby nodded. "Let's make it happen."
To be continued…
What's Next?
The Escape is the prologue for three connected romances in The Dalton Brides series.
The Rancher’s Mail-Order Bride
The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride
The Drifter’s Mail-Order Bride
Keep reading for descriptions and extended excerpts from each book.
THE RANCHER’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE
by
Kirsten Osbourne
Through no fault of her own, Gwen Blue found herself embroiled in a scandal that would set Beckham, Massachusetts on its ear, and get her locked in her room for two months. When she found herself betrothed to a man she found loathsome, she wanted nothing more than to disappear. When her sisters liberated her from her room and proposed a journey to Texas to visit an old school friend, she didn't have to be asked twice.
Walton Dalton always had a plan for his life. He'd spent years learning everything he needed to know about ranching, and he had a large parcel of land adjacent to his two brothers' land. Between the three of them, they were going to build a Texas ranching empire. For his empire, he needed a bride.
Without his brothers’ knowledge, Walt sends off for three mail order brides from a matchmaker in Beckham. He knows from the moment he sees ‘Gorgeous Gwen’ that she's meant to be his. Will she agree to the marriage? If she does, will she be able to get over her self-centered attitude and be a good wife?
EXCERPT
Gwen rushed off the train and immediately started looking around for the stagecoach. Bonnie caught up to her, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Don't run off now!"
"I'm looking for the stagecoach. It's only another three hours, and we'll be there. I can't wait to see Anna." Really, it wasn't so much seeing Anna that she cared about. She needed to be in one place for a while. The journey had been much too long for her.
"You didn't even like Anna," Bonnie argued.
"Well, I love her today, because she's going to let me sleep in a bed that doesn't move!" Gwen looked at Bonnie. "The bed won't move will it? She doesn't live on a boat or something silly like that?"
Bonnie laughed. "No, I don't think the bed will move." She led the way to the platform. "We need to wait for our trunk to be unloaded."
Gwen laughed. "I was so excited to be on the stagecoach, I forgot all about my trunk. That was silly of me, wasn't it?"
Libby and Bonnie exchanged looks. "Our trunk, Gwenny. We could only pack one trunk for the three of us or Mama and Papa would have gotten suspicious."
"Are you serious? You'd better have packed my cornflower blue dress. It's my favorite." Gwen looked between her sisters.
Bonnie sighed. "We couldn't. We didn't have access to your clothes at all, because you were locked in your room, remember? We brought some of Libby's dresses for you."
Gwen made a face. "Libby's dresses? But Libby and I don't look good in the same colors. I'm blond, and Libby's a brunette." Besides, she wanted her own clothes. Clothes that had been made just for her.
"I'll make you a new cornflower blue dress, Gwen. I promise. Just...don't make a fuss."
Gwen looked at her sister, surprised by her words. "A fuss? Why would I make a fuss?" She could see by Bonnie's face something was still wrong. "What were you going to tell me?"
Bonnie sighed. "Well, we're not exactly here to see Anna."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, more than a little annoyed her sisters had lied to her. "Why are we here then?"
“I…” Bonnie avoided Gwen's gaze, something she'd never done.
It must be bad, Gwen thought. If Bonnie can't tell me what's going on, she's done something terrible.
At that moment two men, who were obviously twin brothers, stepped between them. "Are you ladies the Blue sisters?" one of them asked. He had brown eyes and black hair. His shoulders were the broadest she'd ever seen. She wouldn't mind stepping out with him at all.
Gwen nodded slowly. "Who are you?" She'd never seen these men in her life. Why were they looking for them? Were they there to drive them to their new home, wherever it may be? She still didn't know why they were in Texas.
The man who'd asked the question grinned. "I'm Walton Dalton, and I pick you." He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms before she had a chance to reply. His mouth covered hers and he kissed her, right there in the middle of the train station.
Gwen stomped on his foot, enjoying the kiss, but she knew it wasn't proper to kiss a man she'd just met. "Unhand me!" She wiped her hand across her mouth, trying to stop the tingling that had started as soon as his lips had met hers.
Walt smiled down at Gwen. "I'll unhand you for now. Preacher's standing by." He kept his arm firmly around his little fiancé's shoulders. "Which sister are you?"
"I'm Gwendolyn. Why do you persist in touching me? I don't know you!" She struggled against him, but realized it was futile. He was much stronger than she would ever be.
Bonnie smiled at Walt. "I'm Bonnie. I'm the oldest sister. I believe I'm the one you're supposed to marry."
Walt looked back and forth between the sisters. "I don't care who's oldest. I'm marrying this one." He nodded at Nate. "That's my brother Nate. Bart should be here by now, but I'm sure he'll be along." He'd better be along. He'd promised Walt he'd be there by three. It was quarter after.
Bonnie glared at Walt and turned to Nate, who was openly staring at Libby. "Libby's the youngest," she announced, seeming to think that would matter to the brothers.
Nate looked back and forth between Walt and Bonnie. "I thought we were here to see a man about some cattle."
Walt grinned at his brother. "Surprise! Since Bart isn't here, you get next pick. Which one do you want for your bride?" He didn't expect a lot of problems from Nate. Bart was the one who would protest the loudest.
Nate blinked. "You sent off for brides for us? The cattle salesman was a lie?"
Walt shrug
ged. "I didn't think you'd come if I told you why we were really here." He kissed the top of Gwen's head as if they'd been in love for years. "Pick one." He wasn't letting this little beauty go. He'd expected all three sisters to be homely. Gwen had been a fabulous surprise.
Nate pointed at Libby. "I guess I'll take the youngest." He leaned close to Walt and whispered, "I'll take care of you later."
Gwen gasped in shock. "You can't just pick me and say you'll marry me. No! What on earth is happening here. Bonnie? What have you done?" As grateful as Gwen was to her sister for rescuing her, she was furious about this arrangement. She had no desire to marry a stranger or anyone else for that matter.
Bonnie blinked as if fighting tears. "Libby knew why we were here. We just didn't want you to be stubborn. We rescued you after all."
~ * ~ * ~
THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE
by
Kit Morgan
Libby Blue lived in the shadow of her sister’s accomplishments. Bonnie, the oldest, excelled at all things domestic and was the smartest of the three. Gwen, the middle sister, excelled at … well, Gwen was beautiful, so she didn’t have to excel at much else to get what she wanted. Libby tried as hard as she could to live up to both, but always seemed to fall short. But when Gwen is caught up in a major scandal, their father decides to marry Libby and her sisters off to the most un-eligible bachelors in Beckham to save the family’s reputation. Bonnie quickly devises a plan to escape their father’s wrath and sets it in motion. Libby might yet have a chance to prove herself! As a Mail-Order Bride!
Walton Dalton had a dream to build an empire. Or in this case, a ranch where he and his two brothers could work hard and love hard. Determined to see his dream come true, he sends for his brothers and they soon join him in Texas to claim the land and begin building. That took care of the ‘work’ part. But Walton fails to tell his brothers that he already sent for mail-order brides in order to take care of the ‘loving’ part. Will Nate Dalton become Libby’s road to happiness? Or a slow path to misery because she still can’t measure up?
EXCERPT
Nate took care of the horses, fed the chickens, and was heading back to the house when he stopped dead in his tracks. What would happen now? She couldn’t cook, was frightened, and, as far as he knew, didn’t like this whole arrangement. He stood, fists on hips and stared at the soft lantern light coming from the windows. Maybe she was upset because she was so ill-prepared to be a wife. How would he feel if he was in her shoes? But then, what woman becomes a wife and doesn’t learn how to cook? What else would she be inept at? What if she couldn’t so much as mend a shirt, or wash it for that matter? He couldn’t exactly send her back. But then, what if that’s exactly what she wanted him to do?
Nate rubbed his chin with his hand. How to handle her… that was the question. Should he be patient, or tell her to get with it? Maybe a little of both? Yet, what right did he have to be so hard on her their first day as husband and wife? She did just travel over a thousand miles to get there and must be plumb tuckered out. If he was any kind of a gentleman, he’d get a tub ready for her, let her have her privacy, then after she felt better, he could see where she really stood. Yes, that’s what he’d do. He wouldn’t be surprised if he found her passed out from exhaustion.
Sure enough, when he entered the house, she was curled up at one end of the settee, eyes closed, breathing steady and even. He studied her in the lantern light. How was he going to turn this delicate flower into someone capable of defending herself and their land if need be? This was still rough country, and he and his brothers could be gone long hours during the day. She’d be alone all that time, as would her sisters. They might have to do whatever was necessary to defend themselves. Could she shoot a gun? Could she, would she, shoot a man if she had to? He crossed to the stove and pushed the thought aside. He’d worry about teaching her how to shoot later. Right now he figured he’d help make things more comfortable for her. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
He got a fire in the cook stove going, fetched the tub he used for bathing and set it up in the bedroom. He then went out to the pump, got a couple buckets of water, and poured them into the tub. He then filled the buckets again, and put them on the stove to heat.
While he waited he sat at the kitchen table and stared at the back of the settee. He tried to imagine the two of them sitting there in the evenings after supper in front of the fire. He’d read a book, she’d knit or something. After awhile, they’d maybe get sleepy, then again, maybe not. Nate swallowed hard and stood. He took a few steps in her direction, and gazed at the back of her head resting on the one pillow he had for the living area. Her dark hair was coming loose from its pins, and a long tendril escaped, spilling over the arm of the settee. He went to her, reached down, and touched the silken lock. His body reacted, and he let go, sucking in a breath as he did. Libby didn’t stir, and he sighed in relief.
Once again, he had to concede to her beauty. But how was she going to survive while he was gone all day? He didn’t talk much during the ride home, but he listened. Her sister Bonnie asked him if the land around Bart’s home would support a vegetable garden come spring. He told her yes, and knew she wanted to have one so there’d be enough food to get them through next winter. She knew how to cook and preserve food, a good thing in these parts. Bart was one lucky son of a …
Libby moaned in her sleep. Nate froze. He sucked in another breath, and slowly backed away. He should wake her now, get her something to eat, then leave her to bathe.
He went back to the kitchen. He had some cold bacon from his breakfast left, and a few biscuits. They would have to do for supper. He cut a biscuit in half, slapped a couple pieces of bacon on it, then went to wake his sleeping wife.
He gave her shoulder a shake, and almost jumped when she popped up with a yelp. “Whoa, there,” he said in a soft voice. “I didn’t mean to scare ya.”
She stared at him, her mouth half-open. “Wha… what?” She glanced around the cabin. “What happened?”
“You dozed off. Here, I rustled us up something to eat,” he said and handed her the biscuit. She looked at it, then at him. “What is it?”
“Just eat, you’ll need something in your belly or you’ll be worthless in the morning.”
“Worthless?” she whispered. “I see.” She took the biscuit from him, studied it, and took a small bite.
“I done fixed you a bath. You can get cleaned up before you turn in. I don’t imagine you’d want to sleep in a clean bed unless you’re the same.”
She raised her eyes to his. “Understood,” she said through gritted teeth.
Good grief! What was ailing her now? “I’ll be out in the barn.” He went to the stove, checked the water, then using a couple of dishrags, plucked the buckets off and added them to the tub in the bedroom. Maybe after she got cleaned up she wouldn’t be so… well, whatever it was she was being! All he knew was he didn’t care for it. If she was going to be the kind of woman that was hard to please, then this arrangement wasn’t going to be to his liking. At least not until she learned what was what.
“I’m going to the barn. I’ll be back in an hour.” He didn’t mean to slam the door on his way out, but he did. Some wedding night this was turning out to be.
~ * ~ * ~
THE DRIFTER’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE
by
Cassie Hayes
Having grown up in the shadow of two beautiful sisters, ‘Scrawny Bonnie’ Blue knows she doesn’t stand a chance at landing a good man in Beckham, Massachusetts. The only way she’ll find a husband is by leaving her family behind to become a mail order bride. But when all three Blue sisters are swept up in a scandal, she has no choice to but to take ‘Gorgeous Gwen’ and ‘Lovely Libby’ with her…kicking and screaming, if she must.
Bart Dalton would be happy riding the range forever, but his brothers need his help to start a ranch in north Texas. He figures he’ll last a year or so before his feet get itchy again, which his brothers und
erstand. As triplets, they can almost read each others’ minds. Except when his oldest brother orders three brides for them all. It would have been nice to have a little warning about that!
When Bart is late to meet the train carrying the Blue sisters, his brothers get first dibs, leaving Bonnie standing alone and dejected once again. It only gets worse when her ‘intended’ finally shows up and balks at the idea of marrying her. The only thing Bonnie has going for her are her wits, and she puts them to good use by proposing a business arrangement that Bart can’t refuse.
Will Bart go back to his drifter ways, or is the elusive thing he’s been searching for all his life sleeping in the next room?
EXCERPT
The moment Bonnie and her sisters stepped off the train, she spotted two men who looked identical. The odds of there being a set of twins and a set of triplets meeting that particular train seemed low, so she assumed the third brother was simply out of sight.
Raising a tentative hand to the men, she started across the platform with Libby and a clueless Gwen, who was prattling on about the stagecoach ride they were supposed to be taking into Wiggieville to see Anne. The men met them halfway.
“Are you ladies the Blue sisters?” asked one of the men.
“Who are you?” Gwen said, as rude as ever.
“I’m Walton Dalton, and I pick you,” replied the man. Then he did the most amazing thing. He pulled Gwen into a kiss — right there on the platform in front of God and everyone!
Gwen took care of him, though, by stomping on his foot, but he didn’t seem deterred. In fact, he seemed more determined than ever, going so far as to say the preacher was standing by. And poor Gwen had no idea what was going on.
The Escape (The Dalton Brides) Page 3
