by Annie Boone
Escaping Into Love
The Runaway Brides of Colorado Series - Book 1
Annie Boone
Contents
Copyright
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Annie Boone
Escaping Into Love
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
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
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Copyright
Copyright 2017, Annie Boone and Sweet River Publishing
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written approval by the author, except for short excerpts used in a book review.
All characters, places, events, businesses, or references to historical facts are fictitious and products of the author’s imagination. Any references to actual people, places, or events are purely incidental.
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Escaping Into Love
The Runaway Brides of Colorado - Book 1
Annie Boone
Chapter One
Elizabeth Brown sucked in a deep breath of air as the mail carriage hit a bump in the road, jostling her entire body. Reaching out, she grabbed tightly to the wooden window frame, clinging to it as if her life depended on it.
Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her nerves as she allowed the carriage take her farther away from the life she had known on her father’s Georgia plantation. The layout of the land certainly changed with the passing of each mile and, even with her eyes closed, it felt like she could sense the difference deep in her bones.
There was something about the trip that filled Elizabeth with both a mixture of uncertainty and of excitement. Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of adventure. The idea of traveling far away from home to see distant lands and to conquer the Wild West while at it had captured her imagination.
But now, well, now that she was actually making the trip, it felt like her doubts had begun to overtake her. She had never thought of traveling simply because she had no other option.
“Are you all right back there, ma’am?” One of the carriage drivers called out, his voice almost lost in the noise of the wagon wheels as they rolled down the dirt road.
Sitting up straighter in her seat, Elizabeth cleared her throat and called back, “Yes, I’m fine.”
But, despite her attempt at sounding confident, Elizabeth had to admit that just the thought of her situation made a sob start to rise up in her throat. She had to swallow hard to choke it back down. She couldn’t get emotional, not now, not after she had come so far. And yet, try as she might to contain her feelings, it seemed that they were destined to overwhelm her.
Opening her eyes so she could study her surroundings, Elizabeth wondered what life in Colorado would hold for her.
But, no matter what happened, she knew there was no way she could ever go back home. Georgia was no longer the dear place it once had been for her. Now that her parents were dead, the place held nothing for her.
Reaching into her bag, Elizabeth pulled out the crinkled letter she’d read so many times she had practically memorized every single word.
Lifting the paper up so she could see the familiar curve of the letters, she read the message once again.
My dearest Elizabeth,
I hate to admit it, but I’ve come to a point in my life where receiving your letters is what I look forward to most. Each day, I hold my breath when I stop by the post office, hoping that a surprise message will be waiting for me. There is nothing better than reading the words you have penned.
I can hardly wait for the day when you will be here in person. To be able to see you standing at my side, rather than just envisioning your presence, is a joy that is almost too much for me to be able to imagine.
I know that life has dealt you a rough hand lately, Elizabeth. The thought of you being all alone in the world is too much for me to bear. I would be honored if you would travel to Colorado and become my wife. Despite all you have suffered, I believe that we can make a good life together.
Yours forever,
Mason
As her eyes traveled across the last word, Elizabeth felt her heart leap. Raising the paper to her lips, she kissed it softly before returning it to its envelope. She couldn’t recall all the times she had kissed the paper, wishing that it was her dear Mason she was kissing instead.
While Elizabeth’s life had certainly not been pleasant, she could only hope Mason was right and that they could build a future together that would overshadow the pain of the past. The idea of being married filled her heart with hope and excitement.
The carriage pulled to a stop in the midst of a small town. Elizabeth had grown used to making stops along the way as the mail carriage stopped sporadically to deliver bags of envelopes at each remote post office. Giving the town a quick glance, Elizabeth discovered that it was truly no different to the dozens of other Colorado towns she had encountered over the last few days.
Looking back down at the letter she clasped in her hands, Elizabeth could hardly wait until they arrived at her destination in the small town of Plainsville.
The sound of the carriage door opening made Elizabeth look up in surprise just as another young woman climbed in and took the seat across from Elizabeth. Letting out a bit of a groan as she lowered herself onto the firm wooden seat, the other passenger laughed merrily as she glanced at Elizabeth before speaking.
“I hope you don’t mind sharing the carriage for a few miles.”
Elizabeth felt herself smiling as she shook her head. “Not at all. I’ve been alone for so long that having to share your company is a treat.”
The other woman laughed again, her green eyes twinkling as she studied Elizabeth from her seat.
“Well then, I’ll try my best to be good company although I’ll only be on here for a few more miles. I’m getting off at Plainsville.”
The familiar name of Elizabeth’s destination made her sit up straighter in her seat. “That’s where I’m going, too. Why are you going to Plainsville?”
“Oh, that’s good.”
The other passenger grinned even wider as dimples formed in her cheeks. “I live in Plainsville. My husband and I own a cattle ranch on the outskirts of town.”
Bridging the space between them, she offered Elizabeth a hand as she introduced herself. “I’m Amy Currents.”
A matching smile crossed Elizabeth’s face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m
Elizabeth Brown.”
While Elizabeth was a young woman who enjoyed her solitude, there was something about Amy that was almost infectious. The young woman had a sort of carefree charm about her that drew Elizabeth to her.
“I had to travel here to chaperone a young lady to a girl’s school,” Amy explained as the carriage lunged forward, starting the women toward their destination. “Plainsville is a good place to live, but it doesn’t offer students much in the way of an education once they get out of the eighth grade.”
Shaking her head sadly, Amy seemed lost in her own thoughts until she asked, “What is taking you to Plainsville?”
Suddenly feeling awkward and unsure of how to even explain her situation, Elizabeth tried to condense the long story. “I’m going to meet my husband.”
Amy’s eyebrows rose up and a smile spread across her face. “Are you a mail order bride?”
Elizabeth nodded her head in return, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and pride.
“Who’s the lucky fellow?”
A blush crawled across Elizabeth’s cheeks as she looked down at the envelope that was still pressed between her fingers. “His name is Mason, Mason Reeve.”
“Mason Reeve,” Amy repeated, her grin growing even bigger as she clapped her hands together. “Oh, Elizabeth, that’s just wonderful. He’s certain to make a fine husband for you. Mason is a good man, one of the best in our community. Mason is financially stable and charming. It’s been heartbreaking to see him alone all these years.”
Reaching out to give Elizabeth a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Amy finished, “You’ll be a lucky woman and him, a lucky man.”
Her new companion’s words gave Elizabeth a renewed sense of excitement and certainty for the relationship she was about to begin. While she had some doubts about traveling to Colorado, Elizabeth felt she could trust the words of this young woman.
“What made you decide to come out west?” Amy pressed, leaning her head against the interior of the carriage as if she was getting herself ready to enjoy Elizabeth’s story.
While Elizabeth didn’t always like to share details of her life with strangers, there was something about Amy that made her already feel like a close friend. Looking down at her hands, Elizabeth slowly explained, “Well, my mother died when I was a girl and my father was very protective of me. He wanted me to stay at home and wouldn’t let boys get away with even looking at me.”
“I’d say that was a challenge for him,” Amy interjected.
Although Elizabeth didn’t want to brag, she had to admit that it was true. With her soft ringlets of blonde hair and innocent blue eyes, she had drawn young men to her without even attempting to gain their attention. Over the years, she had grown used to their advances, even though her father did his best to shoo them all away.
“Yes,” Elizabeth continued. “I suppose he did have a difficult time of it, but Papa wasn’t one to give up. Time passed and all the boys in my town admitted defeat and focused on marrying other girls.”
“That had to be discouraging,” Amy replied with a sad frown. “It’s difficult when you realize that there’s no hope of a future with anyone.”
Elizabeth gave a noncommittal nod and tried to offer an explanation.
“Oh, it wasn’t bad for a while. I never really minded, until recently. Now I’ve found myself almost desperate for a husband and a family of my own.”
“How did you ever convince your father to let you come out west?”
Elizabeth felt a lump gather in her throat and she had to struggle to maintain her feelings as she spoke.
“I never did have to convince him of anything. About six months ago, Papa died.”
“Oh Elizabeth!”
Amy’s voice was filled with deep concern and sympathy as she leaned forward and whispered her condolences. “I am so sorry.”
Giving a shrug, Elizabeth looked out the window at the passing scenery as she continued. “It wasn’t really a shock. He had been in poor health for several years but I miss him more than I could have ever imagined.”
Fingering the material on her skirt, Elizabeth continued. “We had a nice plantation in the south but when he died, everything went to my uncle. Initially, I’d hoped he would give me the land or let me manage it, or at least let me continue to live there. That was hope for something that wasn’t to be.”
An unintentional grimace ran across Elizabeth’s face before she continued to speak.
“He wanted me gone as soon as possible. If I hadn’t found Mason’s advertisement, I have no doubt that my uncle would have put me out on the streets by now.”
Finally gathering the courage to look at Amy, Elizabeth could see that tears of compassion were starting to form in her companion’s eyes.
“I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to be alone in the world,” Amy whispered softly.
“My brother, Clayton Ward, he knows all too well, though. He was orphaned much younger than you. My father took him in and he became a part of our family. I always felt like God brought Clayton and our family together. Now it seems that He brought you and Mason together, as well.”
Hoping to turn her new friend to a more cheerful topic, Elizabeth sat up straighter in her seat and asked, “How old is your brother now?”
Amy laughed, a happy twinkle finally returning to her eyes. “He’s a grown man. Our father was the sheriff in town and, after his death, Clayton took over the position. Clayton’s a good man. I’m proud to be able to call him my brother, even if we aren’t actually related.”
“Plainsville’s right ahead.” The voice of the carriage driver made Elizabeth sit up straighter in her seat. Looking out the window, she watched as the small western town that would soon be her home slowly came into view.
While the town of Plainsville was similar to all the others that Elizabeth had encountered over the last few days, there was something about knowing it was home that sent a wave of excitement through her entire body. This was where she would spend the rest of her life. This was the place where she’d find love and, hopefully, start a family of her own.
Feeling her heart leap in her chest, Elizabeth watched the simple buildings of the town come into view. As the mail carriage traveled down the dusty road, Elizabeth took in the buildings from the dress shop, where ladies were coming out with packages, to the bank walled with red bricks. The church shone in the distance, its white steeple jutting into the sky, welcoming you and giving off an aura that made you feel at peace.
“Last stop,” the carriage driver called out loudly as he pulled the horses to a stop in the midst of the town.
Amy reached across the distance between them to give Elizabeth a pat on the shoulder. “There’s my brother now. That’s Clayton.”
Elizabeth looked out the window to see a young man step out of the sheriff’s office and start toward the mail carriage.
Something about Clayton’s appearance made Elizabeth’s breath stop short. She watched him as he drew closer and despite how improper it felt, she couldn’t rip her gaze off him. He stepped up next to the carriage and swung the door open, a good-natured smile spread across his handsome and rugged face.
“Amy,” he called out as he lifted a hand to help his sister down onto the street. “It’s good to have you home. Bart has had me over for supper every night since you left and I can assure you his cooking skills are lacking.”
Amy offered a good natured laugh and gave her brother a hug when her feet hit the ground.
Reaching for the door, Elizabeth tried to step down to the ground as well but felt her footing give out from under her. Desperately reaching for anything to stop from tripping, Elizabeth’s body spiraled forward.
Barely a split second later, Clayton was leaning down to come to her aid. Grabbing her by the waist, he stopped her midair before she reached the ground and, in one swift move, lifted her through the air till she was standing again.
“Careful there,” he muttered as he lowered her to the ground beside his siste
r. “You don’t want your welcome to Plainsville to start out with a trip to the doc.”
Elizabeth’s face grew warm with blush as she realized how close she came to an accident. Straightening her skirt, she stood up tall and tried to regain what was left of her rattled composure.
Amy watched the affair with an amused expression before putting an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder.
“Clayton, this is Elizabeth Brown.”
Taking a step backward, Clayton stretched out a work-worn hand.
“It’s good to meet you, Elizabeth.”
Taking his hand in hers, Elizabeth felt a surprising attraction at the tanned and calloused skin that covered his hand. It was mere habit, and definitely not a presence of mind, that had her replying his greeting. “It’s good to meet you, as well. Thank you for rescuing me from that fall.”
Clayton smiled, his face dimpling as he spoke. “All in a day’s work around here.”
“Clayton,” Amy’s cheerful voice continued. “Elizabeth has come here as a mail order bride. She’s going to be married to Mason Reeve. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Elizabeth instantly noticed a change come over Clayton. While Amy obviously didn’t see it, Elizabeth felt it. The young man froze and his eyes lost the playful glitter. His charm and good-natured smile was replaced by a forced level of friendliness.
“Well,” Clayton said, suddenly struggling for words. “Then I suppose we’ll probably see a lot of you around town.”
