Contents
A Wanting Bride
Copyright
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Bonus Notice
Butler Love
The Christmas Orphan
Runaway Love
Cowboy For Christmas
A Journey to Him
A Pregnant Bride
Desperate for Love
Looking For Love
A Widow’s Love
Finding my Cowboy
Unwilling Father
A Widow Finds a Rancher
The Cowboy’s Bride
The Wondering Bride
Love Never Fails
Finding My True Love
Kidnapped Bride
A Love Miracle
Love Unexpected
Secret Baby
About the Author
A Wanting Bride
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Copyright 2016 by Purely Publishing - All rights reserved.
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Chapter 1
Harvey Jenkins surveyed the land before him. The couple hundred head of cattle that grazed in the valley below him spoke of his position. He had done well for himself, he wouldn’t deny that, but there was always more to be sought. Better deals, mergers, and the promise of greater notoriety. It wasn’t that he wanted to accumulate wealth for no reason, but there was something about the feeling of success that was addictive.
“What are you thinking about Harvey?”
He looked over at his friend and business partner Eli Austin. “I’m considering this next deal we’ve been discussing.”
“You look like you want to take on the world—or at least Texas.”
Harvey smirked. “Something like that.”
“But really, what plans do you have brewing in that brilliant mind of yours?”
“I’ve been reconsidering the offer from Max Dean.”
“The rodeo guy?”
“Yup,” Harvey said, adjusting the brim of his Stetson lower to keep the sun from his eyes.”
“I thought that was a no-go.” Eli observed him from atop his Palomino while Harvey sat on his Buckskin horse. They would head back to the ranch soon but Harvey had wanted to see the land he lived on. It was something he insisted on almost weekly.
“I’ve reconsidered.”
“What else are you reconsidering?” Eli said with a laugh.
“Getting married.”
He could feel Eli’s gaze like it was a hot poker. “What? You said you would never get married.”
“I did, but a man can change his mind, can’t he?”
“All right, come clean, what business deal will a marriage help you with?” Eli sounded weary, not exactly disapproving.
Harvey grimaced, was it that obvious that he wanted his business to succeed? “I’ve been thinking and it’s not so much one deal that would benefit but maybe several.”
“Go on…” Eli said, his look communicating his doubt that this was true.
“Remember when I met with Max last year?”
“Yes.”
“I spent one night out on the porch with him—you know how he likes to talk—and he started spouting off all of benefits of marriage to me. Then he said something that stuck with me.” Harvey gazed off into the distance remembering the night.
“Are you going to make me guess?” Eli prompted.
“No,” Harvey said with a chuckle, “He said that a man is settled when he’s married. He proves that he can take care of a household. It was almost as if he was saying a man is more trustworthy if he’s a family man.”
“So you’re going to what…find a wife and have some kids to make yourself appear more trustworthy?”
“I didn’t mean that,” Harvey sent a sharp glance toward Eli. “It’s just an idea I’ve been toying with.”
“Where would you even find a woman willing to marry you?” Eli laughed at his own joke.
“The Matrimonial Journal. I’d get a mail order bride.”
Eli sobered quickly. “Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.”
Harvey rubbed the back of his neck.
“Hold on a moment. I’ve been gone for nearly a month but—no, don’t tell me you’ve already found a wife!?”
“I haven’t proposed yet.”
Eli gasped and Harvey looked over to see his mouth hanging open. “I never thought I’d see the day that Harvey Jenkins settled down.”
Harvey turned his attention back out to the valley below. He’d been corresponding with a woman for a little over a month now and, though he didn’t feel any sense of love toward her, she seemed to have a solid head on her shoulders and, from her photo, she was good looking. What more could he ask for?
Glancing at his friend who still looked shocked, he turned his horse back toward the ranch house. “Come on, let’s head back. Maybe by the time we make it back your mouth will have found its way closed.”
“I doubt that,” Eli said under his breath.
***
May Gibson leaned all of her weight on the top of the trunk. “Can—you—get—it?” she panted.
“Almost, miss,” the scullery maid said, pulling down on the clasp with a grimace.
With one last slump downward the trunk lid closed and the maid flung her hands up.
“Hurray!” the girl said, her cheeks pink with exertion.
“Thank you for your help Mary.”
“’Course miss,” the young girl said. She recovered quickly and ducked her head as she went about the rest of her chores.
May stood up smoothing her hand over her crisp, clean apron and then her hair to make sure everything was in place. She was overseeing the final packing for her mistress but it was no small feat. Genevieve Stanton had accumulated more dresses and trinkets than should be allowed one woman of young years.
May herself had less than half a trunk to fill, though she would try and fit as many books in the extra space as she could before all was said and done—though she wondered if she would be forced to pack Genevieve’s items she would no doubt pick up along the way.
Sighing, she looked once more about the room then left for the sitting room. “Miss, we’re nearly finished.”
Looking up from where she lazed on the couch, Genevieve nodded. “Fine. I expect to see you at the station no later than nine o’clock tomorrow. And did you return that last letter?”
“Yes ma’am,” May said, pursing her lips as Genevieve looked back down to her book before receiving May’s response. “Good evening.”
May left the room and, after hanging up her apron in the maids closet, she left the house for the last time. The fresh air felt freeing and glorious on her warm skin after being inside all day. She wanted to take a long, exhilarating walk, but tonight was her last night to finalize her moving arrangements and to say her goodbyes.
Tears threatened her eyes but she forced them back. She was going on an adventure—that’s the only way she could look at it. She’d read stories upon stories of adventures and
wonderful things and this was simply the only way she could leave the next day with any sense of peace.
“May!” Looking up she saw Jeff making his way down the street toward her.
“Hello Jeff,” she said with a forced smile.
“You’re still leaving tomorrow, aren’t you?”
She looked away, not willing to meet his gaze. “Yes.”
“Why don’t you tell that fancy lady to forget it and let you go about your own life? Marry me, we’d have a grand time.”
She laughed and looked up into his pale blue eyes. Something in them caused her breath to catch. Was he serious?
“I—I can’t. You don't want to be stuck with someone like me. I’m not fun—I just like to read all the time and organize things.”
He laughed but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m serious May. I’d make a good husband.”
Something twisted inside of her. She thought of Jeff like a brother, nothing more. That’s how she knew she had to go. Even given the chance at an opportunity to stay and she didn’t feel peace about it. It was as if the Lord was directing her to pick up her whole life and move, even if she couldn’t see how or why.
She placed a hand on his arm and looked him in the eye. “Thank you, but I have to do this. It’s the Lord’s direction.”
He nodded slowly. “I understand. Write to us.”
“You know I will,” she said. He left, but his mention of writing caused her stomach to clench. She had finished the letter for her mistress but she still needed to mail it. It looked like a stop by the post office was in order before she got home.
One last letter to Mr. Harvey Jenkins—written by her but with her mistress’s sentiments. Soon Genevieve would no longer need her as a go-between. Then what would happen to May? She had to believe that the Lord had a plan better than one May could make, though sometimes—foolishly—May didn’t think that was possible.
Chapter 2
Harvey stood at the train station, the warm Texas wind blowing over him and reminding him of day spent out in the wild. He wished he were out there at that very moment, but instead he was in town to pick up his bride to be. Or, at least that's what he hoped she would be.
He rubbed the back of his neck as the train approached. He hadn’t actually asked her to marry him yet, but she’d seemed all too happy to come out West to court him for a month or so before they made things official. She’d said she was bringing a maid along with her and that she expected to be put up in a style she was accustomed to.
What did Genevieve think the West was like? Because he was pretty sure there would be nothing she was accustomed to out here. Granted, he was wealthy and his ranch house would accommodate her just fine, but there would be things she’d have to get used to living in the West. Could she cope?
His thoughts were halted by a commotion at the end of the platform. A woman was throwing her arms around. Was she telling the stewards where to move her trunks? He cringed when she turned his direction and he recognized her from her picture.
Genevieve.
Swallowing down any preconceived notions he had, he squared his shoulders and took off to meet her.
He came up behind her and cleared his throat.
“What?” she said, whirling around until she must have recognized him because her expression softened. “I mean, hello.”
Her abrupt change in demeanor confused him for a brief moment when the sound of shuffling feet drew his attention. It was another woman, slightly taller than Genevieve, carrying an impossibly large carpetbag.
“Let me get that,” he offered, taking the bag from her.
The moment her light brown eyes connected with his he felt drawn to the her in a way he’d never be able to explain—even if he were held at gunpoint. It was a feeling of…rightness. It shocked him so much he dropped the bag she’d been in the process of handing him and it landed heavily on her foot.
He saw the moment it landed. Her eyes grew large and her cheeks flamed as she tried to hold in the cry that threatened to leap from her mouth.
“I am so sorry,” he said, yanking the heavy bag from its place on her toes. “Are you all right? Are you hurt badly?”
She was flushed and he thought he could see tears in her eyes but she shook her head furiously saying, “No, no I’m fine.”
“Goodness,” Genevieve said, letting out a derisive laugh. “Watch what you’re doing.”
Harvey bristled at Genevieve’s tone but focused on the young woman before him. “Really, are you all right?” he asked, stepping closer to the woman.
She steamed startled by his attention and stepped back, nearly tripping over the bag he’d moved. Her arm reached out but he was there before she could trip, catching her and righting her with a hand at her waist.
The flush on her face deepened and she quickly stepped away from him. Only then did he realize how close he’d been standing to her. He stepped back too and turned his attention back to Genevieve. She wasn’t even looking; her attention captured by one of the attendants moving one of her many trunks.
“Um, Miss Stanton?”
“Oh?” She turned around, her mouth in a perfect “O” shape. “I’m sorry, I'm just so concerned about my trunks and—goodness, girl, where are you?”
“Here, miss,” the woman said.
Only then did Harvey make the connection. The woman was Genevieve’s maid. He saw her in a new light, not just a passenger with a heavy bag but at the beck and call of her mistress. Somehow he’d missed it, but now he could see the differences in their dresses. The girl wore drab gray while Genevieve was in startling ice blue. The girl’s hair was done in a simple style while Genevieve’s was piled on top of her head with curls and twists that had to have taken hours to do.
But where they were different there was also a few similarities. They were both fine in features, thin of frame, and both very pretty.
He tore his gaze away from the young woman and looked at Genevieve. “Are you ready to go? I can have my men come and pick up the rest of these trunks. They won’t all fit in my buggy.”
He wanted to add he wasn’t sure if they’d all fit in the house but that wasn’t true. It was a large house and she would have plenty of room, but they did seem to be over the top.
“Yes. I'm quite tired. I’d like to freshen up before supper tonight, if at all possible.”
He cringed, wondering if he should have made plans for them. “Yes, of course. There’ll be plenty of time to relax at the ranch.”
“Ranch,” she repeated, looking down at her nails for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “Right. Well, let’s go see this quaint ranch.”
***
May felt horrified. Not only did she feel like one of her toes might be broken, she’d nearly fallen over a bag and been rescued by her mistress’s fiancé! Well, almost-fiancé because technically he hadn’t asked her to marry him yet. Genevieve liked to gloss over that part but May couldn’t fathom the fact that they had moved out here without a promise from Harvey Jenkins.
Now, as they climbed into his carriage she assessed the man. He was tall, much taller than Jeff—her only real gauge of masculine height—and much handsomer than any man she’d met before. She wouldn’t compare him to Jeff in that way because she didn’t see Jeff as more than a good friend, but Harvey had a relaxed, confident manner that drew her in.
His sandy blond hair stuck out from underneath his cowboy hat and his light blue eyes seemed to take in everything. He’d caught her before she’d even had a chance to realize she was falling, or at least it had felt that way. Not much got past this man.
Sitting in the second row seat she observed Genevieve interaction with Harvey. Her mistress was trying hard to flirt and her attempts were failing miserably. Harvey didn’t seem a man keen on flirtation or the subtitles of women. Instead he seemed like someone who appreciated straightforward conversation. It was probably what made him such a good businessman.
She flushed and turned her attention to the sce
nery. She shouldn’t know as much as she did about Harvey, but Genevieve had insisted that May write her responses back to him. She’d started with the first letter due to a headache Genevieve had and it had carried on from there. It would have been better had she taken dictation for the letters, but it felt like Genevieve had no interest in the process, only the end result. Marriage to a wealthy man where she could live in the style she’d become accustomed to.
They turned down a lane shaded with tall trees on either side but soon it opened up to reveal a large ranch house. It was much larger than May would have expected and yet matched the descriptions from Harvey’s letters perfectly.
“Oh,” she said, not realizing she’d exclaimed out loud until Harvey looked back at her, a half smile on his handsome face.
They pulled up in front of the house and he helped them both out, leading the way to the front door.
“I trust my things will be delivered soon?”
May cringed at Genevieve’s demanding nature but Harvey merely nodded saying, “I’ll see that they are here soon. My housekeeper Mrs. Chambers will show you to your rooms. I’m afraid I must go tend to matters of the ranch.”
Genevieve reached out and rested a hand on his arm. “I do hope that you’ll take time to get to know me.” She gave a girlish laugh.
“Of course,” he said. May could tell that his smile was forced but it was almost impossible to tell…almost.
When he was gone and they were within the confines of Genevieve’s room, she slumped down onto the dressing chair. “I can’t believe this place,” she said with a pout.
May was tasked with helping her undress but she knew from experience all Genevieve wanted to do was complain.
“I think it’s rather lovely, miss. Isn’t the area to your liking?”
“Liking?” Genevieve laughed. “It’s practically backward!”
“I wouldn’t say that—”
“You wouldn’t, would you?” She gave a shallow laugh. “You enjoy all of this outdoors life and the animals and…everything. I’d rather stay inside and enjoy myself that way. Will I find any type of society here?”
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