by Rose Gordon
“I’ll never tire of seeing your face match your hair,”came her husband’s voice. His boots thumped as he stomped up the six sturdy steps to the porch. He’d been gone all day working on renovating the bank in town. Once news of the repairs Joel had made on his house made its way to town, he could hardly make a trip to town without someone wanting to hire him to fix things around their home or building.
“Would you like some tea?”she asked him, doing her best to imitate Mr. Baker.
He laughed.“Yes, but not yet.”He held up a piece of paper and shook it.“You have a letter.”
“I do?”
“Don’t act so surprised.”Joel reached for her hand and gently tugged her in the direction of the porch swing.“Getting them isn’t the surprising part. It’s if you actually respond that sends the receiver into a state of disbelief.”
Jessie swatted at him and he ducked.
“I give, I give,”Joel said playfully, pulling her onto his lap. Once she was nestled up against him, he handed her the letter.
She knit her eyebrows.“McHale?”Carefully, she flipped it over to break the seal.“It’s from Anna.”she said a second later, no longer caring about gently breaking the seal.
Joel’s chest rumbled with his chuckle.
Dearest Jessie,
I will only say this because I am two thousand miles away and in no fear of you chastising me—though as I write this I can very well imagine the expression on your face and it makes me laugh.
Well, here goes…Joel was right! Caleb is perfect in every way imaginable! Of course I didn’t think so at first…In fact, not long after I got here I started doubting I’d made the right decision. But whenever I’d get into such a state I’d close my eyes and the memory of having to dance with Lachlan Ross came to mind and drove all of my doubts and fears away.
Montana is stunningly beautiful…
Jessie’s eyes scanned her friend’s letter and her lips smiled as if on their own accord in certain parts. One thing was for certain, one year and two thousand miles later, Anna was still long winded in her letters.
…Caleb’s four brothers live near by. But my favorite is his father, Mac. The old man reminds me of you a little.
Oh, that’s flattering, Jessie thought with a twist of her lips. An old man reminded Anna of her. Charming.
Thank you again for giving me your ticket. Though I miss you terribly, I’ll forever be in your gratitude.
“No, I think you’ll forever be in her gratitude, Jess,”Joel commented.“Had Anna not taken your place on the train, Mr. Perfect might have made a trip down here to steal you away and that wouldn’t have ended so perfectly for him.”
Jessie gasped and pressed a single hand to her chest.“You aren’t suggesting you’d have marred his perfect face, would you?”
“Oh, so even his face is perfect now?”
“Well, Anna did say he was perfect in everyway,”Jessie reminded him.
Joel shuddered.“There are some things I’d rather not know about.”
The next time you see my parents, please send them my love.
All my love,
Anna McHale
“That was nice. I think you should surprise her and write back to her before the seasons change,”Joel said, brushing a kiss across her temple.
“You’re right.”Jessie scooted off Joel’s lap.“Come with me.”
Joel groaned.“I don’t want to write your letter for you again. Wasn’t the one I helped you write to your cousin torture enough?”
“You don’t have to write it for me this time,”Jessie assured him.“Just look over it to make sure it’s acceptable.”
“I suppose I can do that.”
“Perfect. While you wait, would you look over this for me and make sure I’m getting a good deal?”She handed Joel a stack of papers Mr. Hutchinson had sent to her about her father’s estate.
Joel scoffed.“Nobody would ever dream of giving you the wrong end of a deal.”
“Good, I should hate to be taken advantage of.”
With a rueful grin, Joel shook his head and started reading over the papers.
Thirty minutes later, her letter was done and being thrust into Joel’s hand.
Holding the tea she’d poured for him, Jessie waited beside him while he read it.
He looked down at her letter and grinned.
Dear Anna,
I’m glad things worked out for you! Caleb sounds…perfect.
In August I’ll be delivering our first baby.
Joel has remodeled his house. It’s beautiful.
Oh, and possibly the most exciting news to ever come to Williamsburg County. Joel and I ran into my father a week after we were married and the news killed him. Literally.
Lots of Love,
Jessie
P.S. Joel is quite perfect himself—even if he doesn’t know the meaning of being serious.
“Just leave this here.”He moved the paper out of her reach and took her offered glass of tea.“And I’ll post it for you tomorrow,” he said, placing the tea down next to the letter.
“After you rewrite it?”she asked with a slight giggle.
Joel wrapped her in his arms.“No. I think you finally got one just right,” he murmured just before bringing his mouth to hers and proving to them both what they already knew: they were made for each other, now and forever.
If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here:
http://www.newwesternromance.com
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Other Books by Rose Gordon
Fort Gibson Officers Series
American-set historical romance series that takes place in Indian Territory in the mid-1840s.
The Officer and the Bostoner—While on her way to meet her intended, Allison Pearson was abandoned by her traveling party at a desolate Army fort in the middle of Indian Territory. It’s a good thing there is a handsome, smooth-talking officer named Captain Wes Tucker willing to temporarily marry her until her intended can reclaim her.
The Officer and the Southerner—Lieutenant Jack Walker sent off for a mail-order bride. Ella Davis answered the ad. Jack forgot to mention a few living details, and Ella’s about to let him know it!
The Officer and the Traveler—Captain Grayson Montgomery's mouth has landed him in trouble again! And this time it's not something a cleverly worded sentence and a handsome smile can fix. Having been informed he'll either have to marry or be demoted and sentenced to hard labor for the remainder of his tour, he proposes, only to discover those years of hard labor may have been the easier choice for his heart.
Scandalous Sisters Series
Three American sisters have arrived in England for a brief visit, but they’re about to all find something they never bargained for: love.
Intentions of the Earl—Faced with never-ending poverty, a gentleman is offered a handsome sum if he'll ruin a certain young lady's future—only she has other plans, and it might entail her ruininghis.
Liberty for Paul—There's only one thing Liberty Banks hates worse than impropriety: one Mr. Paul Grimes, and unfortunately for her, it's her own impropriety that just got her married to him!
To Win His Wayward Wife—Not to be outdone by her sisters' scandalous marriages, Madison Banks is about to have her own marriage-producing scandal to a man who, unbeknownst to her, has loved her all along.
Groom Series
Four decided bachelors are about to have their freedom ripped right from their clutches with nothing to
show for it but love.
Her Sudden Groom—When informed he must marry within the month or be forced to marry the worst harpy ever to set foot on English shores, the overly scientific, always logical Alex Banks decides to conduct his courtship like a science experiment!
Her Reluctant Groom—Emma Green has loved Marcus, Lord Sinclair, for as long as she can remember, so when he slips up and says he loves her, too, it should all be so simple. But it's never that simple when the man in question was once engaged to and jilted by Emma's older sister.
Her Secondhand Groom—What Patrick Ramsey, Lord Drakely AKA Lord Presumptuous wanted was an ordinary village girl to be a “motherness” to his daughters and stay out of his bedroom; what he’s about to get is something so much more.
Her Imperfect Groom— Sir Wallace Benedict is a thrice-jilted baronet who is about to finally have his happily-ever-after, if only the family of his one-true-love, would stop being so darn meddlesome!
Banks Brothers’ Brides
The first two are prequels to the previous series and the second two are follow ups.
His Contract Bride—Since just a lad, Edward Banks, Lord Watson knew Regina Harris would one day be his bride, he'd seen the paper to prove it many times; only someone forgot to inform Regina...
His Yankee Bride—John Banks wantsnothing to do with the scandalous, sweet talking, ever-present, American beauty named Carolina, or so that’s what he keeps saying...
His Jilted Bride—Amelia Brice has a secret...and so does Elijah Banks. Hers is big...but his is bigger!
His Brother's Bride—Presented with a marriage contract his twin brother has signed but cannot fulfill, Henry Banks has to form a plan to save the Banks name, even if it means pretending he's his brother, or worse yet, marrying a lady who holds a grudge against his family.
Coming Soon!
Gentlemen of Honor Series
Regency set series that is coming in 2014-2016
Secrets of a Viscount—One summer night, Sebastian Gentry, Lord Belgrave, hauled the wrong young lady to Gretna Green. When her identity is exposed, the only obvious solution is to get an annulment. Only, just like his elopement plans, things didn’t go as planned and while she has reason to believe they are no longer married, he knows better. Wanting to make things right for her, he offers to help her find a husband—what neither counts on is it just might be the one she’s still secretly married to.
Desires of a Baron—Giles Goddard, Lord Norcourt, is odd. Odder still, he has suddenly taken a fancy to his brother’s love interest, the fallen Lucy Whitaker. Lucy was once thrown over by a lord and she has little desire to let it happen again, but she’s about to learn that his desires just might be enough for the both of them.
Passions of a Gentleman—Having been thrown over twice already, Simon Appleton has given up his pursuit for a wife—especially if his only choice is the elusive Miss Henrietta Hughes. But when he discovers a secret about her, he’s not above helping to protect her...
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About the Author
USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author Rose Gordon writes unusually unusual historical romances that have been known to include scarred heroes, feisty heroines, marriage-producing scandals, far too much scheming, naughty literature and always a sweet happily-ever-after. When not escaping to another world via reading or writing a book, she spends her time chasing two young boys around the house, being hunted by wild animals, or sitting on the swing in the backyard where she has to use her arms as shields to deflect projectiles AKA: balls, water balloons, sticks, pinecones, and anything else one of her boys picks up to hurl at his brother who just happens to be hiding behind her.
She can be found somewhere in cyberspace at:
http://www.rosegordon.net
or blogging aboutsomething inappropriate at:
http://rosesromanceramblings.wordpress.com
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