Mail Order Bride- Twenty-Two Brides Mega Boxed Set

by Emily Woods

  He shrugged. “As long as it takes.”

  “What? As long as what takes?”

  Aaron held her gaze for so long, she didn’t think he was going to answer her, but finally, he let out a breath that seemed to deflate him.

  “As long as it takes for me to stop loving you.”

  It was Lulu’s turn to be in need of air. Aaron loved her? There was no way that he could. They had only known one another for a short time. And yet…something inside of her pulled at the truth in her own heart. The truth she could never admit—not to herself or Aaron and especially not to Albert.

  “You don’t mean that.”

  He shook his head, his own eyes glistening. “I do. And that’s the reason why I’m leaving. I want to give you and Albert a real chance at happiness and I’ll only get in the way. Bye, Lulu.”

  She knew deep in the core of her being that if she called out to him, he would stay, and she’d do something she regretted—she’d jilt Albert. But that wasn’t who she was. She’d made a promise; given her word to marry Albert. No matter her own feelings in the matter, she had to stay true to her word or she was nothing.

  Aaron turned and kicked his horse into a trot. She watched him go, sadness filling her, but it was quickly followed by determination. She had to talk to Albert. He hadn’t come to see her, but maybe it was time for her to go see him.

  She stepped into the growing darkness and saw Albert leaning against a tree in the back yard. He stared out into the distance and she could see the reflection of his brothers in his features. He had a strong jaw like Arthur and a nose a little like Aaron’s, but where he differed was in personality. He was confident—overly so at times—and was much more comfortable with people in general, where his brothers tended to do better with livestock and horses.

  She smiled at the thought of Aaron with his horses. Then she chided herself for becoming distracted.

  “Albert,” she said, coming toward him. He jolted and stood up, squaring his shoulders at her. She wondered what he would say. He’d obviously talked to Aaron, and done more than talking. She assumed they’d discussed what happened, but she needed to know. “You talked with Aaron.” She said it as a statement.

  “I did.”

  Shame and embarrassment coursed through her. “I’m so sorry—”

  “I need to say something.” He held up his hand to stay her words.

  “All right.”

  “My brother said a lot of things,” he began, coming toward her, one hand rubbing the raw knuckles of the other, “but one thing he said, I disagreed with immediately. I don’t think I should have.”

  “What was that?” she asked tentatively.

  “He said I didn’t care for you.”

  His words dropped like a brick to the ground.

  “And, honestly, Lulu, I don’t.” He winced at how badly his words came out. “I’m sorry. I just mean… I think I thought that ordering a mail-order bride would be different. That I’d fall in love instantly the moment I saw you. And I didn’t.” He roughed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry. This is all very raw for me still. You are a beautiful woman and I will honor my commitment to you—we could grow to care for one another and I realize that—I just… It may take some time.”

  His admission shocked her. What was he saying?

  “I don’t…”

  “All I’m saying,” he said, coming toward her and taking her hands in his, “is that it may just take some time for me. Time to care.”

  Lulu knew what her response needed to be and, as she swallowed past the dry feeling in her mouth, she prayed she meant what she would say.

  “Then you’ll have all the time you need.”

  8

  Lulu jumped when a gentle hand rested on her shoulder the next morning. It was early, no one else was up, or so she’d thought. She looked up to find Rose’s kind eyes looking down at her.

  “Couldn’t sleep either?”

  Lulu gave a noncommittal shrug and tried to smile.

  “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all.” She had started the coffee knowing she’d need it to make it through the day on the little sleep she’d managed since Aaron left and she’d committed to giving Albert the time he said he needed.

  Rose poured a cup of coffee and put a dab of honey in it. She winked at Lulu as she came back to the table.

  “I don’t always sweeten my coffee,” she admitted, “but every once in a while, I do. It reminds me of my late husband. Anderson always put a whole spoonful of honey in his coffee every morning, though he’d swear he didn’t if anyone pegged him for it.” She smiled at the memory. “He was stubborn, and his sons got that as well.”

  Lulu smiled and looked at the cup in her hands. Suborn was certainly a way to describe the Bowen brothers.

  “You know…” Rose waited until Lulu looked up at her. “My sons aren’t the only stubborn one here.”

  Lulu’s eyebrows rose. “Me?”

  “You.” Rose held her gaze. “I think I know what’s happened.”

  Lulu felt heat rise in her cheeks.

  “You’ve fallen in love with my son.” She leaned closer, her expression only showing compassion. “But not the son you came here for.”

  Lulu felt tears spring to her eyes, but before she could respond, Rose held her in a warm embrace. She murmured into her hair and held her as Lulu cried out the worry she’d been holding.

  “What I don’t understand,” she finally said, “is why you let him leave.”

  “What?” She sat back, brushing tears away.

  “Honey, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that you and Aaron are in love and that Albert is the only thing standing in your way. It’s also very clear that Albert doesn’t feel half of what his brother does.”

  Lulu felt shame followed by surprise followed by devastation. “But what can I do?”

  “Have you told Albert how you feel about Aaron?”

  She shook her head.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I gave my word. I committed to him and now that I’m here…I can’t abandon him. It’s not right.”

  “But is it right to marry someone you don’t care for?”

  It was a valid question. One she had asked herself, but also one she didn’t have an answer for.

  “Think on it, child,” she said, taking her coffee and turning toward the back door. “I’m going to enjoy the sunrise.”

  Lulu watched Rose go, knowing that she spoke wisdom but unsure how to handle it. She stood and paced until she had to get out. She went out the front door and stopped in her tracks when she saw Albert sitting there on the steps.

  “Albert,” she said, almost spilling her coffee in her surprise.

  “Lulu.” He shot to his feet, looking nervous and wringing his hat in his hand. “I…I have to talk to you.”

  She nodded, stepping forward. “All right.” She remembered her words to him. She had promised to wait. She had promised.

  “I—I can’t marry you.”

  She blinked.

  “I’m sorry.” He began to pace now. “I know that you came out here and I asked you to marry me and I made a promise to you…” He looked at her now. “But I can’t just get over the fact that you kissed my brother.”

  She felt shame color her cheeks and she looked away.

  “I’m not accusing you. It’s just… I think I wanted to keep our relationship going for the wrong reasons. To spite my brother and to win.” Now it was his turn to wince and look ashamed. “That’s not the right reason to marry anyone. I want to marry for love some day and, if what my brother says is true—and you feel the same way—then you have the chance for that with him.”

  She didn’t know what to say. The fact that Albert had released her from their engagement filled her with joy and a sudden longing to race to Aaron, but was it truly that simple?

  “Lulu.”

  She yanked her gaze from where she’d been staring off into the distance, wondering what to do next.
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  “Go to him. It’s all right. I’ve bartered a deal with a big-name rancher in the east. I’ll be going to pick up cattle for our ranch and I’d reckon I’ll be in better spirits when I get back. Maybe in time for a wedding?”

  She couldn’t believe this. Not only was Albert understanding of her care for his brother, he was giving them the space they would need to grow to know one another better.

  “Thank you,” was all she could manage.

  “Tell Ma to tell you where Aaron’s special place is,” he said, his lips quirking up into a half-smile. “I’m sure that’s where he’s gone.”

  Aaron sat on the bank of the river waiting for the sun to come up. He was still on their property but far enough away that he’d not risk seeing any hands or his brothers. Certainly not Albert. He’d wait until he had a clear direction to go and then he’d leave and not come back until he could do what he’d told Lulu. Even if he thought it might be impossible to stop caring for her.

  It would be hard to leave the land, though. In fact, the piece of land that he was on had been his choice of property when his father had split up the ranch before he died. It would never truly be separated, but he’d said that a man would always feel more in charge of the ranch as a whole if he knew part of it was his sole possession.

  This was Aaron’s special place, as he’d named it as a child when his father would take him out, and the name had stuck. It sounded a little foolish now, thinking of a grown man with a ‘special place,’ but it was where he found solace. Where peace descended on him. Where things didn’t look quite as bad as they felt.

  Or, at least it had been that for him, but he was beginning to wonder if the magic of the water and the vast view of the plains had worn off some. He still felt miserable knowing that the woman he loved would marry his brother—a man who didn’t even care for her.

  He swallowed down the emotion threatening to clog his throat. It wasn’t fair. His brother could have the pick of women who’d fawned over him in the past. Even now, he could walk into any store or church or town meeting and he’d draw the eye of most women there. Aaron couldn’t hope to gain that sort of attention, and he didn’t want it.

  In fact, all he wanted was the beautiful woman he’d met by the river that one day. The one who had talk so easily with him and who had fed his horses treats and put herself in harm’s way for cattle.

  The woman who he’d fallen in love with despite his best efforts.

  He had to give her up, though. While he could live out on the land for an extended period of time, he couldn’t do it indefinitely. Now that Albert and Lulu would be married—his stomach churned at the thought—they would move into the cabin he’d shared with Albert. Perhaps Arthur and Violet and Ma would let him move into the spare bedroom once Lulu had moved out.

  His head swam with the details and he wished that he’d taken the time to build his own cabin here on his piece of land. It still had easy access to the house, though it was from a different direction than the cabin he’d shared with Albert. It was the perfect property for a homestead as well. Close to water, close to a road that would access town, and not so close to the main house that there wasn’t privacy.

  Aaron rested his head back against the tree, feeling a wave of sorrow course over him. He wished he could turn back time somehow to—

  “Aaron?”

  He kept his eyes closed. Was he dreaming already? He knew he was tired, but he’d thought he wouldn’t have fallen asleep so quickly. Lulu’s voice came to him already. When would he stop being tortured by the mere thought of her?

  “Aaron, are you asleep?”

  His eyes flashed open and he looked up to see Lulu standing a few feet away. She looked a vision in her plain dress with her hair pulled back in a low bun while tendrils of chestnut brown hair had pulled free and now floated around her face. Her deep blue eyes were alight with the nearness of sunrise and if he’d thought he was dreaming before, he was certain he was now. She was a vison.

  “Lulu?”

  She nodded, not saying anything and allowing him the thought that this truly was a dream for a few moments longer.

  “What are you doing here?” he finally said, coming to his senses.

  “I came to tell you,” she began, taking a step forward but keeping her gaze on his, “that Albert has released me from our engagement.”

  It took Aaron a few moments to process what she was saying. “Released…you?”

  She nodded.

  “You’re no longer marrying my brother?”

  “Right,” she said, as if speaking to a child.

  “I— But how?”

  She took another step and he took one toward her in response. “He realized he was only staying with me to spite you—or something to that affect.”

  “So…you’re here…of your own accord.” He dared to hope what that would mean. After spilling his heart to her knowing that she couldn’t do anything about it, he wasn’t sure what she would do with the information. With the truth.

  “I am.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “Someone once told me that the sunrises in Texas are the best.”

  “They sound like a wise person to me.”

  The hint of a smile pulled up the corner of her mouth. One last step and she was but a breath away from him. He longed to take her into his arms, but he wouldn’t. Not until he knew what was on her mind. He would not risk guessing.

  “Aaron,” she said, slowly reaching up and cupping his face in the palm of her hand. “I love you too.”

  The words nearly took the breath from him, but then his lips were on hers and he was remembering how it had felt to kiss her the first time. That kiss had been born of desperation and fear—fear of losing her first to the fire and then to his brother—but this kiss was pure. The sweetness of it coursed between them and filled his heart with hope.

  He pulled back, though only slightly, his hands falling to her waist as he looked down at her. “Will you have me in my brother’s stead?”

  She shook her head and doubt flickered across his features.

  “I’ll have you for who you are, Aaron Bowen. I want only you.”

  His crushing hug nearly took the breath from her and she giggled in her attempts to have him release the tightness of it. He did, though reluctantly, and thought of the fortune he’d had.

  It was true, he wasn’t his brother with handsome looks and an easy manner of speaking to women, and yet—somehow—he had found a woman who loved him for who he was. Lulu would be his partner on the ranch, a fellow horse lover, and someone to watch the Texas sunrise with every morning for the rest of their lives.

  Love at First Sight

  Brides for the Bowen Brothers, Book 3

  1

  Albert Bowen walked the crowded streets of Boston, zigging and zagging toward his destination. He was finally having lunch with Redmand Durard. It felt a little impossible that this long-awaited meeting was finally happening, but after pinching himself several times at various points that day and still seeing his acceptance note, Albert was beginning to believe.

  He sidestepped a street vendor and saw the restaurant up ahead. Nervous jitters set his stomach twisting, but he took a deep, steadying breath. This was the next step. Possibly even the cinching action that would allow him to expand his portion of Bowen Ranch.

  Just the mere thought of his hometown ranch set Albert into a flood of memories. Arthur, his older, stoic brother, had written him merely days ago sharing that he and his wife Violet were now expecting a child. Albert was happy for them, if not a little overwhelmed by the thought.

  And then there was Aaron, his youngest brother. Also the man who fell in love with the mail-order bride Albert had ordered. That one still stung. The memory of Lulu and his brother choosing one another over him felt like it had happened yesterday, not six months ago. And yet, when he was honest and stepped away from the feeling of betrayal, he knew they were a good match.

  He shook his head as he stepped up onto the creaky,
uneven boardwalk. He sure knew how to pick ’em.

  The restaurant was busy, men and women going in and out, all dressed in fine clothes and talking and laughing as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Albert envied their supposed carelessness.

  He paused before he approached the door. He was early, if his pocket-watch was to be believed, and he didn’t want to pace off his nervous energy in the small lobby of the restaurant. Instead, he walked to the opposite side of the entrance where there were less people.

  The ranch loomed large on his mind, as it always did. It was his heritage, the one thing he had left from his father, and while his mother was still there, he knew that it was largely the responsibility of he and his brothers. They each had tracts of land that had been divided among them, but the ranch worked best as a whole, and the brothers had decided long ago that they wouldn’t separate. They hadn’t talked about expanding, though.

  Albert shot a glance to the front door of the restaurant again and then looked away. What would his mother think of this? Of his idea to expand toward the foothills in hopes of adding more livestock and the possibility of a section for horses? They were a good investment and he knew a few fellows he’d met along his travels who would love nothing more than to move out west and start up a horse ranch.

  He’d consoled himself with the fact that he’d be adding on to his portion of the ranch, but still it felt like a big decision for him to make on his own. Despite that feeling, he hadn’t written to Arthur and Aaron about it.

  His hand rose to rub the back of his neck like it did in situations where he was unsure. He’d done a lot of neck rubbing when he’d been courting Lulu for the short time she’d been at the ranch and before she’d fallen for his brother.

  If the truth be told, Albert was bad at making decisions. Well, no, that wasn’t completely true. He was bad at making the decisions that counted. The big ones. The life-altering ones. And getting married was certainly a life-alerting decision. He’d thought he was ready for that, but then he’d realized that he’d rather be off brokering business details than spending an afternoon with the woman he was supposed to marry.