Mail Order Bride- Twenty-Two Brides Mega Boxed Set

by Emily Woods

  Cassie winked at Jeanne, and Jeanne felt herself blush. She thought of the night of the dinner, and the first intense, long kisses she and Danny had shared. While their first meetings had been awkward and uncomfortable, they were physically compatible, and Jeanne’s face warmed as she imagined enjoying her wedding night with her groom. It had been difficult to resist Danny’s touch. They had shared more deep, long kisses on their outings over the last few weeks, and Jeanne was thankful that it was almost her wedding day and that she would no longer need to resist the man she had grown to want so badly.

  “Let’s look at you,” Cassie said, reaching for her hand mirror. “The dress is a little long. I am so much taller than you! I think you’ll like it, though. I took in the sides, and the lace trim on the neckline is real pretty on your skin.”

  Jeanne looked at her reflection and sighed joyfully. She looked like a bride! Her first wedding to Joela’s father had been a hasty, unceremonious affair. Jeanne and Andrew had worn clean clothes to City Hall, and a bored-looking judge had married them without cracking a smile. Now, as Jeanne stood in the white dress, she felt her heart soar.

  “I’m a bride,” Jeanne said, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m going to be a bride!”

  The dress was long, but it was beautiful on Jeanne. With its short, capped sleeves and high, lace neckline, the dress complemented Jeanne’s thin figure and made her look young and lovely. The waist of the dress sat elegantly on her stomach, and the round, white buttons on the back accentuated Jeanne’s tiny shoulders.

  “It’s perfect. It’s real perfect, and I know that Danny is gonna be real excited! Let me go downstairs and get Julia! She’ll want to see you! Julia!”

  Cassie ran downstairs to fetch her mother-in-law. Julie had been over visiting, and Jeanne was excited to show her mother-in-law-to-be her wedding gown.

  “Let’s see, Jeanne!” Julia said as she walked into the bedroom. “Oh my! It’s darling! You look just darling, Jeanne!”

  Julia ran to Jeanne and wrapped her in her arms. “Thank you,” Julia whispered into Jeanne’s ear. “You have brought my son back from that terrible place, Jeanne. You have helped Danny become himself again. Your sweet soul and God-fearing spirit have given my son a new beginning! Thank you!”

  Jeanne smiled at Julia hugged her tightly. “Thank you for raising such a good man,” Jeanne whispered to Julia. “He’s been so good to me, and he’s been so good to my daughter. This didn’t begin the way we expected, but the Lord is making miracles happen here!”

  Julia pulled away from Jeanne and beckoned for Cassie to join them. “When I arrived here from South Carolina all of those years ago to marry Jackson, I hoped that my boys would find happiness here! And they have! Cassie, you make my Timmy smile brighter and be better, and Jeanne, your gentle heart has softened my hardened boy. I love you girls, and I am so thankful for you! Now, let’s pray.”

  Julia wrapped her arms around Cassie and Jeanne and pulled them close. “Lord,” Julia said. “Thank You for Your love and abundance. Thank You for bringing these girls to my boys. Thank You for Cassie and her vibrant spirit. Thank You for Jeanne and her soft, meek manners. Thank You for making me a grandmother at last with the addition of little Joela! Lord, You have taken away from us, butY have given us so much! Praise You, Lord, and let nothing stand in the way of the wedding between dear Jeanne and my sweet son, Danny!”

  It was dark when Evana walked into Pinecone, and as she walked the familiar dirt path to the Pinecone Inn, she felt her heart grow heavier. She had been away from town for only a few weeks, but it had felt like a lifetime since she had been safe and warm in the embrace of her beloved family at the inn.

  “Home at last,” Evana muttered as the inn came into sight. She sighed, tucking a dirty strand of her long, auburn hair behind her ears and quickening her pace. Evana was exhausted, but she wanted nothing more than to see her parents, take a bath, and sleep peacefully in the comforts of her own bedroom.

  The last few weeks had been a nightmare. After accepting David Neuman’s marriage proposal and manipulating her parents into agreeing to the plan, Evana and David had left Pinecone to be married in David’s hometown. The first few days of their travels were enjoyable. The chemistry between Evana and David was undeniable, and while she insisted they wait until their wedding night to consummate their union, Evana found it difficult to resist David’s handsome, exotic looks. She was drawn to him for his dark eyes, his unique sense of humor, and the way he looked at her as though she were the only woman in the entire world.

  Evana did not appreciate David’s temper though, and while she was first pleased with their whirlwind courtship, after journeying together for several days upon leaving Pinecone, David had lashed out at Evana. They had been arguing over something trivial—now, Evana could not even remember why they had been quarreling—and David had slapped Evana across the face. Her green eyes had filled with tears, and she had run from him, only returning hours later after she had calmed down.

  “It won’t happen again,” David assured her, pulling Evana into his arms and promising her that it had been an accident.

  It happened again. David’s temper was wild and untamed, and each time Evana breathed too loudly, or took a clumsy step, he would slap her across the face. Evana cowered in fear as David’s hands reached for her, and in the last hours of their journey to his hometown, she decided to change her fortune.

  “That is enough,” Evana whispered to herself as she stumbled away from David after another slap. “I am through.”

  Evana had hastily packed her things and marched away from David. She knew the general direction they had come from, and while she had no weapons or food, Evana was confident that her looks and charm could help her find her way back home to Pinecone. She was right. Evana was a resilient girl, and after walking nearly ten hours on her first day alone in the wilderness of California, she walked straight into the first trading post she found and demanded service.

  “I’m a lady alone,” Evana had declared to the startled shopkeeper, a man who rarely saw women in the wild brush of California. “I ain’t got nothing, but I have to get home.”

  Evana had demanded a place to sleep and resources, and the shopkeeper complied, giving Evana his own bed to sleep in, along with food and water to last her several days. After many miles walked and many days wandering toward home, Evana finally arrived back in Pinecone.

  “Home,” Evana whispered as she climbed the steps of the Pinecone Inn. “I’m home.”

  “No one knows just what happened, but she ain’t doing well,” Jeanne heard Cassie whisper downstairs in the kitchen. Jeanne tiptoed down the stairs and peered into the kitchen, seeing Cassie and Timmy sitting together at the table.

  “Rumor is that man done her wrong,” Timmy said, his voice brimming with worry. “Pa talked with Jed yesterday, and he said they’s being real tight-lipped about the whole thing. I suspect she gave herself to him before they said their vows, and now she’s home and unmarriable.”

  Cassie shook her head. “That ain’t true,” she said, touching Timmy’s elbow. “I’ve known Evana my whole life. She’s a wild, haughty one, but she is a Christian girl. She wouldn’t give herself to him before they were married.”

  Timmy frowned at his wife. “A good Christian girl wouldn’t go run off and leave my brother,” he said. “I’m real troubled that Evana is back. Jeanne is so wonderful, and Danny has been so happy. It’s seemed like he ain’t even thought about Evana since the night he and Jeanne first kissed, and now, Evana is back.”

  “Does Danny know?” Cassie asked, her eyes wide.

  Timmy shook his head. “No,” he said. “Pa ain’t gonna tell him, and I know Ma don’t want to tell him. I just don’t know what to do. Danny should know that Evana is back in town, but I don’t think it’s real smart to tell him now. What if he leaves Jeanne? What if he goes back to Evana?”

  Jeanne felt her body grow cold. Her wedding was scheduled to take place in the morning. All of
her things were ready, and she had been praying nonstop! How could Evana, the woman who had broken her husband-to-be’s heart, come back now?

  “I need to tell Jeanne,” Jeanne heard Cassie whisper to Timmy. “She needs to know. Evana is beautiful and whip smart, and if Evana wants Danny back, then she might just well get him! Jeanne needs to know what’s going on. And you have to tell Danny! The wedding is tomorrow! What if he says his vows, marries Jeanne, and leaves her when he finds out that Evana is back? Danny is a good man, but that woman makes him crazy. That would be a real disaster, Timmy! You have to talk to your brother tonight, and I got to talk with Jeanne!”

  Jeanne felt her knees begin to buckle, but she forced herself to remain standing as she listened to Cassie and Timmy. How could this happen? How could God let Evana come back into town on the eve of her wedding? Jeanne didn’t know what to do, and as Cassie and Timmy whispered together in the kitchen, Jeanne felt her stomach churn.

  “I have to do something,” Jeanne whispered to herself, angry that her impending marriage could be in jeopardy. “Lord, give me guidance and strength! I have to do something!”

  7

  Jeanne knocked on the front door on the Pinecone Inn, her hands shaking as she heard footsteps approaching the door.

  “Who is there?”

  “I’m Jeanne, from Massachusetts. I’m Danny’s bride-to-be,” Jeanne said, her voice shaking.

  The door flew open, and a beautiful, middle-aged blonde woman stood before Jeanne.

  “Danny’s bride-to-be,” the woman said flatly. “Do come in. I’m Anna.”

  Anna gestured Jeanne inside. They walked into a sitting room where two young women and a middle-aged man were lounging, and three pairs of eyes stared at Jeanne as she curtseyed before everyone in the room.

  “I’m Jeanne,” Jeanne said once more. “Danny’s bride-to-be.”

  One of the young women in the room gasped, and the other one rose to her feet immediately. “What a real pleasure,” the woman said. “I’m Evana. I reckon you know my name by now?”

  Jeanne’s eyes widened, but she drew herself up and stared at Evana.

  “Gracie, get on to bed,” the man said to the other young woman. She rose from her seat and left the room, staring at Jeanne as she walked.

  “I’m Jed,” the man said, smiling weakly at Jeanne. “Please, have a seat.”

  Jeanne sat down on one of the chairs and stared at Evana. Evana was prettier than Jeanne had imagined. Her green eyes were the color of fresh, spring grass, and her soft, long auburn fell down her back in gentle waves.

  “So you’re the girl who stole Danny’s heart?” Evana said, looking up and down at Jeanne with a bemused look. “Hmmm. You weren’t what I was expecting.”

  Jeanne pushed her shoulders back and sat up taller, tucking her dark hair behind her shoulders and taking a deep breath.

  “My folks told me what Danny found someone while I was…away,” Evana said, narrowing her eyes. “I didn’t expect that to happen.”

  “Away with your husband?” Jeanne asked, mustering her courage as she tried to stay poised.

  Evana shook her head. “We didn’t get married,” she said, staring straight into Jeanne’s eyes. “He wasn’t a good man. Danny is a real good man, but you know that, of course.”

  Jeanne nodded, staring right back at Evana.

  “My folks told me that you and Danny are getting married tomorrow. I reckon that might change when Danny finds out I’m back? I was a darn fool to let him go in the first place, and I ain’t going to let him go again.”

  Jeanne burned with fury as Evana smirked at her. Jed and Anna rose from their seats and left the room. “We’ll let you girls talk this out,” Anna said softly as she walked away.

  Evana stood from her chair and walked to stand in front of Jeanne. She knelt before Jeanne, looking right into Jeanne’s eyes and laughing in her face.

  “You think that you can come to my town and take my man away?” Evana asked. “You are darn wrong, Jenny.”

  “It’s Jeanne,” Jeanne whispered. “I didn’t take him. You left, Evana. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out with your betrothed, but you left Pinecone. I’m here now, and Danny and I are engaged to be wed tomorrow. I’ve been praying about him for a long time now, and I am kindly asking you to be respectful of our marriage, Evana.”

  Evana furrowed her brow, her green eyes abuzz with annoyance as she glared at Jeanne.

  “You ain’t going to tell me what to do,” she whispered, reaching out her gloved hand to stroke Jeanne’s cheek. “I walked back to Pinecone all alone. I escaped a bad marriage with a real bad man. If I want to spend my time with Danny, my childhood sweetheart, you won’t stop me.”

  8

  “She didn’t marry him, and she is back for good,” Timmy said, watching Danny’s eyes for any indication of emotion. “Rumor is that she walked back to Pinecone alone. I heard that she’s resting at the inn with her family, and that she hasn’t gone out in town yet.”

  Danny crossed his arms over his chest. Evana was back. He had spent so many days weeping over the loss of his sweetheart, and now, on the eve of his wedding to another woman, Evana was back in town.

  “Danny? What are you going to do?” Timmy asked. “I know this has been hard for you. You ain’t been through heartbreak like this ever before, but you also ain’t ever had a girl like Jeanne. She is a real nice lady, Danny, and you’ve liked spending your time with her. You have to make a decision though, Danny. You can’t let Jeanne down because Evana is back in town.”

  Danny said nothing. He was lost in thought, and as his brother stared at him in concern, Danny felt himself turn inward.

  “Danny?” Timmy asked, his voice shaking. “You have to be fair to Jeanne. The two of you get on real nice, and I don’t want her to get hurt like you did. What are you thinking?”

  Danny shook his head. “I need time to think and to pray,” Danny said solemnly. “I ain’t never thought I would see Evana again. She was engaged to be married, Timmy. She left me and left town real quick, and now, she’s back? I don’t know what to think.”

  Danny thought of Evana, imagining her long, beautiful hair, her sparkling green eyes, and the womanly curves of her body that he had always tried so hard not to lust over in fear of angering the Lord. Danny imagined Evana’s heart-shaped lips and the way she giggled at the sight of the hundreds of chickens that roamed free around the town. She had been the love of his life, or so he thought. What was he going to do now?

  “Jeanne cares about you,” Timmy pleaded, trying to reason with his brother. “You ain’t never gonna find another Godly woman like her. Evana left, Danny. She left you. Don’t you go running back to her.”

  Danny held out a hand to indicate the end of the conversation. “That’s enough,” he said to Timmy. “This is my life, and God is watching as I make my choices. Evana has been there my entire life. The last few months mean nothing when someone meant so much, and even though Jeanne is so good, I need time to decide if my heart is with her…”

  The morning of her wedding day, Jeanne awoke with tired eyes and a heavy heart. She had barely slept after returning to Timmy and Cassie’s after her visit to Evana, and she had spent most of the night on her knees in prayer as she begged God to show her His plans.

  “Rise and shine, bride!”

  Jeanne heard Cassie outside of her door.

  “Come in,” she said weakly. Cassie walked in, a half-hearted smile on her face.

  “Let’s get you ready, bride-to-be!” Cassie said.

  “Cassie?”

  “Yes?”

  Jeanne took a long, deep breath. “I heard you last night,” she said, looking into Cassie’s shocked face. “I know that Evana is back in town.”

  Cassie gasped. “You heard us?”

  Jeanne nodded. “I went to the Pinecone Inn and met her myself.”

  “You did what? Jeanne! What happened?”

  Jeanne brushed her messy hair out of her eyes and shook
her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve been praying about it, and I need to get ready for my wedding now, Cassie.”

  Cassie bobbed her head up and down. “Timmy went to talk to Danny last night. Jeanne, Danny is a good man. He didn’t say a lot, but I reckon we don’t know what is going to happen. Are you sure you want to get gussied up and go to the church?”

  Jeanne nodded. She glanced at Joela, who was still sleeping soundly.

  “Help me get ready,” Jeanne said. “I brought my daughter here to give her a father, and I came here for a husband. The Lord is faithful, and no matter what happens, I know He is with me.”

  Cassie’s eyes widened, but she reached for the hairbrush and gestured at the chair in Jeanne’s room. “You’d best sit down, then,” Cassie said. “We got a lot of work to do.”

  As Jeanne stood in the backroom of the church, she could feel her body growing cold in anticipation. Dressed in the gown Cassie had altered, she had never looked more beautiful. Her black hair was woven into two tight braids that Cassie had wound around Jeanne’s head to resemble a crown, and the pearl barrette sparkled at the nape of Jeanne’s neck.

  “You look like an angel!” Cassie had exclaimed as she finished her handiwork. “Danny is going to be real pleased.”

  There were only moments left until the ceremony was scheduled to begin, and Jeanne could hardly stand the fear that consumed her heart.

  “Lord,” she prayed. “Danny and I have come so far. We’ve both been through so much, and we’ve made a promise to be married. Please, God. Let him choose me. Let Danny choose me, no matter who walks into this church today.”

  Danny stood at the front of the small church, the same church he had attended nearly every single Sunday his entire life. He smiled at his family. His parents sat together in the first of the wooden benches, their hands clasped together. Timmy sat beside them, gently stroking Cassie’s knee. The people of Pinecone were filling the remaining benches, and Danny could see Jed and Anna, Evana’s parents, file into one of the back rows.