by Faye Sonja
Plea of the Desperate Bride
Three Brides of Haines Press
Contents
Copyright
Find Out More
About The Author
Dedication
Prologue
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1
Chapter 1
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2
Chapter 2
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3
Chapter 3
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4
Chapter 4
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5
Chapter 5
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6
Chapter 6
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7
Chapter 7
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8
Chapter 8
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9
Chapter 9
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10
Chapter 10
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Epilogue
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Find Out More
Teaser Chapter
Also By Faye Sonja
Publishers Notes
Copyright © 2016 by Faye Sonja
All Rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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About The Author
Faye Sonja is a multi-voiced writer who aspires to use different voices in telling her stories, seeing characters coming alive through the multi-faceted writing styles give her great satisfaction.
As a young girl, Faye Sonja has been fascinated with stories of the Old West, especially the theme of Mail Order Bride where a woman will find the courage to leave her homeland, take the plunge to seek out the love of her life out there in the unknown land.
Such an act requires bravery, such an act requires faith. It takes a woman with strong Christian faith to step out on such a pursuit for her love.
It is Faye's desire that readers will once again have the courage to believe in love again from reading her books, to be inspired through the characters in her story who through perseverance, in the face of obstacles, overcame the hurdles using that simple faith and belief of theirs.
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Here's what real readers are saying about Faye Sonya books :
Brides of El Paso Book3
The Doctor's Flawed Bride with a Lisp
Writer's a litter different from the other authors I have been reading. She has a very good story and keeps your interest up. ~ Peggy Primavera
Mail Order Brides of Western Romance Book3
The Deaf Bride and The Sensible Teacher
It touch me so much because it's about deaf just like myself. I'm deaf also it showed that we can do anything for being deaf. Thank Faye Sonja for great writing a stories of handicapped and etc. ~ Doxiesmom3
Bride of Perry Lake Book1
The Big Feisty Bride tamed by Her Scarred Banker
I actually really enjoyed this book and I'm very interested in the fact that it's the first in a series. The author did a great job of making the characters relatable. The story itself shone, especially because it was romantic and sweet, and also a clean romance. The other thing I liked was that it wasn't predictable, which made the story an enjoyable read. ~ Cassandra
The Archer Sisters of Goldrush Book1
ADELINE - The Strong-willed Bride for Her Lonely Farmer
This was an entertaining short story for a sunny afternoon. Adeline is a little more strong willed than what makes a really likable character for me, but James is a keeper. All in all Addie and James' story encourages me to move on to Amelia's story (2) and then Averil's (3), too when it's completed at the end of this month. ~ J. Smith
Three Brides for Three War Comrades Book2
Ashamed, Beaten & Saved by Her Burned Hero
This the second story of the series was as good as the first, now I am looking forward to reading the last story of the series. ~ Jilm
Comment & Review on Social Media- Facebook
I love your books they are so easy to read and they are great I have right many of your books in my library, I particularly like you boxed sets with the stories leading into the next,keep them coming my friend as I have a lot of time and i intend to spend it reading now that I've retired and can read until I get sleepy and need to go to sleep! Thank you very much!. ~ Margie Cox
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Dedication
Jerry:
Hello. I'm looking for my wife.
.....but our little company had a good night tonight. A really big night. But it wasn't complete, it wasn't nearly close to being in the same vicinity as complete, because I couldn't share it with you. I couldn't hear your voice, or laugh about it with you. I missed my wife. We live in a cynical world, and we work in a business of tough competitors, I love you. You complete me. And I just...I…..
Dorothy:
Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at hello.
“Jerry Maguire” (1996)
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To those who have found the love of their lives:
May you never stay out of love, taking every effort to rekindle the magic moment when both of you first held hands.
To those who are waiting for the love of their lives:
May you never lose that belief in love, that magical moment when all that really matters is to fall in love.
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Prologue
Haines, Kansas. March 1924
“Did you ever think I’d find this much happiness here?”
Benjamin Manning turned to his brother in the dark and met the pair of dark blue eyes that had once mirrored his own. Robert Manning was his identical twin; which gave them a deeper tie than ordinary brothers had. They’d spent most of their lives doing everything together; dressing alike, talking alike, eating and enjoying the same foods. They’d been inseparable, until this. Until they’d come to Haines, Kansas. All the way up to the day that Robert Manning had wed.
Ben turned back to the action at hand. Another firecracker shot vertically up into the air before bursting into a cloud of light; highlighting the joy on everyone’s face. ’Twas the night of Joe and Clara Dawson’s wedding, and for a woman who’d treated men like the plague, she sure knew how to plan a wedding. The day had been quite an extravaganza. The small country town had been floored by the hanging lights and the orchestrated music. Everything was just as grand as Clara’s personality. It was an impressive affair. Even Ben, who’d come from New York and had travelled the world, thought so.
“You know, brother,” Robert continued. “I’m sure if you made yourself seem more agreeable to the women in town, you’d easily find yourself a wife.” Robert’s smile brightened as a flash of light highlighted his features: a strong jaw, hard bone structure, and hair the color of flames, just like Benjamin; except for the almost angelic look in Robert’s eyes.
They were standing on the porch under the shade, a few feet away from everyo
ne else who was sitting on the grass. The distance gave them privacy.
Ben chuckled to himself. “I’m not getting married, Robert.”
Robert was standing at the side of the porch, his hands grasped around the white wooden railing. “Why not? Mom and Dad have a good marriage.”
Ben nodded. “That they do.”
“And there’s always passing on the Manning name and the good genes.”
Ben laughed. “That too.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
Ben lowered his head, but peaked up at this brother through the bed of his lashes. A grin on his face. “Well, there are just so many women. How does a man pick just one?”
Robert’s eyes went wide. He turned fully around at his brother and laughed. “A truer statement has never been said.”
“So you agree?”
“Of course.”
“Then why marry?”
“Because, I wanted Eve more than any other woman.”
Ben crossed his arms. “You and Eve did not marry under normal circumstances. She needed to marry in order to keep her father’s business. You both didn’t really have the opportunity to choose one another.” Eve, Robert’s wife, owned a publishing company in town. Admittedly, the company, Haines Press, was known worldwide for producing some of the West’s most intriguing tales and mysteries. “Eve was forced to marry you and you only married her so that you could finally run your dream publishing company.”
“That was true. At first, it started as an obsession with Haines Press, but you knew that my interest in Eve Haines, the woman, grew from the moment of our first encounter.”
Ben nodded. “True, but it was not love at first sight, and you didn’t fall in love until after you were married.”
Robert nodded. “All true.”
“You took a risk being stuck with someone that you had the potential to hate later on. I don’t want to take that risk.”
Robert narrowed his eyes. “This coming from the man who’d once talked our teacher into recess all day.” Robert shook his head. “This does not sound like the Benjamin I know.”
Ben put a finger in the air. “Ah, but the odds were on my side. With love, the odds are not always in anyone’s favor. You lucked out with Eve, Robert.”
Robert frowned. “Love is not about luck, Ben. It’s about respect.”
Ben shook his head. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. Marriage is either pain or pleasure. You lucked out, Robert.”
Robert sighed. “No, Ben. Anyone can make it if they both put that at the forefront of their minds.”
Steps sounded in the distance. “What are you two talking about?” Eve came through the back door of the house. She looked at both men. “Have either of you seen Florence?”
Robert shook his head. “No. I thought she was out on the grass with everyone else?”
Eve sighed and shook her head. “No, Eddie showed up at the wedding and she excused herself. I haven’t seen her since.”
The mention of Eddie caused Ben’s stomach to lurch. “When’s the last time you saw her?”
Eve’s dark brows drew together; her hazel eyes full of worry. “I don’t know. An hour or so ago? I let her take him into the study.”
Ben leaned up from the wall. “I’ll go look for her.”
Robert put an arm around Eve’s shoulder and held his wife tightly. “I’m sure she’s alright. Eddie is her boyfriend after all.”
Eve looked at Robert. “Perhaps, you’re right.”
Ben started for the back doors of the house. “I’ll go make sure.”
“Thank you,” Eve said to his back as he entered the house. The first room from the back porch was the sitting room. Straight ahead was the front room. Ben could see the front door. On either side of the house sat twin staircases; underneath them laid twin hallways that led to other rooms. The house was large and was more like a mansion of sorts. Ben started right, choosing to go down the hall that would lead to the ballroom which had been used for the wedding feast. The savory smell of the delicious chicken dinner still hung in the air in the otherwise empty room. The gas lit chandeliers were still giving off their low, romantic hue. Dining tables lined the walls. The wait staff had cleared the tables of all the used dishes, but the food was left out, no doubt readily available for anyone who’d feel the need to wander back in for seconds or thirds.
Benjamin left the room, but turned back to grab a roll from a tray near the door when he heard a clatter come from the other side of the room. There was a door that led to a kitchen. A light was coming from within. He paused. There was no noise. He headed that direction anyway.
He pushed the door open and saw a scene that didn’t make sense at first. Florence was sitting in the corner on the floor. Her eyes were wide, showing white. Her skin was pale. Her blonde, almost white hair, which was normally in a state of perfection was tossed and thrown all over her face. She looked at Ben and moved her mouth, speaking, but all Ben could see was the cut on her lip. There was blood.
Ben turned and collided with a small man with dark angry eyes. Eddie. Eddie balled his fists and turned to Florence. “I told you to keep quiet, woman.”
Florence’s hands came up. “Please, Eddie. Don’t—”
“I’m tired of hearing you talk, woman.” Eddie’s hand came up. “You ruined everything!”
Florence shouted. “No!”
Eddie’s fisted hand began to come down and then stopped.
Ben looked at his hand, which was now around Eddie’s fist. Both men stared at one another. Eddie’s eyes looked bewildered. Ben tilted his head; watching Eddie in confusion. Nothing made sense. He turned, slowly to Florence. “Did he hit you?”
Florence’s eyes darted around the room. She covered her lips with her hand. “Don’t hurt him, Ben.”
Ben’s eyes went wide. A pull came on his hand and he realized, for the first time, that the little man beside him was struggling to gain control of his fist. Eddie opened his mouth, showing rows of yellow teeth. “You better mind your business, Manning boy. This ain’t got nothin’ to do with you.”
Ben stared at the shorter man and shook his head. He’d never been in this kind of situation before. He studied Eddie. “Did you actually hit her?”
Eddie frowned, now yanking more obviously on his arm. His words showed his strain. “I’ve gone tired of her sassing me. She grew brave today, but I’m not to stand for it. She’s gotta know her place.”
Ben shook his head. He turned to Florence. “Has he hit you before?”
Florence shook her head, wildly. There was water in her eyes. “I never thought—”
Eddie cut her off. “You shut your mouth, you—”
There was a scream. A smack. One minute, Eddie was standing. The next, he was down with Ben standing over him. Florence was at the down man’s side. Eddie groaned.
The first flick of heat began to spread within Ben. He was hot. And then the next minute, a cool began to spread. The cool spread like liquid over the heat and seemed to give Ben tunnel vision. “Eddie. Bad. Must get rid of Eddie,” Ben thought.
Ben leaned down on one knee and looked at the hurt man who still had the nerve to show his anger through his pain. Florence grabbed Ben’s hand. Ben’s eye came up to meet hers. Florence’s eyes were a deep lavender; the most beautiful pair of eyes Ben had ever seen. Her blond hair cradled her pale face. Her pink lips stained with blood. “Ben, don’t.”
Ben’s voice was calm. “This is not okay, Florence.”
Her hold on Ben’s hand tightened. She nodded repeatedly. “I know. I know, but don’t hurt him, Ben. Please, just go.”
Ben shook his head slowly. “No, Florence. This is not okay.” He narrowed his eyes. “This is not okay, Florence.” Ben looked back at the man on the floor. He grabbed Eddie’s collar. Ben slowly got himself up on his feet; Eddie’s hands locked around Ben’s hand as he helplessly came to stand on his own two feet. Eddie jerked. “Let me go, Manning. Florence is mine.”
&nbs
p; “Not anymore.” Ben started from the room; his hold firmly around Eddie’s collar. Florence followed. They both protested during the walk out of the ballroom, through the front room, and out the front door. The night was quiet, except for the sounds of the creatures of the night. The gas lights that hung by the front door’s entrance was their only light.
Ben threw Eddie the moment he got to the sidewalk. Eddie scrambled to stand. Ben brought up his fist again, striking Eddie. Eddie went down once again. Florence grabbed Ben and swung him around. Her eyes and face were wet. “Benjamin, you have to stop.”
Eddie scrambled to his feet. He spit blood on the sidewalk below him. “Forget it. You can have her. The girl’s a whore, just like her mother.”
Florence reached out for him, but Ben stopped her; his arms around her waist. Florence fought to go to Eddie. Tears filled her words. “No, Eddie.” She shook her head. “That’s not true. I love you.”
Eddie started to back away. “You’re a whore, like your mother.” He looked at Ben. “Let him raise your bastard. I’m leaving town.”
Florence fell to her knees; Ben went down with her. Florence, in vain, still tried to peel herself away from Ben’s tight grip. “No, Eddie. Don’t leave. The baby is yours. I promise.”
Eddie shook his head, straightened out his worn brown suit jacket, turned, and started towards the woods, disappearing behind the shadows.
Florence screamed after him. “Eddie! Eddie, the baby is yours! Eddie!” Her screams turned to shrieks and then a loud and boisterous sob.