“What’s the menu tonight?” Buck called eagerly after her.
“Cream of Asparagus Soup, Baked Fish with Tomato Sauce, New Potatoes and Cream, Summer Squash and Sliced Cucumbers.” Chevonne nodded in gratitude at Celia the source of all her vegetables until she could plant up her own kitchen garden in the spring. “Roast lamb. And Charlotte Russe for dessert, with coffee and tea of course.” She smiled at Iona who made sure her daughter-in-law always had a full selection of all the teas they sold in their druggist’s shops, a special assortment they brought in from San Francisco each month.
“Uh-huh, sounds like it’ll do nicely,” Buck joked.
“Yep,” agreed Gary as he swiped another Cheese Pastry Ramakin appetizer to hold him over until supper was served.
Buck monopolized the bowl of Saratoga Chips, the paper thin potato slices fried to a light crisp then lightly salted.
Chevonne entered the kitchen, her heart full of happiness at the comforting sounds of conversation and laughter behind her in the sitting room. When she’d come out to Oklahoma City as a mail-order bride, she hadn’t known if she was making the right decision. But now she had a husband who adored her who she adored in return, a ranch house to make a home, a flourishing business they could share, and a whole family to love and share their lives with.
She’d had her fears about leaving Lawrence, Massachusetts, the only town she’d ever lived in. It was the place that had the most memories of the life she’d shared with her beloved grandmother. And there were all the good times with her friends India, Della, Dacey and Josephine, but they were all over the country as mail-order brides now. She prayed they were having as much success and happiness in their adventures as she was having in hers in Oklahoma.
As she stood at the sink gazing out at the beauty of the Oklahoma woods and hills and prairies, a monarch butterfly floated past the window. Chevonne thought of her grandmother as the sun brightened the butterfly’s orange wings so they seemed to glow. It flapped once, twice, seemingly floating in front of her, then it was gone.
A sense of peace filled Chevonne. She knew in her heart she was exactly where she belonged, where she would stay all her life long, where she would be loved and cared for, and where she would plant her roots and the roots of all the children she and Trey were blessed with, here in Oklahoma.
The End.
* * *
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 Historical Romance Books by Leighann Dobbs
Western Mail Order Bride
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Faith : Goldwater Creek Mail Order Bride
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St. Daine Family Regency Romance Novels
(with Raven Ashton)
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An Unexpected Proposal
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Dobbs “Fancytales”
Regency Romance Fairytales Series Short Stories
(With Raven Ashton)
* * *
Something In Red
Snow White and the Seven Rogues
Dancing On Glass
The Beast of Edenmaine
The Reluctant Princess
The Sleeping Heiress
FancyTales Boxed Set - all 6 stories in one book!
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Historical Notes and References
On November 16, 1907, the Oklahoma and Indian Territory became the forty-sixth state in the Union of the United States of America and took the name Oklahoma. The state capital was Guthrie until 1910 then Oklahoma City.
Many of the businesses mentioned in Chevonne were actual businesses in Oklahoma City in the early 1890s.
Within months of arriving in Oklahoma City in 1889, eighteen-year-old Anna Overholser (1870-1940) married forty-three-year-old Henry Overholser (1846-1915) the "Father of Oklahoma City", instantly becoming the city's Socialite-in-Chief.
The Overholser Mansion website: http://www.overholsermansion.org/history.html
Oklahoma Historical Society website: http://www.okhistory.org/index.php?full
Chevonne's domestic bibles are available as free e-books and are free to read on-line via Project Gutenberg (no registration required):
The White House Cookbook by Mrs. Gillette published 1887
Download page: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13923
To read on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13923/13923-h/13923-h.htm
Marion Harland's Cookery for Beginners published 1884
Download page: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49155
To read on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/49155/49155-h/49155-h.htm
A valued resource in the writing of Chevonne was:
Oklahoma City: A Land Run to Statehood by Terry L. Griffith
Publisher's book page: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738502090/Oklahoma-City-Land-Run-to-Statehood
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Find out about her new releases and how to get discounts on them by signing up at:
http://www.leighanndobbs.com/historical-romance-sign-up
Visit her website:
http://www.leighanndobbs.com/historical-romance-books
Connect with Leighann on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/leighanndobbshistoricalromance
* * *
More Books By Leighann Dobbs:
St. Daine Family Regency Romance Novels
(with Raven Ashton)
* * *
An Unexpected Proposal
-------
Dobbs “Fancytales”
Regency Romance Fairytales Series Short Stories
(With Raven Ashton)
* * *
Something In Red
Snow White and the Seven Rogues
Dancing On Glass
The Beast of Edenmaine
The Reluctant Princess
The Sleeping Heiress
FancyTales Boxed Set - all 6 stories in one book!
-------
Contemporary Romance
* * *
Sweet Escapes
Reluctant Romance
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Mooseamuck Island Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
A Zen For Murder
A Crabby Killer
-------
Kate Diamond
Adventure/Suspense Series
* * *
Hidden Agemda
Ancient Hiss Story
-------
Mystic Notch
Cats & Magic Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Ghostly Paws
A Spirited Tail
A Mew To A Kill
Paws and Effect
Blackmoore Sisters
Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Dead Wrong
Dead & Buried
Dead Tide
Buried Secrets
Deadly Intentions
A Grave Mistake
-------
Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Boxed Set Vol 1 (Books 1-4)
Or buy the books separately:
Killer Cupcakes (Book 1)
Dying For Danish (Book 2)
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Murder, Money and Marzipan (Book 3)
3 Bodies and a Biscotti (Book 4)
Brownies, Bodies & Bad Guys (Book 5)
Bake, Battle & Roll (Book 6)
Wedded Blintz (Book 7)
Scones, Skulls & Scams (Book 8)
Ice Cream Murder (Book 9)
Mummified Meringues (Book 10)
Brutal Brulee (Book 11 - Novella)
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Authors Note
Thanks so much for reading my sweet historical western romance "Chevonne". I hope you liked reading it as much as I loved writing it. If you did, and feel inclined to leave a review, I really would appreciate it.
This book is part of the American Mail-Order Brides series - a series of 50 books written by 45 different authors and featuring a mail order bride for every state. You can find out more about it at: http://www.newwesternromance.com
Visit my website to find out more about my historical romances: http://www.leighanndobbs.com/historical-romance-books
This book has been through many edits with several people and even some software programs, but since nothing is infallible (even the software programs), you might catch a spelling error or mistake and, if you do, I sure would appreciate it if you let me know - you can contact me at [email protected].
Oh, and I love to connect with my readers so please do visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/leighanndobbshistoricalromance
Signup to get my newest releases at a discount:
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* * *
This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
Chevonne
Copyright © 2015
Leighann Dobbs
http://www.leighanndobbs.com
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
Chevonne: Bride of Oklahoma (American Mail-Order Bride 46) Page 13