by Linda Ellen
With a suggestive growl, her husband swept her up in his arms, white silk voluminous skirts and all, and turned for the interior steps. She couldn’t help but giggle at his impatience.
“Finn...put me down...I can walk...there’s not room enough for both of us at once...” she tried to speak in between Finn’s persistent kisses.
“I’ll manage,” he vowed as he ravished her mouth again before taking the steps two at a time, twisting her around as he went and having not one bit of trouble.
Another soft giggle escaped as they reached their bedroom door. “It appears your leg is completely healed now...”
He shoved the door open with his foot to prove the point, and noticing the flickering candlelight inside, she vaguely remembered that Dottie had hinted she would get the room ready for their special night. However, she didn’t see the many candles, flowers, and the turned-down bed, for she had eyes and heart only for Finn as he murmured against her lips, “Yes ma’am, and I’m about to show you just how healed and whole your husband is.”
“Finn!” she gasped, at once feeling both thrilled and embarrassed by his frank declaration.
He chuckled as he gently set her down on the edge of the bed and went down on one knee, capturing her lips again with electrifying passion.
Tenderly, he began the removal of her wedding finery and, feeling emboldened, she helped him with his and then, with smiles of true bliss, they blew out the bedside candles together.
Their wedding night had finally arrived.
Charise climbed the steps to her home, as always admiring the fine craftsmanship of the new staircase as she grasped the handrails, and having finished hanging a load of laundry on the line, poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot on the kitchen stove. She strolled contentedly down the hall to the front room, sipping the hot brew, and stood gazing out the window at her neighbors and friends going about their business on the street below. After a few minutes, she settled at her desk by the window.
Taking up paper and pen to write her friend, she paused to collect her thoughts before starting...
Dearest Beth,
I’ve been a true wife for a week now, and I’ve never felt so completely happy, fulfilled, and content in my life. I’m so in love with my husband—and he with me. It’s truly an answer to many prayers and a dream come true! His leg has fully healed and he is back to normal—and I’m pleased to tell you he is quite romantic and virile. After only a week of marriage, I no longer blush to write such things. Are you shocked? I’m chuckling as I put pen to paper and wish I could see your face as you read.
Oh Beth, our wedding was beautiful—I wish you could have been here, but thank you so much for the use of your bracelet and earbobs. They are carefully enclosed.
Charise paused a moment, contemplating, before filling her friend in on more particulars of the wedding, and especially Finn’s surprising her with her overly large, amazingly blue bouquet. Then with a giggle, she continued...
Now, I will tell you about our unexpected visitor. As our wedding reception was in full swing, with everyone waltzing, eating cake and having a wonderful time—and just after I’d said out loud to all my new friends and neighbors that I loved my new town of Brownville because it was such a quiet, peaceful place—the door opened and a man came in. Dear friend, it was none other than the outlaw, Jesse James! No, I’m not making that up.
He came in because our building used to be, in his words, his favorite tavern in all of Nebraska! He’d visited there many times in the past and even stayed in the hotel! He hadn’t heard that the tavern was no longer in operation, so he stalked in and made a show of being fierce in his disappointment of the saloon being closed, until my husband, Sam, and our sheriff, stood up to him. My heavens, he even let Finn know that he knew his name and where he served during the war! It was far beyond nerve-wracking. If I were the type of woman who succumbed to the vapors, it would have been a perfect time. For a few seconds, I wondered if my wedding day would end with me becoming a widow! Especially when Finn shoved me behind him, with the intent of using himself as a shield if bullets started flying.
But then, the interloper backed down and actually apologized for intruding. Gracious me, Jesse James is without a doubt the most intimidating man I’ve ever met in my life—and I hope to never encounter him again!
You see Dottie is actually a distant cousin to the outlaw, by marriage I think. We found out later that he made his unexpected visit to town because a friend of his apparently convinced him to pose for a daguerreotype portrait at a studio in Nebraska City! Can you believe that, the audacity! Jesse James, with a price on his head—dead or alive no less—doesn’t care who knows what he looks like. He rides trains in Nebraska and saunters down the streets, stays in the finest hotels, enjoys drinks in taverns, and visits family, apparently without fear of reprisal. The fact that he’s never committed a crime in Nebraska seems to make all the difference. If I hadn’t experienced it myself, I’d never believe it.
I saw a copy of the portrait, by the way—he gave a miniature of it to Dottie—but it does not do him justice. By that I mean it doesn’t show the potent intimidation his mere presence in a room engenders. His eyes are a cold ice blue. Remembering them still makes me shudder. I had no problem believing he could shoot a man dead and not bat an eye.
It seems that the bandit recently married another cousin of his named Zerelda, and his brother, Frank also recently wed. Isn’t that amazing in itself? What kind of woman would marry a known outlaw? Dottie says he told her he’s been looking at buying some land in Franklin, Nebraska, and that he and Frank want to settle down and live “respectable” lives, have children, and the whole nine yards—after, that is, one more heist to get the money to finance it! Heaven’s to Betsy. I didn’t say it to her, but I feel that Mr. James will come to a bad end. Papa used to say, those who live by the sword or the gun die by the sword or the gun.
Dottie told him she didn’t want to know any details about what he or his gang may or may not be planning. She actually told him that as family she feels a spark of loyalty toward him, but as the wife of a sheriff, and a law-abiding citizen, she was torn. He told her he respected her truthfulness and would abide by her and her husband’s wishes. So he stayed the night, after indulging in a few drinks at the Lucky Buck, and left on the train the next day.
The oldsters say it was the first time that the outlaw had visited the town in such a barefaced manner. Before, he had always laid low and few knew he had even been in town until after he had left. His lucky breaks seem to have gone to his head. Perhaps, he feels invincible.
Ah well, that’s enough on that subject. Let me tell you the latest teasing caper that my two “husbands” fooled me with...
“Charise? Where are you, honey?” Finn called just then, interrupting her train of thought.
She smiled happily and carefully placed her pen aside as she called, “In the front room, sweetheart!”
His footsteps sounded in the hall and then he appeared at the doorway, a huge smile gracing his face.
At the sight of him, her heart gave a familiar little flip, as it always did. He was dressed in his normal everyday clothing, white shirt, dark blue vest and trousers. His watch chain hung in a loop from his vest pocket, and at the sight of it she smiled even brighter, remembering the night she presented him with the fob. When he was at work, he never wore a tie, but even so... Ahh, Finn Maynard, what a handsome specimen you are. And you’re all mine!
“You’ll never guess,” he exclaimed as he stepped forward and grasped her hands to tug her from her seat and then wrapped her up in his arms. Leaning back, he planted a firm kiss to her lips and pulled back with a smack, chuckling at his mysterious news.
She laughed with him. “What, Finn? Good heavens, don’t keep me in suspense!”
Her husband wiggled his eyebrows at her and grinned again. “I heard it from Charlie, and not my brother—but Sam went and did it.”
Her brow furrowed. “Did what?”
“He sent a wire to one of those matrimonial agencies. Your proxy husband, my dear, just sent off to find a mail-order-bride for himself!”
Great day in the morning – the adventure continues!
THE END---for now
But coming in March of 2019 – A BRIDE FOR SAM
Author Notes
While doing preliminary research for this story and trying to decide just where my hero would live and my girl would have to travel to, I came across Brownville, Nebraska. Immediately, I fell in love with images of the quaint little town, which is still in existence. Many of the town’s original buildings are still there and the history is well preserved. They have a website and it seems that it would be a wonderful place to check out on vacation. In my story, I used as much of their real history as I could. Here is their website: Welcome to the Merchants of Brownville
Next, I needed a location to use for my hero and his bride to live and was lucky enough to stumble upon a wonderfully informative Facebook page for The Lone Tree Saloon. Yes, it’s a real place, still there, and much of my descriptions were true to its recorded history. I hope to be able to make a trip there sometime and see the building after the renovations are finished.
Now, one more thing... Did you wonder if I went off the deep end with my Jesse James appearance and connecting him to Brownville the way I did? Well, I didn’t! In my research, I stumbled upon the fact that he frequented Brownville, that the sheriff, David Plasters was a friend of the outlaw’s and was married to one of Jesse’s cousins, and that the Lone Tree Saloon was his favorite watering hole, so I just couldn’t resist including him in my story to add a bit of pizzazz. Check out this page: Jesse James in Nebraska
Happy Reading!
I hope you have enjoyed the fifth book in the brand-new series, The Proxy Brides. New books will be released every other week through 2019.
If you enjoyed this story, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review, as it helps me reach new readers and continue to write stories that appeal to you.
Leave a review here:
https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Ellen/e/B00QDAXSSW/
Acknowledgements
First of all to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—You’re always there for me!
Steve, my wonderful husband, number one cheerleader, biggest fan, and plot partner—I love you!
Venessa Vargas, Kathryn Lockwood, Judy Glenn and Liz Austin, my editor, proofer, and betas—Couldn’t navigate this journey without you guys!
Friends in Clean Indie Reads, Proxy Bride Authors, and Louisville’s Past Facebook groups—you guys rock!
And last but not least, to all of my loyal fans who are always excited when I put out another book—this one’s for you!
Upcoming Proxy Bride Books (2018 Series)
A Bride for Jeremiah by Christine Sterling
A Bride for Clay by Marianne Spitzer
A Bride for Nathan by Barbara Goss
A Bride for Abel by Cyndi Raye
A Bride for Finn by Linda Ellen
A Bride for Carter by Wendy May Andrews
A Bride for Charles by H. L. Roberts
A Bride for Sterling by Parker J. Cole
A Bride for Henry by P. Creeden
Books are released every two weeks! Join my newsletter to make sure you see the 2019 publication schedule!
https://lindaellenbooks.weebly.com/contact.html
About the Author
Linda Ellen lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband of thirty-seven years. A lifelong avid reader, and after encouragement from her family and friends, she tried her hand at writing in 2009 and never looked back. Prior to the release of her debut novel Once in a While (fashioned from the real-life story of her parents’ romance), she wrote articles for a local newspaper, The Southwest Reporter. Linda keeps very busy with her work in her church’s prison ministry and writing every spare moment she gets. Many more plans are under way for books and series, both historical and modern day.
To keep up with the latest news on her books, including trailers, cover reveals, release dates, and book signings, visit and “like” her Facebook page, Linda Ellen – Author (see below for link) For a special treat, go to her Pinterest page to see many pictures related to all of her stories
Linda loves to hear from readers. You can contact her in any of these ways:
Email - [email protected]
Website - www.lindaellenbooks.weebly.com
Visit me on Social Media!
Twitter: @lindaellen54
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LindaEllen.Author/
Follow her on her Amazon Author Page to be alerted to her new releases!
Other works by Linda Ellen
Available on Amazon, B&N & Kobo
The Cherished Memories Series
Book one – Once in a While
Book two – The Bold Venture
Book three – Almost as Much
Soldiers of Swing Series
Her Blue-Eyed Sergeant
Her Blue-Eyed Corporal
Her Blue-Eyed Lieutenant
Maple Heights Series
Sweet Love at Honey Landing
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