Rachel: Bride of New Hampshire (American Mail-Order Brides 9)

by Diane Darcy

  He clenched his fists to keep from reaching for her. “What do you want, Rachel? What can I do to make this right? Why won’t you marry me?”

  All at once her face crumpled. “I will.”

  He stared down at her. “You will what?” He realized she was crying.

  “I’ll marry you.”

  “What? Why? I mean yes, let’s get married.”

  What had just happened? He couldn’t seem to think. But while he might be confused, he wasn’t completely slow on the uptake. He grabbed Rachel, pulled her close, and kissed her. Whatever restraint he’d been holding onto fled as, right there, surrounded by guns and the smells of wood and linseed oil he bracketed her face with his hands and plundered her lips with his. He kissed her thoroughly, breaking off to feather kisses against her forehead, her nose, cheeks, and finally pressed his face into her neck. When she whimpered and arched against him, he tightened his arms around her and kissed her some more, reveling in her response.

  He finally broke off to look down into her beautiful face, and fierce satisfaction welled within him to see her swollen lips, her brightened gaze, and confusion. “I do love you. Madly, irrationally, and forever. Even if you’d married Edward, I would have still loved you. There’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t stop it.”

  Rachel burst into tears.

  Panicked, Thomas held her close.

  At least she was clinging to him, but whatever the problem was, she’d have to figure it out inside his arms this time.

  This time, he wasn’t letting her go.

  ~~~

  She was back in Thomas’s arms, he loved her, and that’s all she cared about. The unhappiness of the last week had been chased away by him. Only him. She’d been miserable.

  “What’s the matter?” His voice sounded harsh, but he held her so tightly she knew he wasn't rejecting her in any way.

  “I couldn’t stand to be without you.” She cried harder as she pressed her face into his shoulder. “I missed you so much!”

  She felt him release a breath, the tenseness of his body relaxing. “Why did you leave me?” His arms clenched around her as he crushed her close.

  She lifted her face. “I’m sorry. I’m really am. I just…” She turned her head away and he lifted a hand to gently turn her so she was looking him in the eyes again. “You know my past. You know the worst. I’m sorry for hurting you. I promise from now on that I’ll choose you every time. If the cost is a broken heart, I’ll risk it.”

  “Rachel, you don’t have to risk anything. Just trust me. Give me your heart and I will protect it.”

  Tears filled her eyes again as his words swept through her. “Oh, Thomas.”

  “Do I need to tell Edward you’re not marrying him?”

  She shook her head. “I never said I would.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Rachel, I can’t go through this again. You’ve got to learn to trust me.”

  She nodded. “I know. I will. I do.”

  “I’m not going to let you go again.”

  She sucked in a breath and her eyes widened as she pushed against his chest so she could see his face. “Thomas, I forgot to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “ I love you.” She gazed up at him, anxious that he should see the truth in her gaze. “I love you so much.”

  He let out a breath, the relief on his face palpable. “Don’t scare me like that.”

  She smiled, even while wiping away more tears.

  He bent to give her a quick kiss before whispering, “I love you, too. More than you can know. Will you marry me?”

  She nodded. “Yes, Thomas, I’d be honored to be your bride.”

  He kissed her fiercely, then tugged her into his arms again and held her close. “Do you want a big wedding? Because I’ve got to be honest. I don’t know if I can give you the time it will take to prepare it. Maybe we can get married now, tonight, and have a reception later?”

  She laughed. “Tonight? I don’t have anybody to invite. My mother can’t get away, I don’t know where my sister is, and my friends are scattered across the states and territories. A quick, quiet wedding will be perfect. I’m sure Reverend Gentry would like to do the honors. But I think we’ll have to wait a day or two. I’ll need a dress. So will Cassie.” She smiled at him. “I’m sorry to be so difficult.”

  “All right. Two days.” Bending his head he kissed her thoroughly, until her heart hammered in her chest, lights flashed behind her eyes, and she forgot about everything but him and the storm of emotions he aroused within her. She was truly here. In his arms. Exactly where she needed to be.

  He broke away to press his forehead to hers. “Once you’re mine, you can be as difficult as you like. I’m never letting you get away again. The next time you leave, I’m going with you.”

  She laughed. Once she was his. She liked that.

  She liked that very much.

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “Thomas, I already am yours. Apparently I was from the moment I met you. I just didn’t know it yet.”

  After a pleased smile, he kissed her senseless once again.

  Chapter Eighteen

  One week later

  Rachel, sitting at her new vanity, had just pulled out a piece of paper and picked up a pen when her new husband came into their bedroom. He crossed the carpet and moved her hair aside so he could kiss her neck. She couldn’t help it, she blushed.

  He chuckled, before slowly straightening, his hands caressing her shoulder and down her arm leaving sparks of sensation and pleasure shivering through her. “Are you almost ready to go?”

  She glanced down, still shy after five days of marriage. “Almost. I just want to write a quick note to Violet so we can post it on the way.”

  “You didn’t overpack, did you? Don’t forget, we’re buying you an entirely new wardrobe in New York City.”

  “That’s all.” She glanced at the lone suitcase beside the door. “I can see you’re going to spoil me like mad.”

  “That is my intention.” He kissed the top of her head and caressed her neck, leaving more tingling sensation in his wake. “All right, hurry up. I’m going to go load your things in the buggy. Franklin’s going to bring it home later.”

  Unable to help herself, she smiled after him as he left the room to organize the world. When he was out of sight, she finally started her letter.

  Dear Violet,

  I’m married now. I assume you are as well?

  In all honesty, I considered stopping my letter there, as you have not seen fit to respond in any meaningful way. I’m not going to worry quite yet, but if I don’t hear from you soon, I may have to talk my new husband into trying to find you.

  We’re leaving for our honeymoon today. We’re going to New York City! We’ll be visiting my mother, which makes me very happy.

  My dear friend, Mrs. Gentry, played the role of mother to me during the wedding. She seemed very pleased to do so, and I feel very blessed. The entire church turned out for the event. Thomas had a wedding dress brought in from Boston, and I was able to tailor it to a perfect fit. He looked incredibly handsome, and I’ll never forget the look of pride and joy on his face. I’ve no doubt I looked at him in exactly the same way. There was so much food afterward! People seem to really love Thomas, and I was warmly welcomed.

  I think what I have to say next will surprise you. I am completely in love. I have a family, including an eleven-year-old daughter and, God willing, perhaps soon I’ll have a child on the way.

  Best of all, I think you should know I not only love Thomas, but I trust him absolutely.

  I hope you are faring well, and expect to hear from you soon.

  Yours truly, in love and affection,

  Mrs. Rachel Buchanan

  P. S. Sir Lancelot has moved beyond food and shelter, and now has his own cushion, a loving family, and many hands to pet him. Life is wonderful.

  * * *

  * * *

  If you enjoyed reading this book, there a
re 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here—

  https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMailOrderBrides/?fref=ts

  And here—

  http://www.newwesternromance.com/

  Sign up for my newsletter at www.DianeDarcy.com to be notified of my upcoming releases.

  Excerpt of Once in a Blue Moon: by Diane Darcy

  (A Western Time Travel Romance)

  Nostalgia isn't what it used to be…

  Successful businesswoman, Melissa Kendal, has it all. Two kids, a gorgeous,

  albeit difficult-to-manage husband, her dream house, and a thriving, exciting

  career as an L.A. fashion designer. So what if her home life is falling apart.

  It’s her career that’s important and makes her feel alive.

  But when a science fair project goes awry, and a Blue Moon transports their

  family back in time to the Wild West, Melissa suddenly has to live a much

  simpler life. She doesn’t have a job, the kids can’t play Xbox, and the locals

  find her hilarious.

  Meanwhile, her husband Richard is determined to keep their family together,

  no matter what the century. Can they find a lost treasure, solve a Civil War

  mystery, and save their family before the next blue moon?

  They have three months to find out.

  Chapter One

  The dress was good. Too good!

  Anger burned in Melissa Kendal’s chest as she forced her fingers to unclench the silken material. Forced herself to relax. She held up the evening gown again, easily able to discern at a glance it was a size four, tall. Her size. As the high-quality black silk slid through her fingers she cynically wondered if Kari had sized it that way on purpose. At the same time, she reluctantly acknowledged the silk charmeuse was an excellent choice of material for the cut of the dress.

  When had Kari gotten so good?

  Melissa could feel the young girl waiting anxiously, fidgeting, the delay obviously driving her mad--as it was meant to do. Melissa let her wait a while longer, then sighed and tossed the dress on the oversized worktable.

  Kari stepped forward, her hands clutched together. "So, what do you think?"

  Melissa breathed in slowly and forced herself to calm, to look normal, relaxed. She didn’t answer right away, didn’t trust her voice.

  Adopting a pensive expression, she turned her attention to the television in the corner of the office and pretended to listen to the news for a moment. The television was always on, and that particular habit had paid off more than once. It gave her a chance to think. Besides, it was always a good idea to stay tuned to world events, to know what was going on in case it affected the fashion industry.

  She needed to be in control. On top. The best.

  Melissa glanced at the dress again. She was the best. She’d worked hard to be. At thirty-five she was young, had a great figure, and a career that was skyrocketing. And no barely-out-of-college assistant was going to intimidate her with good work.

  Picking up the dress, she flipped it over the back of a nearby chair. "No. It won’t do." Her voice came out cool, controlled, with no hint of emotion. Precisely the way she liked it.

  Kari remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward. "But, why?" Her voice cracked on the last word.

  Melissa met her gaze and stared her down. Because the creation was a little too good and she didn’t need competition from her own staff. "We’re moving away from slinky. The trend in formal wear is cotton and linen, so I can’t use this. You really need to keep up with the industry, Kari. Now, why isn’t my office cleaned? What if an important client stopped by? Let’s get back to work."

  Tears in her eyes, Kari picked up the dress, her long blonde hair falling forward to hide her expression as she stumbled toward the door on imitation designer heels.

  Melissa pushed back a twinge of sympathy and sighed in exasperation. When was Kari going to learn to play the game better? Did she really think Melissa would ever give her a break? What Kari was getting was an education in the fine art of staying on top. A hard lesson Melissa had learned, one everyone in the business had to learn if they were to succeed. Melissa was doing Kari a favor by teaching her how to become a player. If Kari had any brains, someday she’d appreciate it.

  Once in a Blue Moon by Diane Darcy

  Excerpt of Violet: Bride of North Dakota by Heather Horrocks

  Violet Keating is thrilled to be a mail-order bride—until she arrives in North Dakota to learn she has a runaway groom! Feeling protective of her, confirmed bachelor Daniel Lund vows to help this jilted beauty find another husband—until he realizes he’d like to change his own status from confirmed to eligible. Can a man who’s given up on love and a jilted mail-order bride find magic under the northern lights?

  Chapter One

  Lawrence, Massachusetts

  October, 1890

  "IS THAT YOUR BAG?"

  Violet Keating watched as the entirety of her possessions was tossed into the baggage car of the train. It seemed quite pathetic that everything fit into just one bag, even if that bag was a brightly colored one.

  She nodded as she turned back to Rachel. Laurel and Cora, as well as many of the other factory women, had already left on their own exciting adventures. It had been hard to say goodbye to them—but Rachel was not only her roommate, she was Violet’s family. How could she possibly say farewell to her? Who knew how long before they would see each other again. Blinking back tears, she promised, “I’ll write you and tell you everything that is happening with me.”

  “And I will write you.” Her dearest friend pulled her into a fierce hug. "Are you sure about this, Violet? North Dakota is so far away—much farther away than New Hampshire.”

  Violet clung to her friend. "I'm no more sure than you are. But we both have to move on with our lives. New Hampshire will be as foreign to you as North Dakota is to me. And we have wonderful men waiting for us."

  They released each other and smiled. The moment was bittersweet.

  After the factory burned, they’d been left jobless and the Grooms’ Gazette had seemed like a godsend, though she’d had to convince Rachel of that. And now it was time to take flight into their new lives.

  Flight was much more frightening when it came time to actually flap your wings and leap off the branch.

  “Just think,” Rachel said. “The next time we meet—when we exchange our first letters, even—we will both be wed.”

  Violet smiled and held out her left hand. “And we will both have rings on our fingers and husbands who love us.”

  Rachel drew in a short breath and nodded. “I hope that is true.”

  Violet laughed nervously. “I do, as well.”

  Bride of North Dakota by Heather Horrocks

  Excerpt of Darby: Bride of Oregon by Bella Bowen

  Fearless Darby McClintock knows she can imitate a refined British accent to fulfil the mail-order bride advertisement. Granted, the man states that Scotswomen need not apply, but he’ll never hear the lilt of her brogue...

  if she can keep from losing her temper.

  In order to play a dangerous game in the Shanghai Tunnels below Portland, Oregon, Rand Beauregard has to keep up a respectable façade above ground. And for that, he needs a well-bred, upper-crust wife. Anything less will jeopardize lives…

  Chapter One

  “Margaret?”

  “Mm?”

  “How long does it take, do ye reckon, to make a man fall in love with ye?”

  Her roommate rolled onto her back and sighed at the ceiling. “I don’t rightly know, Darby, girl. More than a morning—I’ve tried enough times to know—but less than a night, if the trollops are to be believed.”

  Though Darby knew it wouldn’t be as simple as that, the idea gave her hope.

  “Doesn’t matter, though, does it?”

  Darby frowned and lowered the Gazette. “What do you mean?”

  Marga
ret rolled up onto her elbow to level a stern look at her. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if you get that fella to fall in love with you or not. He’ll promptly fall out of love with you the second he hears that brogue.” She made a tisking sound with her teeth and shook her head. “I read the whole page, love. I know the ad specifies no Scotswomen need apply.”

  “He’ll never know—“

  “Hah! You lose that temper of yours six times a day and seven on Sundays. The only way you’ll fool him is if you cut out your tongue!” Margaret reached over to the small vanity between their two beds and plucked up the sheers. “’Ere, now,” she toyed with a Cockney accent. “Open up, love. I’ll be real quick-like.” She rapidly snapped the blades together and grinned.

  Darby feigned a pout. “I don’t need to cut it off, Margaret. I can just…bite it when I need to.”

  “You don’t need sheers, then.” The girl tossed the blades back to the table and sprawled out on the bed again. “You’ll cut it off with your teeth before he can take you a mile from the train station.”

  Darby chewed on her tongue a few times, wondering how much it would hurt to have it cut off, then stopped before Margaret might notice and start teasing again.

  Six times a day? Truly?

  Bride of Oregon by Bella Bowen

  ALSO BY DIANE DARCY

  The Ghosts of Culloden Moor

  Gareth

  Aiden

  Time Travel Romance

  She Owns the Knight

  Bewitching the Knight

  Once in a Blue Moon

  Fairy Tale Romance