“Mr. Dalton,” Bonnie said, addressing Walton and trying to keep the panic from her voice, “I’m Bonnie. I’m the oldest sister.” He seemed completely nonplussed by this news so she elaborated further. “I believe I’m the one you’re supposed to marry.”
“I don’t care who’s oldest,” he said, gazing down at Gwen. “I’m marrying this one.”
He might just as well have punched Bonnie in the stomach. She’d come all this way expecting to marry the eldest brother and who had he gone for? Gwen, of course. She shouldn’t have been surprised, really, but it still stung.
“I believe your letter said there would be three of you,” she managed to squeak out.
“That’s my brother Nate,” Walton said, nodding at his brother before flicking his eyes around the platform. “Bart should be here by now but I’m sure he’ll be along.”
Bonnie didn’t really care about the inconsiderate brother Bart, who couldn’t be bothered to keep an appointment. She had higher expectations from her future husband.
She turned to look at Nate but he couldn’t seem to rip his gaze away from Libby, who was blushing furiously and peeking up at him from behind her dark lashes. This wouldn’t do at all. She refused to be the consolation prize for the one who didn’t show up on time.
“Libby’s the youngest!” she fairly shouted, drawing surprised looks from everyone. Surely he would do the right thing and choose Bonnie over her baby sister. But of course Nate had been just as surprised as Gwen at the situation he’d found himself in and he simply looked confused.
To his credit, he adapted much more quickly than Gwen did, as soon as Walton explained, but Bonnie once again found herself ignored and rejected in favor of her prettier sisters. Bitterness settled over her heart at the realization her life would be no different outside of Beckham.
And now…now she was leftovers. The discarded garbage the other two brothers didn’t want. She was table scraps! It was all she could do to choke back the tears as they waited for the tardy youngest brother.
What had she been thinking, bringing her sisters along? She’d registered with Elizabeth’s mail order bride agency to leave Beckham — including her family — behind. With nothing to compare her to, her future husband might have been pleased with her. She was extremely skilled at homemaking and, when not standing next to her beautiful sisters, she wasn’t altogether homely.
She’d ruined her entire life by putting the welfare of her sisters ahead of her own, just as she’d always done. Never once growing up had they shown her the same courtesy, so why did she feel so responsible for them? They certainly didn’t refuse the advances of Walt and Nate, even though Bonnie made it very clear she expected to be the first chosen.
For five full minutes, she sat on that bench and hated her sisters. She wished and prayed for a runaway train to jump the tracks and barrel across the platform, taking them all with it. She would be the lone survivor, and the only person to turn up at the group funeral. Of course, she would be draped in black but behind her dark veil, she would be smiling. Maybe even laughing.
Then Libby reached over and squeezed her hand. The poor child was trembling. Bonnie’s frozen heart melted, and she gave her youngest sister an encouraging smile. She couldn’t begrudge either sister happiness, nor would she wish misery on them. And marrying those lecherous old deacons would have been a life sentence of misery.
Well, if she couldn’t have love, she would at least do everything in her power to make sure her sisters were happy and cared for. If these two men, who were so entranced by their beauty, didn’t do right by them, they’d have Bonnie to answer to.
As for her, she had little choice but to accept the errant Dalton as her husband. What little money they had left after the train journey wouldn’t be enough for her to buy a meal, much less a ticket back home. The question was, would he accept her?
It looked like she was about to find out. Walton was striding across the platform to meet with a third man who looked just like him. As late as Bart was meeting them, Bonnie would have thought he’d have a little giddy-up in his get-along, but in fact he seemed quite unperturbed. Clearly the man was unreliable, inconsiderate and untrustworthy.
Wonderful.
Bonnie was just thinking that maybe marrying Deacon Smith would have been preferable to a layabout ne’er-do-well when Walt led his brother over to make introductions. Swallowing her pride — what was left of it, anyway — she stood and did her best to not glare at the man. Alienating him before he even found out they were to be married wouldn’t help matters.
But the moment Bart’s deeply tanned and calloused hand enveloped hers, the second his rich brown eyes met her own, all the words — every word she’d ever learned — flew right out of her head. A strange drumming roared in her ears, and she was surprised to discover it was her heart beating wildly. The palm he was holding so gently in his strong hand was suddenly wet with perspiration. Bonnie had never been left speechless in her life, and she didn’t understand her strange reaction to this man.
But the spell was broken when Walt introduced her as Bart’s bride. The look of sheer horror that flashed across his face was enough to bring her out of her stupor. Her brain was still trying to play catch-up but two words managed to rise to the surface. Two words that would show she was no one to be trifled with. Two words that would perfectly signify her disdain for him.
“You’re late.”
About the authors
KIRSTEN OSBOURNE
Kirsten Osbourne hails from the state of Wisconsin, but has lived in Texas for almost thirty years. She is a mother, a writer, and a wife. Married to the love of her life for fifteen years, she knows that true love exists and wants to share her vision of love with the world. Writing is something she has always loved and plans on doing for a long time into the future. As Kirsten Osbourne, she writes contemporary romance as well as historical. As Morganna Mayfair, she ventures into the realm of paranormal romance. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy and make believe where there is always a happily ever after at the end. Connect with her at:
* www.KirstenAndMorganna.com
* Newsletter
* Facebook
CASSIE HAYES
Cassie Hayes grew up pretending she was Laura Ingalls (before that pesky Almonzo arrived on the scene) in the middle of Oregon farm country. She lives with her husband and cat on the Pacific Ocean and loves to hear from her readers. Connect with her at:
* www.CassieHayes.com
* Newsletter
* Facebook
* Goodreads
KIT MORGAN
A consistent Top 100 bestseller, Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, has been writing for fun all of her life. When writing as Geralyn Beauchamp, her books are epic, adventurous, romantic fantasy at its best. When writing as Kit Morgan they are whimsical, fun, inspirational sweet stories that depict a strong sense of family and community. Kit's 'His Prairie Princess', is the first of the Prairie Brides books and the first in the series of a long line of stories about Clear Creek, Oregon. One of the whackiest little towns in the old west! Get to know the townsfolk in Clear Creek and come sit a spell! Connect with her at:
* www.AuthorKitMorgan.com
If you enjoy historical western romances, join us in the Pioneer Hearts Facebook group, a place where historical western romance authors and readers discuss their favorite stories, recipes and photos. CLICK HERE to join!
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Copyright 2014 Kirsten Osbourne, Cassie Hayes & Kit Morgan
All rights reserved.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are a work of fiction or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
The cover art for this book makes use of licensed stock photography. All photography is for illustrative purposes only and all persons depicted are models.
n, The Escape (The Dalton Brides)
The Escape (The Dalton Brides) Page 4