Faith: A Historical Western Romance (A Merry Mail Order Bride Romance Series Book 2)

by Amy Field

  Faith

  Book Two in the Bernstein Sisters Series

  Amy Field

  Copyright © 2017 by Amy Field

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author and publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  About Amy Field

  Join the Amy Field mailing list!

  Books in the Bernstein Historical Wester Series Amy Field

  About the Bernstein Family Romance Series

  Faith

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  A SELECTION OF STORIES FROM THE ROMANCE READING ROOM LIBRARY

  For you to discover!

  I. Fallen

  II. The Billionaire’s Chef

  III. The Quarterback’s Rush

  IV. Prisoner of Passion

  Regency Romances

  I. The Passion Of A Gentleman

  II. The Secretive Duchess

  Amish Romances

  I. Mary Of The Amish

  II. The Rumspringa Secret

  Secret Baby Romances

  I. The Billionaire’s Secret Baby

  II. Love Child Surprise

  III. The Basketball Baby

  Historic Western Romances

  I. Charity

  The Supershifter Trilogy (Sci-Fi)

  About Amy Field

  I’ve been writing stories about love for more than 25 years, so I consider myself something of an expert on the topic! Through the years I’ve honed my writing and storytelling skills, so by now I know what it is about romantic stories that makes them entertaining and fun to read. I love to write stories that inspire and entertain, and that take the reader on a journey into a wonderful make-believe world filled world with characters that live and live just like us. When I’m not writing, I love cooking and taking my two dogs, Jasper and Monty for walks in the woods behind my home in Vermont.

  Click here to see other titles by Amy Field on Amazon.

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  Books in the Bernstein Historical Wester Series Amy Field

  Charity

  Faith

  Ruby

  Grace

  The Outlaw Takes A Bride

  Click here to go to Amy Field’s Amazon author page for links to these books.

  About the Bernstein Family Romance Series

  Shortly after the Civil War ended a young man named Seth Bernstein rode west and settled just outside of Cheyenne. He built a ranch, the Bar S, one of the finest horse ranches in the area. He married a young girl named Charity, and they had three daughters – Ruby, Faith, and the youngest, Grace.

  The Bernstein Series starts off with the story of Charity, her upbringing, how she got to meet Seth, and how he saved her life before they got married. It then follows on with the story of each daughter, and how their unique personalities, from the quiet, reserved Faith to the brilliant Ruby, and tomboy Grace all found their loves. The series ends with the story of the outlaw stepbrother Robert, the one who Charity forgave, but couldn’t forget.

  Faith

  Book Two in the Bernstein Sisters Series

  1

  Faith

  The lone figure sat on top of the hill looking out along the many rows of grass and trees, silhouetted against the setting sun. It was beautiful. The horse's rider, Faith Bernstein, had always been an outdoorswoman. She loved the smell of the lush, green grass and the feel of the warm sun on her face. Nestled among fields in the valley, below, the Bar S ranch had been her home for her whole life, and she loved it. But now she would be leaving this beautiful place to move on with her life.

  Although she was an independent girl and had a mind of her own, Faith wasn’t as adventurous as some of her younger sisters were. She was the eldest of the four siblings, and loved her family, so was saddened by the thought of leaving them. But she knew she had to. At the age of 28, Faith was older than most women who had already settled. Her younger sister Hope had already married and had a child on the way. Ruby, the third daughter, was in medical school back East and devoted her life to helping others. Then there was little Grace, the youngest. They still called her 'little Grace' although to this day she was almost 18.

  Yes, it was the time that Faith left the nest. She was grateful that she was to be married to a good man. Their family friend, Samuel Jacobs had gone to her father to speak of the marriage. His nephew Elijah had just turned 33, and his wife had passed on in childbirth. His daughter was now at the age of seven, and he thought she would need some guidance from a woman. That is why he had asked his brother for help in finding a wife.

  Samuel knew Faith's father, Seth, very well from the many years that he had run the general store in town, and he immediately thought of Faith.

  Faith was glad that Samuel told her father that he would take her to his nephew. She found out through talking to Mrs. Rosie that Elijah was the quiet type. He owned a ranch in Colorado that was almost as large as her father's. They told her that the land was beautiful there as well. She would be happy there and have a family. She was excited and nervous at the same time. What if he didn’t like her? What if she didn’t get along with him? How did she care for a daughter that wasn't hers?

  Her mother had reassured her that she would make an excellent mother. She had been caring for her sisters since they were born and she had the instincts to care for others, especially children. Faith had always had a dream of becoming a teacher although she never pursued it. It was just something in the back of her head that she never spoke out loud, she kept it to herself. Sighing deeply, she turned the horse to head back towards the house. She would need to help prepare supper soon.

  2

  Elijah

  Elijah looked over at his daughter with a smile. She was trying to wrap the rope around the pole but every time she got it almost all the way around it would fall back. With a grunt, she would pick it up and try again. He couldn’t help but smile at the way her face scrunched up, and her little tongue peeked out of her mouth like her mother’s used to. Abigail had been a wonderful mother and wife. She had been devoted to them. He had been as happy as she had been with their marriage. Their marriage had been arranged when he bought the land. He knew he would need help, and she had been a farmer’s daughter. They had immediately become friends, but that was where it ended.

  Elijah was happy with his marriage, but it had no spark. He loved Abigail with everything he had, but if he were honest with himself, then he would admit that something was missing in their marriage.

  “Alright Missy, pull it on the other side like I taught you,” his voice held confidence that she could do it.

  “Alright, Pa,” She grunted again and pulled it in the direction he said and then looped it through to tie it. Her little body jumped down from the fence and ran into his arms. “I did it! I did it Pa!”

  “I see. I knew you could do it. Now how about we g
o fix us some supper,” he said with a smile.

  “Ok. Are we having stew again?” She made a face at the thought. He knew that his cooking wasn’t very good. It had been part of what Abigail did around the house, and she was good at it too. He missed the cooking of a woman who knew her way around the kitchen.

  “Yes, we are. Maybe when Ms. Faith gets here, she will be able to cook us something else.”

  Her eyes cast downward at his words, and she didn’t say anything as she started forward.

  “Missy, you know what we talked about.”

  Her little face looked up with a frown, “I know Pa but I don’t understand why, at all,” she murmured.

  “Because you need someone to teach you to be a lady,” his hand lifted her chin up to look at him as he spoke. “You are getting older and need to know how to make dresses and be proper,” his eyes were sad when he thought of the things she was missing in her life without a mother. He planned on changing that, and soon.

  “I don’t get why. I don’t like dresses, no way Pa, and when it’s just the two of us I don’t need to be proper,” her little fists were planted on her hips as she looked at him.

  “It is anyway, not 'no way.' Besides, you are getting older. If your Ma were still here, she would want you to be a young lady. It’s time you got out of those trousers and mud and into something prettier,” he smiled as his hand caressed your cheek.

  “Do you think Ma is watching right now? Do you think she would want me to be a lady? Was she a lady, Pa?” her little face was turned up to look at the sky like she was looking for the woman they spoke of.

  “Yes, your Ma was a fine lady, and I think she would want you to be a proper lady as well. As for her watching honey, I think your Ma watches you constantly,” he said with a sad smile.

  “You think?” Her childish exuberance over the idea almost had him in tears.

  “Yes, I know she is. She was so excited when we found out about you that she glowed. It was the best time of her life she said having you in her bell,” he remembered how she would hold her belly and dance across the floor. That was when he had started to feel something for her. Something more than just friendship, but it never got to grow. She had been taken way too early.

  “Alright, Pa but first let’s just see who this lady is. Ok?”

  “Ok Missy, Ok,” He laughed as his daughter ran off in front of him towards the house.

  Elijah Jacobs was happy with his land. He had worked hard to turn it into a home. Now he had a four-bedroom ranch that sat on the land and two barns. He had wanted to see all the rooms filled with children at one time, but he didn’t think that was possible until his uncle had spoken to him about a woman in town. He told him that she was pretty, but she also had a good head on her shoulders. She would be able to teach Missy how to read and write and be a proper lady. It was what he wanted most for his daughter. She was full of spirit which sometimes got her in trouble, but she was a good girl most of the time. He didn’t know what would happen now. He just knew that he would be married again, and it would hopefully help Missy. That was his main goal at the moment.

  3

  The Journey

  The small bell over the door rang loudly showing her presence as Faith walked into the little store. It was time. Time for her departure.

  “Oh Faith, you look beautiful dear,” Mrs. Rosie came through the back doorway to see her standing there.

  “Thank you, ma’am. I didn’t really know what to wear,” she looked away embarrassed.

  “That is fine, honey. We will be going with the stage and staying overnight on the way in two different forts. I am sure, however, that Elijah is going to love you in no matter what you wear,” her smile spread even wider as she spoke about it.

  It took a while to load her luggage on the stage as she said goodbye to her family.

  “We will come out soon to visit. After you get settled and all,” her mother, Charity, had tears in her eyes that matched her own, and she sniffed softly to keep them back.

  “Come, my dear. This is a big thing for you. You should be excited. You will have your own ranch. That should make you happy. We will miss you dearly, but we will see you soon. I promise. You be a good wife,” her father hugged her tightly. It was so tight she was afraid she would suffocate if he didn’t release her soon.

  She turned to her sisters then and gave each of them a hug and said her goodbyes. They all had tears in their eyes at seeing her go, and she knew that being the oldest she needed to be brave and not cry. She needed to be the role model and give them the courage they needed to go find their own lives and adventures when the time came. Hope was the only one, as she rubbed her swollen stomach that had found her happiness. Robert, her husband, stood behind her proudly as he covered her shoulders with his hands. Faith hoped they were to have a boy. She smiled once more and waved before letting the driver help her into the coach. She was off to her new life.

  The ride finally came to a stop at the first fort.

  “Come, my dear. I am famished. Let's go do some window shopping while the men get us settled for the night,” Mrs. Rosie was like a small child as she took Faith’s hand in her own and pulled her toward the line of stores down from the hotel. What was supposed to be window shopping turned into real shopping when they went to the general store. She stood there looking at Faith and smiled as she held up bolt after bolt of fabric against her skin. After purchasing three bolts of fabric, she smiled at Faith. “It is a present from us to you on your wedding. I know that you have your mother’s dress for the day of your marriage, but I hope this will give you enough to make you three new dresses for afterward.”

  “Oh, thank you so much, Mrs. Rosie. I don’t really know what to say. Maybe there will be enough material to make some for his daughter as well,” she smiled at the older woman and watched her face glow.

  “My dear if you can get Missy to wear a dress then I will kiss you myself. That little girl is as wild as they come,” she laughed.

  “She sounds like Grace. Every time I would do the laundry she would go out in the mud holes, and I would have to wash them all over again. She never would wear a dress either. It wasn’t until Ma told her she would hide all her trousers if she didn’t start wearing dresses too. The funny thing is that, once she started wearing them, she never wanted to take them off. She wears dresses more than trousers now. I guess Ma was right when she said that she would come around,” she giggled at the memory of Grace in a dress for the first time. They turned down the next road and headed in the direction of the hotel.

  The next morning, they continued on their journey into the next fort. She was thankful that they only had half a day’s ride left before they would be at the edge of Wyoming and her new home. She was also scared and nervous all at the same time. That morning she woke early to make sure she put on her best dress and fixed her hair under her bonnet so that no little hairs poked out like they normally did.

  Faith couldn’t help but admire the land as they made their way into Wyoming some time later. It was as beautiful as Montana was with lush green grass and hills. They came to the gate of a ranch that had a huge circle on top of the gate. There were two lines going through the top of the circle, and the second line was made into a capital T. What does it stand for, she wondered.

  4

  Your New Home

  “Welcome to the Circle Bar-T Ranch, Faith. This will be your new home,” Mr. Jacobs' voice came to her then as her eyes widened. This would be her home? It was huge and beautiful. The more they drove up the drive, the more in love she fell with the ranch.

  They pulled to a stop outside of a huge ranch home. It was as big as her parents' home, and she was excited and eager to see what it looked like inside. Her eyes came to land on the man standing on the porch and the little girl standing beside him. He stepped forward and held onto the little girl’s hand.

  Faith let her gaze travel over the man. She didn’t know that he would be so handsome. His hair was dark brown and seemed
to have some curl to it. The front hung over his face just a little. His smile showed off a dimple in his left cheek. His eyes, however, are what held her still. They were a dark blue like sapphires. Needing to distract herself from him, her gaze moved to the little girl who looked just like her Pa. She had the same dark hair and eyes but her hair was straight and held up in a ponytail. She also had a cute little button nose instead of the prominent one her father had and her lips were a little fuller. It was as if from the eyes and up she was her father and from the nose and down she was someone else. Faith realized it must be her mother and smiled at the little girl as they made their way forward.

  “Miss Bernstein it is nice to meet you,” the man stepped forward as she held her hand out. She felt a quiver in her hand where his lips briefly kissed her knuckles.