by Faye Sonja
Clara frowned. “No. What's the matter?”
Eve shook her head. “Eddie came to talk to her and now I can't seem to find her anywhere. I'll ask around.”
Clara shook her head before breaking into a smile. “Recruit Benjamin to help find her.”
Eve smiled. “Good idea.” She padded Clara on the shoulder. “Enjoy your night,” she said before walking away.
Clara didn't have to be told twice. She turned to Joe and placed her head on his shoulder. They hugged, kissed again, and then turned their eyes towards the night sky. Clara held onto Joe, realizing for the first time, that she could hold the man she loved just like this every night for the rest of her life and how she’d almost missed the opportunity altogether. She would have, had it not been for her good friends, Eve and Florence. As a matter of fact, Clara probably never would’ve found love if it hadn’t been for the young general goods shopkeeper who’d seen her stranded out on the road and had brought her to the wonderful town of Haines, Kansas.
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Teaser Chapter
Here’s a sneak peek at Book3 of Florence’s story:
Plea of the Desperate Bride . . .
“Did you ever think I’d find this much happiness here?”
Benjamin Manning turned to his brother in the dark and met the pair of dark blue eyes that had once mirrored his own. Robert Manning was his identical twin; which gave them a deeper tie than ordinary brothers had. They’d spent most of their lives doing everything together; dressing alike, talking alike, eating and enjoying the same foods. They’d been inseparable, until this. Until they’d come to Haines, Kansas. All the way up to the day that Robert Manning had wed.
Ben turned back to the action at hand. Another firecracker shot vertically up into the air before bursting into a cloud of light; highlighting the joy on everyone’s face. ’Twas the night of Joe and Clara Dawson’s wedding, and for a woman who’d treated men like the plague, she sure knew how to plan a wedding. The day had been quite an extravaganza. The small country town had been floored by the hanging lights and the orchestrated music. Everything was just as grand as Clara’s personality. It was an impressive affair. Even Ben, who’d come from New York and had travelled the world, thought so.
“You know, brother,” Robert continued. “I’m sure if you made yourself seem more agreeable to the women in town, you’d easily find yourself a wife.” Robert’s smile brightened as a flash of light highlighted his features: a strong jaw, hard bone structure, and hair the color of flames, just like Benjamin; except for the almost angelic look in Robert’s eyes.
They were standing on the porch under the shade, a few feet away from everyone else who was sitting on the grass. The distance gave them privacy.
Ben chuckled to himself. “I’m not getting married, Robert.”
Robert was standing at the side of the porch, his hands grasped around the white wooden railing. “Why not? Mom and Dad have a good marriage.”
Ben nodded. “That they do.”
“And there’s always passing on the Manning name and the good genes.”
Ben laughed. “That too.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
Ben lowered his head, but peaked up at this brother through the bed of his lashes. A grin on his face. “Well, there are just so many women. How does a man pick just one?”
Robert’s eyes went wide. He turned fully around at his brother and laughed. “A truer statement has never been said.”
“So you agree?”
“Of course.”
“Then why marry?”
“Because, I wanted Eve more than any other woman.”
Ben crossed his arms. “You and Eve did not marry under normal circumstances. She needed to marry in order to keep her father’s business. You both didn’t really have the opportunity to choose one another.” Eve, Robert’s wife, owned a publishing company in town. Admittedly, the company, Haines Press, was known worldwide for producing some of the West’s most intriguing tales and mysteries. “Eve was forced to marry you and you only married her so that you could finally run your dream publishing company.”
“That was true. At first, it started as an obsession with Haines Press, but you knew that my interest in Eve Haines, the woman, grew from the moment of our first encounter.”
Ben nodded. “True, but it was not love at first sight, and you didn’t fall in love until after you were married.”
Robert nodded. “All true.”
“You took a risk being stuck with someone that you had the potential to hate later on. I don’t want to take that risk.”
Robert narrowed his eyes. “This coming from the man who’d once talked our teacher into recess all day.” Robert shook his head. “This does not sound like the Benjamin I know.”
Ben put a finger in the air. “Ah, but the odds were on my side. With love, the odds are not always in anyone’s favor. You lucked out with Eve, Robert.”
Robert frowned. “Love is not about luck, Ben. It’s about respect.”
Ben shook his head. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. Marriage is either pain or pleasure. You lucked out, Robert.”
Robert sighed. “No, Ben. Anyone can make it if they both put that at the forefront of their minds.”
Steps sounded in the distance. “What are you two talking about?” Eve came through the back door of the house. She looked at both men. “Have either of you seen Florence?”
Robert shook his head. “No. I thought she was out on the grass with everyone else?”
Eve sighed and shook her head. “No, Eddie showed up at the wedding and she excused herself. I haven’t seen her since.”
The mention of Eddie caused Ben’s stomach to lurch. “When’s the last time you saw her?”
Eve’s dark brows drew together; her hazel eyes full of worry. “I don’t know. An hour or so ago? I let her take him into the study.”
Ben leaned up from the wall. “I’ll go look for her.”
Robert put an arm around Eve’s shoulder and held his wife tightly. “I’m sure she’s alright. Eddie is her boyfriend after all.”
Eve looked at Robert. “Perhaps, you’re right.”
Ben started for the back doors of the house. “I’ll go make sure.”
“Thank you,” Eve said to his back as he entered the house. The first room from the back porch was the sitting room. Straight ahead was the front room. Ben could see the front door. On either side of the house sat twin staircases; underneath them laid twin hallways that led to other rooms. The house was large and was more like a mansion of sorts. Ben started right, choosing to go down the hall that would lead to the ballroom which had been used for the wedding feast. The savory smell of the delicious chicken dinner still hung in the air in the otherwise empty room. The gas lit chandeliers were still giving off their low, romantic hue. Dining tables lined the walls. The wait staff had cleared the tables of all the used dishes, but the food was left out, no doubt readily available for anyone who’d feel the need to wander back in for seconds or thirds.
Benjamin left the room, but turned back to grab a roll from a tray near the door when he heard a clatter come from the other side of the room. There was a door that led to a kitchen. A light was coming from within. He paused. There was no noise. He headed that direction anyway.
He pushed the door open and saw a scene that didn’t make sense at first. Florence was sitting in the corner on the floor. Her eyes were wide, showing white. Her skin was pale. Her blonde, almost white hair, which was normally in a state of perfection was tossed and thrown all over her face. She looked at Ben and moved her mouth, speaking, but all Ben could see was the cut on her lip. There was blood.
Ben turned and collided with a small man with dark angry eyes. Eddie. Eddie balled his fists and turned to Florence.
“I told you to keep quiet, woman.”
Florence’s hands came up. “Please, Eddie. Don’t—”
“I’m tired of hearing you talk, woman.” Eddie’s hand came up. “You ruined everything!”
Florence shouted. “No!”
Eddie’s fisted hand began to come down and then stopped.
Ben looked at his hand, which was now around Eddie’s fist. Both men stared at one another. Eddie’s eyes looked bewildered. Ben tilted his head; watching Eddie in confusion. Nothing made sense. He turned, slowly to Florence. “Did he hit you?”
Florence’s eyes darted around the room. She covered her lips with her hand. “Don’t hurt him, Ben.”
Ben’s eyes went wide. A pull came on his hand and he realized, for the first time, that the little man beside him was struggling to gain control of his fist. Eddie opened his mouth, showing rows of yellow teeth. “You better mind your business, Manning boy. This ain’t got nothin’ to do with you.”
Ben stared at the shorter man and shook his head. He’d never been in this kind of situation before. He studied Eddie. “Did you actually hit her?”
Eddie frowned, now yanking more obviously on his arm. His words showed his strain. “I’ve gone tired of her sassing me. She grew brave today, but I’m not to stand for it. She’s gotta know her place.”
Ben shook his head. He turned to Florence. “Has he hit you before?”
Florence shook her head, wildly. There was water in her eyes. “I never thought—”
Eddie cut her off. “You shut your mouth, you—”
There was a scream. A smack. One minute, Eddie was standing. The next, he was down with Ben standing over him. Florence was at the down man’s side. Eddie groaned.
The first flick of heat began to spread within Ben. He was hot. And then the next minute, a cool began to spread. The cool spread like liquid over the heat and seemed to give Ben tunnel vision. “Eddie. Bad. Must get rid of Eddie,” Ben thought.
Ben leaned down on one knee and looked at the hurt man who still had the nerve to show his anger through his pain. Florence grabbed Ben’s hand. Ben’s eye came up to meet hers. Florence’s eyes were a deep lavender; the most beautiful pair of eyes Ben had ever seen. Her blond hair cradled her pale face. Her pink lips stained with blood. “Ben, don’t.”
Ben’s voice was calm. “This is not okay, Florence.”
Her hold on Ben’s hand tightened. She nodded repeatedly. “I know. I know, but don’t hurt him, Ben. Please, just go.”
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SEE HOW THE STORY ENDS . . . .
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Also By Faye Sonja
Brides & Miracle Babies
Book 1: : The Barren Bride and The Abandoned Baby
Book 2: The Miracle Bride and The Baby
Book 3: The Broken Bride and Her Lost Babies
Western Brides Love
Book 1: : The Heir Longing For His Reluctant Bride
Book 2: The Pregnant & Unwanted Bride
Book 3: The Shunned Bride for Her Amish Suitor
Western Brides Romance in Golden Valley
Book 1: The Mayor Meeting His Scarred & Rejected Bride
Book 2: The Heroic Cowboy Meeting His Broken & Fearful Bride
Book 3: The Lawyer Meeting His Gallant & Burned Bride
Love Blossoms in Redstone
Book 1: Desperate Bride Mistaken Her Undertaker William
Book 2: Reserved Bride Mistaken Her Pariah Edward
Book 3: Curious Bride Mistaken Her Debt Collector Timothy
Brides of Salt Lake City
Book 1:Ada’s Secret
Book 2:Anna’s Desire
Book 3:Emma’s Burden
Brides of Haines Press
Book 1:Yearning of the Reluctant Bride
Book 2:Denial of the Resistant Bride
Book 3:Plea of the Desperate Bride
Three Brides for Three War Comrades
Book 1: Lost, Abandoned & Secured by Her One-Arm Hero
Book 2: Ashamed, Beaten & Saved by Her Burned Hero
Book 3: Pregnant, Widowed & Protected by Her Flawed Hero
Brides of El Paso Series
Book 1: The Governor’s Half-Blind Scarred Bride
Book 2:The Rich Man’s Orphaned and Pregnant Bride
Book 3: The Doctor’s Flawed Bride with a Lisp
Mail Order Brides of Western Romance Series
Book 1: The Crippled Bride and The Ambitious Miner
Book 2: The Silent Bride and The Hesitant Widower
Book 3: The Deaf Bride and The Sensible Teacher
Brides of Perry Lake series
Book 1:The Big Feisty Bride Tamed By Her Scarred Banker
Book 2: The Blind Bride’s Heart Won by Her Famed Pastor
Book 3: The Barren Bride Claimed By Her Bad Wild Marshal
The Archer Sisters Series
Book 1: Adeline - The Strong-willed Bride for Her Lonely Farmer
Book 2: Amelia- The Idealistic Bride for Her Insecure Rancher
Book 3: Averill- The Careful Bride for Her Impulsive Sheriff
This book is copyright © 2016 by FAYE SONJA.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or deceased, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
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Cover Designed by Kevin Farnell.
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