Undeniable - Book One: The Oregon Trail Series

by Laura Stapleton

  “I’m a love of your lifetime, almost as much as Sally was?”

  “Yes, almost.” Before she could reply, he added, “You and I aren’t even engaged and we’d need to be married just to make sure.”

  “Need to be, hm?” She smiled at his flimsy argument. “I’m not so sure about marrying a man just to prove him right.”

  Samuel startled them by asking, “Beth, Do I need to get Calhoon over here to marry you?”

  “She is not ever marrying that man, Sam,” he replied with a smile. “I forbid it.”

  He squatted down to his brother’s eye level and retorted, “He’s the only minister in a twenty mile range, and his feelings might be hurt if you refuse to let him.”

  “Oh.”

  Beth pulled away from Nicholas and stood, straightening out her skirt. Saying yes would be the easy thing for her to do. They’d not discussed a future together. Daggart’s very existence had forbidden them. She bit her lip, and saw him still sitting there, looking up at her like a lost puppy. She didn’t want to say no but didn’t feel comfortable accepting a proposal. “I’m not sure.”

  He hopped to his feet. “What can I do to help you decide in my favor? Shall I draw up a list of my assets, my educational history, my family tree, or even have Sam speak for me?”

  Samuel wore an evil grin. “You know I won’t be kind to him.”

  Both men stared at her as if willing Beth to give them the answer Nicholas wanted. All this would be much more amusing if she weren’t so tired and hungry all of a sudden. “Gentlemen, let’s discuss this after dinner.”

  “I don’t want to wait.” Nicholas crossed his arms. “I love you, can provide whatever you need, and have a solid family in Oregon. We could even move back to Missouri. I have a house there.”

  Samuel laughed. “Make him take you to Oregon. He has more land there and can build you a bigger shack than the house he has in Missouri.”

  “You’re not helping,” Nicholas growled.

  “Neither are you. Let’s feed Miss…?”

  “Roberts,” offered Beth.

  “Roberts, and then pester her into accepting you. Tell her how much land our family has, how much our mother wanted a daughter, and don’t forget to mention that you won’t be home much. That’ll convince her.”

  “Sam.”

  She frowned. If she did marry him, she wanted him with her most days. “Why won’t you be home?”

  The younger brother stepped between them, telling Beth, “He’s not been back since Sally died and won’t be used to taking orders from a woman.”

  Behind him, Nicholas tapped his brother on the shoulder. “Don’t you have something else to do that’s anywhere but here?”

  “I’m going, I’m going.” Samuel headed out toward the wagon party, hollering, “Be sure to tell her you’re kinder to everyone else than you are to me,” as he left.

  Once certain his brother was gone, Nicholas’s cheek brushed hers as he leaned forward then back to take her hands. “Elizabeth, we’re only a third of the way home, and yes, our home is in Oregon. Before you can argue, you need to know that anything can happen between here and there. Most of it will be bad while some of it might be good. The only certainty I have about the trail ahead is that I want to travel it as your husband.” Keeping hold of her hands, he knelt on one knee. “I need you in my life and can promise you’ll always be first in my heart.”

  Beth’s heart pleaded with her to believe him. Seeing how his eyes echoed her own feelings added to the argument. “I don’t know if you can say that. Daggart wanted—”

  “He isn’t me, Elizabeth. I want you for yourself, not as some sad replacement for Sally. I can never be her husband again, but I can be yours and that’s all I want for the rest of my life. If we’re married, I’ll prove it to you every day.”

  She wanted to take him in her arms and never let go. “Well, then. It looks like Mr. Calhoon is marrying me after all.” She helped up her groom. “Or rather, marrying us. Let’s go find him and make arrangements for the ceremony.”

  On his feet, he asked, “To be clear, you’re saying yes to marrying me?”

  She wrapped her arms around Nicholas, kissing his face. “I’m saying yes very much, so shall we go?”

  “Of course, my future Mrs. Granville.” He laughed when she tickled him by nuzzling his neck. “Sam was right about everything except my being away from you. After suffering through one night of not knowing where you were, I’m never letting that happen again.”

  She pulled away to squint at him. “Are you sure your mother won’t mind your marrying me and you have enough land for Erleen, maybe some chickens, and a garden?”

  “Horses, more than one cow, crops, a pond, a good well, all of it.” He kissed her forehead before moving to the tip of her nose and lips. “And my mother is going to love you.”

  A little premonition of a wonderful future with Nicholas went through her thoughts when she stared into his eyes. No other doubts clouded her mind and she smiled before taking a step back, pulling him with her. “Then let’s get married. I’ll need to make an honest man out of you, so we can start enjoying our nights together.”

  The complete Oregon Trail Series

  Undeniable

  Beth Ann Roberts made her father a deathbed promise to be a wife to her deceased sister’s husband, Daggart Bartlett. When Daggart sells the farm to join the Gold Rush, Beth must go with him, never expecting how much her life will change.

  Nicholas Granville is forced by his brother to help a group as they travel the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Oregon. Mourning his late wife, Nick's heart began healing the moment he saw Beth.

  Now, the couple must find a way to fight a love that is undeniable.

  Undesirable

  Marie Warren worked to make the best of a journey west with her husband and his sister. Going from living on a plantation to walking along their wagon, she enjoyed making friends and planning her life in the Oregon Territory. Her life begins to change when the wrong man steps into her room at the right time.

  Samuel Granville is guiding a group to Oregon Territory in an effort to forget a broken heart. When he's asked by Marie's husband to retrieve her, Sam sees Marie in a saloon dress and can't shake his desire for her. Leading them west, Sam learns Charles Warren's shameful secret and why the man finds his wife so undesirable.

  Uncivilized

  Adelard Du Boise disregarded most people’s snap judgments of him. He knew that as a French-Indian, he’d fit in nowhere and everywhere at the same time. When Ellen Winslow captured his mind and heart, Del knew he’d do whatever it took to win her love.

  Ellen’s father, stepmother, and two little brothers kept her mind and body busy while headed west. So much so that she didn’t have time or attention to give to a lovesick pest of a savage, no matter how handsome or well-mannered he seemed. To her, Del would always be uncivilized.

  About the Author

  With an overactive imagination and a love for writing, Laura Stapleton decided to type out her daydreams and what if's. She currently lives in Kansas City with her husband, daughter, dog, and a few cats. When not at the computer, you'll find her in the park for a jog or at the yarn store's clearance section.

  If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving me a review. I’d love to learn more about my readers so if you prefer, you can contact me via the links below. I always welcome constructive advice and hoped you liked reading this story.

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