Strawberry-blond curls sprung up around the girl’s head like a downy halo while copper-colored eyes snapped with mischief and excitement. Allie thought Lily looked like a little autumn fairy in her coral and cream striped frock.
“I suppose I am tall for a girl,” Allie said, grinning at the charming child. “Do you think I’ll grow into a giant?”
“No!” Lily giggled and shook her head, making her curls dance. “You’ll be a princess and live with a handsome prince and eat cake twice a day.”
“Twice a day? My, goodness! Wouldn’t that be something?” Allie asked, accepting the plate of food Hattie handed to her. Tiny sandwiches, fruit-filled tarts, and buttery cookies made her mouth water. She took a bite and forced herself not to eat like a mannerless heathen. Already feeling out of place in the Greenfield’s immaculate home in her simple calico dress, she didn’t want to draw any more attention to herself.
“Yep! I’d eat cake twice a day if Mama would let me,” Lily said. She scampered over to her mother and plopped down beside her then took a bite of a cookie Jemma gave her.
Jemma turned to Allie with a pleasant smile. “Miss Tillman, if you don’t mind my asking, whom did you come to wed?”
“Joe Lambery. Do you know him?” Allie asked. Surely, someone would be able to locate her missing fiancé.
Jemma shook her head. “I don’t, although his name seems familiar for some reason. When my husband arrives, we’ll ask him. He knows most people in the area.”
Allie nodded and focused on eating the food on her plate and sipping her tea. “Are you all related?”
Hattie Greenfield shot Jemma a motherly look then turned her attention back to her guest. “No, dear. Mr. Greenfield and I used to work for Jemma’s family, when we all lived in England. Jemma’s sister wed a man named Henry Jordan and they blessed us with two delightful children. Sadly, Jane passed away, and then Henry. Jemma took over raising both children. Henry’s brother, Thane, came to settle his estate, only to discover the existence of Jemma and the children. They wed and moved to America, but we missed Jemma and the children so terribly, we decided to come to Baker City to be near them.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Abruptly realizing what she’d said, she darted a glance at Jemma. “I don’t mean about your sister and her husband dying. I just meant it’s wonderful you all are so close and can be together.”
She wondered what it would be like to be loved so much someone would follow you across an ocean and the country. She’d traveled across half of America to wed a stranger but he hadn’t even possessed the courtesy to show up to meet her. Her experience with men was limited to her pa and brothers. What she knew from dealing with them left her rather wary of the male species.
The door opened and the jangle of spurs rang into the parlor before a brawny, handsome man stepped into the parlor, holding a cowboy hat in one hand. He looked so much like the vision Allie held of her rancher, she stared at him in fascination, taking him in from the top of his head to the tips of his dusty boots.
Lily ran to him with her arms outstretched. “Daddy!”
“Hi, honey. Are you being a good girl?” he asked, moving farther into the room.
Allie watched as his eyes softened when they landed on Jemma and he shot her a tender smile. There was nothing she wanted more in the world than to be loved like that, but her lot in life was to make do with what she could get. Apparently, she couldn’t even get the groom who’d sent for her.
Jemma stood and tipped up her cheek as Thane pressed a kiss to it. He offered a greeting to Hattie and Edwin Greenfield then noticed Allie.
“Thane, this is Miss Allie Tillman. She just arrived on this afternoon’s train,” Jemma said, making introductions. “Miss Tillman, this is my husband, Thane Jordan.”
Thane politely tipped his head and offered her an amiable grin. “Nice to meet you, Miss Tillman. Welcome to Baker City. What brings you to town?”
Allie rose to her feet, noting Thane’s surprised look when she stood only a few inches shorter than his tall height. “Please, call me Allie. To answer your question, Mr. Jordan, I came as a mail-order bride, but the man I’m to wed didn’t meet the train. The ticket agent wasn’t sure when he’d be in town.”
Thane shifted Lily in his arms to free a hand and accepted a cookie from the platter of sweets Hattie held out to him. He gave her an appreciative nod, but turned back to Allie. “What’s the name of the fellow who sent for you?”
“Joe Lambery.” Allie’s eyes widened in shock when Thane choked on the cookie he’d popped into his mouth. He handed Lily to Jemma while Edwin whacked him on the back and Hattie poured him a cup of tea.
Thane swallowed the contents of the teacup in a gulp. He coughed one more time before pinning Allie with a penetrating glare. “Joe Lambery? Are you sure that’s the name?”
“Yes. That’s what the letter said.” Allie opened the carpetbag she’d left by the chair and pulled out the newspaper advertisement and the letter Joe had sent to her.
Thane read the newspaper advertisement aloud:
Handsome, wealthy rancher, 27 years of age, seeks a bride to share home in Eastern Oregon. Lady between 18 and 30, of gentle disposition with love of outdoors preferred. To correspond…
He scanned the letter then handed it and the advertisement back to her with his jaw clenched in irritation.
“Thane? What is it?” Jemma asked, placing a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Not what. Who.” Thane motioned for Allie to take a seat. Once she did, he and Jemma sat on the sofa. “Look, Miss Tillman, you seem like a sensible girl, a nice girl. That’s why you can’t marry Joe. I don’t know what inspired him to send for a bride, but the only thing in that advertisement that might be remotely close to the truth is that he’s twenty-seven. He’s not wealthy, doesn’t own anything beyond his horse and saddle, and the handsome part is farfetched considering he’s missing a few teeth and has never had more than a passing acquaintance with soap and water. Joe is a lazy, mean, worthless cuss. I have to assume the only reason he wants a bride is because your train ticket was cheaper than continuing to spend what little money he has at the Rusty Nugget on har…” Thane grunted as Jemma’s elbow connected with his ribs. The disapproving glower from his wife caused him to alter his statement. “Female companionship of a disreputable nature.”
Allie’s face lost all color and she leaned back in the chair. Lightheaded, she struggled to make sense of what Mr. Jordan said. According to the man sitting across from her, Joe Lambery was a liar and sent for her because he couldn’t afford to continue seeking out soiled doves.
Precariously balanced on the edge of shock, Allie worked to swallow the bitter bile rising in her throat. What had she done? What had she gotten herself into by agreeing to marry a man who misrepresented himself and his ability to provide for a wife?
Jemma set Lily down and snatched up a fan. She flicked it open and waved it in front of Allie’s face. “All will be well, Allie. We won’t allow him to marry you.”
Thane offered her a look of encouragement. “We certainly won’t. Believe me when I say the last thing you want to do is marry Joe Lambery. You’d be signing up for a lifetime of regret and misery. No one deserves that.”
Allie glanced at the two couples as they hovered around her. “But I don’t know what I’ll do. He paid for my train ticket and I don’t have money to pay him back.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing,” Hattie said, patting Allie’s hand. “You’ll stay here with us until you decide what you’d like to do.”
“That’s why I offered her a position with us, love,” Edwin said, smiling at his wife. “You know, that special position we need to fill.”
Hattie patted Allie’s hand again, fully aware they didn’t need any help and there wasn’t any special position. Obviously, the girl needed a job and they’d give her one. “It’s settled then, Allie. You’ll work for us and that’s that.”
Overwhelmed by the kindness of these
people she’d just met, Allie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at her strange, completely unexpected situation.
“Have a tart, Miss Tillman. It’ll make you feel all better,” Lily said, placing a tart on a plate and handing it to Allie.
Allie accepted the sweet. “Thank you, Lily. I believe it will.”
Later, after the Jordan family left with a promise to check in on her in a few days, Hattie showed Allie upstairs to a bedroom near the back stairs.
The woman opened the door to the sunny room and stood back, allowing Allie to enter. “I hope you don’t mind this room. It’s a tad small, but it’s comfortable and quiet.”
Allie took in the pale yellow curtains fluttering in the afternoon breeze. A yellow and white quilt covered the bed, a beautiful braided rug rested on the gleaming floor, and matching maple furniture shone from a recent polish.
Sunshine spilled through the sparkling windows, making Allie long to stand in the beams to soak up the warmth and light.
She turned to her hostess. “Oh, Mrs. Greenfield, I couldn’t stay here. It’s too lovely, too…”
Hattie squeezed her hand and smiled. “It’s your room for as long as you like. The bathroom is directly across the hall. You’ll share it with two other boarders. Some of the rooms have private baths, but not all.”
Impulsively, Allie gave her a hug.
The woman hugged her back then pulled away with a smile. “I serve dinner at six, breakfast at seven, and lunch at noon.”
“I reckon we better get to fixing something for supper.” Allie set her carpetbag on the floor by the bed then turned back to Hattie, ready to work.
Hattie laughed and shook her head. “For today, you are a guest, Allie Tillman. Do anything you like this afternoon. Take a nap. Sit on the swing out back. Go for a walk. Read a book.”
“I can’t read a lick, although my Ma tried more times than you can count to teach me,” Allie admitted. “But sitting in a swing sounds nice. I don’t have a hankering to wander around town and I’m too wound up to settle down for a nap. Besides, I haven’t had one of those since I was in diapers.”
Hattie grinned and held out a hand to Allie. “In that case, come with me and I’ll show you the swing.”
The two women walked down the back stairs and along a short hallway to the kitchen. Hattie opened the back door and they stepped outside onto a shaded porch. A large fenced yard held a variety of flowers and plants. Birds darted among the feeders and flowers, happily chirping. A large swing hung from thick ropes tied around a sturdy branch of a tree at the back corner of the yard.
“It’s perfect, Mrs. Greenfield!” Allie meandered down the steps, admiring the profusion of flowers blooming around the yard. Foxglove, hollyhocks, bellflowers, sweet peas, and pinks scented the air while providing a burst of color. “Everything is so pretty.”
“Thank you, Allie. Please, call me Hattie and my husband Edwin. There is no need to be so formal among friends.” Hattie smiled at her again. “Come in when you’re ready. You have nearly two hours before we eat, so enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Hattie.” Allie sat down on the swing big enough for two and grabbed the rope in her hands. By some unexplainable miracle, she’d gone from a jilted, homeless bride to having a job in a home that seemed more like a castle than a house. It was by far the nicest place she’d ever been. And to think, she’d get to stay there for as long as she liked.
Her long legs pumped as she set the swing into motion and let her thoughts wander. Worry niggled at her about Joe Lambery, about what he would do when she refused to marry him. Determined not to let it steal the joy of the moment, she jumped off the swing and hurried inside, intent on earning her keep.
Available now on Amazon!
Never miss a new book release!
Sign up for my newsletter today!
Shanna’s Newsletter
It’s fast, easy, and only comes out when new books are released
or extremely exciting news happens.
Baker City Brides Series
Determined women, strong men and a town known as the Denver of the Blue Mountains during its days of gold in the 1890s.
Tad’s Treasure (Baker City Brides, Prequel) — Tad Palmer makes a promise to his dying friend to watch over the man’s wife and child. Will his heart withstand the vow when he falls in love with the widow and her son?
Crumpets and Cowpies (Baker City Brides, Book 1) — Rancher Thane Jordan reluctantly travels to England to settle his brother’s estate only to find he’s inherited much more than he could possibly have imagined.
"Thane and Jemma are a perfectly snarky fit for each other, able to fling era-appropriate zingers with a passion and precision seldom done so well in a historical."
Julie York — InD'tale Magazine
Thimbles and Thistles (Baker City Brides, Book 2) — Maggie Dalton doesn't need a man, especially not one as handsome as charming as Ian MacGregor.
Corsets and Cuffs (Baker City Brides, Book 3) — Sheriff Tully Barrett meets his match when a pampered woman comes to town, catching his eye and capturing his heart.
Bobbins and Boots (Baker City Brides, Book 4) — Carefree cowboy Ben Amick ventures into town to purchase supplies… and returns home married to another man’s mail-order bride.
Pendleton Petticoats Series
Set in the western town of Pendleton, Oregon, at the turn of the 20th century, each book in this series bears the name of the heroine, all brave yet very different.
Dacey — A conniving mother, a reluctant groom and a desperate bride make for a lively adventure full of sweet romance in this prelude to the beginning of the series.
Aundy (Book 1) — Aundy Thorsen, a stubborn mail-order bride, finds the courage to carry on when she's widowed before ever truly becoming a wife, but opening her heart to love again may be more than she can bear.
Caterina (Book 2) — Running from a man intent on marrying her, Caterina Campanelli starts a new life in Pendleton, completely unprepared for the passionate feelings stirred in her by the town's incredibly handsome deputy sheriff.
Ilsa (Book 3) — Desperate to escape her wicked aunt and an unthinkable future, Ilsa Thorsen finds herself on her sister's ranch in Pendleton. Not only are the dust and smells more than she can bear, but Tony Campanelli seems bent on making her his special project.
Marnie (Book 4) — Beyond all hope for a happy future, Marnie Jones struggles to deal with her roiling emotions when U.S. Marshal Lars Thorsen rides into town, tearing down the walls she’s erected around her heart.
Lacy (Book 5) — Bound by tradition and responsibilities, Lacy has to choose between the ties that bind her to the past and the unexpected love that will carry her into the future.
Bertie (Book 6) — Haunted by the trauma of her past, Bertie Hawkins must open her heart to love if she has any hope for the future.
Millie (Book 7) — Determined to bring prohibition to town, the last thing Millie Matlock expects is to fall for the charming owner of the Second Chance Saloon.
Dally (Book 8) — Eager to return home and begin his career, Doctor Nik Nash is caught by surprise when the spirited Dally Douglas captures his heart.
Grass Valley Cowboys Series
Meet the Thompson family of the Triple T Ranch in Grass Valley, Oregon. Three handsome brothers, their rowdy friends, and the women who fall for them are at the heart of this sweet contemporary western romance series.
The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan (Book 1) — Cadence Greer’s plans for a happy-ever-after are quickly derailed when her fiancé runs off with his secretary a week before their wedding. Homeless, jobless, and jilted, she escapes to Grass Valley, Oregon, where she takes a job as a housekeeper and cook to seven cowboys on a sprawling ranch.
The Cowboy’s Spring Romance (Book 2) — Trent Thompson has carried a torch for the new schoolteacher since she moved to Grass Valley more than three years ago. Instead of asking her out, he’s dated every single female in a thirty-mile radius, giving her the imp
ression he’s not interested in her at all.
The Cowboy’s Summer Love (Book 3) — Always the wild-child, Travis Thompson doesn’t disappoint as he rolls from one adventure to another in his quest to keep his adrenaline pumping. He needs a release for the tension constantly building inside him, especially after he discovers the girl he’s loved his entire life just moved back to Grass Valley.
The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall (Book 4) — Brice Morgan thought love at first sight was some ridiculous notion of schoolgirls and old ladies who read too many romance novels. At least he does until he meets Bailey Bishop at a friend’s wedding and falls hard and fast for the intriguing woman.
The Cowboy’s New Heart (Book 5) — Years after her husband died unexpectedly, Denni Thompson can’t bear to think of giving her heart to anyone else. With three newly married sons, a grandchild on the way, and a busy life, Denni doesn’t give a thought to romance until she meets the handsome new owner of Grass Valley’s gas station.
The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye (Book 6) — With his siblings and friends all entangled in the state of matrimony, Ben Morgan is more determined than ever to remain blissfully single. Despite his vehement refusal to commit to a relationship, he can’t help but envision a future with the sweet, charming woman who unknowingly captures his heart.
Books by Shanna Hatfield
FICTION
HISTORICAL
Baker City Brides
Tad’s Treasure
Crumpets and Cowpies
Thimbles and Thistles
Corsets and Cuffs
Corsets and Cuffs: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 3) Page 30