Owen

by Christine Sterling

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Meet the Chapmans

  Leave a Review

  Read all of Christine’s Books

  About Christine

  Owen

  Owen Chapman has dreams as big as the Nebraska sky. What happens when a body turns up on the Chapman ranch and the dead man’s bride comes calling demanding answers?

  Owen Chapman’s plans of starting his own horse ranch are finally coming true. With his brothers as his business partners, he knows there is no way to fail. What he didn’t expect was a southern belle to arrive and resurrect a ten-year feud that he thought was finally in the past.

  Elenore ‘Ellie’ Brooks longs for marriage, children, adventure and a life out West. When her plans change, she answers an advertisement for a mail order bride. But when she arrives in Flat River, Nebraska nothing is as she imagined and she finds herself pushed off on a local family until she can return home. What she didn’t count on was the broody oldest brother and the way he made her question her choices in life.

  Can Ellie convince Owen not to send her back home on the next stage leaving town? Will Owen be able to let her go when the dead man's brother comes calling, hoping for Ellie’s hand in marriage?

  Praise for The Chapman Saga

  Here is just some of the praise received for this brand new family saga of life under the Nebraska sky!

  This is a great story. I love all the characters especially Owen. I can't wait to read the rest of the stories. – R.M.

  I'm loving this series! – D.H.

  A great beginning of a family saga, and a great romance all on its own. – S.K.

  A beautiful story about heartache, rivalry, and maybe (just maybe) about healing! What a surprise at the end!– J.L.

  I am so excited about this series. I especially love Family Saga's about carving out a future! My heart is full reading this! – S.S.

  The Chapmans are an amazing series. I’ve been waiting patiently for its release! The closeness and problems, heartaches and smiles families shared back in the day are so beautifully written. – M.M.

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  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, Jesus for continuing to guide my pen. I am so grateful for all the blessings you bestow every single day.

  Always to my husband Dan who believes in me no matter what. I love you, sweetheart.

  I am so inspired by my three beautiful daughters, Rebecca, Nora and Elizabeth. You teach me something new every day.

  I couldn’t do this without my team of editors and proofreaders – Carolyn and Amy, thank you for making me look good! Any mistakes that are in the document are solely mine!

  Thank you to Virginia McKevitt for creating the most incredible covers for this series. I love you, sister!

  Dedication

  To my dear friends, Terri Lorah and Lauren Sorgaard, who were the biggest cheerleaders while this was being written! I love you!

  Thank you to the Chapman Street Team for making this entire series possible!

  These amazing individuals read each chapter of this book as it was being developed and provided such amazing feedback! They also named about 90% of the characters! I appreciate every single one of you!

  Amy Petrowich

  Dolores Howard

  Jocelyn Logan

  Laura Park

  Lauren Sorgaard,

  Marcia Montoya

  Paulette Marshall

  Rhonda Myers

  Sandra White

  Sandy Sorola

  Sue Krznaric

  Theresa Baer

  Zeinab Dehayni

  Zona Fannin

  Thank you to Sue for providing Ellie’s back story.

  Thank you to Zona for suggesting the name of Flat River for my fictional town.

  www.thechapmansaga.com

  Prologue

  Spring 1871

  Atlanta, Georgia

  Elenore Elizabeth Brooks blinked back tears. It was two days before her wedding, and she couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.

  Why hadn’t he told her before now?

  Why did he let her just ramble on about her dreams, if he had no intention of living them with her?

  Why. Why. Why?

  She constantly spoke of having a love-filled marriage, children and living somewhere out West. Arlo Lloyd told her that he wanted those things too. An opportunity to leave Atlanta and travel the rails on his father’s train would be a perfect honeymoon.

  Turns out it was a lie. He wanted to stay in Atlanta. Near that woman.

  “Stop your crying, Ellie Beth.”

  Arlo was sneering at her. His otherwise handsome face contorted into something sinister. She had been called by a diminutive version of her name ever since she was a child. Arlo never referred to her by her name as he thought it was juvenile and silly. Hearing her nickname drip from his mouth was like poison to her soul.

  “You know I hate crying.” He rolled his shoulders and shook his head as if trying to dispel something clinging to him. “Once we are married, you won’t be crying so much. And if you do…” He tapped the belt around his waist in warning.

  “You would beat me?” Tears gave way to an anger burning deep in her belly. “You wouldn’t.”

  He leaned over her, the scent of the cologne he wore gagging her as he moved closer. “It kept my Ma in line, and I’ll use it to keep you in line.”

  She believed him. Mrs. Lloyd cowered under her husband and son. Ellie pretended not to see the bruises as Mrs. Lloyd tugged on her shirt sleeves. Mr. Lloyd was known for his quick temper and violent episodes when drunk.

  She wondered why Mrs. Lloyd stayed in a marriage that seemed so harsh.

  Appearances.

  Everything was about appearances.

  Arlo was so charming when she first met him. All the ladies were enamored with him. So much so, she wasn’t sure why he wanted to court someone like her. She was simply a banker’s daughter. He was the son of a wealthy railroad tycoon.

  When he proposed, her family announced it in all the papers. Their wedding was to be the event of the season.

  Then his behavior started to change – ever so slightly. She heard the rumors – why would a wealthy man who could court almost anyone he wanted, be with a girl as plain and old as Ellie Beth?

  Twenty wasn’t that old. Granted, most girls in town were married before now, but she just hadn’t found the right person. She knew she could lose a few pounds and her nose pointed slightly left; but her crooked nose came from a stickball injury at school. It never healed the same again.

  Her family, although they were well off, were not anywhere near as wealthy as the Lloyds. She almost thought she was imagining things, until her friend Polly informed her that Arlo was found in an inappropriate position with a young lady.

  She didn’t want to listen to the rumors that he was dabbling with a few women in town. But they ate at her and she finally confronted him.

  When she
would ask him about these things she saw or heard, he told her that she imagined it, or that she misunderstood the conversation. Then he would lecture her on not questioning him again, or not to worry, that everything would settle down once they married.

  She even tried to call off the wedding, but her mother talked her out of it. What would people think? So, she cowed and did as she was directed. Well not any longer. She made a mental list of everything she had learned over the past few weeks about her intended. She would cling to this moment in case he became charming again and tried to win her back. He had done so several times before.

  She had no desire to stay in Atlanta. It was hot during the summers and wet in the winters. The city was growing, and she wanted to be somewhere else. Somewhere where the sky was blue, and the land stretched as far as the eye could see.

  “I will not marry you.”

  Arlo grabbed her arm and lifted her from the chair. She tried to yank away, but he held fast. She knew she would have bruises where his fingers dug into her arm. “You will. I will not be made a laughingstock, Elenore Elizabeth.”

  “The only laughingstock will be me for not doing this sooner.” Ellie winced as she yanked her arm from his grip. “I don’t know why you would want to marry me anyway. I’m nothing like those … those… harlots, you have been spending time with.”

  Arlo laughed. “You could take a lesson from those … harlots, as you call them. You will marry me, Elenore, and you’ll provide me with a son. My father thinks you are good breeding stock. I need an heir.”

  “Breeding stock? I am not a cow!”

  “After our wedding, there will be no reason for you to leave the house. You’ll stay there, I’ll keep the company I want to keep and keep my father happy by providing an heir.”

  “What about me?” Ellie cried. “What do I get? I had plans, Arlo. Plans I’ve dreamed about since I was a little girl.”

  “I know your plans. You were silly to think about going out West. Nothing but savages… and more savages.” Arlo began to pace the floor. “I have no intention of going anywhere. My father isn’t well, and I need to begin to think about taking over the company and his fortune.” He turned on his heel and looked at Ellie. “Just think, Elenore, as my wife, you won’t have to be worried about becoming a spinster. You’ll have my good name, all the money you desire, and you’ll be grateful for any attention I provide you.”

  “I can’t listen to this,” Ellie said. She moved past him, picking up her wrap as she moved towards the door.

  “If you leave, Elenore Elizabeth, you can never come back.”

  “Go back to your women and whiskey. I won’t be any part of that.” As she approached the door, she noticed Mrs. Lloyd standing in the hallway. Ellie took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to the older woman as she walked past her.

  The words were so soft, Ellie had to strain to hear them.

  Glad you got out. Good luck.

  Suddenly they could hear Arlo yelling for his mother from the study. Ellie’s ears blushed at the language filling the air. She watched the color drain from Mrs. Lloyd’s face as she scurried towards the study. The door to the study slammed and Ellie quickly headed out the door.

  Chapter One

  Ellie grimaced as light filled the room, waking her up from the most delicious dream. She dreamed of riding a horse through the flat land with the wind in her hair. She was being pursued by a man, and she laughed encouragement for him to continue the chase.

  She rode a silver horse with a dark mane. He rode a black horse with a temperament as wild as the great outdoors. They rode to a creek underneath a clump of trees and dismounted, dropping the reins so the animals could rest from the race.

  The man walked over with purposeful strides and gathered Ellie up in his arms. His face was covered by a large hat that was pulled down in the front. His mouth moved, but Ellie couldn’t make out the words, as his voice was silent. As he pulled her closer, leaning down to kiss her lips, the dream always ended.

  She knew the man was her husband, but she had no idea what he looked like. In her dreams, his back was always towards her, or he wore that hat which blocked her view.

  Just once, she’d like to see the dream all the way to fruition. She groaned and lifted her hand to block the sunbeams coming through the window. Opening one eye to see who had the audacity to disturb her, she saw Polly Phillips, her best friend flitting around the room. However, Polly should not have the moniker of a best friend, if she was opening the blinds while Ellie tried to sleep.

  “Go away,” Ellie moaned and flipped over in the bed, pulling a pillow over her head. Maybe if she tried hard, she could fall back to sleep and continue to dream of the man and his horse.

  It had been nearly a month since she canceled her wedding. A month that she hadn’t socialized, nor even gotten out of bed.

  She didn’t want to think about him.

  Every time she did, she would get a throbbing headache and excuse herself to lay down. Her only escape was to close her eyes and drift into a place that was everything she wished it to be. Eventually, she simply stopped getting out of bed, apart from having a meal or to use the privy.

  Her mother was disappointed that she canceled the wedding, but her father appeared relieved. She didn’t know if there was something that he wasn’t telling her.

  Ellie could hear Polly moving around the room.

  “Get up,” Polly demanded. Ellie felt the mattress drop as Polly sat down. Ellie peeked out from under the pillow. Polly was beautiful. She had light hair, the color of spun straw, with eyes that could rival the sky on a cloudless day.

  “What do you want?”

  Polly smoothed her dress and looked at Ellie. Her lips were tight. “You are a sad lot.” She leaned over and removed the pillow covering Ellie’s head and tossed it to the end of the bed. “I brought you a cake. Your mother is making a pot of tea and we are going to have a nice visit.” She quickly stood and moved towards the door. “You have five more minutes for your pity party and then you must get cleaned up and come to the sitting room. I insist.”

  Ellie giggled, lifting the covers to her chin. “You always make me feel better, Polly. What type of cake.”

  Polly waggled her eyebrows. “A sponge cake from Mrs. Bailey’s store.”

  Ellie sat up. Mrs. Bailey was known for her confections. She used a recipe book she brought from England. No one could tell just what she did to her desserts, but they were the best in town. Mrs. Bailey said her secret ingredient was love.

  “Give me three minutes,” Ellie laughed.

  She leaped from the bed and pulled on her wrap. She wasn’t even going to bother to change if there were cake and tea waiting for her. She dragged a brush through her hair and quickly braided it before pinning it in a loop at the back of her head.

  As she walked downstairs, she could hear her mother and Polly laughing from the sitting room. Ellie went in and took a seat in one of the overstuffed Queen Anne style chairs. Her mother poured tea and handed a cup to Ellie.

  “Why aren’t you dressed, Ellie Beth?” her mother asked, pouring tea into the china cups sitting on the serving tray.

  “I didn’t want to. Besides, I’ll probably just go back to bed anyway. No point in trying to put on all those trappings just for cake and tea.”

  Her mother tsked. “You should get dressed. Maybe go for a walk.”

  Ellie snorted. “I don’t want to go to town. There is nothing that would make me walk around where everyone can see me. I couldn’t stand the pity in their eyes.”

  Her mother poured milk into the cup and handed it to Ellie. “Polly was just filling me in on the happenings in town.”

  “I don’t know if I want to hear about the happenings in town, either.” She knew that word would spread through the town quickly, and most likely she would be blamed for breaking the engagement, while Arlo’s behavior would be overlooked.

  “Actually, I think you do,” Polly said, slicing thick pieces of sponge cake
filled with jam and whipped cream. Ellie put her tea down and took one of the pieces.

  The top layer was sliding off from the cream and jam in the middle. Ellie used her fork to push the cake back in place, before taking a large bite. She gave a little groan. It was truly the best cake she had ever had.

  “I wonder if Mrs. Bailey will ever share the recipe.” The sponge cake was light and airy, the holes in the cake catching all the bits of cream as she sliced through it with her fork. The whipped cream was smooth, and the jam added the right sweetness.

  Strawberry. Her favorite.

  “I doubt it,” Polly said, taking a bite. “I understand that not even the girls in the bakery have access to the recipe.”

  “Hmmm. I would eat this every day if I could.”

  “There is an idea,” Polly laughed. She put her plate down and leaned back on the settee. She crossed her hands over her belly and closed her eyes. “I don’t think I’m going to want supper now,” she giggled.

  “Polly,” Mrs. Brooks prodded. “You were going to tell us what was going on in town.”

  Polly sat back up and leaned forward, her eyes twinkling. “That’s right! Well, they wondered why it took so long.”

  “Who wondered? And about what?” Ellie asked.

  “Most folks are wondering why it took so long for you to get rid of that cad.”

  “No!” Ellie was shocked. She was sure that her name had been dragged through the mud. “They don’t blame me?”

  Polly shook her head, her blonde curls bobbing around her shoulders. “Not at all. I guess there was a wager in town about how long the engagement would last.”

  Mrs. Brooks gasped. Ellie did the same.

  “A wager? How distasteful.” She was embarrassed that the town knew her fiancé better than she had. “I’ll never be able to go into town again.”

  “It’s not like that at all. They just know how sweet and innocent you are. They only want the best for you.”