Allegra's Mail Order Husband (Texas Brides Book 3)

By Kate Whitsby

A historical western cowboy romance story about a mail order husband.

** A clean historical novella **

Book 3 of The Texas Brides Series takes place nine months after Amelia Goodkind marries Bruce Manfield. Eldest sister Alma McCann now has a beautiful baby daughter, Flora, the newest member of the family. Amelia is pregnant and unable to leave her bed for more than a few minutes without feeling sick. Jude McCann and Bruce Manfield, their husbands, work to build their houses down by the river in between tending their duties on the ranch. Of the three range-riding, cattle-busting sisters, only Allegra remains in the saddle, herding the stock to water at the river and protecting them from marauding predators.
Now the moment of Allegra’s destiny is at hand. The decision she made nine months ago, when Bruce Manfield defeated Jude McCann to seal the sisters’ right to run their own ranch, is coming to fruition. The day of her mail-order wedding draws near. But Allegra has different plans for her wedding than her sisters did. She doesn’t plan to wear her mother’s wedding dress or go to the altar with her family in attendance. She plans to run off, meet her groom alone, and get married on her own terms before bringing him home.
But Allegra still harbors the secret that kept her alone for so long. What will her husband do when he finds out the truth about her? And no one realizes that he, too, hides an explosive secret that could derail all their plans and dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gold Crown
• Release date: Aug 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311170477

Kate Whitsby

Kate Whitsby is a historical romance author who has found a love for writing western mail order bride romance. Kate writes from her home in Virginia and loves spending time with her two children when she's not busy writing.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Does he know about you?

Allegra Goodkind spun around to face her older sister Alma. What do you mean?

You know! Alma scolded. You didn’t arrange to marry a mail-order husband without telling him the truth about yourself, did you? You didn’t misrepresent yourself to your future husband, did you?

Allegra whirled away from her. She turned her gaze back toward the horizon east of their ranch in the south Texas desert. I didn’t misrepresent myself. I just didn’t mention it, and neither did he. We had other things to discuss.

Alma sat down next to Allegra on the old bench behind their house. Trees spread their branches over the bench, offering the only shade for a long way around. Now, though, in the coldest part of winter, the shade blocked the heat of the sun. Almost no one came out to this bench in the winter. Allegra kept this spot as her private refuge from intrusion into her thoughts.

Alma didn’t seem to understand that, though. She followed Allegra wherever she went to talk to her about her impending marriage. She talked to her about it whether Allegra wanted to talk or not.

When she sat down on the bench, Alma settled a tiny baby girl on her knee. She patted the child on the back to soothe her. The baby waved her arms around and smiled at Allegra, but Allegra didn’t see her. She kept her eyes cast away into the distance.

You know that isn’t a wise thing to do, Alma told her. You should tell him everything there is to know about you. You don’t want him finding out after the fact and accusing you of lying to him to get him to come out here.

I didn’t lie, Allegra insisted. I told him everything he wanted to know and answered every question he asked. He’s more interested in how the ranch operates and how the rest of us get along than anything else. Our letters are all about that.

So what have you told him about us? Alma asked.

I told him everything that’s happened over the last few years, Allegra told her. I told her how Papa had his accident and the three of us sisters took over the ranch. I told him how you married Jude McCann, and how Papa thought he was a Union soldier who massacred his detachment during the war. And I told him how Amelia married Bruce Manfield, and now you’ve got a baby girl. That’s about it.

That’s leaving out a lot, isn’t it? Alma pointed out. Don’t you think you ought to include some more details about how we get along here?

I told him about the trouble we had getting Jude to understand our way of doing things, Allegra explained. "I told him the women of this family still want to participate in running the ranch. Of course I told him that I’m running the ranch, and that I’m working with Bruce and Jude to keep the ranch going. That’s been my main concern. I want him to understand that I’ll keep working the ranch, not handing everything over to him when he gets here."

And does he understand that? Alma asked.

Of course he does, Allegra replied. I wouldn’t be going to marry him if he didn’t. He’s satisfied with me working the ranch with Bruce and Jude, and he’s happy to help. He’s also happy to have you and Amelia come out riding with us when you’re ready to get back to it.

Alma sighed. That could be a while, couldn’t it?

Only if you want it to be a while, Allegra replied. It could be anytime you want it to be.

I only wish I could come back out, Alma told her. I miss the range a lot more than I thought I would. I thought I would be happy to leave it behind and stay home. But now I have little Flora here, I feel the range calling me back. I feel it in my bones. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it completely. I’ll always want to go back to it.

All three of us have it in our bones, Allegra replied. Amelia’s having a hard time staying away, too. But you know, from the way Bruce tells it, you could bring Flora with you. You could make a carrier to hold her on your back, the way Indian women do when they ride horses. You could bring Flora up to the Lookout Hill for the day.

Alma turned toward her. Do you think so?

Sure, Allegra replied. Flora would love to get out to the range for the day, and I could sure use some help up there.

Alma followed Allegra’s gaze out to the far horizon. Hmm. I’ll have to think about that.

Allegra caught her little niece looking at her. She caught the little girl under the chin and smiled into her face. You’d love to come up to the range, wouldn’t you? You’d love to see the cows and the crows and the hawks and the clouds, wouldn’t you? Yes, you would! You’d love to learn to be a cattle puncher like your Mama, wouldn’t you? Of course you would!

She would love it, Alma agreed. She loves being outside. It makes you wonder if she has the old Goodkind blood in her veins.

Allegra twiddled the baby under her chin and made cooing noises. She brushed a strand of her own long hair out of her face so Flora could see her more clearly. Of course she has. You’re a little cowgirl, aren’t you, sweetie, just like your Mama and your aunties. You won’t be satisfied until you’re bustin’ in the sun just like the rest of us. Gotta get ‘em started early.

Alma laughed. Don’t encourage her. Leave her here with me just a little longer.

That’s what I’m telling you, Allegra replied. She could come with you. How ‘bout tomorrow? What do you say? I’ll help you and you can help me. We’ll pack some food and you two can sit in the shade under the trees. It sure gets lonely out there by myself. I won’t be sorry having a husband around, at least for someone to talk to

Alma shook her head. I never thought I’d live to hear you say that.

Allegra examined her eldest sister with her head on one side. I understand now what Bruce said about living in a house full of married people. You don’t realize how lonely you are until everyone around you is happily married and going to bed together every night. I never knew I wanted to get married until I saw how it was with you and Jude and Bruce and Amelia.

The way Amelia tells it, Alma returned, you decided you wanted a man like Bruce. She says you decided to get married when you realized what a good, gentle, caring man he is.

We all knew that about Bruce when we first met him, Allegra told her. But you’re right. If there are men like him out there in the world, and if I can get a husband I feel connected to the way you do with Jude and Amelia does with Bruce, I’ll count myself lucky.

Chapter 2

The two sisters raised their faces up into the shade of the tree above them.

It sure is nice here, Alma remarked. I’ll almost be sorry to move down to the new house by the river.

Nonsense! Allegra shot back. You’ll love it. It will be a lot more comfortable there. It will be cooler in the summer, and the house will be bigger, and you won’t have your whole family crowded into one room with you and your husband. It will be luxurious compared to here.

I’ve lived here all my life, Alma pointed out. I don’t feel right about leaving.

Allegra nodded. I know how you feel. I’m glad I’m not moving away. And Papa loved to sit on this bench and listen to the leaves rustle in the wind. I always thought we should have buried him here.

You know we couldn’t do that, Alma reminded her. It’s too close to the well water. His body would contaminate the water if we buried him here. But you’re right. He loved it here, and he wouldn’t have wanted to be buried anywhere else. I’m glad he died before we made the decision to build the new houses.

How are they coming along? Allegra asked. I haven’t been down to the river to check the progress lately. I’ve been too busy with the ranch.

I haven’t been down there, either, Alma replied. But Jude says our house is nearly finished. But that just means your job still has another year to go before it’s finished. Once he finishes our house, he’ll help Bruce build his and Amelia’s house before they can come back out to the range to help you with the ranch work.

That’s all right, Allegra told him. Once I get married, I’ll be bringing my husband home. He can help me while they build Bruce and Amelia’s house.

So when are you meeting him? Alma asked.

Friday, Allegra answered. We’re meeting in front of the General Store in Eagle Pass at high noon on Friday.

Alma hitched Flora up on her hip and laughed out loud. You make it sound like you’re having a shoot-out in the streets of town instead of getting married.

Allegra laughed, too. It is something like that. No, we’re just meeting there because it’s the most prominent building in town—besides the church, that is. Then we’ll go from there.

The baby distracted Alma so she didn’t quite register Allegra’s last words. She fixed something on the front of the baby’s shirt before turning back to her sister. Come inside with me while we talk. I have to start supper.

The two women went around the other side of the house and entered the low adobe building. Alma deposited Flora in Allegra’s arms while she worked around the fire. A stir and a groaning noise drew Allegra’s attention across the room, and she went over to one of the beds against the wall.

Are you all right, Amelia? she asked. Can I get you a drink of water?

A lump under the blanket on one of the beds twisted and turned over, and a head of loose black hair emerged from the bedding. I’m all right. But a drink of water would be wonderful. Thank you.

Allegra

Reviews for Allegra's Mail Order Husband (Texas Brides Book 3)

[damarisym15 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

unbelievable, talk about scared of change, wow.