Prisoner of Love

By Beverly Jenkins

“Beverly Jenkins is renowned for her historical romances.” –Romantic Times“Beverly Jenkins has reached romance superstardom!” –Detroit Free PressKansas, 1884Abandoned by her husband, Elizabeth Franklin is struggling to keep up with the chores on her 60-acre farm. Desperate to stay in the only home she ever loved, the resourceful Elizabeth agrees to marry a prisoner, Jordan Yancey – an arrangement that will set him free while affording her the farm help that she so urgently needs. But what Elizabeth never expects is that this former prisoner will arouse the kind of passion and desire she’s only heard about and capture her instead... Jordan Yancey would do anything to get out of prison, and the arrangement with the pretty, but prim Elizabeth seems like a good bet – his freedom for a little farm work, and a wife on paper. He never imagines that his pretend bride will become the most magnificent woman he’s ever met…and that his sensuous little 'jailer' will be the one to free his heart...A sensual, steamy and deeply romantic story, Prisoner of Love by Blackboard bestselling author, Beverly Jenkins, is a historical romance to treasure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: NYLA
• Release date: Sep 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781625172761

Beverly Jenkins

Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2018 Michigan Author Award by the Michigan Library Association, the 2017 Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured in both the documentary Love Between the Covers and on CBS Sunday Morning. Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. To read more about Beverly, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.  

Book preview

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Prologue

January 17, 1884

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My dear Bess,

I hope this letter finds you well in both body and spirit. I have handled my late Uncle Bradford’s affairs and seen to it that his last wishes were carried out as dictated by his last will and testament. Imagine my elation when his barrister informed me that I too had been left a bequest. It is a substantial amount of money, Bess, over seven hundred dollars! Never in my life did I dream of gaining such a fortune, but it is wholly and legally mine. I have enclosed a bank draft made out to you for two hundred of those dollars. I’m certain the sum will not erase the pain I am about to cause you, but it is all I can offer. I’ve fallen in love with the daughter of Uncle Bradford's barrister. Her name is Malinda. I am aware that this news will cause you great distress, but I can not and will not return to Kansas and pretend that she does not have my heart. I am asking that you release me from my vows, so that I may marry Malinda. I've had her father draw up the divorce papers for you to sign, so please do so and return them to me. With the money you can start a new life, and I hope that one day you may forgive me. Again, my apologies, and may God be with you.

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Your husband,

William Franklin

Chapter 1

July 1884

When she saw him for the first time, he was standing against the wall, and thoughts of backing out immediately filled her mind. It was his eyes mostly; dark, smoky, penetrating eyes filled with such raw male power that her hand moved unconsciously to the high collar of her blouse covering her throat. He was also larger in stature than she’d considered. Back East men were shorter and thinner like the traitorous William, but this dark-skinned mountain of a man with his manacled wrists represented the West. His frame filled Sheriff Cody’s office.

Elizabeth forced her eyes back to the sheriff. Is he the only candidate?

Cody nodded.

Filled with misgivings, she hazarded a glance his way again and found his dark eyes watching her intently. It took all she had not to send her look scurrying off, but she held his gaze. He certainly appeared strong enough; the forearms visible beneath the hacked off sleeves of his blue prison shirt could have passed for chiseled oak, but would he work from sun up to sun down? The only reason she’d agreed to consider this outrageous proposal was to get the help she needed to keep the farm going. He on the other hand had no choice; he could either agree or face the gallows.

Yes or no, Miss Elizabeth? the sheriff enquired.

Cody’s voice brought her back. In truth, she wanted to say, no. A woman would have to be insane to be party to such a plan; insane or desperate, and she was that. She took in the silver cuffs around his wrists, then sought his eyes again. In them lay something she couldn’t name; something disturbing and elemental, but the memory of William’s betrayal and the nights she’d cried as a result came back to her, as did her vow to make the farm profitable in spite of his perfidy, so she answered firmly, Yes.

You sure?

No, came her reply, but what other choice have I? In addition to the dangers faced by a woman alone on the plains from predators both human and animal, one of the conditions homesteaders like herself had to meet in order to get title to the land was to turn a profit by the third year. For her that meant next April.

She and the sheriff had talked about these things last evening at her kitchen table, so the gray haired Cody nodded his understanding, then spoke to the prisoner. Over here, Yancy.

The prisoner complied, and even though he stopped a distance away from where Elizabeth stood, she could feel his heat.

The sheriff asked him, You agreeable?

Like the lady said, got no choice. His eyes touched hers once more, and this time she had to look away, hoping to hide her nervous trembling.

Then, let’s get this over with, the sheriff declared.

In the end, the words were spoken and the legal documents signed. Once the shackles were removed, Elizabeth and the convicted felon Jordan Yancy left the sheriff’s office as lawfully wedded man and wife.

The long ride back to her farm was silent but for the sound of the wheels on the buggy and the measured cadence of the mare’s hooves on the hard ground of the narrow road. It was a hot, humid July day. The cloudless blue sky allowed the sun to beat down unmercifully, and as Elizabeth held the reins, perspiration pooled beneath the layers of her clothing and between her breasts, but she was more aware of the man on the seat beside her than she was of the sweltering heat.

How big is your place? he asked.

Sixty acres.

What do you grow?

Corn.

Elizabeth didn’t volunteer any further conversation. She still considered herself mad for having agreed to this unconventional marriage, but there was no turning back now.

They reached the farm an hour later. She stopped the wagon in front of her small house, set the brake and after a few moments of wrestling with her misgivings and nerves, forced herself to turn his way. I need a man to help me work the place. Nothing more. She wanted him to know up front that he’d not be sharing her bed.

Got no problem with that. Where can I wash up?

Her eyes grazed the sweat shining on his mahogany shoulders and arms. The pump’s behind the house.

Soap?

I’ll get it. Leaving him sitting, Elizabeth hastened inside.

In the small shadow-filled bedroom she’d once shared with William, she picked up the soap lying on the basin atop the dresser, then knelt to open the carved top of the cedar chest positioned against the wall. Retrieving a towel, she closed it, stood and jumped; startled to find him standing in the doorway. Her nerves fluttered in the thick silence.

He said quietly, Since you didn’t invite me in, thought I’d come in and see the place for myself. Didn’t mean to spook you.

Her heart was pounding now, too, no longer from surprise, but from his overwhelming presence and nearness. I wasn’t meaning to be rude. I just... She had no words to explain herself.

I make you uncomfortable.

Yes, she answered, her voice a whisper.

That’s understandable. It’s not every day a good woman finds herself hitched to a man like me, but I swear to you, I’ve never hurt a woman in my life, and I’m not planning to start now.

The truth in his intense gaze calmed her, but only a bit. Here’s the soap. It’s scented. It’s all I have.

That’ll do fine.

She handed it to him, and as he took it, his hand brushed hers. The contact was like touching lightning. To hide her reaction, she said, I’ll fix us something to eat.

Thanks. And he departed, leaving the deeply breathing Elizabeth alone in the shadows.

Elizabeth was a product of her times. She could do needle-point, play a passable piano and set a proper table. She knew never to venture out without the requisite undergarments, let a man see her ankles and had endured the marriage bed because it was a woman’s

Reviews for Prisoner of Love

[Marja Heikkinen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't think I've ever before read a book this short with this much sex in it. Basically sexy times overruled the plot development. Don't get me wrong, the sex scenes were good but I found it little hard to believe that two complete strangers could reach the level of intimacy depicted in this book in a matter of few days. Felt a little strange and I would have loved a longer courting period.

On the plus side, the writing was superb, I liked both Elizabeth and Jordan, and there was a promise of an excellent story. It's just that I thought everything was too rushed and easily resolved. Had this been a full-length novel, I'm sure it would have been a five star read for me.

Still it was an enjoyable read and I plan to read more from Beverly Jenkins in the future.