Mail Order Bride: Hannah & Tim’s Story (A Clean Western Cowboy Romance)

By Doreen Milstead

A woman from Ohio investigates a mail order bride fraud, and then decides to head off to meet a man who she had corresponded with and for whom her dead husband held high regards. Her Roy often visited her and offered his advice, although he was fading away rapidly. Her possible husband to be, meanwhile, is heading in her direction to try to find out if she’s real, and to also find the man who’d been defrauding them. This is a humorous and moving story and the epilogue is very emotional.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Sep 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310149382

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Mail Order Bride: A Clean Western Cowboy Romance (Hannah & Tim’s Story)

By

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2015 Classic Western Romances Presents

Synopsis: A woman from Ohio investigates a mail order bride fraud, and then decides to head off to meet a man who she had corresponded with and for whom her dead husband held high regards. Her Roy often visited her and offered his advice, although he was fading away rapidly. Her possible husband to be, meanwhile, is heading in her direction to try to find out if she’s real, and to also find the man who’d been defrauding them. This is a humorous and moving story and the epilogue is very emotional.

Hannah was sitting on her porch, rocking gently in her mother's chair. The last few months had been some of the most truly horrible she had ever been through, but she placed her trust in God and rocked gently while looking up at the clouds. She rocked faster, and faster, and then broke into tears. As she sobbed, her rocking slowed and stopped, but the sobbing continued. She walked off the porch and collapsed on the ground, lying there and crying until her mother found her an hour later.

Hannah's mother asked, Are you all right, Hannah?

No, snapped Hannah. I'm not all right. How could I be all right? My life has fallen apart, piece-by-piece, and now there's absolutely nothing left for me to live for. The only reason I'm keeping on is because I'm stubborn.

You're a strong woman, said Hannah's mother. You can get over this.

How can I get over this? Do you have some way I can go back in time and stop all of that from happening? All of that stupidity, all of that horror and nonsense? Do you really expect me to get over this?

No, admitted Hannah's mother. I want you to get over it, yes, but whether or not you do is ultimately up to do.

I thought it was up to God, said Hannah. That's what the priest said.

The priest said that God would help you on your way, but only you can get yourself there, said Hannah's mother.

I don't think I can, said Hannah. I don't think this is something I can get over.

Do it, or don't, I'll help you however I can, said Hannah's mother.

Hannah collapsed into her mother's arms, sobbing once again. Hannah's mother hugged her daughter and tried to console her the best that she could.

The nights were cold and lonely now and the mornings weren't much better. Hannah's mother, whose name was Diane, was letting her daughter keep her own schedule. While Diane ran her errands, Hannah walked around the house in a stupor. There wasn't a lot she wanted to do, and she felt that she was fighting a losing battle. There was more than one time when Hannah looked at her father's old hunting rifle and considered doing something drastic. The only thing keeping her from doing so was knowing that her soul was doomed if she went that route, and the only real chance she felt she had at happiness was being reunited with those she’d lost, in heaven.

She collapsed into the armchair that had also belonged to her father and tried to cry, but her eyes were dry. She wondered if she had run out of tears, if such a thing was possible, but then she felt a soothing presence envelop her.

Hannah, it's me, said a familiar voice, a voice she didn't think she'd ever hear again. Hannah, it's Roy.

Roy, whispered Hannah. Roy, how are you here? It's not possible, is it?

"Your mother told