Mail Order Bride: Thawing The Ice Between The Bostonian & The Nebraskan

By Beth Overton

An independent woman from Boston takes a chance and gets engaged to a Nebraskan cowboy farmer, not realizing that he’s built a tough shell around his exterior, and is deathly worried that the drought will take his farm. When a crisis comes up she feels it could bring them together but the ice has barely thawed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Overton
• Release date: Feb 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311134622

Beth Overton

Beth Overton lives in Northern California with her husband and three cats. Besides writing romances, she loves to read everything she can get her hands on, as well as cooking up gourmet delights for her entire family.

Book preview

Mail Order Bride: Thawing The Ice Between The Bostonian & The Nebraskan

By

Beth Overton

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

Synopsis: An independent woman from Boston takes a chance and gets engaged to a Nebraskan cowboy farmer, not realizing that he’s built a tough shell around his exterior, and is deathly worried that the drought will take his farm. When a crisis comes up she feels it could bring them together but the ice has barely thawed and it’s not until a second incident that she feels hope that their relationship might work out after all.

Kate Street squinted out the dusty train window taking in the Nebraska territory. It was beautiful in it’s own right, but nothing like Boston. She hadn’t even been gone a fortnight and already she missed her home city.

Then again, what she didn’t miss were the cold nights unsure of what she would wake up to, the uncertainty of not knowing if she would have food and the worry and anxiety caused by struggling to survive on her own.

It was the main deciding factor in Kate becoming a Mail Order Bride. She wanted security.

Then again, if she were honest, love was part of the equation for her. She hoped and prayed that the man she married would come to love her someday. It was like the stories her mother used to tell her—fairy tales really; the beautiful young woman was always rescued by her prince.

Can I get you anything else, miss? The steward stood over her, a pleasant expression on his face.

No, but how much longer is it until we reach the station?

The steward consulted his pocket watch and smiled down at her. About twenty minutes if my timing is right, miss.

Thank you.

He gave a short bow and moved on down the car.

She watched him for a moment then turned her attention back on the scenery outside of the window. The thought of leaving behind everything she had known was exciting at first. It was like an adventure where everything was new. Every sight was fantastic and every experience thrilling. But, as the traveler on such an adventure, Kate was beginning to see that it was also lonely, long, and uncertain.

She bit her lip, tears rushing to her eyes. She would not be afraid.

The few letters that she had exchanged with Mr. Alvin Roper had been pleasant enough. His handwriting was strong though he did seem to get right to the point, not indulging in any frivolous discussion. He’d been more focused on the details, but at the time Kate had seen that as a blessing.

Now though, she wished she’d taken time to ask a few more questions. What was life like in Nebraska? What would she be called on to do at the farm? What were some of Alvin’s hobbies? What was the town like?

If she were honest, the questions were endless but she reminded herself that that’s what marriage was for—the time to answer those questions within the stability of a home.

Her heart soared at the thought of having her own home -- a roof over head and food on the table. She didn’t mind the work that she’d likely have to put in for that to be true. No, she was ready to work hard in order to make their house a home.

The thought of children made her blush, but she hoped that Alvin wanted them as well. To have a house full of the sounds of laughter and imagination had