Barefoot Bride

By Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Reluctant doesn’t begin to describe bride-to-be Taylea Johnson. Dressed in her bridal finery, all she can think about is her first love, Micah “Davy” Crockett, who vanished from her life ten years ago. She isn’t in love with Matthew Whittington III, the groom, and when the long absent Davy shows up, she’s willing to run away with him instead of getting married.

He has a lot of explanations to make and so does she but the love they once shared remains vital. She soon learns there was much more behind his sudden departure than she knew. Both her family and the groom she left at the altar have secrets. She has to decide whose love is true and who she will marry after all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Apr 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781772338027

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Growing up in historic St. Joseph, Missouri, Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy scribbled her stories from an early age. Her first publication – a poem on the children’s page of the local newspaper – seems to have set her fate. As a full time author, she has more than twenty full length novels published along with assorted novellas and short fiction. A contributor to more than two dozen anthologies, her credits include Chicken Soup For The Soul among many collections of short fiction. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Missouri Writers Guild, and the Ozark Writers League. Lee Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Southern State University as well as an Associate Degree from Crowder College. She has worked in broadcasting, retail, and other fields including education. She is currently a substitute school teacher. As a wife and mother of three, she spends her days penning stories, cooking, reading, and other daily duties. She currently makes her home in the Missouri Ozarks, living in what passes for suburbs in a small town.

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2016 Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

ISBN: 978-1-77233-802-7

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: JS Cook

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To my husband who has always given me the space to be me and to dance barefooted if I choose, at weddings and otherwise.

BAREFOOT BRIDE

Romance on the Go TM

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Copyright © 2016

Before…

Chantilly lace framed her face in bridal fashion but the veil draped over her dark hair reminded her of cobwebs, and when the lace brushed against her cheek, she jumped, afraid it might be a spider or some other creepy crawly. Her nerves were tighter than a figure eight knot, her anxiety sharper than a well-honed knife-edge. In the tiny Sunday school classroom, the kid-sized furniture put Taylea out of place and made her too big, like Alice in Wonderland. Her gown cinched tight around her waist and the high lace collar constricted her throat until she didn’t dare take a deep breath. The lace sleeves of the wedding dress chafed her arms and caused them to itch but she resisted the urge to scratch hard enough to draw blood. She startled each time the full tulle skirt brushed against her bare legs. Taylea hated the dress and although brides were supposed to be happy, she wasn’t.

Her mother and sister had picked the dress over her objections. Her sister Tamara insisted on choosing the bridal colors—crimson and silver—as well as the flowers, and ordered the wedding cake. Taylea resisted every step of the way, her enthusiasm absent. After brushing her daughter’s waist-length hair smooth and skewering it into a sleek chignon, Mom had sighed with pleasure. You look beautiful, Taylea, she’d said earlier. Matthew will be waiting in the church. You’re lucky to marry him. He’s perfect in every way and I know you’ll be happy if you’ll just give him a chance.

Perfect? Taylea didn’t agree. Matthew Whittington III possessed plenty of money, came from an old wealthy family, and had the kind of looks most women considered gorgeous. He wore his tailored suits with style but beneath the façade, he was as shallow as a puddle and lacked personality. They shared no interests, had different tastes in everything from music to food, and failed to connect on any level. Taylea couldn’t recall a single conversation that wasn’t polite and meaningless between them. But he wanted an attractive wife to grace his arm in social situations and to keep the home