Mail Order Bride: Redeemed Mail Order Brides Box Set - Books 4-6: Redeemed Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Collection, #2

By Kenneth Markson

Now available as a Box Set, books 4 - 6 in the Redeemed Mail Order Brides Collection. 
** A Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Novelette Collection**

Mail Order Bride: A Husband For Laurie 
Laurie suddenly becomes a widow. Should she sell out to a greedy lawyer and run off with her son, or fight to hold on to her claim? Will a handsome former Sheriff accept her proposition as a mail order bride and help her? Will love triumph in Tombstone? 

Mail Order Bride: Redeemed By Love 
Julia needs to leave San Francisco and her past. Paul, a lonely rancher, seeks a mail order bride. A hidden enemy knows a secret and is ready to act. Will love triumph in San Buenaventura, California, or will evil prevail? 

Mail Order Bride: The Surprise Widow 
Nora, a lonely widow, becomes a mail order bride. She is swept off her feet by a dazzling suitor. But is he too good to be true? Will a handsome gambler come to her aid before it is too late? Can she find true love in Virginia City, and prevent more harm from being done? 

If you enjoyed these stories, you may also enjoy Kenneth's  "Redeemed Mail Order Brides Box Set - Books 1-3: A Redeemed Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Novelette Collection,"  "Rescued Mail Order Brides Box Set - Books 1-3: A Rescued Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Collection,"  "Rescued Mail Order Brides Box Set - Books 4-6: A Rescued Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Collection," "Rescued Mail Order Brides Box Set - Books 7-9: A Rescued Western Historical Mail Order Bride Victorian Romance Collection," and "Mail Order Bride And Western Romance Box Set - Books 1-3: A Historical Mail Order Bride And Clean Western Romance Collection." 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Markson
• Release date: May 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533770035

Kenneth Markson

While an English major at college, I wrote a column which was published weekly. I have been writing ever since. The old West and Los Angeles in the forties are eras which lend themselves to tales of romance, courage, and fast paced adventure. I particularly enjoy writing stories about the mail order brides who fearlessly took a chance and traveled West, hoping to find love and a better future. Many of the locales that I write about are places that I have either traveled through or actually lived in. I try to make my works richly accurate. My desire is to provide you with an entertaining and fun read. When I'm not writing, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Laurie Winslow was sitting quietly in the front room of her home.  She was still numb after the burial of her husband, Jerome, just two days earlier.  A loud rapping at the front door, suddenly caught her attention.

She got up from her chair, and glanced out the window.  A tall man dressed in a fine woolen suit, wearing an elegant white shirt and dark tie, stood at the door.  His head was covered by an expensive bowler hat, and he glanced impatiently at a gold pocket watch, when she failed to respond immediately to his knocking.

Laurie opened the front door after a second round of rapping.

Hello, she said, smiling pleasantly.  May I help you?

The irritation on the man's face disappeared almost immediately.  He twitched his thin moustache, and gave her a broad smile.

My name is John Fraser, the man said.  I am a lawyer by profession.  I was an acquaintance of your late husband. We had several nice conversations over a few drinks.

He took off his bowler hat and held it in his hand, in a display of reverence.  His dark, brooding eyes displayed a sympathetic look.

I was saddened to learn of your late husband's death, he said softly.  I wish to convey my deepest condolences to you, Mrs. Winslow, on your loss.

Laurie didn't recall Jerome mentioning the man.  But he certainly could have discussed business with him, at one of the fancy establishments downtown.  For her part, there was something about Mr. Fraser that she found disquieting.

She couldn't put her fingers on it, but it was there.  Perhaps, she thought to herself, it was the coldness in his eyes, or the slickness of his appearance.  Whatever it was, Laurie felt an instant distrust for the man.

Thank you for your kind thoughts, Laurie answered quietly.  It certainly has been a very hard time for me and my son.

That is precisely the reason for my visit, Mrs. Winslow, the lawyer said.  I liked your husband, and I want to do something nice for you.

His hand gestured towards a nearby chair.

Might I sit down, he asked, and discuss this matter with you?

Please do, Laurie said, as she sat down opposite him.

Here comes the purpose for this fellow's visit, Laurie reflected.

Fraser stretched out his feet, and made himself comfortable.

Mining claim litigation is a big part of my business, Mrs. Winslow, he stated proudly.

It has come to my attention, he continued, that you and your late husband have a claim on a tract of land over on the mesa.

That is true, Laurie replied cautiously.

The sympathetic look reappeared on the lawyer's face.

Let's face facts, Mrs. Winslow, Fraser said.  You're a lady, ma'am, and I mean that in the highest possible sense.  You're a wife and a mother.  But, you have few skills.  Your late husband, before he met his unfortunate demise, was the miner.  How can you support yourself out here?

Laurie knew that some of Fraser's words were the truth, at least for the present.  She herself, had been pondering her future in Tombstone during the past few days.  But she didn't particularly care to hear about her predicament from this stranger, who had shown up out of nowhere on her doorstep.

Thank you for your concern, Mr. Fraser, she said quietly.

Fraser's eyes locked in on hers now.  He was confident of the hypnotic effect his voice had on people.  It was time to rope her in, he thought to himself.  Fraser spoke just as if he were delivering his final argument to a group of jurors.

I am concerned about you, Mrs. Winslow, he began.  I hope you realize that.

He moved closer to her.

Tombstone is a wild and unruly place; far from what you have been accustomed to.  You are truly a lady, stuck here in this dangerous place with your young son.

Fraser leaned forward now, and placed his arm next to hers.

I feel sorry for you, Mrs. Winslow, he said.  I really do.  That is why I am willing to offer you one thousand dollars to purchase your land.  That should leave you plenty of money for you and your son to go back east where you came from, and start over.  What do you say to that? 

What could she say, Fraser chuckled to himself.  He was like a wolf, playing around with a helpless lamb.  The poor woman was so frightened, he reflected, that she would jump at the chance to take his offer, and run far away from here.  He was so certain of it, he could barely restrain himself from writing up an agreement for her to sign.

Laurie smiled, as she began her reply.

Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Fraser, she said.  Everything you have said about this city is true.  However, there is something exhilarating about staying the course in such a place.  I will pass on your offer, and keep my land.

Fraser could hardly believe what he had just heard.  He had completely misjudged the woman sitting in front of him.  The good Mrs. Winslow was not mesmerized by his speech, nor did she appear to be the least bit frightened.

John Fraser was furious.  He did not like to be thwarted.  His face was hard, when he spoke next.

I don't think that's a wise decision! Fraser stated bluntly. 

His cruel eyes glowered at Laurie.

Look at what happened to your husband! he growled.

Laurie did not like his menacing tone, nor his inference.  Did he know something more about her husband's death, she thought to herself.

What do you mean! Laurie demanded.  Are you threatening me?

Fraser got up from his chair.

Take it any way you want it! he snapped.

I think it's best that you leave now, Mr. Fraser, Laurie said.

The lawyer got up quickly, and headed for the door.  Before he left, he turned to Laurie.

Think things over well, Mrs. Winslow! he barked sharply.  My offer stands until the end of the week.  Then, you are on your own!

With that final retort, he slammed the door shut, and walked out on to the street in a huff.

Chapter 2

The birth of the city started when a former army scout named Ed Schieffelin began prospecting for silver, in the hills east of the San Pedro River.  The soldiers at the nearby fort warned him that, the only stone you will find out there, will be your own tombstone.  He paid them no heed.

After months had passed, Schieffelin located some loose silver ore that had been eroded from the nearby hills into a dry wash.  The former scout eventually found the source of the loose ore to be a large vein of silver ore located above the San Pedro River valley, on a waterless plateau named Goose Flats.  He filed his claim under the name of Tombstone in remembrance of  the soldiers' warnings.

Schieffelin persuaded his brother Al to show his ore samples to an expert assayer named Richard Gird.  The best of the samples was a high quality ore that assayed at two thousand dollars a ton.  The three men formed a partnership and started the Tough Nut Mine.  The city of Tombstone was born, and news of Arizona's silver boom spread far and wide.

Tombstone mushroomed in size overnight.  Besides the miners, businessmen and merchants flooded into the city, bringing their families with them.  Among those who caught the silver bug, was Laurie's late husband, Jerome.

Laurie found herself thinking about her husband's death again, after Fraser had left.  The cause of death was said to be a blunt blow to her husband's head.  He allegedly slipped from a ledge, and fell on to a rocky area below.

From the start, Laurie had her suspicions.  Jerome had been a strong man, and was good on his feet.  Prior to this time, she could not recall him ever having injured himself due to a slip and fall during their marriage.

It was just as possible, she thought to herself, that her late husband had been pushed off the ledge, or had been struck on the