Mail Order Bride: Valentine Brides: A Pair Of Historical Romances: Redeemed Mail Order Brides Western Victorian Romance Pair, #4

By Kenneth Markson

**A Pair Of Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Western Victorian Romances (Redeemed Mail Order Brides Western Victorian Romance Pair)** 

Mail Order Bride: The Surprise Widow 
Nora, a lonely widow, becomes a mail order bride, and 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? 

Mail Order Bride: Redeeming The Widow 
Sarah, a pretty young mail order bride, travels with her husband on the Oregon Trail seeking a better future. She faces the tragedies and trials which lie ahead. Can she survive, and will happiness be waiting for her in Oregon? 

If you enjoyed these stories, you may also enjoy the other books in Kenneth's mail order brides Redeemed series, or Kenneth's mail order brides Rescued series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Markson
• Release date: Jul 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536534603

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

MAIL ORDER BRIDE:

THE SURPRISE WIDOW

BY

KENNETH MARKSON

Chapter 1

Only a stone should be alone, Nora's friend Anna had told her repeatedly.  Normally, Nora let her good friend talk, without paying her much attention.  But in this case, the advice was well taken.  Even a broken clock is right twice a day, Nora thought to herself.

Nora Jameson was an attractive young widow in her late twenties, with long auburn hair and hazel eyes.  It was three years since her late husband, Albert, had passed away, and she missed him terribly.  Initially, she immersed herself in her business as a way of dealing with her grief.

That was only partially successful.  The pain which she felt subsided over time, but her sense of loneliness continued to grow.  The irony of it was, she reflected, was that she herself was running a bridal agency, and was helping other young women find a better future.

It was not that she was desperate, or in a precarious position.  Her late husband had been a businessman in San Francisco, and had left her a tidy sum, sufficient to live comfortably.  Moreover, her own business turned a nice profit.

The money was never the thing.  It was the natural human desire to find a loving companion and raise a family together.  That yearning only grew stronger as the days passed.

Her friend Anna had put the bee in her bonnet.  Why not become a mail order bride yourself, her friend had told her.  What's the harm, she said, in sending out a letter to prospective gentlemen yourself, and seeing what develops.

Nora decided to try her friend's proposal.  The first batch of responses left her singularly unimpressed.  That is, until she received a letter from a gentleman named Ronald Farrell.

From the start, Nora was captivated.  The picture which he sent, enclosed in the correspondence, made her heart skip a beat.  Her late husband had been a good and decent man, but physically unimposing.

Ronald Farrell, Nora reflected, cut quite a dashing figure.  By his own words, he was a tall man, over six feet in height.  His picture showed him to be a remarkably handsome man, with dark hair, strong features, purposeful eyes, and a bright smile.

They began corresponding with one another.  What really had Nora smitten, was the way Ron, as he liked to be called, seemed to penetrate her very soul.  He understood her loneliness, and had the same desire to raise a family together with a loving spouse.

He openly thanked God for finding a beautiful woman like her, with whom he could reveal his innermost thoughts.  Nora loved his flowery words, and erudite diction.  Ron clearly was an educated man, she thought to herself.

Every letter ended with a sonnet or a bit of poetry, which he had written especially for her.  Nora found herself looking forward to each new correspondence.  When Ron told her that he was coming from Virginia City to San Francisco on a business trip and would like to see her, Nora could barely contain her feelings of joy. 

Chapter 2

Nora rushed excitedly to her front door when she heard the rapping noise made by the brass knocker.  She could hardly believe that Ron was actually here in San Francisco.  It was a dream come true.

Hello, Nora, Ron smiled brilliantly, as she opened the door.  It's wonderful to meet you at last!

Ron was even more handsome than his picture, Nora thought to herself.  He looked like a true gentleman, wearing a bowler hat and dressed in a fine woolen suit with an elegant white shirt and tie.  The warmth of his touch upon her hand, filled her with feelings she hadn't felt in years.

You look even more lovely Nora, than I had ever imagined, Ron continued, looking into her eyes.

Why thank you, Nora replied, her face nearly blushing from the compliment. 

His eyes quickly darted about her front room, taking in the furniture, the curios, and everything that was in sight.

You have a nice place here, Ron said.

My late husband was a good provider, Nora replied.

I'm sure he was, Ron smiled.  Come, he said, taking her hand and not allowing her to dwell for an instant on the past.  I have a carriage waiting outside ready to take us to a place to dine.

Where are we going? Nora asked.

Ron flashed her a dazzling smile.

You'll see, he grinned.  The place where I stay when I come here for business, has an adequate dining room.

Nora's eyes opened with astonishment when the carriage pulled in front of the majestic Baldwin Hotel on Powell Street.  This imposing piece of architecture was built by Elias Baldwin, an exceedingly wealthy entrepreneur of  Comstock Lode fame.  Together with an adjoining theater, it was the finest hotel in all of San Francisco.

Nora recalled when she and Albert admired the structure from afar.  She had heard from others about the hotel's glamorous interior, but her late husband felt that the