Mail Order Bride: Loving Hearts: A Pair Of Historical Romances: Redeemed Mail Order Brides Western Victorian Romance Pair, #5

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: 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: The Wayward Brother 
A disaster strikes Charleston, and overnight, pretty Charlotte's life there is ended. She decides to start fresh and become a mail order bride to Carl, a businessman in Portland. But Portland has a dark secret of its own. When she gets off the train, Charlotte is met by Carl's handsome wayward brother, Trevor, instead of her future husband. What evil has occurred? Will handsome Trevor help Charlotte? Will she find love in this strange city? 

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 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536571813

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:

A HUSBAND FOR LAURIE

BY

KENNETH MARKSON

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