Grey's Thanksgiving Bride

By Cia Leah

Ellie Graham was devastated by grief when her son and husband passed away within two months of each other. Having no other options, she moved to Whispering Oaks with her sister, Annie Mae. Ellie loved Annie and was thankful she had Annie to rely on, but her sister kept pushing her to live life, when all Ellie wanted to do was keep to herself and try to mend her broken heart.

Grey Hudson knew what grief was and the devastation of loosing a wife and son. When he met Ellie, he gave up his quest for a mail order bride and hoped to capture Ellie's heart. He needed a wife and a ma for his son, Joey, and Ellie was the woman he wanted to begin life anew on Thanksgiving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cia Leah
• Release date: Dec 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540114679

Cia Leah

Cia Leah is a multi-published author written in a variety of genres. Her favorite genre to read and write are westerns and historical romances. She successfully completed the Writer's Digest Short Story Course and a creative writing course. She is a member of Romance Divas and highly recommends it and the wealth of knowledge provided on the site for readers and writers. Semi-retired, she writes as time allows due to real life and thanks her readers for their support. At present time, she is writing western short stories, novelettes, and novellas.

Book preview

DEDICATION:

This book is dedicated to my dearly departed husband and son. I miss you both more than life itself. I don’t know if my broken heart will ever heal. Rest in peace until we meet again. I will always love you.

Also dedicated to my readers. Thank you for your kindness and condolences. I appreciate it very much. Love you all. Blessings to you and your loved ones this holiday season and throughout the coming New Year.

Chapter 1

Ellie Graham knelt at her husband’s grave right beside her son’s. Heart-wrenching sobs filled her throat, but she swallowed hard so people wouldn’t see her fall apart. God, she prayed, give me strength to get through this. Never in her life did she think she would lose the two most important people in her life in the span of two months apart. How she loved them! How she missed them more than life itself.

She rose to her feet with the help of her sister. Her stomach revolted and she felt like throwing up. She swallowed hard again. Her legs felt like buckling under her, but she stiffened her spine until she stood straight. Her sister’s comforting hand on her arm kept her going. Thank God for Annie Mae.

When they lowered her husband’s coffin into the grave, Annie steered her away to the buggy that awaited them. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. The ground swayed and she slowed her footsteps.

Come on, Sis, let’s get to your house, collect your baggage, and get to the stage depot. I don’t want to miss the stage.

Ellie climbed into the buggy and waited for Annie to climb up onto the seat beside her. With a flick of the reins, Annie drove away. Ellie turned to look back at the men filling the grave with dirt and the townsfolk leaving also. She felt like her life just ended and wondered how she would go on.  She burst into tears.

You are going to make yourself sick, Sis.

Ellie shook her head. I know, but my life the way I knew it is gone. Now I’m leaving them behind. I won’t even be able to visit their graves every day.

You carry them in your heart. They will always be there and the memories.

The memories just make it so much harder to deal with, Annie. She wiped her eyes and sniffled, grateful when her sister remained quiet. When they pulled up in front of her cabin, Ellie stepped down, and walked inside. Her eyes darted to her husband’s chair. Empty, like she felt inside. We don’t have to leave so soon, do we? She looked at Annie with pleading eyes, hoping for one more day at least.

I know this is hard for you, but I need to get home.

I wish I could stay here. It’s my home.

You can’t. You were barely able to pay funeral expenses for Judd and Jack. I’m not about to let you stay here and starve. Remember you sold the place and it isn’t yours anymore.

Maybe I can try and find a job. A seamstress, washing clothes, anything... her voice trailed away. She’d already tired to, to no avail.  Annie came to stand in front of her, taking Ellie’s hands in hers. She loved her sister so much and was thankful Annie came as soon as she received Ellie’s telegram, leaving her husband to fend for himself for the past two months.

Sis, I’m not being disrespectful, but Judd and Jack are gone. They aren’t coming back. At least when you go home with me, you will have family around you. We’ll watch out for you. Besides, you are going to have to move on one day soon.

What does that mean?

Never you mind right now. Let’s go.

Ellie picked up her carpetbag with the photograph taken of her and Judd’s wedding day and one of Jack tucked under her clothes and items she needed for the trip. She hadn’t even noticed her sister had already loaded the other luggage. 

She glanced around the cabin one more time, her eyes resting on her husband’s rocking chair that sat beside hers. She hurried across the room, touched it lightly and set it to rocking, and then did the same to hers. "I will always love you and Jack. Tears fell down her cheeks as she stepped out of the cabin and shut the door behind her.

She set her bag on the floor of the buggy and climbed up onto the seat beside her sister when Mark Doyer drove up beside them.  Howdy, Ellie and Annie. I was hoping I’d catch you before you left.

Ellie watched Mark walk over to stand beside her. He handed her an envelope. The townsfolk took up a collection for you. We all loved Judd and Jack and you too. We all hope this helps on your journey to Annie’s and helps you get by for awhile."

Ellie shook her head. "I can’t