Mail Order Bride - Carolynne's Destiny: Faith Creek Brides, #3

By Karla Gracey

Isabelle Landry is beautiful, wealthy and courted within the highest echelons of Massachusetts' society. But every man her Mama thinks a suitable match, she finds dull and often repulsive. She longs for a simpler life, one where her worth has nothing to do with her annual income, or her vast inheritance. A new friend gives her the confidence to follow her own path, and she answers an advertisement, praying it might change her life forever.

John Kimball has become a lone wolf. Strong and quiet, he drives the Stage coach, delivers the mail and keeps himself to himself. But even a lone wolf needs a mate. A chance encounter makes him realise that his life isn't as good as he has led himself to believe, and putting past heartache behind him he decides to take on the challenge of becoming the new Sheriff of Faith Creek. As he faces his first challenges in keeping the town free from a gang of vicious bandits he also hopes to find love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karla Gracey Books
• Release date: Jan 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386455578

Book preview

Mail Order Bride

Carolynne's Destiny

Faith Creek Brides: Book 3

Karla Gracey

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Epilogue

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Chapter One

OH DEAREST ELLIOT, I am so glad you were able to be here, the bride cried as he finally managed to make his way to greet his most beloved friend and her handsome groom.

From what you told me, I wasn’t expecting this ‘small’ wedding of yours to be quite so big Isabelle, he teased as he kissed her on the cheek.

Neither was I, she admitted. But isn’t it wonderful, everyone came – the entire town."

There were people spilling out of that tiny chapel into the streets, Elliot marveled.

I believe Mayor Williams has intentions to build a new church, something a little larger very soon. John says Faith Creek is hardly recognizable from the town he first arrived in, there are so many more people and buildings now.

It’s true, John said, putting an arm around his bride’s waist, and shaking Elliot by the hand. There was nothing but a saloon, a general store and a couple of houses when I first chose Faith Creek to be my home. He laughed, it was clear he was a very contented man and Elliot was glad that Isabelle had found such a kindly man. His every glance at her told Elliot just how much John adored his new wife, and that thought warmed Elliot’s heart. You must be Mr Grady, he continued, holding out a hand. Elliot took it and shook it firmly. John’s grip was firmer than his own, but not crushingly so. He was most definitely not a man anyone would ever wish to get on the wrong side of, for all his generosity of spirit. I am so glad to meet you. For a while I thought you were my competition, the way Isabelle talks of you all the time. John grinned.

Elliot relaxed for the first time since he had received the thick parchment invitation to attend their wedding in the post. He knew it was foolish to have been scared to meet Isabelle’s new husband, but he knew enough to know that few men were comfortable with their wives having a close friendship with someone like him. Don’t you fret Mr Kimball, he assured John. I have no intentions of ever wanting a wife, but if I might borrow yours for a dance I would be glad?

Please, call me John and I know she would despise me forever if I were to say no, so please be my guest. Elliot took Isabelle’s hand, she smiled at him as John stood aside and ushered them towards the busy dance floor. A lively polka was playing, and the pair were soon whirling around happily.

He seems to be a good man, Elliot noted.

He is most definitely that, Isabelle said. I think I loved him from the very first time I read his advertisement, but you never really know until you meet someone do you?

No, that is true enough. Now, I can see that the man makes you happy – but are you truly sure that you wish to bury yourself in a place like this for all eternity? he joked, glancing around them at the confused jumble of clapboard homes and businesses that lined the single, wide street. It amused him that John and Isabelle had chosen to have their party right at the heart of their community, out on Main Street under the warm Texan skies. Somehow it seemed fitting.

I cannot think of anything more wonderful. I have never felt so welcomed, so at home anywhere in my life, she admitted, gazing around at the people laughing, gossiping and dancing all around them.

And your family seem to approve too, that must have been a strange turn of events? Elliot said, intrigued as he knew Isabelle’s Mama in particular had harbored many notions as to the type of man her daughter should wed.

"Well, John wasn’t always a Sheriff - or just a man driving the stage coach. It turns