Four Histories Of A Beautiful Mind: Four Historical Romance Novellas

By Doreen Milstead

Falling For The Mysterious Stranger On The Boat - An upper class Victorian woman decides to take the plunge after being widowed and travels to her mail order husband in Texas, with only her dog and her maid at her side; but when she meets a mysterious stranger on board the ship her whole world is suddenly turned upside down.

Far More Children Than Expected - When Ana signed up as a schoolteacher in California, she thought she was going to be working in a schoolhouse near Sacramento. Instead, it was a far more difficult task she would attempt to undertake.

Going To The Loving Tall Farmer In Nebraska - A woman longs to be married and form a family with a Christian man and be his helpmate for life, but there’s simply no available men where she lives, so she decides to reply to a mail order bride wanted ad. One reply, and it’s the only one that’s sent, jumps out at her and she takes a leap of faith, into the Wild West and the loving arms of the handsome rancher and farmer. There’s a big roadblock down the road but she is more than willing to try to overcome it.

Her Unexpected Cowboy - An overweight and older woman goes to Texas, expecting to be the wife of a cowboy whose picture she has never seen; and is shocked when she sees him, as he is a bitter reminder of a family tragedy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: May 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370234073

Book preview

Four Histories Of A Beautiful Mind: Four Historical Romance Novellas

By

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2017 Susan Hart

Partial cover photo copyright: bst2012 / 123RF Stock Photo

Falling For The Mysterious Stranger On The Boat

Far More Children Than Expected

Going To The Loving Tall Farmer In Nebraska

Her Unexpected Cowboy

Falling For The Mysterious Stranger On The Boat

Synopsis: Falling For The Mysterious Stranger On The Boat - An upper class Victorian woman decides to take the plunge after being widowed and travels to her mail order husband in Texas, with only her dog and her maid at her side; but when she meets a mysterious stranger on board the ship her whole world is suddenly turned upside down.

In that late autumn afternoon the garden seemed gloomier than ever. The cypress trees had lost their leaves and were hanging mournfully over the magnolia. The November wind she knew so well was humming once again. Somehow, it felt as if even the nature understood the unrest that was haunting her thoughts.

Clarice knew this was the last time she would feel the sweet and sour smell of her Dahlias Cannas. The peaceful sound of the creek will be left behind just like her current life. This garden has been her happiness harbor and her refuge for fifteen years. This is where she first kissed Michael, where they vowed their eternal love, where she used to take him out for walks when his strength was almost over.

This was also where she could find a bit of comfort after he was gone. Consumption was a ruthless disease that doesn`t care for who you are and what a pure soul you have. It took Michael just like it takes anybody; slowly and insinuating like and old witch mastering her curse day by day. Their happiness faded away in the same manner her dear plants were giving up their lives in autumn.

Clarice was now resting on her favorite bench and was staring at the horizon. In her hand there was the last letter she received from Thomas Compton. Two months before, her aunt Katy from El Campo suggested it would be a good idea to move on with her life and start all over across the ocean. England`s grey weather could only do harm to ones suffering and she surely felt it on herself.

She filled hundreds of pages telling about how warm and delightful autumn was in Texas and how she, Clarice, could have a new opportunity for happiness in the young lands of America. Katy knew how much her niece loved horses, so she kept writing about how beautiful and swift the American Quarter Horse was. All the letters were filled about how amazing and different America was from the sad and sober Old Great Britain.

Clarice could leave all the sorrow and hurt behind, and travel to the promise land. But, it wasn`t only about sunny days and magnificent horses. Aunt Katy had also told her about the young sheriff she knew in Palacios. His name was Thomas Compton and he could actually bring the smile back again on Clarice`s face.

Thomas was a widower just like Clarice and he was trying to make the best with what he was left. He had a nice manor house back in Palacios and fifty exquisite black horses. He was tall and handsome, just like any true sheriff should be. With Clarice`s permission, aunt Katy was about to give him her address, so they could know each other better, and who know, maybe even become friends one day. Out of boredom and curiosity, Clarice accepted her aunt`s proposal and received Thomas`s letters. They soon started to write to each other daily and became really close friends. The sheriff told Clarice about how his wife Anna died while giving birth to their son. He loved her more than anything and life was meaningless since she passed away.

His heart has been so dark that for more than three months he couldn`t even look at his newborn son. Clarice understood perfectly the young American`s suffering and this created a strong bond between the two of them from the beginning. Once they both understood they found a soul that could actually feel their pain, the stories never stopped.

Clarice told Thomas about the English sobriety and elegance that even the tiniest insect had in the old land. She told him about the Wagner concerts and the plays she used to go to with Michael. She wrote about Shakespeare and how controversial they were in the modern London society. Thomas couldn`t let her down and he described to the young woman every little corner of his ranch in Palacios.

He really had fifty horses, as aunt Katy mentioned, but not all of them were black and not all of them were proper for riding. He also had 150 cows, all of them tended by ten lads Thomas hires at the beginning of each season. They didn`t have Wagner concerts and elegant theatres in Texas, but Thomas was sure Clarice would love to scour the leas and paths around Tres Palacios Bay.

He also told her about the hot summer days with temperature Clarice never even dared to dream of. Even more, in the scorching afternoons, young men used to go and enjoy the coolness of the salty ocean water. All these and many others the two divulged in their letters.

In his last letter, the one that troubled Clarice so deeply, Thomas made a sudden and unexpected proposal; to move to Texas and unite her destiny with his own. It was true that a real connecting was born with every letter they sent, but Clarice never thought of it more than just a simple entertainment to help her cheerless London days pass by. She never imagined leaving everything behind and taking aunt Katy’s suggestion of moving to America seriously.

What would happen to Mathilde, her maid, and with Lord, her faithful canine companion? And what about the mansion and her dear garden, which will no doubt come back to life as soon as spring would come? But the most important, what will become of her beloved Michael?

She knew that once she would be gone, his memory would face away with each mile she`ll go further from London. And Texas was thousands of miles away. Only then she realized she loved her husband just as much as she did in the first day they met and that she was not ready to let him go…

While Clarice was plunged in her thoughts over the future, Mathilde came with the afternoon tea.

Mathilde, what would you think about traveling to Texas?

Texas, my lady? I don`t even know where that is. Could we go there by train?

Mathilde had been Clarice`s maid since forever. She was only 13 years old when her lords entrusted her with taking care of the newborn girl, so the practically grew up together. Somehow, she was Clarice`s best friend.

No, my dear Mathilde! Texas is really far away, across the ocean in the land of America. I just received a marriage proposal from a young sheriff. Aunt Katy says he is a good man.

"Do we get to sail, like they told me pirates do? Will I have my own American dress? Is it true they also have black people working the fields? Oh, my lady, it would be a great change for you to be happy again. I loved Mr. Michael as if he was my own, but you need to let him rest in peace. My granny always used to say a woman should live in the present and look to her future.

But you, Mrs. Clarice only live in the past. This is not healthy. And, truth being told, people start talking about how a woman should have children by now and find a place for herself on this Earth.

Clarice smiled melancholically thinking how she also hoped to escape the back-fence talk that surrounded her since Michael died.

Fine Mathilde! I shall think about it. Thank you for the tea.

In a way, the decision was already taken for Clarice the first time she read the letter. Her woman intuition knew this was the best thing for her to do. So it didn`t take long before all the things for the departure were set. There were few holdings Clarice desired to take with her. Mathilde, Lord, and her precious books were basically the only things she could never leave behind.

The rest of the heritage could easily be turned into money and set aside as back-up stock in case The New Land would turn out not as hospitable as she expected it to be. Her bookkeeper, Mr. Jefferson was the main hero in preparing all the details. He negotiated and sold everything, he bought the travel tickets and he was the one to open a new account on Clarice`s name that could be also used from across the ocean.

After less than six months since she got the first letter from Thomas, Clarice was embarked at the board of the huge King Julian ship. The journey was meant to last 20 days, which seemed a lifetime to Clarice. Luckily, she had Lord, her devoted friend for the days she just wished were over as soon as possible.

She also kept the hundreds book volumes that helped her fill her loneliness and a few personal belongings such as clothes and bathing accessories. The rest of her things were left behind, sold or given away. They were all a symbol of her forsaken life.

From the first day on the ship Clarice felt as if she was in a completely new world. Her cabin was to be found at the higher levels and it really was spacious, proper for a lady such as herself. Lord quickly found a place under the coffee table and the pitching that bothered him at first was overcome since the dog was a fighter by nature.

Mathilde would sleep on the sofa, being close to her lady as always. All the personnel on the ship were exclusively men, a fact that determined Clarice to feel somehow uncomfortable. She did notice a few noblewomen among the travelers, but they all seemed accompanied and not willing to create new friendships during the journey.

At about five o`clock, Clarice went to explore the board of the ship with the purpose of finding the dinner room and maybe a tea to keep her warm until evening. While she was trying to remember where she left and how could she go back, the woman realized she was lost in the winding hallways of the ship.

She heard, not very far, a noise that seemed to come from the engines. She headed to the source of it and soon she was in front of a large metal door. As she entered, the sound became unbearable and suddenly she got truly scared. However, something pulled her deeper in the room as she began to try to see through the dark. Large hot pipes were surrounding her and she felt as if she had just found the heart of the ship. Out of nowhere, a strong hand pulled her aside and before she could notice what happened she was out of the engine room.

Clarice had never met such a stately and gentle presence like the man standing in front of her. He was tall and well built, with that specific air brave men have. His black hair was covering the forehead, defining his deep blue eyes. It was a blue noble and resolute like the seas he so clearly was acquainted to. He was looking at Clarice seriously while weakening his hand pressure.

Madam, I don`t know who you are, but you certainly have nothing to look for in this part of the ship.

I am Clarice Forthware and I wasn`t looking for anything. I was trying to reach to the dining place and hoping for a cup of tea. Anyway, I think it would be suitable for you to introduce yourself and learn that honest ladies are not to be hastened like this!

I am Lieutenant Doctor Eric Hamstead. I am part of the crew and please accept my apologies for the early treatment, but here is no safe place for any of our traveling clients. Please follow me to the higher deck; I shall personally lead you to the mess hall.

Somehow, Clarice knew her life actually changed the moment he looked into Doctor Eric`s eyes, even more than it did when she left her London life behind. She followed him quietly on the hallways of the ship. Even his walk had something of that majestic cadence of ancestral heroes. None of them said a single word before arriving in front of the dining place.

We`re here. I hope that in the future you`ll stay away from places so dangerous for a lady such as yourself!

I shall keep that in mind. Thank you!

Clarice didn`t see the doctor in the next six days in the ship. Her days slowly passed by as King Julian was sailing in the vastness of the ocean. A few times while she was outside on the top deck, she thought to have seen