Tricked into Marriage

By Mildred Colvin

Naomi Patterson and Brant Grayson find themselves at a disadvantage when Brant's children trick them into a situation they would never have thought of. But the kids want a mother and they can't think of anyone better for the job than their old Sunday school teacher from back home. Taking advantage of the letters they and their father have been exchanging with Naomi, they add a postscript to their father's letter and ask Naomi to come for possible marriage. Thinking Brant has invited her, Naomi is thrilled, quickly puts her house on the market, and makes the trip across Missouri and Kansas only to find Brant is confused by her appearance. She could stay and be just friends with a man she's always admired, or maybe it would be better to run back home. One letter, two children, and a hornet's nest of confusion and emotions are stirred to demand an answer.

Tricked into Marriage is the sixth book in the Birthstone Brides series set in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. The first five books in this series are:
1. Castles in the Sky by Linda Cushman
2. Hometown Love by Mildred Colvin
3. Love Beyond the Fence by Mildred Colvin
4. Softly Comes Love by Linda Cushman
5. Unchanging Love by Linda Cushman

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mildred Colvin
• Release date: May 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370893119

Mildred Colvin

Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

Book preview

Tricked into Marriage

Mildred Colvin

Historical Christian Romance

Tricked into Marriage

Copyright ©2017 by Mildred Colvin

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

Cover photo copyright © Diawka | Dreamstime.com

Scripture portions are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

DEDICATION

To all who have discovered our Birthstone Bride series and are reading it all the way through! For you, I spend hours each day trying to make sense of the thoughts that roam through my mind as each of these characters and their stories take form.

With Tricked into Marriage, we have reached the halfway point in our series. Six more novellas will follow, one each month. Some of the proposed titles are: July Wildfire, Impersonating the Teacher, The Deputy’s Son, and Christmas Bride. I hope you’ll enjoy them all.

June’s birthstone is agate.

She who is born under June’s warm breath,

Encouragement and support to others bequeath.

With an agate ring of blue lace on her finger

Fidelity and true love forever will linger.

Chapter 1

First of June, 1873, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas

Why do little boys attract dirt more than a magnet attracts iron?

Brant Grayson shook his head and grabbed a white shirt off the ironing board then headed upstairs. Good thing he’d retrieved the clean laundry from Mrs. Morrison when he did or Davy would be going to the wedding in a dirty shirt. He took the stairs two at a time then strode down the hall catching the high-pitched voice of Emmie Morgan coming from Savannah’s room.

You brush my hair as good as my new mama. Brant’s best friend’s five-year-old daughter seemed quite taken with the woman who would be marrying her father in about an hour. She don’t hurt me.

That’s probably because she loves you and doesn’t want to hurt you. You’re lucky to be getting a good mama. Twelve-year-old Savannah’s voice sounded far too grown up to suit Brant.

I know. Emmie sounded almost sad now as Brant reached the open doorway. Why don’t you get your daddy a new mama? You and Davy need someone nice too.

Feeling the need to tease his daughter, Brant leaned into the room with his hands braced against the door facing. Yeah, Savannah, think you can find me a new mama around here?

Savannah jumped and pulled the brush away from Emmie’s head as both girls looked at him with wide eyes. Then a bright smile spread across Savannah’s face as her eyes sparkled. I probably could. I’ve seen some of the looks you get when you aren’t watching.

He laughed at her nonsense. As if there were women interested in him. He pulled back with a grin and a parting shot. Just make sure you let me know if you find anyone.

She clapped her hands and bounced in place as if she were no older than Emmie. I will, Daddy, you’ll see. She grabbed Emmie and twirled a dance around the room. The two girls laughed as Savannah sang out, I’m getting a new Mama for Daddy. Oh, boy, oh, boy. Just you wait and see.

A good mama who doesn’t pull your hair. Emmie chimed in.

Right! And she smells good like violets, and is smart, and pretty.

Brant strolled on down the hall, letting their childish voices fade from his mind. He walked into his son’s room to find the ten-year-old carving a stick with his knife. I should’ve known better than to buy you that knife.

At his voice, Davy jumped and tossed the stick on his dresser. He closed the knife and put it in his pocket as if he thought he might be in danger of losing it. Tryin’ to learn a new skill like you said.

Brant snorted. Whittling shavings on your clean floor isn’t exactly something new, Davy. If you want to learn to carve, why don’t you do it outdoors since you’ll have to clean this up now?

I already meant to clean it up. Davy took the shirt from Brant’s hand. Is this what I’m wearing?

Yeah, hurry and get dressed. We’re running out of time.

The first few months after losing his wife had taught Brant the meaning of chaos and what it was like to live in a mess. Being a man who craved organization and a clean house, he quickly put the children to work cleaning up after themselves while he kept the house almost as well as his wife had.

In the two years he’d been forced to be both mother and father, he’d learned to appreciate all he’d lost. Not that he hadn’t already ached for the loss of his wife, but he’d never understood how much she’d done and made look so easy. Sometimes he still missed her so much he physically hurt, but he didn’t have time to feel sorry for himself now or regret his misguided actions that caused the death of the only love he’d ever known. He had to be at the church within the hour.

Soon as you’re all set come downstairs. I should have the wagon ready by then. He turned and, after giving the girls the same instructions, hurried down the stairs and to the barn. By the time he had the horses hitched and had driven to the back of the house, all three kids were waiting for him.

Since they lived less than two miles from town, they were soon rolling through the middle of the business section, around the new courthouse still receiving the finishing touches, and to the church where others had already started gathering. After parking in the lot next door, Brant helped the kids down and looked them over for any last minute adjustments. Davy, I’d appreciate if you’d stay with Savannah through the wedding. Emmie, you need to come with me since we’ve got jobs to do. You two go and make me proud. He waited for their nods then took Emmie’s hand as they walked off. A quick look revealed just the woman he was looking for—the pastor’s wife.

Nina Winford walked toward them with a smile of welcome. I see our flower girl has arrived. Are you ready to do your job, Miss Morgan?

Emmie released Brant’s hand and ran toward her new mother’s friend. I’m going to help my papa and mama get married.

Nina laughed. Yes, you are. Come with me, and I’ll get you all ready for your job.

All right. Emmie stuck her little hand in Nina’s and never looked back as they walked away.

Nina gave Brant a quick wave. Mr. Morgan is wearing a path in back of the church. He’d probably welcome your encouragement right about now.

Brant flashed a grin. That so? I’ll go right away then.

Adam stopped pacing when Brant rounded the corner of the church. I thought you’d forgotten.

Of course not. It isn’t time yet. People are still coming. Brant tried to keep a serious face. He didn’t remember being so obviously nervous when he got married fourteen years ago. Of course, he’d been barely out of his teens back then and didn’t know the responsibility he was taking on. Even knowing all that had happened, if he could go back in time, he’d do it all over again. You aren’t having second thoughts about this, are you?

Adam reared back as if he’d struck him. No! Why would you say such a thing?

As the best man, it’s my job to make sure you know what you’re doing. Brant grinned.

His friend stared at him a moment before a wide grin broke out over his face. She’s a good woman, Brant. Emmie loves her, and she loves Emmie. I couldn’t have found any one I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. By the way, did you ever notice that there’s only one letter different in life and wife? I’ve been thinking about that, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Casey will be my wife, but I could as easily say Casey will be my life. Not to the exclusion of Emmie and the Lord, of course. But she’s awfully important to me already. There’s something pretty special about knowing you have someone you can share everything with. The good and the bad. It won’t matter. God gave marriage when He created man and woman that we might be one with someone made just for us. You might want to think about it. There’s someone special out there for you too.

Brant opened his mouth to protest when Nina stepped into sight.

The bride has arrived and is waiting in front with your flower girl to enter the church. We’ll all walk in together as we talked about. She sent an encouraging smile to Adam. Are you gentlemen ready?

Adam straightened and flashed a smile toward the pastor’s wife then nodded. I’m ready.

Brant and Nina entered the church first. Pastor Ethan Winford waited in front as they walked down the aisle and parted with the bride’s attendant going to the left and Brant going to the right. He found his children sitting quietly in the crowded church before turning his attention toward Emmie as she marched down the aisle distributing rose petals ahead of the bride and groom.

Adam, escorting Casey, his future wife, didn’t seem nervous at all now. Midway down the aisle, he looked down at her with love shining through his eyes for all to see. They took their places in front, and after a song, Pastor Winford began the ceremony.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to unite this woman and this man …

Unite. Brant let the word roll through his mind. Could he ever commit to another woman? Would he ever find any woman who caught his fancy enough to make her his life as Adam was saying? They twain shall be one. The thought was almost frightening in its importance. To be one with another for life. A woman who was created just for him. Could that even be? Eva had been his wife, and he’d been the cause of her death. He didn’t deserve another chance.

Without turning his head, he looked into the congregation, allowing his gaze to linger not more than a couple of seconds on each single woman he saw. Missy Listen, Susan Winford, Lena Vincent, Katherine Kingsley, and Amy Johnson. Was that all there were? Maybe he’d missed a few, but it didn’t matter. All but Mrs. Kingsley seemed so young, and he was pretty sure the waitress at the café was older