The Widowed Bride

By Ann Laurel

A Sweet Clean Mail-Order Bride Romance by Ann Laurel

Amelia Shaw had a beautiful life at one time but after the war, her life forever changed. Now she faces a whole new life again due to acts of nature.

A lonely widower in Wyoming places a mail-order bride ad looking for a bright young woman to marry. He prays that the first person to answer his ad is the one God wants him to choose.

Amelia finds herself being carried along by the throes of circumstances beyond her control. With the help of a kind, new friend she sees hope in her otherwise lonely existence when he shows her a magazine with the mail-order bride’s ads in the back.

For Amelia to have a happy life again, she has to be willing to take a leap of faith.

This book is a clean, inspirational western historical romance. Though it is a part of The Cattlemen’s Wives Series, it is a standalone book with a happily ever after ending. Read The Cattlemen’s Wives in any order!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perfectly Plotted Books
• Release date: Jun 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370921430

Ann Laurel

Ann loves to write inspirational sweet romances. Her first series, The Cattlemen's Wives, are western historical mail-order brides. All of her books are guaranteed to make you feel good when you reach the end.Ann lives with her husband and children in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in the south. She enjoys raising Godly children, volunteering with her church, homemaking, and writing.

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The Widowed Bride (Cattlemen’s Wives Mail-Order Brides) by Ann Laurel

Copyright © 2016, 2017 by Ann Laurel.  All rights reserved.  Published in the United States by Ann Laurel & For Him Publishing.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher/author.

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction.  Therefore, all characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance whatsoever to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter One

A blast of wind vibrated the schoolhouse and the door flew open, causing the children inside to scream in fear. Amelia stood up, walked to the door quickly and looked outside at the dark, foreboding rain clouds as the storm brewed. The rain fell in sheets, pelting the windows and the tin roof as the building shook.  Amelia struggled to close the door before stepping back inside. With a brave face, she turned to her pupils.

It’s okay everyone. It’s just rain. Let's get back to our work, she said to the children while trying to keep her voice calm.

The storm outside made it almost impossible for the children to tend to their studies. Amelia continued watching out the window and she would occasionally rise up to pace back and forth through the classroom. Tucker River swelled beyond its banks, coming precariously close to the little town of Tucker Valley. She feared a flood could be imminent.

Amelia looked around the room at her students. Each one of her twelve pupils came from families she knew personally, most by their first names. Every child, aged five through fourteen, were hard workers and good students for her. Amelia so desperately loved being their teacher and yearned to see them through their studies. She had poured her life into them and the Tucker Valley School over the past three years. However, it looked like nature was about to rip her away from what she knew and loved.

The school marm sat down at her desk and began marking in her gradebook. Not long after, her students raised up from their work as they heard a commotion coming up along the road. Someone was yelling while banging a bucket outside. Amelia and the students stood and walked over to the windows to see Mr. Carter coming up the road as quickly as he could in his wagon, his son Jake steering the horses. Mr. Carter hopped off the wagon and ran into the school. Amelia thrust open the door just in time for him to walk in, soaking wet and dripping all over the floor. He stood still for a moment, bent over to catch his breath.

Miss Shaw, the river is cresting. Within a couple of hours, this valley will be flooded. All the families have been asked to evacuate. Let the kids go so they can get to their homes now to avoid having any of them getting lost. Quickly and make haste! Mr. Carter said as he looked in desperation to each child and their teacher.

Yes, Mr. Carter. We will do so right away. Okay, children, you heard Mr. Carter. In a quick and orderly fashion gather your things. You’ve got to get back to your homes as quickly as possible. The children scrambled to gather their books and Mr. Carter turned and gave Amelia a sad look.

This is it. I’m afraid there won't be a Tucker Valley School here anymore. When the river crests it’s going to destroy everything in this valley. Please, Miss Shaw, fetch what belongings you can carry out of here and I'll send a buggy along directly. There’s a few of us going around and making sure everyone gets out in time, Mr. Carter said.

Amelia nodded as she crossed her hands together at