Calico Bride

By Ellie Lynn

After the death of her parents, it broke Brianna Campbell's heart to send her younger brother out west on the mercy train, but with no means of supporting him, she hoped that he'd find someone to take him in. When she is finally able, she sets out for Calico, California, to reclaim him, and make a home to start a new life together. With no time for love, she doesn't count on meeting a handsome rancher who makes her heart race.

Needing help for his ranch, Sean James takes in a couple of orphans from the mercy train under his temporary guardianship and provides room and board in exchange for good honest work. Still recovering from the death of his wife, he's shut himself off from the outside world, especially the marriage hungry young women of Calico. But the boys worm their way into his battered heart, and he finds he doesn't want to let either of them go when a sister comes to claim the younger of the two.

Brianna's fierce independence earns Sean's respect, and to his surprise, his interest in more than just a friendship. His attraction to the pretty blonde grows with each passing day, but can he convince to trust him and take a chance on love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deslisle Publications
• Release date: Nov 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781537893556

Book preview

Ellie

Deslisle Publications

Calico Bride

A Love In Calico Novella

By

Ellie Lynn

CLIMAX, SK

CANADA

Other Books By Ellie Lynn

Wyoming Wild

Rebel Heart

Hide and Spook

Writing As Jennifer Lynn

Harper’s Treasure

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Getting Over It

New Prints In Old Calico

Chapter One

So, this was Calico. Brianna Campbell stepped down from the stagecoach into the dusty dirt roadway in front of the hotel. She glanced up and down the street, wrinkling her nose at the horse manure liberally littering the thoroughfare. Lifting her long skirts and petticoats high above her ankles, her only thought was to protect the hem of her gown from becoming soiled.

The last eighteen months had been extremely difficult. Influenza had struck Savannah, and Mama and Papa had died within a week of each other after taking ill, leaving Brianna and her little brother to manage on their own. She shook off the memory as she glanced at the hotel. This had been a very long and unpleasant trip from her family home to the relatively untamed state of California.

The bills had piled up quickly as Brianna tried to keep what was left of her family together, but providing for her younger brother had proven too difficult. The family lawyer had suggested putting her little brother to work in one of the factories but she’d staunchly refused. A factory was no place for a young boy! After the bank took the house for unpaid debts, the only option she could find was to load him onto the mercy train heading out west.

She’d kissed him and gave him a fierce hug, promising Marcus that she’d join him just as soon as she was able. Once they were reunited, they would be able to make a new home together. Surely, she wouldn’t have trouble finding suitable employment in an area rife with opportunity for hard working people.

Skilled in the domestic arts, she could cook up a storm. Mama had made sure of that. Thanks to Grandmama, she was a competent seamstress, and she could parse sentences and keep accounts. Papa had taught her well, expecting she would take over the plantation with her brother one day.

Unfortunately, those skills had not been enough to keep the roof over their heads and feed herself and a growing boy. When the mercy train had pulled into Savannah, Brianna had begged the matron in charge to take her brother along with them, with the stipulation that Marcus would not be put up for permanent adoption. She’d given the woman a little bit of her fast dwindling cash to help with expenses.

The desert breeze whipped at Brianna’s skirts and her hat almost flew off her head. Almost on reflex, she reached up with one hand to hold it in place. With her situation just shy of desperate, she looked up and down the main street of the small town searching for any place where she might find employment.

Miss Campbell? The deep gruff voice of the stagecoach driver broke into Brianna’s thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, she shook away the disturbing memories and focused on the situation at hand. She was eighteen years old, and alone in a small California town with only ten dollars to call her own. She bit her lip. That wouldn’t last long once she’d paid for room and board. She had to find employment as soon as possible.

Miss? The driver repeated again. Where you wanting me to set down yer bag?

Brianna looked up at the hotel sign and sighed. How much of her small hoard of money would be left after she stayed there? She needed to spend as little as possible of what was left of her meager funds until she found employment. Yes, her situation was very close to desperate.

The stagecoach driver seemed to read her thoughts. Dory runs a boarding house at the end of the boardwalk. It might be a might easier on yer purse strings than the hotel.

Brianna let out a big sigh. Yes, thank you. I’ll just take my bag then. I appreciate all of your kind help and a most pleasant journey. Good day, sir. It wasn’t his fault she’d been uncomfortable for most of the trip.

Lugging her large carpetbag, Brianna made her way down the wooden walkway. She swallowed hard, fighting down her nerves, and did her best