The Runaway - Clean Historical Western Romance

By Johanna Jenkins

Ruth Watson of Connecticut has run away from home. After stealing away from her drunk and abusive father's home with the aid of her kindly town pastor, she finds herself traveling to Texas in order to marry Abel O'Connor. Abel, a farmer in Texas, has been courting Ruth by letter for several months. He has proved himself to be a kind, eloquent young man with a large and happy family of three brothers. Ruth is eager to become his wife, however, there is one problem. She has not told him about her father's problems with drink, nor his abusive tendencies. And, when Ruth's father angrily follows her to Texas, intending to drag her back to Connecticut with him, Ruth is forced to tell Abel the truth about her past. Will Abel be Abel to accept Ruth as she is? Or, will the ghosts of the past prove to be too difficult to overcome?

A Standalone Short Story with no cliffhanger! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clean & Wholesome Romance Club
• Release date: Nov 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386814924

Book preview

The Runaway

Chapter 1

Ilook down at the words written on the page in front of me. I have had to read them nearly a dozen times to make sure I’ve understood them correctly.

My dearest Ruth,

I can no longer stand not being in your presence. As it is, I wait with baited breath for your letters to arrive. Now, I beg you to please accept my proposal...

He wants to marry me. Abel O'Connor of Medina, Texas wants to marry me, Ruth Watson of Ridgefield Connecticut.

I can barely contain the enormous grin which spreads easily across my face. Nor can I ignore the happy butterflies dancing in my stomach which fly out in a string of giggles.

I have to put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing too loudly. My father is asleep downstairs and, if I wake him before he’s ready, there will be hell to pay.

Of course, there will also be hell to pay if I don’t get dinner started in time. Father insists on dinner being ready as soon as he wakes from his overlong afternoon sleep (usually preceded by far too much whiskey).

It’s been like that ever since Mama died, a sort of hell on earth living with Father. But, all that changed when Abel came along. Abel and his eloquent, sweet, wonderful letters.

As quickly as I can without smudging the ink on the paper, I jot down acceptance of his proposal to Abel and fold it neatly. I will have to take it to Pastor Jamison tomorrow so that he can post it for me.

Our church pastor is the only one who knows that I’ve been writing to Abel consistently for two months. It was Pastor Jamison who posted Abel’s advertisement for a wife on the church door. It was also Pastor Jamison who encouraged me to write to the young man, despite not telling my father. Pastor Jamison even arranged to have a photograph of me taken to send to Abel. It made me blush when Abel praised my appearance in his next letter.

The reply to Abel’s proposal in my hand represents the first time I have ever intentionally disobeyed my Father. My hands tremble as I seal the envelope shut and rush down the stairs to begin preparing dinner.

No sooner have I gotten the pot out to begin the soup when I hear a stirring from Father’s bedroom. My heart leaps into my throat. He’s coming and I’ve barely started.

My hands begin to shake again as I fire up the stove and pour the leftover stock into the pan. I continue to shake as I hear his footsteps come closer and closer. Finally, they stop just behind me. I don’t turn around to look, but, I brace myself for a beating.

What’re you making, Ruthie? he asks.

I’m surprised. He never calls me Ruthie when he’s cross. In fact, he hasn’t called me Ruthie since Mama died