Reluctant Mail Order Bride - Historical Western Romance

By Johanna Jenkins

Clara Grace longs for only one thing: to be free. She longs to be free of her father who has always resented her; she longs to be free of the house which still contains the ghost of her older sister who passed on a year ago. But, when her father announces that he placed a personal ad in her name seeking a husband out west and, what's more, he has accepted a proposal on her behalf, she can't help but think that this is not the freedom she imagined. Even though the letters Alfred Bell has written to her father (who wrote to the young man under Clara's name) are eloquent and reveal the his intelligence and polite manner, Clara is reluctant to accept that she will be happy with a man she has never met. When she meets Alfred, however, she discovers that, like her, he is at the mercy of a demanding father. Now, Clara must make a decision. Will she stay with Alfred and face the demands of his family with him, or will she strike out to find freedom on her own?

A Standalone Short Story with no cliffhanger! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clean & Wholesome Romance Club
• Release date: Nov 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386246985

Book preview

Reluctant Mail Order Bride

Chapter 1

Iwas sitting in my large rocking chair in the back bedroom when my father called for me. The one my sister, Louise always used to sit in when she sang me to sleep at night.

A stitching project lay on my lap and I let my hands move the thread in and out of the fabric. Up and down, in and out. Louise had taught me how to do that. She had taught me how to do everything I needed to do. Now that she was gone, there seemed to be nothing else to learn.

When my papa’s voice sounded up the stairs, my hands immediately began to tremble. Papa never called me unless I was in trouble. Usually, he didn’t want to see me at all.

Hurriedly, I set down my stitching and rushed to obey his summons. I had no idea when I opened the door to my room and made my way down the stairwell, that his news would change my life forever.

Yes papa, I said when I greeted him at the kitchen table. He did not look up at me but handed me a stack of, what looked like, letters.

Read those, he said brusquely.

What are they? I asked.

Letters, he told me.

I knew not to ask for any further explanation from my father. He almost always spoke to me in monosyllabic terms.

Instead, I moved my eyes to the letters in my hand. The first was addressed to me from a man who seemed to be introducing himself. It was as though he was answering some kind of correspondence from me.

Miss Griffyn, the letter read. I am writing in response to the advertisement requesting correspondence which you have placed in The Hand and Heart magazine. My name is Alfred Bell.

My eyes narrowed in confusion as I struggled to understand this stranger’s words. I glanced up at my father wanting to ask him what this might mean. He was looking down at his glass on the table, as though oblivious to my presence. Not wanting to disturb him until absolutely necessary, I glanced through the other stack of letters in my hand. Some are signed with my name. Though, I can tell that they were written in my father’s handwriting.

The last letter from this Mr. Alfred Bell contained a train ticket to California. I read this letter fully where the others I had only skimmed. The message also contained excitement from Mr. Bell that I had ‘accepted his proposal of marriage.’

Papa... I said finally. It says here that this...Mr. Bell...expects me to marry him.

And so you will, Papa said looking from his glass up to me. I can’t afford to keep you any longer. With your sister gone, you’re more of a hindrance than a help. It’s best for both of us if you go out west.

I see, I said. "I don’t suppose I