Morgan's Bluebonnet Bride (Texas Frontier Brides Book 3)

By Mary L. Briggs

The war has been over for more than twenty years, but the need for revenge still haunts Morgan Shepherd. When he takes a job from the man he aims to kill, the rancher's daughter, Josie, is a distraction he hasn't bargained for. Falling in love with her would be a mistake, but his heart seems to have other plans.

The new ranch foreman is just one in a series of men that Josie Reade's father keeps hiring. Until he finds the one perfect enough to marry his only daughter and take over the ranch, he will keep hiring new men for the job. But Josie doesn't need a man to help her run the ranch, and she certainly doesn't need her father picking out a husband for her. If she marries, it will be her own choice. But sometimes God has other plans. Will Josie open her eyes to an unexpected love, or will or her own stubborn will stand in love's way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary L. Briggs
• Release date: Jan 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463607275

Mary L. Briggs

Mary L. Briggs is a wife, mother, and registered nurse. She enjoys writing inspirational fiction and is also a free-lance writer. She has had two romance stories and one mini-mystery published in Woman's World Magazine. She enjoys reading, writing, studying American history, cooking, quilting, herb gardening, and crafting. Mary lives in a cordwood home in the Ouachita Mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys the company of five cats, a German Shepherd/Border Collie dog, and a flock of chickens.

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Morgan’s Bluebonnet Bride

(Texas Frontier Brides Book 3)

By Mary L. Briggs

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2019 Mary L. Briggs

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It 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 to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Image: The Bluebonnet Bride. Original art: Young Woman by Ryan Pike. Used with permission. http://www.dreamstime.com; Floral Border by Ellebell.Used with permission. http://www.dreamstime.com; hotblack_20070413_lochgoilhead_157.j by hotblack. Used with permission. http://morguefile.com/.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Josie sipped her coffee and enjoyed the warm rush of liquid in her throat. So when will he be here, Pa? Her tone was casual, but really, she was anxious to know. It wasn’t every day that a girl’s father sent off for a husband for his daughter. Not every day for most girls, anyway. This was Pa’s third try.

The fact that he’d been unsuccessful twice before, hadn’t seemed to stop him. Maybe Number Three, as she called him to herself, would be the one. At least it was best to let Pa think so. She had considered some of those mail-order husbands, herself. But, while Pa might think it was all right for him to send off for a husband for her, she was fairly convinced that he wouldn’t approve of her doing so on her own.

Her father, nose buried in last week’s newspaper, folded down half of the pages and stared at her, his brown eyes searching her face. What kind of question is that?

Josie opened her eyes as wide as possible, feigning her most innocent expression. Why, I’m just curious.

He snorted and slapped the paper to the table top. I figure he’ll be here any day. Or by the first of November, at the latest.

That would be almost another month. Josie offered a sweet smile. Think he’ll be like the others?

B. J. Reade’s cheeks puffed, as if they were full of steam and ready to release the hot vapor into the air. Now, you listen to me, girl. I expect you to be nice to this one. Do you hear me?

Josie shrugged and studied the eggs on her plate. I don’t know what you mean. She had never spoken a cross word to the two that came before the one on the way. She gripped her fork all the tighter and waited for the storm that was about to break.

His beefy fist slammed down on the table, sending pieces of china trembling and wobbling on the pine board planks, each threatening to break into a dozen pieces. You do so know what I mean! he roared. I hear or see one hint of your bad behavior this time around, and I’ll tan your hide.

Josie swallowed back the retort that bubbled up her throat. Now, Pa, you’ve got to understand. Those other fellas that you brought out here just weren’t right for me. Or for the ranch. Because, truth be told, Pa was looking for the right man to take over the ranch. The fact that the man would also be married to his own daughter seemed to be a bonus, as far as her father was concerned.

How was I to know that last one could barely ride a horse? Or that the first one didn’t know how to rope a calf? I never meant to show them up, despite what you might think, she added. You just never know what you’re getting when you send off for someone, like that.

Her father’s eyes narrowed. Humph!

So, please tell me his name, she said in a calm voice. After all, a girl should at least know the name of her future husband.

Her father took a swig of his coffee before he answered. Shepherd. Morgan Shepherd. And like I said, you’d best behave once he gets here, he advised, in his best imitation of a growl.

Josie studied his face. Why was he so intent on finding a husband for her? Was he getting too old to handle the ranch alone? It was obvious that he was getting older. There were more than a few wrinkles around his eyes and his belly had certainly grown in the past year. Mostly, it was hard not to notice that he couldn’t keep up with the hands the way he used to.

She set her cup on the table. I’ll do my best. I promise.

***

Morgan Shepherd pulled tight on the reins, bringing his horse to a halt. The big brown snorted and danced at the sting in his jaws.

The man let up on his hold and patted the horse’s neck There now, boy. Sorry about that. Guess I’m letting my mind get ahead of my dealings. With the horse settled, he let his gaze wander down the main street of Chance, Texas. So this was the place his father’s killer had been hiding out since the war. Well, B. J. Reade was about to find himself without a hidey-hole.

At least that would be the case once he actually met the man. And it was time to start transforming himself into the man that Reade had ordered. He’d take a room over at the hotel, get himself spiffed up in his best work clothes, and head on out to the ranch in the morning.

There was no need to ride right on in and shoot the murderous coward. It would be best to gain the man’s confidence. Then, when the time came, B. J. Reade would know how it felt to be betrayed by a man that he trusted. Just as Morgan’s father had done the moment before his death.

***

The slatted board gate at the cemetery creaked as Josie pushed it open. No need to close it behind her. There was no one outside the gates, and everyone inside, excepting herself, for the time being, were permanent residents.

She squeezed the bouquet of wildflowers tighter as she approached the tallest headstone. Standing in front of it, she swallowed. Hello, Ma. Some days, that was all she had to say to the bones that rested beneath the limestone soil. But today was a little different.

I guess I’ll get right to the point on matters. I think you ought to know what Pa is up to. He’s writing off to strangers to bring them here to marry me. He’s been doing it for some months, now. She nodded her head. That’s right. He expects me to marry a man I’ve never met. She paused. You probably don’t know it, but it’s getting to be a might common thing, women and men putting advertisements about themselves in newspapers. I suppose that some might find love that way, but I don’t know.

She cleared her throat. I figure if you were here, I mean, living at home with us, you’d have something to advise him on. Fact is, I’m not sure how the two of you even met. Maybe that might explain things. I guess maybe I should ask him. She knelt and arranged the array of Black-eyed Susan’s and milkweed against the stone. "Love you, Ma.

And I’ll be right over to talk to you in a minute, Ellen, she spoke to the small tombstone next to her mother’s. Some days, the pain was hard to bear when she talked to Ellen. They had been together for almost thirteen years. Life without her was sometimes too sad. But she kept herself busy and tried to look forward to the future. That’s what Ma and Ellen would expect her to do. And what Pa was forcing her to do.

She settled herself on the hard, rocky ground in front of her sister’s grave, leaning forward and brushing off a dried leaf that clung to the rough stone. She let her fingers follow the outline of the beautiful lilies. They had been Ellen’s favorite. Pa had wanted a lamb for her stone, but Josie had insisted on the flowers. Ellen’s flower garden had been the prettiest in the Chance Creek area. It was sad that her own fingers didn’t have the same talent to keep the beauty going. She was left to enjoy only the wildflowers that bloomed every year.

Josie stared at her hands. What was her talent? Had God left her without one? Making Pa mad seemed to be the extent of it, most days. She was a fair cook, and a terrible seamstress, save the time she spent patching trousers and socks. It was a good thing the Lord had blessed Pa with plenty of money to purchase their clothes. Of course, Carlotta could sew their clothes if she had the time. But keeping up the ranch house, with only Josie to help, was a big job.

A bluebird landed on the gravestone at that moment and Josie allowed her lips to form a smile. Even the birds knew where Ellen slept. I miss you, she whispered, pushing herself to her feet. See you soon.

Chapter 2

Morgan pulled the horse to a halt behind a scrubby cedar. Dismounting, he kept his eyes on the scene below. A cemetery, small and neat, from his view. But everyone down there wasn’t dead. A boy, dressed in trousers, a blue shirt, and a straw hat atop his head, was busy whitewashing the wooden pickets that surrounded the gravestones. He patted the horse’s nose. What do you think, Levi? Think that’s one of Reade’s hands down there keeping things tidy for his family?

Levi shook his big head and nickered.

Morgan laughed. You do always think you have to answer. He shaded his eyes against the mid-day sun. Looks like our task is right on schedule. I’ll be Reade’s new foreman in a few hours. And he will be the next new resident in that graveyard. Let’s get going.

***

A slight motion on the green hillside caught Josie’s attention. She leaned her head back, letting the brim of her hat shade her face. Coming straight down, off the top of Wildcat Knob was a rider, mounted on a fast horse. Even at this distance, it was plain that he was a stranger, else he would be hailing her.

Her heart thumped hard against her chest, and she swallowed away the lump of fear that began to form in her throat. A few months ago, she would have thought nothing of the incident. She would have welcomed meeting someone new, hearing news from outside the county. But just last week, the stage to Cortland had been held up by a lone rider, and then the bank at Overwood had been robbed by one man. Everyone said he must have had an accomplice, but no one else had been spotted.

Her eyes went to Ivy, busy grazing on the soft, lush grass that grew on the opposite side of the fence. Searching the saddle, her eyes landed on the Winchester she had brought from home. It was safe and secure in the scabbard.

She dropped the big brush in her hand and leaned over the pointed boards. Get over here, Ivy, she called. The horse pricked her ears at the sound of her name, and trotted the few steps it took to reach her mistress.

Rifle safely in her hands, Josie waited for the stranger. He appeared to have slowed his pace, some. Had he witnessed her taking up the rifle? She gripped the stock harder, feeling her fingers slide from the moistness of her palms. She had rarely used her firearm on an animal, even for food. And never on a human. Please, Lord, don’t let this be the day that I have to fire on someone, she prayed silently, as thoughts of the recent events spun in her head. One on the stage had been killed, as had two in the fateful bank robbery.

Now that he was closer

Reviews for Morgan's Bluebonnet Bride (Texas Frontier Brides Book 3)

[benn9314 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story that shows whatever things that come up you can find happiness