The Belated Bride: Heartsgate Haven, #1

By Danni Roan

Anton Rally has waited a long time to settle down and start a family. Having made his wealth in the silver fields of Nevada and lumber camps of the North West, he is finally ready to marry and step into his ideal life. Not willing to wait until an appropriate bride presents herself, Anton contracts with a Mail-Order Bride agency back East to find him the perfect match.  With everything in order, a beautiful new house built and furnished, his finances sorted, and a bright future ahead, he impatiently awaits the arrival of the future Mrs. Rally.                                                          

 Deidra Dixon is bored.  She has a good job, a beautiful apartment, and a few friends, but she feels like something is missing. The highlight of her week is the fun book club she discovered at the back of her local library.  Everyone in the Book Club loves to read, each dreaming of their favorite genre, and handsome hunks or heroines, found between the pages of a good book. With the arrival of the newest member, a purple-haired, modern-day matchmaker, things are getting lively at the Heartsgate Book Club. 

Finally, feeling like she fits in this special place, Deirdre discovers she's not the only one wishing that her special someone could step through the pages of her next favorite romance and into her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danni Roan
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393270133

Danni Roan

About the Author Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene she has been a story teller for her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.

Book preview

Contents

Prologue...................5

Chapter 1................12

Chapter 2................31

Chapter 3................49

Chapter 4................62

Chapter 5................83

Chapter 6...............102

Chapter 7...............124

Chapter 8...............141

Chapter 9...............154

Chapter 10..............175

Epilogue................197

Prologue

Biders Clump, Wyoming   1885

Anton Rally pulled a shiny gold watch from the pocket of his brocade vest and flipped it open. The train was late, again.

It’ll be along young fella, the hostler of Biders Clump called. This kind a weather slows the train down some days. The older man looked up at the clear blue sky and cringed.

Anton lifted a dark brow at the older man. Thank you, Mr. Byron, he said, tipping his head politely.

Just Byron, the man snapped, shaking his head of graying hair and rubbing a weathered hand over his short beard. What you waitin’ for anyway? Byron couldn’t resist the question. You been here every day this week?

Anton straightened the silk tie at his throat, brushed his black hair away from his eyes, and lifted his chin before replying.  I am waiting for my bride. His dark eyes flashed with a combination of worry and pride.

Well, ain’t that something? Bryon grinned. What’s she look like?

Anton felt heat touch his sun-darkened features, but he grinned. I don’t know, he admitted in an embarrassed whisper. We have never met.

It’s like that, is it? Byron’s blue eyes twinkled as he chuckled. Well she’ll get here, don’t you worry none.

You think so? Anton asked. She was meant to arrive the first of the week, and I’ve still not heard anything from her. The man’s dark eyes dance toward the telegraph office, but he said no more.  

She’ll be here, Bryon offered, a little less confident this time. After all, you went to all the trouble to build that big fancy house out by the mountain. She’d be crazy not to come.

Anton smiled, smoothing the lapels on his charcoal-colored coat. It was true, he had spared no expense on the beautiful house he had built an hour’s ride out of town. In his new life here in this tiny town in Wyoming, Anton had everything he could have ever wanted. In his early years, adventuring to Nevada, he had hit a good seam of silver, and with an eye to the future, he had invested his hard-earned wealth with care.   After a few years of harsh conditions and subsistent living in the desert of Nevada, Anton Rally had worked his way to the northwest with the logging outfits, finally coming to rest in Wyoming with enough money to last him a lifetime.

At thirty-two, Anton Rally was a wealthy man who could have anything he wanted, but what he wanted most was a wife and family of his own. He wanted a chance at love, companionship, and children.

The sound of a train whistle made the tall, broad-shouldered man turn, straightening his fine coat and checking the shine on his black boots. Surely his mail-order bride would arrive today.

Byron strode along the platform, meeting his friend George Olson at the edge of the boardwalk. He’s waitin’ on his bride, Byron whispered.

So, that’s why Mr. Rally moved out here and built that fancy house. George turned dark eyes on his friend, running a hand through his still mostly black hair.

That’s what he said.

Wait till Polly hears. She’ll be tickled to think of a proper wedding in town. That young Pastor Dalton could use the practice before my Ellery gets a mind to marry, he added with a chuckle.

I hope she shows up today, Byron smiled. Mr. Rally has been waitin’ on the train every day this week. You don’t reckon somethin’ happened to her, do ya?

George adjusted his hat and lifted the handles of his baggage cart. I hope not. He sure went to a heap of trouble on that house.  Filled it with fancy furniture and about anything a proper lady could ever want.

Byron nodded slowly, watching the tension in Mr. Rally’s shoulders build. I hope she gets here.

A puff of steam filled the little station as the big black engine ground to a halt with a screech of steel on steel, and excited arrivals started pouring from the coaches. 

Men, women, and children stepped down the metal stairs gazing around as they chatted excitedly, looking for information about the countries first National Park or a place to get a hot meal.

George wheeled forward, barking out an invitation to the boarding house he owned. Letting weary travelers know they could find a hot meal, warm bed, and a chance to clean up at his place. Several families followed him back down the boardwalk a few minutes later as he gathered their bags and helped them find their way.

***

Anton watched as groups and individuals spilled from the train's collection of cars.  His dark eyes watching for a woman traveling alone, while his heart pounded in his ears.  From the single letter he had received from his intended, all he knew was that she was of small stature and had light hair.  Anton still wasn’t clear on why she had agreed to be his bride, but the agency he had contracted with had a good reputation, and the rest he would trust to providence.

The hustle and noise grew quiet as passengers disembarked, hurrying away to other destinations, but still, no one meeting his bride's description appeared.

Byron shook his head, watching the younger man’s shoulders sag with disappointment. It was evident that the new bride had not arrived on that evening's train. 

A confirmed bachelor himself, Byron could still understand the fancy man’s disappointment. He was sure Mr. Rally had his heart set on a family of his own.

Don’t you worry none, the old hostler called, walking up next to Mr. Rally. She’ll get here. You know how women can be, they take their time about everything? Byron chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, but the younger man simply straightened his coat and lifted his chin, striding toward the waiting wagon and two fine horses below in the street.

Byron scratched his short beard, watching as the man climbed into the wagon and turned his team out of town. Women, he spat. Who needs ‘em. Nothin’ but heartache and sorrow.

Chapter 1

Deirdre looked down at her watch and quickened her step. She was going to be late. Work had been busier than expected, and she groaned as she glanced at the time. Things had been getting especially interesting at Book Club in Heartsgate, New York recently, and she didn’t want to miss a minute.

Book Club, a weekly meeting of avid readers, women and the occasional unwitting man alike, had become Deirdre’s saving grace over the past few weeks of spring as work had gotten busier. As a tax lawyer and specialist, Deirdre had been burning the midnight oil, but things would slow down again soon. They always did, and then the doldrums would settle in. It was always like this. Each year she worked long hours during tax season then coasted through the summer picking up odd cases that needed specialized attention.

Deirdre skidded to a halt at the library's wide double doors, pausing to pull herself together.  Tonight she was going to talk to Dr. Lachele.  With a grin, Deirdre brushed a lock of her dark blonde hair from her eyes and adjusted the book in her hand. Tax season was finally over, and she was ready for a vacation. If what the purple-haired modern-day matchmaker said was true, this year’s month-long break would be the adventure of a lifetime.

Adjusting the book in her hands, Deidre pushed the heavy doors open and headed for the stairs, her eyes set on the room at the back of the library where the club would meet.  Her stomach grumbled, but the young woman pushed thoughts of food aside. She would stop at the Calico Café after the meeting and grab something to eat. Right now, she needed to speak with Dr. Lachele.

Deidre, one of the women of the group greeted, handing Deidre a name tag with a grin. I was afraid you weren’t going to make it.

You haven’t started yet, have you, Wendy? Deidre looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the purple-haired