Found Treasure: A Pair of Historical Romances

By Vanessa Carvo

The Pregnant High Society Woman & The Real Rancher - A woman from St. Louis, jilted and made pregnant by her fiancé, heads out to Montana and a husband to be in a rancher with a kind heart. The latter is very surprised when she arrives on the stagecoach, hurting, and about to have her baby.

The Seamstress From Boston Teaches The Angry Nebraskan Rancher How to Love - A seamstress from Boston decides to head out to Nebraska and become the mail order bride to a rancher, but when she reaches the station and sees her cowboy, he is much older and much angrier than she would have ever imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365438721

Book preview

Found Treasure: A Pair of Historical Romances

Found Treasure: A Pair of Historical Romances

By

Vanessa Carvo

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

The Pregnant High Society Woman & The Real Rancher

Synopsis: The Pregnant High Society Woman & The Real Rancher - A woman from St. Louis, jilted and made pregnant by her fiancé, heads out to Montana and a husband to be in a rancher with a kind heart. The latter is very surprised when she arrives on the stagecoach, hurting, and about to have her baby.

Tori Cunningham wondered if having her long, silky, red hair wrapped in a tight bun made her appear older as she glanced down at the dark blue evening dress she was wearing, with a set of glowing blue eyes. The evening dress was straight from Paris, pricey, and considered the latest fashion. Tori guessed she looked beautiful and appealing in the eyes that belonged to St. Louis’s rich and elite.

Being twenty-one, young, beautiful, and belonging to a wealthy family surely placed her life on a golden path. She would know no hardships, hunger, and poverty and never know the desperation of need. Yes, Tori thought, staring at herself in front of a tall antique mirror standing next to a marvelous walnut vanity table, her life was certainly one to be envied.

Then Tori lowered her two, soft, hands to her pregnant stomach. A sweet, delicate, life was growing within her stomach—a beautiful life. Yet, Tori knew, the precious life growing inside of her stomach was very ugly to the rich circle she and her family belonged. Instead of her baby being considered a wonderful gift, the baby was considered a horrible, ugly, little secret that needed to be hidden away.

Yes, Tori knew as she caressed her stomach, she had made an error and went into bed with the man she was to marry before the wedding vows were spoken. Then the man vanished into the night without leaving an explanation, leaving Tori in a very delicate state. Why, she whispered closing her eyes. Even though she was surrounded by exquisite furniture, expensive paintings and standing on priceless foreign green and red rug, Tori somehow felt very poor. Her beauty and inherited wealth were powerless to defeat the emotion.

Hearing a knock at her bedroom door forced Tori to open her eyes. Who is it? she called out turning away from the mirror and facing a large bed surrounded by dark green bed curtains.

It’s your father. May I come in? a deep, patient, voice answered.

Yes, Tori answered and quickly walked over to a pair of double windows on the far right wall and sat down in a white sitting chair. Behind the light green curtains standing over the windows Tori heard a soft spring rain falling.

Opening the door to Tori’s bedroom a tall, thin, man with deep gray hair walked stepped through the door. Appearing distinguished and brilliant in an expensive suit and carrying a wooden cane with a silver handle, Andrew Cunningham spotted Tori sitting down and sighed deeply. Carefully closing the bedroom door, he approached her. Dinner is almost ready. The guests will be here soon.

I know, Tori answered miserably. I do wish you and mother would not force me to attend your dinner parties. You know as well as I do the only words that will be spoken to me night will be accusing glares and insulting whispers. Never mind the fact that one St. Louis’s most prominent and promising lawyers placed me in this condition and then vanished into the night like the horrible creature he is.

Hearing the anger and bitterness flow from his daughter’s voice saddened Mr. Cunningham. I have attempted through these years to create a wonderful life for you. I believed Jake Milton was going to make you a fine husband and continue giving you the life I have always dreamed for you. It is true that he is a swine. And it is also true that most of our guests tonight will continue to whisper horrible insults behind your back. However, some very important clients are on the guest list. It is prudent that you make an appearance.

Raising her eyes upward Tori looked deep into her father’s face. Father, sometimes I hunger for real people. Then I realize that the people I loathe…I am what they are. I am carried through the streets of St. Louis in a beautiful buggy you had imported from Switzerland. We own the finest horses, eat the finest foods, wear the finest clothes, and live in the finest house…all the while I don’t even know the names of the women who clean our house each day.

Taken back by his daughter’s confession, Mr. Cunningham found that his mind could not form and immediate response. Listening to the gentle rain falling outside, he took a minute to gather his thoughts. We…what I mean to say, is that…wealth separates people into different classes, dear. You mustn’t feel ashamed because you are not personally involved with the hired help.

Tori continued staring up into her father’s face—a face she found strength and confidence in, a face that loved and protected her. But…when we attend church and Pastor O’Brien tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten son to die for the world…doesn’t that include everybody? Are loved more because of wealth in the eyes of God?

Certainly not, Mr. Cunningham quickly answered. However, his daughter’s words pushed him back into a difficult corner with powerful hands.

Then why don’t I know the name of the woman who cooks in the kitchen? And why doesn’t she give me hateful glares like the wealthy people who come into our home do? And why…do we belong to such a people when they…are hypocrites.

Mr. Cunningham sighed miserably. I wish I could answer your questions. Please, come downstairs when it is time.

I will. But before you go, I have a confession to make to you, Tori told her father lowering her eyes down to her stomach.

Yes?

I’ve spent these last month’s thinking about my life, my family, the people who we consider friends, the social circle we belong in, and I’ve come to realize that… Tori paused as grief struck her voice.

What, Mr. Cunningham asked gently placing his right hand down onto Tori’s shoulder. You can confide in me, daughter.

Without raising her eyes, Tori told her father that she had come to realize that her life