A Suitor for the Spurned Mail Order Bride: Westbound Hearts, #1

By Blythe Carver

Anna Dawson thought she had the perfect man. She had the perfect life planned out with her perfect man. She was marrying the town's most eligible bachelor. Until she wasn't. Suddenly, on her wedding day, she's spurned. What's a girl to do but run away, her head tucked low in shame?

Daniel West's got a problem. His uncle's will states that in order to inherit his own parents' property, Daniel's got to have a wife before his next birthday. Before his next birthday? There doesn't seem to be time to find and woo a wife. Until his sisters concoct a plan involving placing an advertisement for a mail order bride.

 

Seemed like a great idea at the time, but it seems Mother Nature has other plans. No sooner had Daniel collected his mail order bride than an earthquake struck and destroyed the town, sending the two into a head-spinning day of search and rescue. Among all the ravages inflicted on the town, can Daniel and Anna find what they are seeking and rescue their attempts to find love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BCP
• Release date: Apr 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393324829

Book preview

Prologue

Daniel West and his three sisters, Rose, Emma, and Amelia sat around the dinner table chatting like they always did. Daniel and his sisters were close, a tightly knit family of siblings left to their own devices ten years ago when their parents were murdered while traveling on a train. The story was that a man tried to rob them, their father put up a fight and both he and their mother were shot dead as a result. The man was caught and spent three years in prison before he was hung for their double murder.

Since then the siblings were financially supported by their uncle, Clarence West, their father’s brother. He was the one who doled out their allowances. It had long been disputed that the riches he had and the money their parents left them should have been in Daniel’s care when he turned 21. As it was, he was a grown man of twenty-seven and it was high time he controlled the family finances.

Unfortunately, Clarence West was a man of many talents. One of them was manipulation. He kept the money from the siblings, making what sounded like reasonable claims of concern about how it would be spent, should they have free reign over it.

For five years, Daniel had been finding ways to go around his uncle’s restrictions to get the things he wanted. And the things he wanted were basic needs that any young man would want—an education for one. And that was the most important thing on Daniel’s mind. He didn’t want to be a useless member of society, living off his family riches and meandering around listlessly, going from saloon to pub to saloon, drinking it all away without a thought in his head.

Daniel prided himself on his intelligence. He'd wanted to use it from the age of eleven, when he noticed a discrepancy in the account of an event told by two different sources and wanted to dig until he'd found the truth of the matter. He’d ended up exposing the mayor for transgressions that had cost the town money.

His uncle didn’t notice the small victory for the eleven-year-old. He hadn’t acknowledged it in any way. He couldn’t from his mansion in New York City.

That event took place six years before the Wests were murdered. Daniel hadn’t expected or asked for any recognition from his uncle. It wasn’t until after Clarence had control that Daniel noticed he and his sisters had been ignored by the man nearly all their lives.

He often wondered why his father trusted his brother enough to give him the executorship of the will.

In order to pay for his schooling, Daniel had to turn to the dark side. At least on paper. He’d started sending his uncle messages soon after the death of his parents, claiming to be in trouble with gambling debts. He said he feared for his life. He told the most outrageous stories he could, begging his uncle for extra money.

And every cent went to paying for books, supplies, and tutors, plus tuition.

Daniel was not a stupid man.

He looked around the table at his sisters. He had a plan in motion to free them of their uncle’s dictatorship. He hadn’t quite decided if he wanted to tell them or not. He’d been working in the law office with his friend, Bertram Smith, for nearly six months, trying to find a way around the will of his parents, in order to take control of the West finances.

He was about to interrupt their laughing and chatter when the door knocker banged loudly on the door three times. His sisters, unaccustomed to company, all turned wide eyes toward him.

Is someone supposed to be coming over? Emma asked, her voice light and airy.

Daniel, you’re so awful for not telling us someone was coming, Amelia shot at him overtop her sister, one hand going up to her hair to pat it down.

I didn’t invite anyone over, he said, standing up as Johnson, their butler, brought in Henry Lancaster, familiar to the siblings as their uncle’s lawyer.

Daniel felt his heart thump hard in his chest. He blinked nervously. Had Clarence found out he was looking for ways to get out from under the man’s thumb and free himself and his sisters? He reviewed everything in his mind to make sure he hadn’t done anything illegal.

Even if he hadn’t, Clarence might be deceitful enough to make it appear so.

He licked his lips and swallowed, stepping forward with his hand out. He forced himself to smile and relax.

Henry. To what do we owe this pleasure?

Henry smiled at Daniel and turned that smile to the sisters, who had also stood when he came in the room. For a moment, Daniel was confused. Henry seemed extremely chipper for someone who might be bringing devastating news to the siblings. Perhaps he wasn’t in trouble, after all. Perhaps Clarence didn’t know what he’d been doing.

I am happy to see the four of you doing so well, Henry said, bowing slightly from the waist at each of the sisters. He was a short, plump man with a thin blond mustache that didn’t quite fit his round face as well as he probably thought it did. But Daniel had always gotten along with him and suspected he wasn’t a huge fan of Clarence, either.

Would you like to sit and have coffee and breakfast with us? Emma asked, holding out her hand to the table.

Henry glanced at the hot food with a look of extreme desire but shook his head. No, no, thank you. No time. I only stopped by to give you the news.

What news? Daniel asked, his voice tight with apprehension.

Henry looked him directly in the eye. It’s your Uncle Clarence, he said. He’s had a heart attack and died. The funeral is tomorrow. The will reading, the next day. You need to be there.

Daniel felt numb. He and his sisters shared stunned looks.

We’ll be there, he said, his voice hollow.

1

Anna Dawson looked in the mirror, smiling wide.

Oh my, she gushed, running her eyes over the new hairdo her friend Ethel had created for her. You’ve done such a lovely job. What would I do without you?

Ethel laughed and hugged her friend around the shoulders, lowering herself to look at Anna in the mirror. Why, you would have dull hair, obviously. I’m so glad you like it.

She pulled away from Anna, still looking at her in the mirror. Anna rose, patting the big blond curls that hung in ringlets around her head. It really was a style that suited her narrow face and fine features. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight that came through the window and she was momentarily impressed with the picture she presented. She wasn’t an egotistical girl, but she knew when she was looking good.

You’re a miracle worker, Ethel.

Hah. Ethel snorted, shaking her head. Not with your hair, I’m not. It’s that hair that’s the miracle. Let’s go downstairs. Everyone will be here real soon.

Anna followed her best friend down to the main floor. The living room in Ethel’s home took up most of the space in Ethel’s cottage on that floor while the bedroom she shared with her husband, Frank, took up the space on the second floor. When Anna had arrived for the bridal shower Ethel was holding for her, she’d been amazed by the décor and beauty of the living room where the party would be held.

Stepping in the room a second time gave Anna the same feeling. She shook her head, taking in the deep pink, orange, and off-white paper flowers, baskets, and streamers. It looked so calm, so well put-together.

You really have an eye for colors, Ethel, she said, looking all around the room. This is so beautiful.

Ethel stopped where she was and held up one flat hand, indicating different parts of the room as she spoke. I just think these colors represent the kind of woman you are, Anna. You are so collected and intelligent. You give off such a good feeling, at least to me, and when I’m upset, I always want to find you. I know you’ll just naturally make me feel better.

You are so flattering. Anna couldn’t help giggling as she took a seat on the couch. Ethel was right about one thing. The room did give off a feeling of comfort and calm. She could live there. I think you’ve given me an idea for how I want to decorate my home. What do you think Shawn would say about these colors?

I imagine he wouldn’t mind them, Ethel replied, moving to the table and examining it to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be. She looked behind her at Anna. But then again, I don’t think he’ll care much about décor in your home. I doubt that’s very important to him.

Anna nodded. Ethel was probably right. Shawn was a businessman, somewhat strict with himself, his employees and his personal relationships. He spent a lot of time at the office and, if she was honest with herself, Anna didn’t really see a lot of him. It had been at least two months since he’d taken her out to dinner or to a party. But he’d asked her to marry him and she’d said yes. She planned to make some changes after they married. She would insist that he take her out and show her a good time. He’d always been good to her, ever since they started courting a year ago.

Shawn came from a highly successful family that ran a factory which made ammunition. During the war, they had become extremely rich, one of the few factories that was able to keep up with supply and demand. Not to mention the fact that they sold to both sides of the war, doubling their sales.

Shawn was proud of his family name and wealth and had no qualms about throwing money around to get his way. He was fond of name-dropping, getting discounts, or things for free, and special privileges by mentioning his father dined with a certain senator or even with the president.

Anna knew he was a prideful man but was sure he wouldn’t be that way with her when they were married. He would be the same old Shawn who liked to come up behind her and scare her and then laugh hysterically when he made her practically jump out of her shoes.

Anna smiled. He was a playful man. He would make her happy and she would do anything she could to make him happy, too.

The doorbell rang.

Anna watched as Ethel crossed the room in front of her, singing, They’re here, everyone is here, this is going to be fun.

Anna smiled, standing up to wait for her friends and family to enter. She didn’t mind nodding a dozen times, shaking hands, saying Hello, over and over. These ladies were here to celebrate her upcoming wedding with her. She was grateful they had shown up.

She glanced at the gift table once everyone was inside, grateful to see the many brightly colored packages there, some of them odd shapes, most of them rectangles and squares.

She turned to her guests. Thank you all so much for coming to my party. And thank you, Ethel, for doing this for me. It all looks so beautiful. I can’t wait to see the presents you all chose for me, but we have some prizes for you all, too. I’m not the only one leaving here with a gift. In fact, we have door prizes for everyone so no one will leave empty-handed.

A soft cheer ran through the room and several ladies laughed in delight. It was the beginning of a lovely evening for Anna that was only marred fifteen minutes into the frivolity when a latecomer interrupted them.

Nan Bundle, one of Anna’s childhood friends who had remained more of a casual acquaintance through the years. Ethel had invited her last minute to have an even count of ladies at the party. Anna remembered thinking how odd it was that Ethel needed an even count but she let her friend run with it. She was the one planning it, after all.

You are so lucky, Anna, one of her guests, Emma, said, as they all sat around the living room, absorbing the atmosphere and chatting with one another. She was sitting casually, one leg up on the couch, her back against the corner, her body stretched out in front of her. One hand was clutched around a wine glass and the other was propping up her head. She smiled at her friend as she raised her wine glass. Here’s to the lucky ones.

You’re pretty lucky yourself, another guest remarked, grinning at Emma. You’ve been married to a fine man for five years now.

Emma saluted the speaker with her wine glass. Six. And thank you. Yes, James is a true Godsend. That’s why I raise my glass to yet another lucky woman.

Several ladies laughed.

Anna looked around at