The Bride Said No

By Lavada Dee

To avoid an arranged marriage Angelina DePalma accompanies her unwed and pregnant childhood friend Ella O’Hara to Seattle. Ella is answering a mail order bride ad in the newspaper. She is scared to death as she has been less than honest with the prospective groom.

Angeline doesn't like her part in the deception she's helped Ella with, but is more frightened of staying and being forced into a marriage that her stepfather is planning for her. Bolstering each other the best they can, the two women set out on the long journey west.
With women still a scarcity in what some call the wilderness, Lars Swenson, a wealthy Pacific Northwest entrepreneur, resorts to placing an ad for a wife in an Eastern newspaper. When his bride arrives, he gets more than he expected. Not one, but two women, descend from the train and it is Angelina, not Ella, that awakens Lars’ heart.

Angelina, Ella and Lars struggle to sort out the mess they find themselves in and a love triangle of loyalty, friendship, and commitment renders the growing love between Lars and Angelina an impossibility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lavada Dee
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005229108

Lavada Dee

Lavada Dee writes Contemporary and Romantic Suspense. She loves to read and gained a love of the romance genre from sneaking her Mother’s True Confessions from under the bed. That was many many many years ago and she has since advanced into reading just about every genre out there. From a love of reading she naturally evolved into writing.She lives in the Pacific Northwest where they encourage friends to drop in. While's it's impossible for all of us to physically drop in to chat we can do it via cyburspace. She loves to get better acquainted with you and invites you to subsribe to her Blog/News on her website.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Angelina listened to the soft snores Ella was emitting from the seat across from her. She didn’t see how Ella managed to sleep and envied her friend. Speculating, Angelina reasoned that Ella knew about their forced exile for longer. That wasn’t the case for Angelina, for her it was like her world exploded today. Her mind wandered back to the day before. She finished her morning working in the church office. Her father, the Reverend James DePalma, had left the evening before for a week-long business trip to Atlanta. Angelina liked it when he traveled. With him gone a peace fell over their household. A welcome relief, especially lately as the tension seemed to be escalating to the point where she frequently caught her mother almost holding her breath. Still, nothing could have prepared her for what happened to make her leaving with Ella necessary.

The clack of the train’s wheels on the track lulled her mind as Angelina continued thinking about what happened the day before. Monday and the church office was closed, giving the pastor and staff the day off. She doubted that anyone considered her staff. She wasn’t paid and any credit due her went to her father. That morning as usual she made out the bank deposit from Sunday’s tithes and walked it over to the bank. When her father was in town she locked the money in the office safe and he took it to the bank either later in the day or on Tuesday.

At just past noon she ended her work and walked the block home. As soon as she opened the door she knew something was horribly wrong. Her mother looked over at her in a seemingly frenzy. Finally, I didn’t think you would ever . . . Her mother stopped and took a deep gulp of air. I’m sorry, it isn’t all that late, is it?

Angelina took her mother’s arm and moved her to a seat at the kitchen table. Here, sit down and tell me why you are so upset.

As soon as her mother sat down, Angelina turned to the stove and the ever-ready pot of hot water. I’ll make us some tea. Is it Miss Ezzie?

Miss Ezzie an elderly neighbor that her mother watched over was like a grandmother to Angelina.

Her mother shook her head. I wish. Angel, you have to leave, now, today, before your father gets back.

Margaret DePalma rarely raised her voice or drew attention to herself in any way. This was so out of character that it left Angelina speechless.

Before she could get the tea made her mother jumped up and headed for the stairs. Let the tea go. We need to sort through your things. You won’t be able to take everything. Impatiently she looked back over her shoulder at Angelina and almost shouted. Come on, help me.

Angelina caught up with her mother, but when she saw the state of her room she almost gasped. Clothes were strewn over the bed, the dresser, and even on the floor. A trunk that she recognized from the attic storage stood open in the corner.

I wish I would have started the laundry, you’ll need all of your unmentionables. Her mother stopped mid-stride and threw a bundle of dirty clothes into Angelina’s arms. Take these down and launder them. Hurry.

Stunned Angelina hurried out to do what her mother asked. After hanging the clothes on the line she went back upstairs to see that her mother managed to pack as much as possible into the trunk and a traveling valise, leaving only enough room for what now hung out on the line.

Her mother wrung her hands together. We should probably tidy up in here.

Tidy up? Mother, enough, you have to tell me what’s going on. She paused and then added, You are scaring me.

Angelina’s words, or maybe the tremor in her voice, seemed to bring her mother out of her frantic scurrying around.

Her mother grabbed Angelina’s hands, worrying them like the beads of a rosary. Ever the caregiver her mother would never if it could be helped, cause her only child distress. You are right. I am so sorry but we need to keep working. I think your father will be gone for a few days, but we can’t be positive.

Angelina interrupted her. I don’t understand. Didn’t he leave yesterday afternoon for a week in Atlanta?

Her mother’s face looked flushed and beads of sweat dotted her brow. A fastidiously neat woman, her appearance was as out of character as her actions.

Angelina’s heart lurched. Her mother literally shook with fear, with a deep breath, she seemed to consciously slow her movement as she took an old dress off the bed and carefully hung it back in the closet. I’ve suspected that your father’s life was spiraling out of control for a while now. There didn't seem to be anything I could do. You know how he is. He won’t listen. In fact, he seems to think we are beneath him.

Angelina nodded, Okay, but he always treated his wife and daughter as if he could barely tolerate them.

Her mother again paused, and Angelina was almost afraid to breathe for fear she would stop talking.

After hanging up another dress, her mother continued her story as if she never stopped. I thought he would be gone for a few days. The morning started out quiet and I looked forward to some time to ourselves. She sat back down on the bed pulling Angelina down beside her.

Angelina watched in silence as tears ran down her mother’s face.

Taking a handkerchief from her dress pocket she pressed it into her mother’s hand. Oh love, don’t cry. It can’t be all so bad.

It is. Her mother whispered.

Then her voice seemed to gather strength as she continued. Almost as soon as you left your father came in the door. I’m surprised you didn’t bump into him on your way over to the church. He had Orville Brumburg with him.

Angelina couldn’t stifle the gasp that escaped. She feared and detested the man. It seemed he’d always been around, a man her father called a friend. He seemed to be always touching her. Feigning being off-balance he would bump into her. Her skin crawled with the memories, but it was the present that brought fear. The past month he had gotten more brazen, almost as if he had a right to touch her.

Her mother nodded. Angelina wasn’t surprised that she had picked up on her feelings and thoughts.

If you remember, we got a late start this morning. I think the men thought that you would be at the church and I would be over at Ezzie’s as I usually am on Monday mornings. But your father seemed to recover quickly from seeing me still here. He said he left some documents he needed and they went into his study and shut the door.

It wasn’t hard to guess what her mother had done. Her mother’s sewing room was directly over the study. The house was old and there was a hole in the floor of the closet big enough to see some of the study and hear what was said better than being right in the room.

How bad is it? Angelina knew her father had a serious gambling addiction, but how did this all tie in with her having to leave in such a rush?

Her mother had noticeably paled. Angelina sucked in her breath as her hand fell over her heart. Oh no, her father wouldn’t, couldn’t. It felt like blood rushed to her brain as everything came together. There had been signs, Mr. Brumburg’s newly aggressive presence, and her father all but ignoring her and her mother, even worse than usual.

She didn’t doubt that she would experience a myriad of emotions in the days ahead, but right now anger took control. How long do we have?

"I don’t know. They were in the study for about an hour and were drafting a document. Right now they are going to Atlanta. Mr. Brumburg has a plantation somewhere around there. From what they were saying, your father has amassed a small fortune in gambling debts. Mr. Brumburg is going to take care of them in return for . . .

Me!

Her mother’s jaw clenched tight as she nodded.

What about you? Are you packed?

No, and this isn’t about me. One thing your father isn’t is violent. He’s never struck either of us and I doubt he will start now.

What about that toad Brumburg? And, we don’t really know what father might do. If the debt is so large that he has to resort to selling me off, it could be a death sentence for him. I doubt that he can walk away without paying it.

Her mother’s sigh filled the room. I don’t know, and I can’t care. The train that Ella O’Hara is taking to the Northwest is leaving at six o’clock tonight and you are going to be on it.

Mother, I can’t leave you.

Her mother didn’t raise her voice, but it sounded louder with the firm words she spoke. Listen to me, we don’t have time to argue. I am going to go pack some food for you to take with you. I want you to finish tidying this room. Then write a note to me and to your father. Make it convincing, something like you couldn’t let Ella travel by herself. If he thinks you will be back in a few weeks he won’t look for you.

Angelina saw that look in her mother’s eyes. She had made up her mind. And, she had reasoned out how Angelina could have a chance to escape the clutches of Mr. Brumburg. Her mother chose to stay behind so that the men, would accept it as only a temporary delay in their plans.

Or, they will come looking for me with fire and brimstone as their partner.

Chapter 2

Angelina re-read the note she’d written:

Dear Mother and Father, please forgive me for leaving like this.

Mother, I know you would have never let me leave and I just can’t let Ella travel by herself. As you know she has been a sister to me and right now she needs me.

Father, I composed a few sermons for you and left them in the drawer. They should be more than enough to help you until I get back.

She signed the letter, and then laid it down on her pillow. The room was as neat as always. Her satchel and small trunk sat by the door. So little, for twenty-one years of life.

Angelina stood in the kitchen doorway looking in with a heavy heart. Would this be the last time she would see her mother? No, she silently vowed. She would get a job and send for her as soon as possible.

Margaret DePalma looked up from where she was putting food in a basket. All done? Good, it’s five o’clock. By the time we get to the railroad station, they will be boarding. She handed Angelina a packet. Here’s your ticket.

Angelina saw the money and shook her head. I can’t take this. You’ve been saving it forever.

For you. I’ve been saving it for you. When you get settled in Seattle, I’ll try to come to you. Your father doesn’t have anything to do with Ella’s family so I doubt he will think to check where she is going. At least not at first. Hopefully, by the time he does, you will be settled in a safe place. I’m so sorry about this. I never should have married James DePalma, but he wasn’t always like he is now, and after your father died I didn’t see how I was going to manage with you being just a babe in arms.

Angelina knew the truth, but she hadn’t learned that the man she had always called father was really her stepfather until just a year ago. She remembered the day her mother had sat her down and told her. Relieved though she was, by that time the dye was cast and she continued to call him father and keep outward appearances. Doing it more for her mother’s sake than hers.

She folded her mother in a hug. Shush, you did the best you could. We will get through this and I will send for you as soon as I’m able.

Pulling away, Angelina’s mother put on her no-nonsense persona and said, Ella’s brothers are coming over to escort you to the station. They will be able to easily carry your bags and I don’t want to be seen with you as I plan to tell your father that Ezzie Milford was ill and I spent the night with her. He’ll believe it, as you know I frequently do that for his parishioners, and lately, our Ezzie has needed more help.

A knock sounded on the kitchen door. That’s Ella’s brothers come to fetch you. Oh and one more thing, Ella’s family doesn’t want anyone to know where she is so they have arranged for any letters to go to Mrs. O’Hara’s sister in New Jersey. Send your letters there too.

* * * *

Angelina had spent a restless night. Every time the train slowed fear coursed through her. The few stations they pulled into were the worse. Even though she knew her father couldn’t have possibly followed her, getting far enough ahead to board the train, she was still wide-awake and fearful until the train left the stations.

With relief, she saw that Ella was finally waking up. She had raided the basket of food her mother had packed earlier, but couldn’t wait for a cup of coffee. She would need to budget the money her mother had given her because she didn’t know how expensive living in Seattle would be or how long it would take her to find employment. Unlike Ella, she had schooling so should be able to find a job of some kind. Her friend was the first of ten kids and the only girl until her sister who was just turning thirteen. It took both Ella and her mother to manage the household. Schooling had been out of the question.

Good mornin. Ella sat up and smoothed her skirt down. Did you get any sleep? Every time I roused a wee bit you were awake.

Not a whole lot. It will be better now that we have more distance between us and home.

Ella stood up and reached for the door to their compartment. Let me use the water closet and then I’ll be ready if you want breakfast.

Angelina nodded. She would just have coffee, but there was no need to tell Ella that now. Ella needed to eat and with the money Mr. Swenson, her soon to be husband, had sent with the train ticket she didn’t need to worry about a budget. Besides, she wouldn’t have to think about supporting herself once they got to Seattle as Angelina did.

There was no envy of Ella in Angelina’s musing. Marrying a man she had never met, one that had advertised for a wife in the paper was scary. It was even more frightening than traveling into the unknown as they were doing. Of course, staying home and becoming the wife of Orville Brumburg was beyond anything either of them might find in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest.

Chapter 3

Ella couldn’t believe it was only three more days until they would be in Seattle and starting a new life. Beyond nervous at the prospect of meeting her soon-to-be husband, she tried to put on a brave front. But Angelina knew her too