A California Mail Order Bride: Miss Lizzy & The Highwayman

By H.E. Kline

It is April 1873 and Louis Dawson is a lonely miner who has hit gold and is desperate for a woman to share his riches and his life...
 

Lizzy was scared she'd become an old maid since she was still unmarried at 22, which was approaching old age in the old west marriage market. After corresponding with Louis for three months, she did something she thought she'd never do: become a mail order bride against her Pa's wishes.

She resigned her position as schoolmistress, packed her suitcase, and boarded an eastbound train. On the way to her intended, her carriage is held up at gunpoint by highwaymen! That's when she meets Luke Atkins, the local town sheriff. He was a lone wolf and not looking for love ... and she had never expected to feel such strong feelings for this handsome and kind lawman.

After the robbery Lizzy is betrayed by the man she believed loved her. Embarrassed and too ashamed to face anyone, especially her Pa, she holed up in the bridal suite of the Old Haunted Exchange Hotel. Believing God had abandoned her, she was ready to give in ... but maybe God had other plans for her all along?

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.E. Kline
• Release date: Aug 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9798201508531

H.E. Kline

Before becoming an award-winning author, "Lainie" specialized in transcribing expert, medical, and scientific testimony for almost 30 years. H.E. (otherwise known as "Lainie") is a Registered Professional Reporter, a Registered Merit Reporter, and a Certified Realtime Reporter. "I write," Kline says, "in a conspicuous effort to creatively intertwine nonfiction into imaginary contemporary paranormal romance, mystery, science fiction, and horror in a concerted effort to give a 'voice' to those whose voice may have been forgotten or lost in translation".... A Special Message to All Readers Past, Present & Future: I would like to thank all of the readers who have taken the time to reach out to me after having read one of my "crazy" (as my kids would say) supernatural stories, either on Twitter or Facebook, and who have now become my friends. Connecting with you has been the single most rewarding experience of my life (except, of course, for raising three children) ... please friend me on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/helana.kline.39 or follow me on Twitter @https://twitter.com/heKline or my website @ http://helanakline.wixsite.com/immolation                

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Table of Contents

A California Mail Order Bride: Miss Lizzy & The Highwayman

A Clean Historical Christian Western Short Story Romance

Copyright © 2016 by Katie Wilde

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Chapter One: Lizzy’s Kids

Chapter Two: Lizzy’s Reply

Chapter Three: I’m Not A Young Woman Anymore

Chapter Four: On The Central Pacific

Chapter Five: Jim Henry

Chapter Six: Harrow’s Train Depot

Chapter Seven: The Highwayman

Chapter Eight: My Mail-Order-Bride Wedding

Chapter Nine: Behind Every Cloud Is A Silver Lining

IT IS APRIL 1873 AND Louis Dawson is a lonely miner who has hit gold and is desperate for a woman to share his riches and his life...

Chapter One: Lizzy’s Kids

LONESOME MINER WANTS wife to share stake and prospects ... Elizabeth Derry read the bold-faced headline, silently repeating every word, clutching the San Francisco Magazine with both hands firmly. She rose from her desk and walked toward the small window of The Little Ole Greene School overlooking the schoolyard. 11-year-old Gregory Watkins was laughing ... roaring so hard, in fact, he was bent over; his right hand holding onto his midriff as he howled. Miss Derry began to smile as she watched Emily Richmond steal his hat and the scuttlebutt that subsequently ensued. She couldn’t take her eyes off the children—her children, she said softly out loud and watched Emily chase Gregory until the children were clean out of sight.

Well, Lizzy muffled to herself, if he wants to share stake and prospects, he must be a rich, lonesome miner, I reckon. 

Emily let out a shrilling bellow, and Elizabeth watched until her vision was obscured by a boisterous crowd of children now swooning around the petite, freckled-faced, redheaded girl.

Sweetie, it’s okay, Lizzy whispered into Emily’s right ear as she picked her up and cradled her in her arms as she ran into the school.

It hurts, Miss Derry; it really hurts, Emily whimpered as her tears began to soak through Elizabeth’s white-laced blouse.

Everything will be okay, Emily. I promise, Sweetie, Lizzy repeated assuringly as she placed the frightened child onto her desk, gently sweeping her wet hair from her tear-plastered face. Her eyes quickly scanned the room until the water jug was plainly in sight. She attempted to walk away from Emily when a tiny arm grabbed her left forearm:

Oh, Miss Derry, please don’t go. Tears cascaded down Emily’s smooth, pale skin. Her sky-blue eyes widened as the tears continued to dribble down over her chin. There was an inch-long gash in her right knee that had debris embedded within it that Emily was desperate to conceal from her teacher, covering it lightly with her right hand as Elizabeth grabbed the jug and began dabbing a small cotton cloth against its spout.

No, Miss Derry, Emily shrieked. It’s just a little cut really, she said shaking her head