Mail Order Bride: Deception (Historical Western Romance): Clean Romance Series (Western Mail Order Brides Book 1) by Samantha Price
Authors: Samantha Price
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“You and I have got a lot to celebrate, and a lot to be thankful for.”
She hoped she might still be around when next week came. “I do like the fourth of July. It’s such a lovely time with family, togetherness, and thanking God for our great country.” Leah figured that was the right thing to say, even though she knew nothing of family or togetherness. She knew how she wanted things to be in her life, but things had never gone how she had hoped. Maybe things always went well for the real Victoria Hadley, but she wasn’t the real Victoria Hadley; she was a fake person, and now she was living someone else’s life. Leah had always been the one to watch others having a good time with their happy families, and their happy lives. Things hadn’t been all bad for her; she’d had some good things happen to her. She’d been lucky that the Bradburys had given her a position in their household, and she’d never gone a day without a meal.
“Where do you go to, Victoria?”
She swung her head around to look into his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You get that far away look in your eyes, and I can’t help but wonder what you’re thinking. What’s going on in your mind?”
Now would be a good time to tell him that she wasn’t Victoria. She studied the honesty in his eyes. He seemed genuinely concerned for her; he sincerely wanted to know what she had been thinking of. Could she be brave enough to tell him who she really was? But if she told him the truth, would he still look at her with the same loving eyes? No one likes to be fooled. “I’m just thinking about many things.”
“One day I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me what those things are.”
Just at that moment, the black horse nudged Leah’s arm; she was pleased to have the distraction. “Hello, boy. You’ve come over to talk to me again, have you?”
“He likes you.”
“He’s a beautiful horse. I love animals.”
“And I can see they love you.” He chuckled as he reached out to pat Night on his neck. “Victoria, let’s get married the day after the Fourth of July celebrations.”
She nodded. “All right then.”
“Good, I’ll speak to the pastor about it tomorrow. Has anyone told you what we’re doing this Fourth of July?”
Leah shook her head. “Are you doing something special?”
“Most of the towns’ folk are heading out to the old fort. It’s now a soldiers’ home. It used to be a fort to guard travelers from Indians, but it hasn’t been used for that in some time. There’ll be a big celebration with a special tribute to commemorate peace between the north and the south.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.”
“I thought that Beth would’ve enlisted your help with the food preparations by now.”
“No, I’ll speak to her about it, of course. I must do an equal share of the workload.”
Chapter 7.
On Thursday, the day before the Fourth of July and two days before his wedding, Austin opened the door when he heard a knock. Beth stood on his doorstep.
“Where’s Victoria? I saw she’d taken one of the carriages,” Beth said.
“She’s upstairs changing Violet. She’s taking her out for the day.” He knew he was beaming as he said it. It did make him feel good that Victoria had connected with his daughter so rapidly. It was as if God was finally taking notice of his prayers.
“That’s good, but I do need to talk to you.” Beth made her way into the living room.
“I figured. Can it wait until we’re alone?” He sat on the couch.
“Of course.” She threw some letters on the hall table. “I picked up your mail. The postmaster said that you hadn’t been there to collect it in days.”
“Thank you.” Now that Victoria was here, the rush to read the mail was over.
Beth sat next to him on the couch, and the two of them were there for several minutes, until Leah came down the stairs with Violet on her hip.
Austin jumped up and stood at the bottom of the stairs. “I’ve got the
She hoped she might still be around when next week came. “I do like the fourth of July. It’s such a lovely time with family, togetherness, and thanking God for our great country.” Leah figured that was the right thing to say, even though she knew nothing of family or togetherness. She knew how she wanted things to be in her life, but things had never gone how she had hoped. Maybe things always went well for the real Victoria Hadley, but she wasn’t the real Victoria Hadley; she was a fake person, and now she was living someone else’s life. Leah had always been the one to watch others having a good time with their happy families, and their happy lives. Things hadn’t been all bad for her; she’d had some good things happen to her. She’d been lucky that the Bradburys had given her a position in their household, and she’d never gone a day without a meal.
“Where do you go to, Victoria?”
She swung her head around to look into his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You get that far away look in your eyes, and I can’t help but wonder what you’re thinking. What’s going on in your mind?”
Now would be a good time to tell him that she wasn’t Victoria. She studied the honesty in his eyes. He seemed genuinely concerned for her; he sincerely wanted to know what she had been thinking of. Could she be brave enough to tell him who she really was? But if she told him the truth, would he still look at her with the same loving eyes? No one likes to be fooled. “I’m just thinking about many things.”
“One day I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me what those things are.”
Just at that moment, the black horse nudged Leah’s arm; she was pleased to have the distraction. “Hello, boy. You’ve come over to talk to me again, have you?”
“He likes you.”
“He’s a beautiful horse. I love animals.”
“And I can see they love you.” He chuckled as he reached out to pat Night on his neck. “Victoria, let’s get married the day after the Fourth of July celebrations.”
She nodded. “All right then.”
“Good, I’ll speak to the pastor about it tomorrow. Has anyone told you what we’re doing this Fourth of July?”
Leah shook her head. “Are you doing something special?”
“Most of the towns’ folk are heading out to the old fort. It’s now a soldiers’ home. It used to be a fort to guard travelers from Indians, but it hasn’t been used for that in some time. There’ll be a big celebration with a special tribute to commemorate peace between the north and the south.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.”
“I thought that Beth would’ve enlisted your help with the food preparations by now.”
“No, I’ll speak to her about it, of course. I must do an equal share of the workload.”
Chapter 7.
On Thursday, the day before the Fourth of July and two days before his wedding, Austin opened the door when he heard a knock. Beth stood on his doorstep.
“Where’s Victoria? I saw she’d taken one of the carriages,” Beth said.
“She’s upstairs changing Violet. She’s taking her out for the day.” He knew he was beaming as he said it. It did make him feel good that Victoria had connected with his daughter so rapidly. It was as if God was finally taking notice of his prayers.
“That’s good, but I do need to talk to you.” Beth made her way into the living room.
“I figured. Can it wait until we’re alone?” He sat on the couch.
“Of course.” She threw some letters on the hall table. “I picked up your mail. The postmaster said that you hadn’t been there to collect it in days.”
“Thank you.” Now that Victoria was here, the rush to read the mail was over.
Beth sat next to him on the couch, and the two of them were there for several minutes, until Leah came down the stairs with Violet on her hip.
Austin jumped up and stood at the bottom of the stairs. “I’ve got the
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