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    Grace's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #1
    Grace's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #1
    Grace's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #1
    Ebook147 pages3 hours

    Grace's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #1

    By Kate Whitsby

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    About this ebook

    In Book 1 of The Texas Prairie Brides Series, Grace Montgomery works as a maid at the Double A Ranch in the far north Texas Panhandle. Her life would be happy if not for Florence Abbot, the daughter of Acton Abbot, the wealthy ranch owner. Does Florence really take a special delight in tormenting Grace, or does it only appear that way? The haughty and spoiled prairie princess drives Grace to distraction with her constant complaints and demands. Grace's only friend is Abigail Doering, who rents a cottage on the ranch and gives piano lessons to the pampered Florence and other students from the nearby town of Borger.

    Grace's life flies into a whirlwind of chaos, however, when she arranges to marry a mail-order husband. Florence can't stand the idea of Grace getting married when she doesn't even have any prospects. The sons of other wealthy ranchers, whom her father considers worthy matches for her, won't have anything to do with her. They all know her reputation for being demanding and impossible to please.

    The worst part, though, comes when Florence finds out that Grace's mail-order groom is none other than Bad Bill Bailey, the notorious gunslinger and accused murderer. Did old Mr. Abbot really give him the job of horse breaker on the ranch, to move in and marry Grace? Florence sets her mind to foil their wedding plans, and to see Bill Bailey put away for good. Will Grace find happiness in this tempest of personalities? Is her new husband really a dangerous outlaw, or is Florence mistaken about his past and his future on the ranch? Will Florence destroy Grace's only chance for love, or will Grace prove everyone wrong by claiming her right to happiness?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGold Crown Publishing
    Release dateApr 24, 2017
    ISBN9781540122605
    Grace's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #1

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      Book preview

      Grace's Mail Order Husband - Kate Whitsby

      Thank you for downloading this Book.

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      ****

      KATEWHITSBY

      Grace's Mail Order Husband

      Texas Prairie Brides: Book 1

      Dedication

      To YOU, The reader.

      Thank you for your support.

      Thank you for your emails.

      Thank you for your reviews.

      Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

      Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Chapter 29

      Chapter 30

      Chapter 31

      Connect With Kate

      Copyright

      Chapter 1

      On the landing at the top of the stairs, Grace met Abigail Doering. Abigail still wore her flowery hat. Oh, you’re here, Grace! I thought you’d be long gone.

      Grace’s eyes darted into the room next to the landing, and she dropped her voice to a murmur. I was hoping Miss Florence would let me off later.

      Don’t tell me you haven’t even asked her yet, Abigail exclaimed. You better hurry if you want to get out in time.

      I know, Grace replied. I was thinking to ask her....you know, later.

      Abigail squeezed Grace’s arm. You’ll be fine. I’m sure she’ll let you off. How are you doing with it all, anyway?

      Grace passed the back of her hand across her forehead. I’m a nervous wreck! I can’t do anything right this morning.

      Abigail laughed. That’s to be expected, isn’t it? You’re getting married, after all. She nodded down at the pitcher of flowers in Grace’s hands. These are beautiful. If this is what you mean by not doing anything right, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

      Grace blushed. Thank you, Miss Doering. I really appreciate you saying that.

      I’ve told you a hundred times to call me Abigail, she replied. We’ve been friends here on the Double A Ranch for two years. I think we can call each other by our first names.

      Grace glanced into the room again. I don’t think..... She didn’t finish her sentence.

      A female voice called from within the room. You can bring those in, Miss Montgomery. We’re all waiting for you.

      Grace hurried into the room, and Abigail followed her. On the other side of the room, a tall, slender young woman stood at the window. A glittering organza gown trailed the ground around her feet, and her chocolate brown hair piled high on top of her head.

      She turned from the window when the other two women entered. You’re late, as usual. I’ll never know why you’re always so incurably late. We’ve tried everything from cutting your pay to throwing things at you, and nothing seems to work. Perhaps losing your position will jog you out of your stupor.

      Grace set the pitcher down on a low table in front of a settee upholstered in brocade, and turned away without answering.

      Abigail took the pin out of her hat and set the hat down next to the pitcher. You don’t have to get nasty, Florence. Grace was just saying hello to me out on the landing.

      I’ll thank you not to interfere when I’m trying to discipline my staff, Florence replied. Honestly, Abigail, I would expect a woman of your breeding to know better.

      And is that what I am? Abigail shot back. Am I a member of your staff, too?

      Florence sneered. Be reasonable, Abigail. You know I wasn’t referring to you.

      But I was, Abigail replied. The last time I checked, both Grace and I work for your father, not you. He hired us both, and he pays us. That makes both of us his staff, not yours.

      Florence started to answer, but she stopped herself and turned towards Grace. You can go now, Miss Montgomery. I understand you have an appointment to keep later today. Is that right?

      Grace blushed again and kept her eyes down. Yes, Miss. If you can spare me, Miss, I would appreciate taking some time off this afternoon. Perhaps, since you’re having a piano lesson with Abigail.....

      You mean Miss Doering, don’t you? Florence interrupted.

      Yes, Miss, Grace whispered.

      Well, Florence continued. You still haven’t brought the lemonade tray up from the kitchen.

      There is no lemonade, Grace told her.

      Florence started. What? No lemonade? How did this happen? You know I always have lemonade in the afternoon during the summer. I can’t stand the heat without it.

      I’m sorry, Miss, Grace replied. But Kathy told me to tell you she couldn’t get any lemons. There aren’t any to be had in the whole territory at this time of year. She said you can have tea if you want.

      Tea! Florence shrieked. How could I have tea?

      I’m sorry, Miss, Grace went on. Kathy says it’s tea or nothing.

      Florence gasped and spun away. Tea! I never heard of such a thing. And I suppose there’s no ice, either, in this heat.

      Sorry, no, Miss, Grace replied.

      Florence crossed to the window again. I don’t know how I’m supposed to stand this God-forsaken country with no lemonade and no ice. It’s like hell on earth.

      Grace and Abigail shared a secret smile behind Florence’s back. When she didn’t answer, Grace ventured, So, what shall I tell Kathy, Miss? Would you like tea?

      Florence sighed. What choice do I have? I suppose, if I don’t have tea, there’s nothing else, is there?

      Just water, I’m afraid, Miss, Grace told her.

      Water! Florence gasped.

      What would you like, Miss? Grace asked again.

      I’ll drop dead if I drink water, Florence told her. You better bring up the tea.

      Grace started for the door.

      And don’t let me catch you listening at the keyhole, either, Florence called after her. Bring the tea tray in and then get back downstairs. I’ll have you driven off the ranch if you don’t.

      After Grace disappeared, Abigail sat down on the settee. Do you really have to be so hard on the poor girl?

      Florence turned around and glared at her. Poor girl! That’s a laugh! If I wasn’t so hard on her, she would run wild. If I didn’t keep her in line, nothing would get done around here.

      You forget, Florence, Abigail replied, I’ve been living here on the Double A Ranch for two years. I’ve seen how you treat Grace, and you’re much harder on her than you need to be. She’s a good girl, and she works hard. You should be nicer to her. You would probably get twice the work out of her, if you did.

      I won’t be nice to her, Florence growled. She would be out of control, if I did.

      I’m not the only one who thinks so, Abigail went on. Kathy, the cook, agrees with me. And most of the cowboys make a joke about your demands and complaints, too.

      Florence snorted. That just proves my point. If that girl has the likes of those uncouth range maggots taking her side, then I know I’m right. She’s trash, that girl, and she shouldn’t even be allowed to work in this house. We should get a girl of good breeding to work as maid, someone like you, Abigail. We wouldn’t have half the problems we have with Grace.

      You wouldn’t get a girl of good breeding, like me, to work as a maid in this house, Abigail pointed out. No girl of good breeding would put up with your behavior, Florence. The only reason Grace has to put up with it is because she’s too poor to tell you to take the job and choke on it. I sure would, if I was in her position.

      Chapter 2

      And what is so bad about my behavior, I should like to know? Florence demanded. Do you think I don’t know what Grace has been up to behind my back? Do you think I don’t know she went and got a mail-order husband, right under my nose? The girl should blush with shame.

      Abigail smiled. She is blushing, but it’s not with shame. I’ve never seen her so happy.

      Florence slumped down on the settee next to Abigail. I suppose that’s why she wants the afternoon off. I suppose she’s going to run off with this man of hers.

      She isn’t running off with him, Abigail replied. She’s meeting him here, and then they’ll ride into Borger and get married. They’ll be home in time to serve you your dinner, if that’s what you’re worried about.

      I’m not worried about dinner, Florence told her. I’m worried about Grace getting married. It shouldn’t be allowed. She’s only nineteen.

      And what’s wrong with that? Abigail asked. That’s the age most young women get married, isn’t it?

      Well, just look at me, Florence remarked. I’m twenty-three, and I’m not married.

      Your father would have liked you to get married at nineteen, Abigail pointed out. He just couldn’t find anyone to marry you.

      He could find plenty of them, Florence retorted. There are plenty of young men around, sons of other land owners. I just didn’t want to marry any of them.

      They didn’t want to marry you, you mean, Abigail corrected her. They’ve all heard about how difficult you are, and none of them want to sign up for that. Who could blame them?

      Florence pretended not to hear. What about you? You’re twenty, and you’re not married. Would you ever think of getting a mail-order husband?

      Abigail clapped her hands. Oh, what a good idea! Why didn’t I think of that before? I’ll do it today!

      Florence stared at her. You’re not serious!

      Of course I am, Abigail returned. I’ve been wanting to get married for a long time. I just haven’t found a man I want to marry. Oh, I know there are single men all over the place. All the cowboys on this ranch are available. But somehow, it just didn’t seem right. But a mail-order husband—that would be perfect. I’ll write a letter to the service just as soon as you finish your lesson.

      Florence gaped at Abigail with her mouth open. If this is your idea of a joke.....

      Abigail wasn’t listening. Her mind turned on her plan. I have to go into town later in the day for another lesson. I can put the letter in the mail then.

      Florence made a face. "I can’t believe you’re serious, but even if you were, Grace is in a completely different situation. You have your own cottage on this ranch, and you have your

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