His Surprise Bride (Mail Order Matrimony Book 1) by Sarah Banks

Author:Sarah Banks [Banks, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Noah Co., Novella Length Stories, Mail Order Matrimony Series, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier-Pioneer Era, Cowboy & Western Romance, Hearts Desire, American West, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Mail-Order Matrimony Series
Publisher: Sarah Banks
Published: 2019-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said pulling back, breathing heavily. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You don’t have to take all the blame, I kissed you back.”

“Jane,” he whispered, his hand cupped her jaw and his thumb caressed her cheek. She felt herself leaning into him but fought not to close her eyes. She didn’t want to miss a moment. But whatever else he was going to say, he didn’t. His eyes dropped to her lips but he made no other move toward her so this time, she kissed him.

When they pulled apart the second time, they were both breathing heavily. “That time was one hundred percent my fault,” she said, giving him a shy smile. “I kissed you.”

He didn’t smile back, instead he jumped to his feet and all of the sudden Jane felt very vulnerable.

She slowly came to her feet and collected her soap, brush and towel, remembered to put out the lamp herself this time and walked to his horse where he was already mounted. Not quite meeting his eyes she took his hand. It was a silent ride home. Gabriel didn’t hold her as tightly as before and didn’t take the longer, more scenic way they had come. In a few short minutes she was back on the porch.

“Be ready to leave by seven-thirty. You’ll be early but that way I can take you into town with Brandon and Thea and they can say their goodbyes before school.” Without another word he rode onto the barn.

Jane made her way slowly into the house. Brandon was sawing logs as usual. She quietly checked in on Thea. Her little face lay sweetly on her pillow, her fist tucked under her chin, her hair in braids that she had done herself. Jane quietly closed the door and went into Gabriel’s room. Leaving her robe at the end of the bed she slipped underneath the covers, burying her nose in the pillow that still carried Gabriel’s scent.

She couldn’t believe her time in Dalton was at an end. She thought when she had boarded the train and then the stagecoach to become a mail order bride that she would live here forever. Instead, she found a man who wasn’t looking for a bride and no intention of getting hitched, two mischievous but lovable children and a place she knew she could live happily ever after with horses and hot springs and three people she couldn’t help but love. But she had to face facts. She couldn’t make Gabriel fall in love with her, let alone marry her.

She didn’t sleep a wink but also didn’t get out of bed until after she heard everyone else moving about. She slowly made the bed, dressed, taking more time to style her hair suitably for a long day of travel and brushed her teeth. She made sure she packed all of her belongings before going into the main room.

She forced a smile to her lips, greeting them, “Good morning.”

Breakfast was a quieter affair than usual. There was

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