A Strong-Minded Bride to Prize by Emberly Hart

Author:Emberly Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mail order bride romance, arranged marriage romance, clean and wholesome romance, action and adventure romance, historical western romance
Publisher: Emberly Hart
Published: 2023-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

SAMUEL KEPT AN EYE on Holly as she moved through the general store. How regal she appeared against the rough wood and common items. She spent some time speaking to the owner’s wife about candles and candle-making, but Samuel only caught portions of the conversation because a man he cared little for would not quit talking to him.

Felix Banks sucked on the end of his pipe, and smoke wreathed about his head. He followed where Samuel was looking and grunted. “A pretty woman, that one,” he said about Holly.

Samuel narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

“A woman like that would make a man very happy, I do declare.”

Grinding his teeth, Samuel took a step away from the man. He had judged his character thoroughly from the start and had no wish to stand around conversing with him longer.

As he walked away from the irritating man, he overheard Holly speaking. It was the most she had said at once, and he found himself honing in on the soft edge of her voice that was tickling his senses far too much these past days.

“I’ve made some tallow candles.”

So that was why the scent was strong in their cabin.

“But I dislike the smell they give off when they burn. Would you be willing to trade some for a more pleasant beeswax variety?” she asked Mrs. Michaels.

The woman tipped her head, considering the question. Samuel watched his wife closely. It should not surprise him that she was bold enough to offer a trade, and yet he knew little about her personality other than she had a soft spot for the cow and was perpetually amused by a parrot from her train journey.

“The beeswax variety are worth much more money,” Mrs. Michaels stated.

“Of course. But I wish to use the beeswax on Christmas Eve.”

Samuel straightened at this news.

“Mr. Hollinger’s family is coming for a visit, and I wish the home to be pleasant and inviting.”

“Of course you do. Meeting them for the first time, are ya?”

“Yes, I am,” Holly said with a quiet air of nervousness.

Samuel swallowed, wanting to step in and purchase the candles she wanted outright, but he held back, allowing her to make her transaction.

“I will give you twenty beeswax candles in trade for forty of the tallow ones you’ve made.”

“Thirty,” Holly said.

“Done.” Mrs. Michaels grinned, and Holly returned it.

Stunned by her beauty, he did not hear Felix Banks sidle up next to him.

“Ah yes, a rare beauty, that one. Where did you find her?”

“I do not wish to discuss my wife with you,” Samuel snapped a bit too loudly.

Holly and Mrs. Michaels looked up.

He swept forward. “Mrs. Michaels, it sounds like a fine deal my wife has made with you. Now I wonder if we might have a look at some lace.”

Holly’s gaze snapped to his and held. That clenching was back in his gut, a deep feeling that made him want to gather her into his arms and show Mr. Banks just whose wife she was.

Mrs. Michaels brought out a variety of laces from under the counter, and he waved to them, his mouth suddenly dry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.