A Mail Order bride in the Wrong Hands [EBOOK]

Chapter 1 <b>
Edith was picking up her cuts of meat at the butcher’s when she noticed the glares. <b>

She was used to everyone in town eyeing her strangely, but this was something else. Today, they appeared to glare harder at her. <b>

Just as the butcher brought her meat, he dropped it rudely on the counter. “Five dollars.” <b>

Immediately her attention was drawn away from the stares, as she turned to the butcher in dismay. “Five dollars? I bought it from you last week for hardly two.” <b>

Her hope was dashed to bits when the butcher just shook his head at her. “Cost doubles for ladies like you.” <b>

“Ladies like me?” She repeated dumbly. “What do you…” Edith looked around. A heavy weight settled in her stomach as she realized what was going on. “Oh. Well, I’m afraid I can’t…afford it.” <b>

The butcher snickered at her as she hurried out of the shop. Stares followed her down the street until she couldn’t run any longer. <b>

Edith clutched her ribs as she gasped for breath. <b>

Wichinton was talking about her again. They had repelled her for as long as she could remember, ever since she had moved in with her sister after their parents passed. The people had never liked her or trusted her. <b>

Including her sister Lily. <b>

Lily had married Tommy Hortel. It wasn’t the happiest marriage, and Edith feared she had only made it worse. <b>

Everyone loved rumors, especially when they were about her. Not a single rumor about her had a single grain of truth. Unless, Edith realized with dread, her sister started a rumor herself. If it that was the case, there might be some truth to it. <b>

Three days ago, Tommy had sneaked into her room. It wasn’t her fault, she didn’t like Tommy and she had told him. But he wouldn’t listen. <b>

She was still screaming from the shock of him entering the room unannounced and unwanted when Lily arrived. <b>

Just like that, she had been blamed for something she didn’t do or want. Edith had attempted to apologize, but Lily still wasn’t talking to her. <b>

All Edith had found in Whichinton, Louisiana was heartache and pain. She didn’t know what to do. If her sister had spread that rumor, it would ruin her forever. <b>

She walked as she realized that she couldn’t stay any longer. There was nothing in this town for her. No help, no kindness, nothing. Edith knew now that she had to leave. <b>

It took her a week before she decided how. <b>

“A bride ad,” she mused while reading the paper that she had hidden under her bed. She read over the words again. <b>

There were two for Nevada that caught her attention. That was a faraway place where the rumors wouldn’t follow her. <b>

But because it was a decision that would change her life, Edith considered the propositions carefully. <b>

There was a homely one that sounded charming, but not reassuring. Then there was one that sounded better, more appealing, and promised a prosperous life. <b>

She liked the sound of that. <b>

She wrote her letter, stole a stamp, and sent it out. Writing and receiving those letters were the only thing that kept her going. <b>

The atmosphere grew more gloomy every day. She prayed morning and night to be free of the town. The state, too, if she could be so fortunate. <b>

Then that special letter arrived. She pored over it several times before she could believe it. Edith’s heart hammered, as she realized the time had come. <b>

She could leave. This gentleman would marry her, taking her away from this horrid place forever. <b>

It took all her energy to contain her enthusiasm. <b>

There would be a home where people didn’t hate her, a town that didn’t know her, and most importantly, the opportunity to be herself. She clutched the letter, twirling. She couldn’t resist telling someone. <b>

Edith grabbed her bonnet, tucked her long curly auburn hair away, and started walking. <b>

She hummed as she walked, ignoring the glares. For once, they couldn’t touch her. <b>

“I’m so happy for you,” Louise announced, once Edith had told her younger cousin who lived on the other side of town her wonderful news. <b>

Louise was an energetic girl of eighteen and the only person who didn’t care for rumors. “You’re going to the Wild West! Oh, will you take me with you? Please?” <b>

Edith pulled back in surprise. “Why would you want to come? I thought you were happy here.” <b>

“But there’s no adventure here. Please? I’ll do anything, Edith.” <b>

She knew the feeling and couldn’t bring herself to say no. So she told her cousin to pack her bags, for they were leaving the next day to head west. <b>

Their stagecoach was hot, stuffy, and dusty. There were several coach changes and horse switches along the way. <b>

But Edith and Louise had never felt so free and hopeful for the future. <b>

Before Edith knew it, they had arrived in Twin Creek, Nevada. <b>

She climbed out of the stagecoach and squinted in the sunlight. It was warm for early spring, with a dry heat she had never experienced. <b>

Two men came up and introduced themselves. One was the sheriff of Twin Creek and the other was Leroy Nash, her future husband. <b>