A Love to Bring Her Home [EBOOK]

Chapter 1<br>
The knot in her stomach denied the shining sun and blue skies she could see above her. <br>
“Beverley Rose Stutton.”<br>
She straightened up to look at her grandmother as Ruth joined her around the table of drinks. The older woman stepped carefully around a bush, frowning as she clutched her skirts, the laces of her bonnet hanging around her neck. <br>
Ruth gave Beverley a stern look. “What are you doing over here?”<br>
Beverley licked her lips as she patted down her dress. It was a new dress that had been made for her just the other week. <br>
No, that was wrong. It had been made for her sister, Trisa. They were practically the same size. With a couple of hours of effort, it had been lengthened for her taller figure. And her own dress had been shortened for Trisa.
There were birds singing in the trees and it took all her courage not to wilt.<br>
“I wanted to make sure everyone at the reception had enough to drink,” Beverley ignored the catch in her voice as she forced a smile. “And you? <br>
“Would you like some lemonade? I made it myself, so you know it’s delightful.”<br>
But her grandmother only frowned on the happy day. “You’re a terrible liar. I raised you better than this.”
Clapping a hand on the woman’s hand that now squeezed her wrist, Beverley forced a tight smile. “I know, Grandmother. <br>
“But today is not about me anymore. I- I am more than happy to give way to Trisa.”<br>
They froze when Trisa looked over and waved. The two of them nudged each other before using their free arms to wave in return. <br>
Trisa, the shorter of the Stutton girls, made a silly face before hurrying off after her beloved. Richmond’s doctor, Sergio Marguia, was dressed in his fresh, pressed suit.
From where Beverley stood with her grandmother, they could only see the back of his head. But it was a lovely head.<br>
“This isn’t how I wanted it,” Ruth huffed. Then she sniffed delicately and patted her forehead. “Are you certain you’re all right?”<br>
Beverley wasn’t certain what that meant anymore.
She hadn’t been able to sleep at all for the past couple of nights. Between all of her sewing and the rush to change everything for the wedding, she wasn’t entirely certain what was going on. <br>
Only that Trisa had married Sergio. And she hadn’t.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she announced.
When Ruth stepped back in alarm, Beverley turned around and started walking. She needed some time to think.<br>
It was a brisk walk as she tapped her fingers against her skirts. Soon she reached the edge of the sidewalk at the park entrance. People nodded her way but didn’t urge her to join their circles.<br>
No one would say the words. <br>
Part of Beverley appreciated that no one would say it.
There was a sour taste in her mouth as she left the park and wedding reception behind.<br>
Taking a deep breath, she raised her head and embraced the noise of Richmond. As she reached the market, people were shouting and laughing and singing. Horses and carts and shops were everywhere. It was even more colorful than the park. <br>
Soon her deep breaths were helping as she allowed herself to be distracted. There was finally respite.
Forgetting her large bridesmaid dress, she wandered through the market and thought of all the other things she could have. Perhaps new lace, or another dress. Or a book. <br>
She could always settle down with a book or the newspaper.<br>
“The Matrimonial Times.” <br>
Ignoring the tightness in her stomach, Beverley opened the strange little booklet. At first, it looked simply like a booklet for couples. <br>
With more time, swishing her skirts with her hips, she learned that the booklet was for people looking for marriage across the wild west. <br>
“Strange,” she mused to herself. “But no stranger than what happened today.”<br>
The more she read it, the more she considered her options.<br>
She had already done what good she could for her family. She’d saved her sister and former fiancé from a risky situation. After giving and giving, maybe it was time that she took something for herself.<br>
And then she could give that part of her to someone else. <br>
Like Benjamin Witton, 34 years of age, settled by Silver Springs in Colorado. He owned a large ranch with a mountain view. He offered a warm, safe home and security.<br>
That was more than she had in Richmond.
A few months passed and soon, she was saying goodbye to the only home and family she had ever known. <br>
Beverley found herself on a train, looking as Virginia was swept away beneath her.<br>
She pressed her nose to the glass, laughing in disbelief. She could feel people watching her, but she didn’t care. They were clearly not paying attention to the speeding world.<br>
“Splendid,” she breathed.<br>
She could hardly believe she was leaving her family for a grand adventure. <br>
***
Trisa had clapped for her, thrilled that she would be married as well. They were already in their early twenties and had been talking about marriage for as long as they could remember. <br>
Ruth and her father had been less than thrilled.
“Excuse me? Is this seat taken?”<br>
Beverley looked up to find a young woman looking nervously down at her. She jerked her head in a nod and patted the bench beside her.<br>
“Please do,” Beverley invited. “Join me. I’m Beverley Stutton. Just joined on in Virginia.”<br>
The other woman glanced around before taking a seat. Her short blonde curls danced as she shifted about. Her cheeks were flushed as she held tightly onto her bag.
“Thank you, Miss Stutton. I’m terribly sorry. Only I embarrassed myself in the last car. <br>
“Sandwiches went flying everywhere. I believe a cucumber landed in someone’s hat.” She sniffed before managing a tight smile. “I’m Nancy Herkins, by the way. From New York to Colorado myself.”<br>
Beverley brightened. Fine company indeed. <br>
The scenery was forgotten as she offered a friendly grin.<br> “Don’t you worry about a thing,” she assured her. “But you must tell me absolutely everything about this disaster. <br>
“I must know every detail. Who was startled the most? Were there screams?”<br>
The two young women chattered away easily for hours before a comfortable silence settled. Beverley was exhausted, but there was too much to see. <br>
“Such a strange world,” she said aloud. Then she glanced back at Nancy. “Why, I feel like we’re going to fall off the side of the world.”<br>
“It does! But we won’t. I’ve been to Colorado before,” she pointed out. “I grew up there.”<br>
Beverley’s eyes widened before they narrowed. Leaning forward, she gave her most impish smile. “Perfect! You must tell me everything.” <br>
The girl rambled on until Beverley cocked her head and asked her directly, “Where exactly will you be in Colorado?”<br>
“Silver Springs, of course!” Nancy blushed. “Oh, it’s lovely! The mountains and the valleys and the rivers. We do have springs. Well, they’re really a river, along with a few springs. It’s…” She trailed off and then fell silent. <br>
Beverley watched as the girl shifted in her seat and glanced away for a minute before gathering her breath.
“Go on,” she urged, curious of what she was missing. Then she announced the surprise. “I’ll be there myself, so we shall be neighbors.”<br>
Nancy jumped. “You’ll be there? That’s so exciting! Why, I think- well, whatever are you doing there? Oh, I’m sure I’ll know exactly where you’ll be. I can’t think of any place I don’t know as well as the back of my hand.”<br>
“Lovely,” Beverley grinned before sticking her chin out with a friendly hair toss. “I shall become Mrs. Benjamin Witton before the next day is over. <br>
“I’m marrying a rancher. You know him?”<br>
The other woman opened her mouth in surprise. She blinked at Beverley several times before glancing down at the bag in her hands. <br>
Beverley wondered what she had said that made the girl act in such a manner. Was it the marriage? Was it the man? <br>
“That’s… Well, are you certain?” Nancy asked hesitantly.
“I am,” Beverley nodded before scooting closer. “What is it, dear? Is there something wrong about me? About him? You seem to know the name.”<br>
The young woman shook her head before loosening her grip on the bag. It slipped to the ground, and she grabbed for it clumsily, breathless, before turning to answer Beverley. <br>
“No, not at all. That is, perhaps. I’m not certain… well, he’s in the middle of a terrible situation, you see. He’s claimed land that my father is desperately trying to use for his ranch. <br>
“My father needs the river, you see. But there’s another rancher, Briskin, that… well, I don’t wish to gossip.”<br>
“I’m sure it’s difficult,” Beverley stated carefully, tilting her head to offer a kind smile. “The West truly is. You haven’t been home for three years, then. Is that what you said?”<br>
Grateful for the assumed change of topic, Nancy brightened once again. She nodded hurriedly. “Yes, that’s right! I lived in the city with my Aunt Karen. I learned to watercolor and play several sports. <br>
“I was hoping to stay, but my mother isn’t well. She’s never been well, but we’re terribly worried. My father and brothers asked that I come home. <br>
“I hate to leave the city, but I miss my family. There’s nothing quite like being around the people that you love, don’t you think?”<br>
The question caught Beverley off guard. “I suppose,” she stammered. Again, she redirected the conversation to Nancy’s family, hoping to learn more about Silver Springs. <br>
Her father was a good man. Ruth was tiresome but inspirational. Trisa was imperfect but sweet and simply wanted to be adored. <br>
And Sergio… he was a terribly handsome man with a tender heart.<br>
She bit her lip, trying to get him out of her mind. If their relationship had been meant to be, then it would have happened. <br>
But it hadn’t. They’d meant to marry four years ago when she turned twenty, the age her father agreed upon.
Except Marguia had decided he wanted to become more than an animal doctor, so he left to receive medical training. <br>
He had returned four months ago, and they had finally set a date. She dove into wedding festivities to plan a grand celebration with everyone they adored and everyone who adored them. <br>
Yet two days before the wedding, everything changed. Trisa and Sergio had changed everything after one night.
What was Beverley supposed to do? Pretend it didn’t happen? Allow her sister’s reputation to be tarnished forever?<br>
She wasn’t stupid. Beverley accepted she might be many things. Impulsive, headstrong, playful, yes. But never stupid. <br>
So, she switched places with her sister so that Trisa might become a properly married woman.<br>
Sergio hadn’t even apologized. <br>
Remembering that, she pursed her lips and tried to hate him. She had spent the entire wedding day avoiding him or admiring him from afar. But she had sworn to herself that she would never talk to him again. That would make her life easier.<br>
As would this decision to marry a stranger in a faraway land. It sounded terribly romantic. <br>
Then her stop arrived. Nancy cheered, beaming at her before running off to find her family. This left Beverley alone to decide whether she got off the train or stayed.
Ignoring the anxious fluttering in her heart, she licked her lips and climbed down onto the platform to find a strange world before her.<br>