The Bartered Bride: (The Brides #3)

Lena Goldfinch

Dec 2015 · The Brides Book 3 · Indigo Road Publishing

About this ebook

COLORADO 1880
Jem Wheeler has always been a survivor. He just wants to make a fresh start in Colorado Springs after the loss of his wife. But then he happens upon a young mute woman being sold off to the highest bidder. He wasn't looking for a mail-order bride. He wasn't looking to rescue anyone either. But desperate circumstances can drive a good man to do things he hadn't planned on doing... 

When Jem steps into Annie's life, she's not expecting anyone to save her. Mute from birth, she's just using all her wits to survive. All she's ever really wanted is a family of her own. For someone to see her. To look at her long enough to hear the things she can't say.

Can Annie finally break through the silence to win Jem's heart?

Sweet Historical Western Romance
A Mail-Order Bride Novel

Each book in The Brides Series can be read as a stand-alone novel, but reading in order will provide a more complete reading experience.

THE BRIDES SERIES

The Unexpected Bride
Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe
The Bartered Bride
Only the Heart Knows

Excerpt

Jem took the apple core from his daughter and passed her one of the remaining crackers with a piece of cheese on it. Mae munched that down and looked to him immediately for another, the last one.

He gave it to her, then showed her his empty hands.

She frowned. "More?"

"No more," Jem said, and showed her his empty hands again, making a bigger gesture out of it, as if the little girl was accusing him of hiding some.

If Annie weren't so intent on eating her share of cheese and crackers she might have smiled at the sight of them, one of the most dangerous men she'd ever seen sitting side by side with that tiny little girl. They made quite a mismatched pair.

Mae looked over at Annie, at the last cracker in her hand and the last bit of cheese.

Annie gulped down the mouthful she was chewing. She looked down at the last of her meal and back at the little girl. To her shame, she didn't want to give up her last cracker. She could barely remember the last meal she'd eaten.

"That's Annie's food," Jem admonished the little girl. "You've had yours."

Mae bit her lip. She glanced down at her lap, then back at Annie again.

I can share, Annie attempted to tell Mae with her eyes alone. She snapped her cracker in half--simply unable to bear parting with the whole thing--and passed it across to the little girl. Mae took it and popped the whole thing in her mouth, making Annie smile.

"Mae!" her father said.

She looked at him wide-eyed, her mouth full of cracker. "Whaf dafdda?" she said, muffled, spraying a few cracker crumbs onto his trousers.

He closed his eyes briefly and brushed them off. "You didn't have to give her any," he said to Annie, "but thanks."

Annie grunted, her way of saying she didn't mind that much. She looked down quickly and finished her last bit of food. The crackers had been crispy and the cheese silky and smooth. They'd tasted like heaven.

"You must be thirsty," he said. "Do you mind sharing?"

She shook her head and automatically lifted two fingers.

"Two's no?" he asked.

She nodded, pleased, and lifted one finger. She'd grown up sending signals through the floor of the Ruskins' house, one stomp for yes, two for no. It came natural as rain now.

"And one's yes," he said, catching on quick.

Annie drank deep when he passed her the flask of water, amazed he'd let her drink from it. She tried her best to pour it down her throat without touching her lips to the flask, so he wouldn't regret giving it to someone so dirty. She wished she could tell him thanks, but after Mae had her fill and he took his own swallow, he was back under his hat, likely going over the events of the day.

How he'd stuck himself with her.

How he probably regretted even stepping off the train at the last stop.

She couldn't say she blamed him.

She hadn't much wanted to marry a stranger herself.

***

Ratings and reviews

You feel transported by these lover's conversation. I loved their story & felt every touch. You dont want to put this book down.

This was a great story but I wish it had a last page to end with in the sample s0 u would know how the story ends

There were times I felt so sorry for different people in the story and times I was angry just thinking how can treat people that way. Loved this story.

About the author

LENA GOLDFINCH writes sweet historical western romance / inspirational romance and books for teens. She's always been a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it's a novel or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests.

Discover THE BRIDES SERIES!

* THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE (The Brides #1)
... A Mail-Order Bride Novel
... "This old-fashioned mountain romance is an unexpected treat!"

* SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE (The Brides #2)
... A Holiday Short Story, Sequel to THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE

* THE BARTERED BRIDE (The Brides #3)

* ONLY THE HEART KNOWS

Books for Young Adult & Teens
* AIRE
* SONGSTONE
* THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS
* HAUNTING JOY 1 & 2
* CHAIN REACTION: A Short Story (Prequel to HAUNTING JOY)
* TAKE A PICTURE

* HAPPY, a toddler picture book

"With unexpectedly fresh characters and twists, the imagination is kept on its toes, even while feeling entirely comfortable with the familiarity of the mail-order bride storyline... a great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!" SERENA CHASE, USA Today, Happy Ever After, on THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE

"SONGSTONE...an original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters." SERENA CHASE, USA Today, Happy Ever After