Cinders' Bride: Mail Order Brides of Texas Read Online Free

with a mix of green grass, wildflowers and tall trees. The sky looked bigger too. “How long until we get to your place?”
    “’bout two hours or so. We should be there before the sun is at its peak.”
    Turning to him again, she studied his body as he drove the team down a path carved into the earth by wagon wheels and horses. He had a nice profile. His nose had a slight bump near the top, probably from a fight. His bruised eye was on the other side and she wondered how it faired. His strong jawline and dimpled chin made him endearing. She had to admit he was a fine specimen of maleness. How he ended up as her husband, she still didn’t know. It astounded her, he came to her rescue and then offered to marry her.
    It wasn’t a real marriage, but she considered herself lucky that she had some place to go. Shivering, she thought about John Hardy’s duplicity. He had plenty of women at his place, so why send for her? What did he expect she’d do when she found out his true profession? Men ran the world, and she'd bet anything he'd expected her to go along with him regardless of his brutishness.
    This was supposed to be her one chance for a happy life. Now that chance was lost. Cinders didn’t want her— he’d simply been backed into a corner by the judge. Her mother had always chastised her for living in a dream world. Now she knew the words to be truth. Reality set in the moment her parents had died.
    There were no happy endings, and it didn’t help to dream of things that could never be.
    “We’ll be to the house soon. We’re on my land now.” The pride in his voice was impossible to miss.
    “It’s lovely. How long have you lived here?”
    “All my life.”
    “Did you fight in the war? I mean if you did, I wouldn’t hold being a confederate against you.”
    The edges of his lips twitched. “That’s mighty kind of you, Shannon, seeing as you’re in Texas now and all.”
    Her eyes widened as the realization of how inappropriate her words were sank in. “I’m sorry. My side has been trying to kill your side and it never occurred to me until now. But truthfully so many of our men never came home the marriage prospects dwindled.”
    “I didn’t fight.”
    “Why not? Do you have something wrong with you I can’t see?”
    Cinders laugh started deep and low, rumbling from his chest. “Not that I know of. The Texas government requested I stay and provide meat for the cause. I accepted but as money grew tight my profits dwindled. Eventually I had no buyers but I did have plenty of people who needed food. It hasn’t been easy but the herd has grown and I’m planning to drive my cattle north to sell this time.”
    “Did you give people food?”
    “I sold some in New Orleans but yes, I gave a lot away. I couldn’t stand to watch my neighbors’ families starve. I had a roof over my head and enough to feed my men. I don’t need a lot.”
    Her admiration for him grew stronger— perhaps he was one of those good doers. He helped her when he could have just walked away.
    “Whoa,” Cinders yelled as he stopped the team. “This, Mrs. Cinders, is your first view of your new home.”
    To her relief the house was made of wood. She’d heard about the sod houses. There was a barn and a few other buildings dotting the area. Warmth flowed through her as she took in the sight of her new home. Relief overcame her. “It’s beautiful.”
    He nodded with a satisfied expression. “That’s what I always think when I get to this point on my way home.”
    He picked up the reins and off they went. The house was bigger than she realized as they stopped in front of it. It was a fine log house and it looked safe and sturdy. Things were looking up.
    Cinders jumped down, walked to her side and held out his hand. She grasped it and the next thing she knew she was in his strong arms. He held her for a moment staring into her eyes, and then gently put her down.
    A young man walked out of the barn, whistling. He grabbed the