Katy Madison - Promised by Post

He hesitated. He hadn’t the right to hold her. She was his brother’s intended. But she trembled.

She drew him like a lost calf would. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against him.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now,” he murmured. That much was true, and the reassurance came out so much easier than the lies.

“Are we getting married tonight?”

He jerked back. “No!”

She stared at him, going even paler, and her green eyes were wide. He had the ridiculous notion to kiss her freckled nose. What was wrong with freckles anyway?

Her eyes narrowed as color flooded back into her cheeks. “When, then?”

Hell’s bells, she thought he was Rafael.

“I’m Daniel. I’m going to be your brother.

Rafael—”

He stared at her as the color drained from her face again. Her mouth flattened and her eyes shot shards of bottle glass in his direction.

Then she shoved him away.

Katy Madison invites you to her

WILD WEST WEDDINGS Wild West Weddings Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Epilogue Extract Copyright

Mail-order brides for three hard-working, hard-living men!

Three penniless East Coast ladies are prepared to give up everything they know for the lure of the West. Will they find new beginnings, new families and eventual happiness as mail-order brides?

Their advertisements answered, three rugged frontiersmen await their new brides—with eagerness and not a little trepidation!

What have they all let themselves in for?

Read Olivia’s story in

Bride by Mail already available

and

Anna’s story in

Promised by Post

Look for Selina’s story,

coming soon!

Promised by Post

Katy Madison

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning KATY MADISONloves stories. At the age of eight Katy went to her mother and begged for a new book to read. Her frustrated mother handed her a romance novel and Katy fell in love with the genre. Now she gets to live the glamorous life of a romance writer, which mostly means she stays in her pyjamas all day and never uses an alarm clock. Visit her at www.katymadison.com

Books by Katy Madison

Mills & Boon ®Historical Romance

Wild West Weddings

Bride by Mail Promised by Post

Visit the author profile page at millsandboon.co.uk

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Contents

Cover

Introduction He hesitated. He hadn’t the right to hold her. She was his brother’s intended. But she trembled. She drew him like a lost calf would. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against him. “It’s all right. You’re safe now,” he murmured. That much was true, and the reassurance came out so much easier than the lies. “Are we getting married tonight?” He jerked back. “No!” She stared at him, going even paler, and her green eyes were wide. He had the ridiculous notion to kiss her freckled nose. What was wrong with freckles anyway? Her eyes narrowed as color flooded back into her cheeks. “When, then?” Hell’s bells, she thought he was Rafael. “I’m Daniel. I’m going to be your brother. Rafael—” He stared at her as the color drained from her face again. Her mouth flattened and her eyes shot shards of bottle glass in his direction. Then she shoved him away.

Wild West Weddings Katy Madison invites you to her WILD WEST WEDDINGS Wild West Weddings Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Epilogue Extract Copyright Mail-order brides for three hard-working, hard-living men! Three penniless East Coast ladies are prepared to give up everything they know for the lure of the West. Will they find new beginnings, new families and eventual happiness as mail-order brides? Their advertisements answered, three rugged frontiersmen await their new brides—with eagerness and not a little trepidation! What have they all let themselves in for? Read Olivia’s story in Bride by Mail already available and Anna’s story in Promised by Post Look for Selina’s story, coming soon!

Title Page Promised by Post Katy Madison www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author Award-winning KATY MADISON loves stories. At the age of eight Katy went to her mother and begged for a new book to read. Her frustrated mother handed her a romance novel and Katy fell in love with the genre. Now she gets to live the glamorous life of a romance writer, which mostly means she stays in her pyjamas all day and never uses an alarm clock. Visit her at www.katymadison.com Books by Katy Madison Mills & Boon ® Historical Romance Wild West Weddings Bride by Mail Promised by Post Visit the author profile page at millsandboon.co.uk

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

California rancher, in good health, age 26, dark hair and eyes, seeks agreeable woman for purposes of matrimony. Interested parties send photograph.

San Joaquin Valley, California, August 1862

Today was the day. Anna O’Malley slid her damp palm over the silk of her skirt and darted a furtive glance at her good friend Selina’s pinched face. They would meet their future husbands in just hours, perhaps be married by nightfall.

The stagecoach rolled over a rut, and all the passengers swayed. “Are you nervous?” Anna whispered.

Selina pressed her lips together, looked at the other occupants of the coach, all men, and then gave a quick nod.

After traveling with the others night and day for twenty-one days straight on this last leg of their journey, they all knew as much about each other as they were willing to share. Across from Anna sat a California miner returning from a trip back east to settle his recently deceased mother’s affairs. Opposite Selina was a one-armed soldier, mustered out of the army and hoping for a better life out west. Seated beside the soldier, a slender man wearing a threadbare suit cradled a case of paint jars and assorted brushes.

On the far side of Selina, a preacher dressed soberly in black bent over his worn Bible and mouthed the scriptures as they rumbled along. He was headed to a new flock in San Francisco. Three farm boys from Illinois riding on the backseat preferred California over getting conscripted. The youngest brother looked as if he should still be in school instead of worrying about fighting in Mr. Lincoln’s war.