Rhonda Gibson - His Chosen Bride

This Texan Had No Intention of Becoming a Groom…

Until he found out he had a year to find a bride—or risk losing the family ranch. Any of the four mail-order brides recently arrived in Granite, Texas, would make a good wife. So why can’t Levi Westland stop thinking about the one who refuses to have him? The marriage of convenience Levi offers isn’t enough to persuade Millie Hamilton. Truth is, it’s no longer enough for Levi, either….

Millie just needed a place to escape to. Now that she’s paid Levi back his traveling expenses, she can forge her own way. If he knew the truth about her past, Levi’s admiration would vanish. But the only thing harder than risking her heart may be watching Levi marry anyone but her.

“Are you sure that’s what you want, Millie? Just to remain friends? We can still be friends and be married.”

He wished the carriage wasn’t so dark so he could see her expression better. “I thought things had deepened between us. Can you seriously deny you have feelings for me?”

He heard her soft sigh and felt her sit up straighter on the seat. “Levi, I’ll admit that something has changed between us, but it doesn’t matter. I still can’t marry you.” Was that a catch he heard in her voice? Or wishful thinking on his part?

“Can’t? Or won’t?” Levi was more shaken by her refusal than he cared to admit. He knew his voice held the anger he felt but he couldn’t help it. It was as if he were trying to draw a different response from her. To make her admit she cared. He sought to erect a wall of defense around his heart.

“I don’t have a choice, Levi.”

Why couldn’t she see that a marriage between them would be the best solution? It dawned on him it was the solution to his problem, not hers.

RHONDA GIBSON

lives in New Mexico with her husband, James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life, and writing stemmed from that love. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. You can visit her at www.rhondagibson.net, where she enjoys chatting with readers and friends online. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.

His Chosen Bride

Rhonda Gibson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not; I will help you.

—Isaiah 41:13

A special thank you to all my critique partners…

I couldn’t have finished this book without you.

Contents

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

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Granite, Texas

Fall 1886

Millie Hamilton stood in the stagecoach doorway and looked out on the town before her. Dusty, rustic and sparse. Most certainly not like her beloved hometown of Cottonwood Springs, New Mexico, with its trees along Main Street and flower boxes in front of businesses. No, she was finally in Granite, Texas, six months past her original arrival date.

“Miss Millicent Summer?”

Millie knew without being told that the man in front of her was Levi Westland, the man who’d expected to marry her six months ago. She was to have been his mail-order bride. She recognized him from the photograph he’d sent her in his last letter, though the small picture hadn’t done him justice. Surely he hadn’t continued to meet the stage daily.

“Yes?” Millie allowed him to take her gloved hand and assist her from the stage.

“I’m Levi Westland.”

To say Levi Westland was handsome would have been an understatement. Piercing green eyes shone from his face like gleaming porcelain, and two dimples appeared as if loving fingers had squeezed his cheeks. She was caught off guard by the sudden flutter in her heart. He was the most handsome man she’d ever met, and that meant trouble for her.

Levi Westland smiled up at her and continued to hold her gloved hand in his. He smelled of fresh-cut wood and warm earth, but his attire appeared to be that of a rancher. Leather cowboy boots, a black Stetson hat and a shiny belt buckle were not the standard dress of a woodworker, which was what he said in his letters that he did.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Westland.” Millie removed her hand from his. “I wasn’t expecting you to be waiting for me—after all, it has been over six months since I was supposed to have arrived.”

The stagecoach driver tossed two bags down to the boardwalk in front of them. Millie grimaced at the thud that they made and was thankful she’d thought to put her charcoal and paints in her satchel instead of in one of the bigger bags.

Levi picked up the luggage. “I wasn’t really waiting for you, Miss Summer. I just happened to be walking by when the stage arrived. When the driver called out your name, I stopped.” He offered her what looked like a nervous grin. “To be painfully honest, I’d given up on your arrival months ago.”

Millie nodded. “I see.” She inhaled deeply and turned to face the handsome man. It was time to be honest with him, as well. “Mr. Westland, I would appreciate it if you would address me as Miss Hamilton. My full name is Millicent Summer Hamilton. I only used my middle name to protect myself while traveling.” She paused as she felt a slight heat enter her face. Millie took another breath and rushed on, “And when I was sending letters to strangers who wanted to get married.”

He chuckled. “Then Miss Hamilton it is.”

“Thank you.” Millie knew she’d been foolish in not revealing her full name in the letters they’d exchanged. It was one of many things she’d done to prevent her parents from finding her. It had been foolish to run away from home, but something she’d felt she had to do then also.

Now that she’d spent some time away from her home, Millie wasn’t ready to return.

Millie watched as he motioned for a gangly young boy to come toward them. The teenager stopped a few feet away. “Can I do something for you, Mr. Westland?” the lad asked.

“Amos, would you take Miss Hamilton’s bags to the boardinghouse?”

The floppy hat that covered his blond locks bobbed agreement. “I’d be happy to, Mr. Westland.” His young voice cracked and a red flush filled his neck.

Levi dug into his pocket and pulled out some change. As he handed it to Amos, he continued, “Please ask Beth to put the bags in room four.”

“I will. Thank you, sir.” He shoved the coins into his front pocket, took the bags from Levi and ran across the street and around a corner.

Millie’s first instinct was to chase after the young man. Everything she needed was in those bags including most of her money, her only sketch pad and drawings. Now she wished she’d kept her money with her instead of hiding it within the bags. She could replace the sketch pad and drawings but not without money.

“Don’t worry, he’s reliable. Amos will take them straight to the boardinghouse. You’ve nothing to fret about.” Levi tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and proceeded down the boardwalk.

Had her face shown her concern? Or had it been the wringing of her hands that had given her away? Millie realized she’d need to learn to control her expressions if she wanted to be taken seriously as both an artist and a woman.

“I’ve some business to take care of and then we’ll head to the boardinghouse where you can see for yourself that your bags are fine.”