Rhonda Gibson - Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

A Match Made By Mail

Needing a home and a husband to help her raise her orphaned nephews, Bella Wilson travels to Wyoming in response to a mail-order bride ad. But when she arrives, she discovers Pony Express rider Philip Young didn’t place the ad. With her groom-to-be insisting he’s not looking for a wife, Bella must convince him to marry her for the sake of the children.

Philip never planned to marry, but he can’t possibly turn away a woman in distress and allow her nephews to end up in an orphanage as he once had. A marriage of convenience is the perfect solution. But when he slowly discovers that family life may be what he’s been looking for all along, can he convince Bella to give love a chance?

Dear Reader,

Writing Philip’s story was fun. Bella and the boys were just the special delivery he needed to make his life interesting. Years ago my husband, James, came up with the idea of sending a mail-order bride on the Pony Express. I liked the general idea and tweaked it a little for Philip’s story. I hope you enjoyed meeting Philip and Bella and the boys as much as I did. Feel free to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter. Also, if you’d like to receive my newsletter, email me at rhondagibson65@hotmail.com. I love connecting with my readers. You may also write to me at: Rhonda Gibson, PO Box 835, Kirtland, NM 87417.

Warmly,

Rhonda Gibson

“You are our last hope to stay together,” Bella said.

“What do you mean?” Philip asked.

She couldn’t explain about her fiancé breaking their engagement. That she’d refused to let the boys end up in an orphanage.

Bella watched the emotions rush across Philip’s face. He was a handsome man with deep blue eyes and straw-colored hair.

So far she’d been timid with him, but her future and the future of her nephews depended on this man. She squared her shoulders and lifted her head high, then said, “Look, you placed the advertisement and I have arrived in answer to it. Are you going to marry me or not?”

Would he abandon her and the boys to their fate? She’d answered the advertisement expecting him to marry her. It’d never dawned on her that he might not have placed it.

She’d been wary of who might be at the end of the trail, but now that she’d met Philip, Bella knew God had a plan. If only Philip would see it, too, she’d be able to relax.

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 rhondagibson.net. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.

Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

Rhonda Gibson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

—Deuteronomy 31:8

Thank you Michelle Matney for being such a great friend and critique partner. A special thanks to James Gibson for being my best friend and brainstormer, my books are not complete without you. Most importantly, I thank the Lord above. Without Him there would be no books by Rhonda Gibson.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Wyoming

January 1861

Philip Young’s horse raced into the Turnstone Pony Express relay station. Extremely tired and chilled to the bone, Philip prepared himself to jump onto the cold saddle that awaited him. Relay stations were every ten to fifteen miles on the trail and this one had been fifteen. They were the places where Pony Express riders exchanged horses and continued on until they reached their home station.

Thankfully this was the last time he’d change horses before he would reach his family’s farm and his home station. After a couple of days’ rest at the home station, Philip would head on to the relay station he and his brother Thomas ran on the other side of Dove Creek.

He prepared to swing onto the saddle of the horse that the relay station manager, John Turnstone, held for him. “Glad to see you made it.” John’s grin spoke volumes of his pleasure and yet didn’t tell him anything as to what he was getting pleasure from.

Philip paused with his foot in the stirrup. “What’s going on?”

John’s shoulders shook as he tried to hold back his laughter. He held the horse’s head and said, “A special delivery arrived for you today by stage.”

Philip dropped his foot back to the ground. “What kind of special delivery?” The need to get onto the waiting horse battled with his curiosity.

His job was to keep the mail going through, but then again John’s curious behavior had him hesitating. Philip felt torn. John tossed him the reins to the horse Philip had just rode in on and then jumped on the back of the fresh mustang. “You best go inside and see. I’ll finish your run. See you later.”

Philip didn’t take time to watch John and the horse speed away. He tied the spent horse to the hitching post by the barn and then hurried to the house. He took the steps two at a time.

The door banged against the wall as he called out to John’s wife, Cara. “Cara, John says I have a package waiting and felt it was urgent enough to take the rest of my run.”

His gaze fell on two little boys who sat side by side on the couch. Their big blue eyes stared at him in fear. He’d never seen them before and for a brief moment wondered as to their presence. Surely they weren’t his special delivery.

“Cara isn’t here. She went to check on Mrs. Brooks, their neighbor.”

He looked to the kitchen, where a young woman with blond hair, blue eyes and a heart-shaped face stood in the doorway. He couldn’t help but notice a dimple in her left cheek that came to life when she smiled. She motioned for him to join her. Hesitant, Philip moved into the warm kitchen.

John and Cara’s house was small but comfortable. Most relay stations were manned by one man and consisted of a small shanty or barn for the man and Pony Express horses. This one wasn’t like most; it held warmth and a sense of family.

He held out his hand. “I’m Philip Young.”

She placed her smaller hand in his palm. Her fingers shook slightly. “Bella Wilson.” Bella pulled her hand from his grasp.

Philip looked to the boys. They had stopped watching the adults and were playing with small wooden horses. His gaze returned to Bella. “Do you happen to know where the package is that the stage dropped off for me?”