Texas Rancher Cooper Thorne is bound and determined to stay a bachelor. Yet when a woman steps off the stagecoach claiming he sent for her, he finds himself in deep trouble.
Rancher Cooper Thorne thinks his life is finally on an even keel—until Delta Dandridge steps off the stagecoach claiming to be his mail order bride. Brash and quick-witted, the meddling Southern Belle is everything Cooper thought he never wanted…and everything his heart is telling him he needs.
But Cooper swore long ago that he’d never marry, and he aims to keep his word…especially now that the demons from his past have returned to threaten everything—and everyone—he holds dear.
Excerpt
Delta Dandridge tried to still the tremor in her hands as she stepped onto the porch of Mabel’s Boardinghouse in Battle Creek, Texas. Crisp morning air filled her lungs.
Rancher looking for a wife. Must be of sound mind, body, and moral character. That’s what the notice in the Matrimonial Harvest catalog had said. She’d upheld her end of the bargain and could attest with certainty to her exemplary mind, body, and character.
But the gentleman?
That Mr. Thorne hadn’t seen fit to meet her stage yesterday still smarted. Alone, with only a stranger to guide her, she’d taken a room here at the boardinghouse. In a state of collapse, the dark, dreary hotel had sent a sense of foreboding shivering up her spine.
Now she wasn’t sure she was quite ready to meet the man who’d agreed to be her husband.
Yet, here he was a few feet away.
Fortunately, the tall rancher had his back to her, which gave her the advantage of seeing him first.
“Mr. Thorne? Cooper Thorne?”
He turned and Delta’s breath caught in her throat. My goodness, he was quite impressive. Tall and lean, there was a rugged quality about him from his chiseled features down to boots that had many miles on them. And a good deal of cow manure, if she wasn’t mistaken. His dark gray shirt stretched tight across his broad shoulders and the black Stetson that shaded his eyes had seen better days.
Yet it was the deadly Colt on his hip that gave her pause. He appeared a man to reckon with. Everything about him was hard and unyielding and put her in mind of someone who’d never known any kind of softness. For a moment, it took her aback. She wondered if she could please him.
“Miss Dandridge, I suppose.” The deep timbre of his voice seemed to vibrate the air between them.
“Yes. I’m so happy to finally meet you.” She smiled, covering the few steps with her hand extended.
He touched her palm for the briefest of seconds and cleared his throat. “There’s been a terrible misunderstanding.”
The wild beating of Delta’s heart suddenly stopped, and for a moment she feared it wouldn’t start again. “What are you saying?”
“I don’t know how to break this to you gently. I’m not looking for a wife, ma’am. Never was. I’m a bachelor and quite content to stay this way. I’m not sure how such a mix-up could happen.”
“So you never intended to keep your promise? You dragged me here under false pretenses. Why would you do that, Mr. Thorne?”
From under the brim of his hat, she glimpsed surprise and something indiscernible in an honest gaze that was the color of gunmetal.
“What I’m saying is…well, I didn’t send for you.”
White hot anger swept over Delta. It was one thing to spurn her, but calling her a liar made her mad enough to fight. Yanking the packet of letters from her pocket, she thrust them into his hands.
“Then would you mind explaining these? If you can.”
Cooper didn’t spare them a glance. “Look, lady. I didn’t write them. And if I ever find out who did, I’ll make him rue the day he took it into his head to claim to be me.”
“If you'll just read the letters, you'll see the promises, the words of endearment that brought me here.”
A muscle in his jaw worked as he shook his head. “Once and for all, I'm sorry. I truly am.”
“Maybe if you just gave yourself a chance to get to know me.”
“I can't offer hope where there is none. I'm sure you're a very fine woman who'll make someone an excellent wife.” Finality echoed in his soft words. “I'm not in the market.”
Delta went very still. Slowly, her situation began to sink in. There would be no marriage. She was stuck in Battle Creek, Texas with an empty purse and no prospects. She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill and humiliate her even further.
He continued, “Seems we’ve both been played for fools. I’ll be glad to pay your way to wherever you want to go.”
The last thread of Delta’s dignity held fast. Her voice was cold and brittle. “You can keep your money, Mr. Thorne. I won’t take one cent from you.”
With that, she jerked the letters from his hand and strode into the boardinghouse with her head held high.
Safely upstairs in her room, Delta sat numbly on the edge of a bed that sagged on one end and bowed in the middle. What was she going to do now? She couldn’t go back to Cedartown. She couldn’t ever go back. That bridge had burned. Her mother had died three months ago, although in truth she’d been dead long before that. Delta had no family, no friends, no place to belong.
She allowed despair to grip her for only a moment. Crying wouldn't solve a blasted thing. What was done was done. She would survive this latest blow somehow.
Wiping her eyes, she opened her small, frayed reticule. She stared at the fourteen cents inside, which was every penny to her name.
What was she going to do? Shaking, she clung to what strength she had.
Battle Creek was her home now. Here she would stay. No one was going to run her out. Surely there was a job of some sort for a woman with willing hands. She’d look until she found one, even if she had to beg.
By the time noon arrived, she’d washed her face and straightened her best dress—the one she had intended to wear to the marriage ceremony—carefully arranging the folds over the tear she’d mended. Inhaling a calming breath, she went downstairs. Mabel King had fixed a simple lunch. Delta took a place at the empty table.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Mrs. King passed her a bowl of savory vegetable soup.
“Please, don’t you fret about me, Mrs. King. I’ll be just fine.” Delta accepted a chunk of bread to go with her soup.
“I’d like it if you’d call me Mabel.”
“Would you know of any jobs around here for an enterprising woman who’s down on her luck?”
“Why yes, maybe I do. Mr. John Abercrombie mentioned that he’s hard-pressed to handle the mercantile by himself. His wife died a few months ago. She ran that business mostly by herself. John doesn’t know how to make a go of the store without Nell.”
Flickers of hope rose. Delta wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Then I intend to pay him a visit.”
“One thing I should tell you. John…well, John is a hard man to get to know. And since Nell died, he’s gotten worse. Just don’t let him scare you.”
Less than an hour later, she strolled toward the mercantile, her heels striking the sidewalk with determination. Just at the precise moment she passed the saloon, Cooper Thorne stepped out and into her path.
Surprise rippled across his face when he noticed her. It was obvious that he hadn’t planned to run into her. But she had to give the man credit—instead of turning away as she fully expected, he tapped the brim of his hat and gave her a half smile, though it appeared to be with considerable effort.
“Miss Dandridge.” His voice was whiskey-roughened and unapologetic.
Delta raised her chin a trifle and glared. “Mr. Thorne.”
Stepping smartly around him, she continued on her way with her head held high. She should probably thank her lucky stars that she hadn’t wed him. It appeared the man had a drinking problem. Swilling whiskey in the middle of the day was a sign of a serious character deficiency.
Professional Reviews
Addicted to Romance
I just adore western romances, there is just something about those southern drawls, Stetsons, and a gorgeous man on a horse is mouthwatering…and this story was no different. I fell in love with it from the first moment. I read this one in no time at all and what a fun reading moment this one came to be. I just couldn’t help but read this one, without putting it down. I can’t believe I haven’t tried this author before now, but I definitely can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
What did I love most about it? The sizzling connection between Delta and Cooper. These two at first don’t like each other much. Cooper not wanting to marry a stranger, content being a bachelor. They are both at odds with each other, but then certain events draw them closer. I really enjoyed this couple and their connection to each other. This story revolved around the building of their relationship, and setting up the plot. There is quite a bad villain in this one…and boy did I want to shoot him myself LOL. I really grew to admire the way that this story developed and there was quite an emotional edge to it that almost acts like compulsion to read more. You feel so drawn to the story and the way that this author writes her characters, you can’t help but admire her talent to weave together a story that is stunning and magnificent. This is one that I won’t be forgetting any time soon, a romance that is poignant, wild, and vibrant….guaranteed to take your breath away!! Watch out for this story, because you just might fall head over heels in love….I know I did.
More Books Than Livros
One bachelor, one small town and one special lady to take them on!
Someone has play matchmaker with Cooper and sent out for a mail bride. Now, he doesn’t know what to do with her. In fact, he is totally at loss with her. Delta Dandrigde is no wilting flower. When Cooper send her back home, she sticks around, and make a life for herself.
Texas Mail Order Bride is my type of story. It’s fun, sexy and romantic! Matchmakers prove once again, they are better than pairing than most, because the chemistry between Cooper and Delta is unbelievable, and their dance around each other really great to read.
I love both characters, in fact I love the entire bachelor group, I adore the small town, and Delta is one of the best heroines out there. She is so fun and so full of grit and ready to take on her problems. She is not at fault she ended up in this situation, and Cooper was no gentleman in the way he dealt with it from the beginning, but she turns around and get her on life on this little town.
This is my first book from Ms. Broday, but definitely not my last. I’m crazy to read about the other two bachelors.
You MAY read this because you enjoy a fun read; you SHOULD read this because you like western stories; but you MUST read this if you want to fall in love with characters and a small little town!
Pure Jonel
Broday brings the trials of the west to life in a vividly real manner. Her quietly picturesque descriptions allow readers to visit this town. Her writing tone and style takes you back to old Texas. The harshness of the land and times shine through but the characters’ persistence and love for one another capture your heart. Top this off with an exciting and suspenseful story and you won’t be able to put this one down. Broday has definitely created a complexly multifaceted romance that definitely stands out.
This story started out as a bit of a comical comedy of errors that endeared me to the characters. Broday lets you in on her characters’ inner thoughts so that by the end of the novel you feel like you’ve spent time with old friends. And this doesn’t just refer to the main characters. I felt like I was part of this town, getting to know all of its inhabitants. It was a wonderful feeling.
This is the type of story that has you thinking about it all day and rushing home from work to finish reading it. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others and will be waiting with baited breath for the next novel in the series.
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