A Promised Bride
Emma Hewitt never thought she’d travel thousands of miles to wed. Yet Oregon is where she’ll meet the groom her brothers have chosen. After years of nursing her ailing father, Emma’s social skills are lacking. An arranged marriage is only sensible. And her growing feelings for Nathan Reed, a worker on her wagon train, are surely better forgotten.
Nathan knows he’s wrong for Emma. He’s too rough, too burdened with guilt over his past. But when Emma nurses him through a fever, she sees something in him no one ever has. Now he wants to be a man worthy of her love. Emma’s loyalty to family has always come first. Will she find the courage now to follow her heart?
Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
“What do you think you’re doing?” Emma demanded.
“I thought I would—” A cough cut off his sentence. “Hitch up the oxen and get ready to pull out.”
Emma’s expression turned into a thunderhead. When Nathan’s gaze slid to her brother, Hewitt was…chuckling?
“I figured I’d get out of your way, now that I’m better.”
Her frown only intensified. “Lie back down.” She blocked him from moving anywhere but deeper into the wagon.
“Get some rest,” Hewitt said. The man walked off and Nathan wanted nothing more than to be able to do the same, to find somewhere private to lick his wounds. But he was still near face-to-face with Emma.
He gave in, lying back and staring up at the white underside of the bonnet.
When she spoke again, her voice sounded cheery. “The good news is you won’t have to bear my company all day.”
It was a relief. He didn’t know how to converse with her.
But he also felt a small twinge of disappointment.
“What am I supposed to do confined to the wagon?” he asked.
“Rachel and I would be cheered if you were to serenade us as we walk.”
He stared dumbly at her until she dissolved into giggles. How long had it been since he’d made anyone smile?
* * *
Journey West: Romance and adventure
await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
Wagon Train Reunion—
Linda Ford, April 2015
Wagon Train Sweetheart—
Lacy Williams, May 2015
Wagon Train Proposal—
Renee Ryan, June 2015
LACY WILLIAMS is a wife and mom from Oklahoma. She has loved romance from childhood and promises readers happy endings in all her stories. Her books have been finalists for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award (three years running), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers’ Best Award. Lacy loves to hear from readers at [email protected]. She can be found at lacywilliams.net, facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks or twitter.com/lacy_williams.
Wagon Train Sweetheart
Lacy Williams
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go.
—Joshua 1:9
With gratefulness to my friends from the OKC Christian Fiction Writers chapter of ACFW, who helped brainstorm and always encourage me.
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