Mail-Order Marriage Promise
Wanted: Husband and FatherStunned that his sister ordered him a mail-order bride, John Wallin insists he’s not the husband Dottie Tyrrell needs. The scholarly logger knows Dottie will make the perfect wife—for some other man. Yet he’s compelled to invite the lovely widow and her infant son stay with his family…but only until she can find her own way.Dreams of true love are for other women. Betrayed by her baby’s father, Dottie just wants a safe home for her precious child. But who could resist a man with John’s quiet strength? When her secret past brings danger to their door, they may yet find this mail-order mix-up to be the perfect mistake…Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms
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Wanted: Husband and Father
Stunned that his sister ordered him a mail-order bride, John Wallin insists heâs not the husband Dottie Tyrrell needs. The scholarly logger knows Dottie will make the perfect wifeâfor some other man. Yet heâs compelled to invite the lovely widow and her infant son to stay with his family...but only until she can find her own way.
Dreams of true love are for other women. Betrayed by her babyâs father, Dottie just wants a safe home for her precious child. But who could resist a man with Johnâs quiet strength? When her secret past brings danger to their door, they may yet find this mail-order mix-up to be the perfect mistake...
âForgive me, Mr. Wallin, but I find your offer altogether unequal. What do you get out of the bargain?â
He frowned as if puzzled by the question. âWhy, the chance to be helpful, maâam.â
âIn my experience, people are not nearly so helpful.â
âThen perhaps you know the wrong people, Mrs. Tyrrell.â
She had no question on that score. Her experience with Frank had soured her on a lot of things.
She gazed down into Peterâs dear face. His blue eyes, more gray than hers, gazed back, trusting. He offered her a smile as if to encourage her, and she couldnât help smiling back.
Didnât her son deserve something more than this narrow hotel room, the company of strangers? If what John Wallin was offering was even half-true, she could provide Peter a safe home and good food, perhaps even friends. Shouldnât she take the chance, for him?
âI believe your sister said Wallin Landing is about five miles from Seattle,â she told John. âIâd be willing to move out, see if the area will suit Peter and me.â
His smile was relieved. âThank you, Mrs. Tyrrell. I promise you, you wonât be disappointed.â
She couldnât make herself believe that, either.
REGINA SCOTT has always wanted to be a writer. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages. Fascinated by history, she learned to fence and sail a tall ship. She and her husband reside in Washington state with an overactive Irish terrier. You can find her online blogging at nineteenteen.com. Learn more about her at reginascott.com or connect with her on Facebook at Facebook.com/authorreginascott.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
âMatthew 5:9, New International Version
To everyday heroes, making our world safer and more peaceful, and to our Heavenly Father, for allowing even those of us who arenât heroes to contribute to His kingdom
Contents
Seattle, Washington Territory
April 1874
Dottie Tyrrell sat in the Pastry Emporium wondering what her groom looked like.
Not that she found looks all that indicative of character. Certainly Frank had been handsome, and heâd turned out to be a despicable rat. But it did seem odd to have traveled all the way from Cincinnati to Washington Territory and not have any picture in her mind of the man she had come to marry.
She settled her blue-and-purple-striped skirts around her on the wooden chair, then pushed a blond curl back from her face. Oh, but she was fussing, and why not? It wasnât every day you expected to see your husband come walking through the door.
His sister had tried to describe the fellow to Dottie in her letters, but Beth Wallinâs reference points had meant little.
âJohn isnât as tall as Drew and Simon, our oldest brothers,â the young lady had written, âbut he has a bit more muscle than Simon or James. His hair used to be red, but itâs darkened over the years to look more like madrone tree bark, and his eyes are a darker green than Maâs were.â
So Dottie had no idea of his height or weight. Sheâd never seen a madrone tree, but she could only assume Johnâs hair was some shade of brown. Not particularly helpful!
She took a sip of the tea she had ordered earlier. The liquid trembled in the bone china cup. She was about to marry a stranger. Why, with everything sheâd written to his sister, John Wallin knew more about Dottie than she knew about him!
Very likely heâd be able to pick her out the moment he walked in the door. The bakery was cozy, with a wide counter at the back next to a glass cabinet, where all manner of delicacies lay waiting for a hungry buyer. Six small wooden tables, all occupied, were clustered to one side so patrons could stop and enjoy their treats. The scents of cinnamon and vanilla hung in the air. With few women in the bakery, and all of them attended by a husband or children, the mail-order bride Mr. Wallinâs sister had arranged for him would be glaringly apparent.
