Wagon Train Sweetheart
A Promised BrideEmma 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
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A Promised Bride
Emma Hewitt never thought sheâd travel thousands of miles to wed. Yet Oregon is where sheâll meet the groom her brothers have chosen. After years of nursing her ailing father, Emmaâs 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 heâs wrong for Emma. Heâs 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. Emmaâs 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
âWhat do you think youâre doing?â Emma demanded.
âI thought I wouldââ A cough cut off his sentence. âHitch up the oxen and get ready to pull out.â
Emmaâs expression turned into a thunderhead. When Nathanâs gaze slid to her brother, Hewitt wasâ¦chuckling?
âI figured Iâd get out of your way, now that Iâm better.â
Her frown only intensified. âLie back down.â She blocked him from moving anywhere but deeper into the wagon.
âGet some rest,â 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. âThe good news is you wonât have to bear my company all day.â
It was a relief. He didnât know how to converse with her.
But he also felt a small twinge of disappointment.
âWhat am I supposed to do confined to the wagon?â he asked.
âRachel and I would be cheered if you were to serenade us as we walk.â
He stared dumbly at her until she dissolved into giggles. How long had it been since heâd made anyone smile?
* * *
Journey West: Romance and adventure
await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
Wagon Train Reunionâ
Linda Ford, April 2015
Wagon Train Sweetheartâ
Lacy Williams, May 2015
Wagon Train Proposalâ
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 Reviewersâ Choice Award (three years running), the Golden Quill and the Booksellersâ 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.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
âJoshua 1:9
With gratefulness to my friends from the OKC Christian Fiction Writers chapter of ACFW, who helped brainstorm and always encourage me.
Contents
âHeâs a stinkinâ thief!â The belligerent voice hurled the accusation like a stone. âWe donât need his kind on this wagon train!â
Nathan Reed stood against the words, hands bound in front of him with rope, the way they had been since last night. Like a common criminal.
Like he deserved.
But not for stolen hair combs. He was innocentâthis time.
He kept his eyes squinted where the rising sun was lighting the top two jutting buttes that formed a narrow canyonâheâd overheard someone call it Devilâs Gate. The landmark was outside the circle of their wagons, where theyâd stopped the night before.
âYouâre sure you saw this manâMr. ReedâÂclimbing out of our wagon with my sisterâs hair combs?â Ben Hewitt asked of the preacher.
The small committee had gathered in the predawn light, wanting privacy from the rest of the travelers in their westbound wagon train. This was Nathanâs judge and juryâthe men who would decide his fate.
Hewitt was a broad-shouldered, sandy-haired and seemingly good-natured man, from the few interactions Nathan had had with him. But Ben Hewitt didnât know Nathan. Didnât count him as a friend. Nobody did, thatâs why Nathan was the only suspect.
Out of the corner of his vision, Nathan saw that Hewittâs sister Emma stood next to him and the group of men, the breeze blowing her deep green skirt a little. Probably sending wisps of her honey-brown hair dancing against her cheeks.
He didnât look at her. Didnât want to see accusation or recrimination in the vivid blue eyes heâd had only glimpses of when driving the Binghamsâ wagon.
