Read Online Mail Order Annie - A Historical Mail Order Bride Romance Novel (Mail Order Romance - Book 1 - Benjamin and Annie) by Kate Whitsby - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Whitsby
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self-torture for the crimes of her past. The shade of her buried demons clouded her eyes, and swept her away to the memory of that faraway event that drove her from her home.
In the whirlwind of society and culture surrounding her upper class family, Anne enjoyed the attentions of several enviable suitors, all eager to marry into the wealth and status surrounding her. The glow of self-assurance and security attended her whenever she ventured out, either to society functions, parties, or concerts, and she looked forward to nothing but more sensational triumph with the prospect of an advantageous marriage. After consulting her parents, she settled on one particularly impressive young entrepreneur as the most advisable candidate, and the pair confirmed their betrothal with several illustrious announcement bashes, at which the dignitaries of the town toasted their future and congratulated them in long-winded speeches. Anne basked in the limelight of her own distinction.
One day, some few months before the agreed-upon wedding date, her betrothed appeared at her parents’ door and asked to take Anne for a ride in his buggy alone. Seeing no danger, she agreed. He first drove her out into the countryside under the pretext of wanting to discuss their future plans with her. He conducted his vehicle to the shores of a lake outside of town, and stopped under the shade of whispering elm trees. He massaged her hand and subdued her mind with flattery, until at length he kissed her impetuously and thrust himself upon her. His protestations of undying love and the impending finality of their nuptials initially retarded any resistance in her, but without asking her permission and before she could rally herself to protest, he collected his reins and drove onward to his own house, where he conducted her into his drawing room. Befuddled by the combination of his affections, his fawning adoration, and her promise to marry him, she stayed with him a single night. The following morning, she woke to find her reputation in ruins and all her prospects dashed. Eventually, even her own parents insisted that she leave town to preserve the character of the family. They sequestered her in a boarding house, operated by an old widow, in another town. The widow introduced her to the redemption offered by Christ, and in her imposed isolation, Anne earnestly studied her Bible for any promise of salvation from her misdeed. In the same confinement, she began her correspondence with Moran, after answering a newspaper advertisement seeking women willing to travel to the Frontier West. At the time, she ignored his warnings about the raw hardship and grinding toil of frontier life in favor of the promise of a respectable marriage and a viable future.
Now, she confronted the consequence of her own folly. She deserved nothing more, nothing less, for transgressing the laws of God and man the way she did. This existence, if she could call it that, was nothing other than her just due. She swallowed the bitter pill, and drove herself out to the woodpile to carry in an armload of fuel.
Moran returned at dusk to find his supper on the table, but Anne less than delightful company. She sulked through the meal and toiled away at her mending afterwards without looking at him. She bore every sight and sound, from the smell of the food to the clods of dirt fallen from Moran’s boots onto her swept floor, as a brand of persecution and torment for her indiscretions and past frivolities. She let him depart from her without returning his salutation of “Good night.” She did not want to sleep, but after tossing around in distress for a few hours, her tired body and aching heart subdued her into sleep.
Chapter 4
In the morning, after Moran had eaten his breakfast in a dismal silence, he departed for his day’s
In the whirlwind of society and culture surrounding her upper class family, Anne enjoyed the attentions of several enviable suitors, all eager to marry into the wealth and status surrounding her. The glow of self-assurance and security attended her whenever she ventured out, either to society functions, parties, or concerts, and she looked forward to nothing but more sensational triumph with the prospect of an advantageous marriage. After consulting her parents, she settled on one particularly impressive young entrepreneur as the most advisable candidate, and the pair confirmed their betrothal with several illustrious announcement bashes, at which the dignitaries of the town toasted their future and congratulated them in long-winded speeches. Anne basked in the limelight of her own distinction.
One day, some few months before the agreed-upon wedding date, her betrothed appeared at her parents’ door and asked to take Anne for a ride in his buggy alone. Seeing no danger, she agreed. He first drove her out into the countryside under the pretext of wanting to discuss their future plans with her. He conducted his vehicle to the shores of a lake outside of town, and stopped under the shade of whispering elm trees. He massaged her hand and subdued her mind with flattery, until at length he kissed her impetuously and thrust himself upon her. His protestations of undying love and the impending finality of their nuptials initially retarded any resistance in her, but without asking her permission and before she could rally herself to protest, he collected his reins and drove onward to his own house, where he conducted her into his drawing room. Befuddled by the combination of his affections, his fawning adoration, and her promise to marry him, she stayed with him a single night. The following morning, she woke to find her reputation in ruins and all her prospects dashed. Eventually, even her own parents insisted that she leave town to preserve the character of the family. They sequestered her in a boarding house, operated by an old widow, in another town. The widow introduced her to the redemption offered by Christ, and in her imposed isolation, Anne earnestly studied her Bible for any promise of salvation from her misdeed. In the same confinement, she began her correspondence with Moran, after answering a newspaper advertisement seeking women willing to travel to the Frontier West. At the time, she ignored his warnings about the raw hardship and grinding toil of frontier life in favor of the promise of a respectable marriage and a viable future.
Now, she confronted the consequence of her own folly. She deserved nothing more, nothing less, for transgressing the laws of God and man the way she did. This existence, if she could call it that, was nothing other than her just due. She swallowed the bitter pill, and drove herself out to the woodpile to carry in an armload of fuel.
Moran returned at dusk to find his supper on the table, but Anne less than delightful company. She sulked through the meal and toiled away at her mending afterwards without looking at him. She bore every sight and sound, from the smell of the food to the clods of dirt fallen from Moran’s boots onto her swept floor, as a brand of persecution and torment for her indiscretions and past frivolities. She let him depart from her without returning his salutation of “Good night.” She did not want to sleep, but after tossing around in distress for a few hours, her tired body and aching heart subdued her into sleep.
Chapter 4
In the morning, after Moran had eaten his breakfast in a dismal silence, he departed for his day’s
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