Read Online ROMANCE: Mail Order Bride: A Sheriff's Bride (A Clean Christian Inspirational Historical Western Romance) (New Adult Short Stories) by Nathan Adams - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nathan Adams
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there with her hand pressed firmly to her lips as she tried to contain a smile. The nanny stood behind her with the tray of cookies spoken of earlier and shook her head.
Brandon and I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation. Things really were going to be okay.
Chapter Five
We set the wedding for three months from that day. The Christmas season was approaching, and though my belly grew bigger, he only seemed to love me more. We prepared the home for Christmas, played with an excitable Ruth as we did so, though I was growing more fatigued the further my pregnancy progressed. We began to go to church together, and I grew more immersed in the community as time passed. No one seemed to bat a lash at the fact that were a blended family of the most unimaginable sense, and I was thankful for that.
I got to know Jocelyn better and realized she was just a very unique woman, but always meant well. Joseph had never shown up to give us his blessing, but then it was also learned that their relationship was strained as well…I learned the day of our wedding why that was, and I recalled it as I prepared for my first night sleeping with my husband.
Jocelyn was helping Olivia to braid my hair, but I noticed her unusual quiet. She was very boisterous throughout the entire process, but now she was practically invisible with her silence. “Olivia dear, would you mind leaving us be while I finish up? I have some things to discuss with Vanessa.” She said.
Olivia didn’t hesitate to stop what she was doing and exit as she was asked to. When we were alone, Jocelyn finished her braid and then placed a hand on my shoulder, “There are some things you should know about Brandon. He’s truly a nice man, a very good man, but he’s got a bit of history too, you see.” She said.
I grew nervous at those words, “Perhaps we should save it for another time then? Maybe he should tell me?” I asked.
Jocelyn shook her head, “He asked me to. Said if you wanted to call off the wedding before it happened that you had every right to. Brandon is a man of God, he really is. He’s a decent man, but he’s made mistakes. Ruth is his daughter, but her mother was Bridget Daniels, and Bridget was Joseph’s longtime flame.” She explained.
When the connections clicked, I realized what Jocelyn was saying and my heart sank, “You don’t mean…?” I asked quietly.
Jocelyn nodded her head, “They had a relationship out of wedlock, and the product was Ruth. At first Joseph tried to pretend it didn’t happen, that Ruth was just his daughter. You see, Joseph wasn’t a believer, so his inhibitions were limited. He had already slept with Bridget, so it was entirely possible the child could be his. Bridget didn’t make it through childbirth however, and so Joseph has forever blamed Brandon for her death.” She explained, “I know as well as anyone that Bridget’s death was just some freak occurrence. She never returned Joseph’s feelings, so I suppose it struck an even deeper blow. Brandon has tried his best to repent for all of this. It’s a hard road for him, and even through all of that, he’s raised Ruth the best he can. Bridget had been seducing him for months and he finally caved. It’s truly terrible, but Joseph found another woman and is living happily in California. I believe Brandon deserves some happiness now too, and Ruth deserves a mother. He wants to raise her in a home centered around the love of the Lord. I’m glad he found you.” She said with a kind smile.
Thinking back on that conversation made me feel a mixture of feelings I couldn’t describe. We really were a chaotic storm when put together, a true scandal, but I realized that day that it was okay. I could forgive him, and I could forgive me. I could even forgive Emily and Lawrence. In the end it was all designed to end up this way. There wouldn’t be an end unless we made one, and God would watch over our union as he watched those mistakes in our past
Brandon and I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation. Things really were going to be okay.
Chapter Five
We set the wedding for three months from that day. The Christmas season was approaching, and though my belly grew bigger, he only seemed to love me more. We prepared the home for Christmas, played with an excitable Ruth as we did so, though I was growing more fatigued the further my pregnancy progressed. We began to go to church together, and I grew more immersed in the community as time passed. No one seemed to bat a lash at the fact that were a blended family of the most unimaginable sense, and I was thankful for that.
I got to know Jocelyn better and realized she was just a very unique woman, but always meant well. Joseph had never shown up to give us his blessing, but then it was also learned that their relationship was strained as well…I learned the day of our wedding why that was, and I recalled it as I prepared for my first night sleeping with my husband.
Jocelyn was helping Olivia to braid my hair, but I noticed her unusual quiet. She was very boisterous throughout the entire process, but now she was practically invisible with her silence. “Olivia dear, would you mind leaving us be while I finish up? I have some things to discuss with Vanessa.” She said.
Olivia didn’t hesitate to stop what she was doing and exit as she was asked to. When we were alone, Jocelyn finished her braid and then placed a hand on my shoulder, “There are some things you should know about Brandon. He’s truly a nice man, a very good man, but he’s got a bit of history too, you see.” She said.
I grew nervous at those words, “Perhaps we should save it for another time then? Maybe he should tell me?” I asked.
Jocelyn shook her head, “He asked me to. Said if you wanted to call off the wedding before it happened that you had every right to. Brandon is a man of God, he really is. He’s a decent man, but he’s made mistakes. Ruth is his daughter, but her mother was Bridget Daniels, and Bridget was Joseph’s longtime flame.” She explained.
When the connections clicked, I realized what Jocelyn was saying and my heart sank, “You don’t mean…?” I asked quietly.
Jocelyn nodded her head, “They had a relationship out of wedlock, and the product was Ruth. At first Joseph tried to pretend it didn’t happen, that Ruth was just his daughter. You see, Joseph wasn’t a believer, so his inhibitions were limited. He had already slept with Bridget, so it was entirely possible the child could be his. Bridget didn’t make it through childbirth however, and so Joseph has forever blamed Brandon for her death.” She explained, “I know as well as anyone that Bridget’s death was just some freak occurrence. She never returned Joseph’s feelings, so I suppose it struck an even deeper blow. Brandon has tried his best to repent for all of this. It’s a hard road for him, and even through all of that, he’s raised Ruth the best he can. Bridget had been seducing him for months and he finally caved. It’s truly terrible, but Joseph found another woman and is living happily in California. I believe Brandon deserves some happiness now too, and Ruth deserves a mother. He wants to raise her in a home centered around the love of the Lord. I’m glad he found you.” She said with a kind smile.
Thinking back on that conversation made me feel a mixture of feelings I couldn’t describe. We really were a chaotic storm when put together, a true scandal, but I realized that day that it was okay. I could forgive him, and I could forgive me. I could even forgive Emily and Lawrence. In the end it was all designed to end up this way. There wouldn’t be an end unless we made one, and God would watch over our union as he watched those mistakes in our past
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