The Cripple’s Bride_Family of Love Series_A Western Romance Story Read online

  The Cripple's Bride

  Family of Love Series

  Elliee Atkinson

  GREENHOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

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  A Personal Note From Ellie Atkinson

  Dedication

  About The Author

  THE CRIPPLE’S BRIDE

  PROLOGUE

  *

  CHAPTER ONE

  *

  CHAPTER TWO

  *

  CHAPTER THREE

  *

  CHAPTER FOUR

  *

  CHAPTER FIVE

  *

  CHAPTER SIX

  *

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  *

  CHAPTER NINE

  *

  CHAPTER TEN

  *

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  *

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  *

  EPILOGUE

  *

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  Also By Elliee Atkinson

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Copyright © 2016 - 2018 by ELLIEE ATKINSON & GREEN HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Cover designed by Ms Melody Simmons. Author has the copyrights to this cover.

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  A PERSONAL NOTE

  FROM ELLIEE ATKINSON

  To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

  Those female characters within my stories are women who displayed strong faith of love, knowing what they want to pursue in the Wild West.

  They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

  Will these insecurities and stigma encourages them in believing true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Wild West period?

  Read on to find out the answers!

  Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!

  With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

  DEDICATION

  “I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.”

  Alice Walker

  This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

  It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

  Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with you my creative side of me.

  I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

  It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

  Have you checked out my other western historical romance books series?

  Click the link below to get started

  *** AMAZON USA ***

  Do you like what you have read?

  I would want to hear from you!

  Please do get in touch with me:

  https://www.facebook.com/EllieeAtkinsonBooks/

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Elliee Atkinson is the author of many mail order brides stories and her alternate name is Rosie Attwood. Using Elliee Atkinson as her new pen-name, she spins out American historical western romance stories for readers that appreciate the romance that happened in the Old Wild West.

  Elliee loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance “Wild Montana Sky” by Debra Holland was inspired by the story perseverance and determination of the women from the wild west and how they overcome adversaries, fight for the love they deserved and desired.

  Many of her stories are based on her knowledge of the old west, although all the names, events, and places that may resemble or are similar to living people are only coincidental and fiction, of course.

  Elliee credits her wonderfully supportive partner and friend, Steven and her advance review reviewers for helping her to fine-tune her writing skills and allowing her creativity to explode.

  THE CRIPPLE’S BRIDE

  A WESTERN ROMANCE STORY

  by

  ELLIEE ATKINSON

  and

  Green House Publishing Co.

  PROLOGUE

  PROLOGUE

  It was going to be an exciting day for Daryl Parker. He was going to ask his beautiful lady to marry him. The sun was shining and the birds were singing when Daryl stepped out onto his front porch. He looked up and around, whistling as he walked to the stable with his hands in the pockets of his trousers. Before he reached the stable, a young boy pushed the door open and looked out at him.

  “Hey there, Mr. Parker!” the boy said, pushing the door further and leading out Daryl’s brown mustang, one of the largest horses Daryl had ever owned. He loved Prince more than any of the others, too. He was a strong, obedient horse that was more like Daryl’s pet than part of his livestock.

  “Thanks, Johnny, you didn’t have to do that. But I appreciate it.”

  Johnny shrugged. It was obvious to Daryl that Johnny hadn’t bathed in several days and probably hadn’t brushed his hair in weeks. His face and clothes were dusty. Streaks of mud were smeared over his shoes where he’d probably gone stomping through puddles the last time it rained. They were just coming out of a few weeks’ worth of rain and he was happy to see the sun again finally.

  “I was up already and thought I’d bring her out for ya.”
<
br />   “How did you know I was going into town today?”

  “Heard ya tellin’ Ma before.”

  “‘Before’ meaning yesterday?” Daryl clarified.

  Johnny nodded. “Yeah. I was behind the bush over there.” Johnny pointed to one of the corners of Daryl’s porch, where there was a line of bushes. “I wasn’t listening in, Mr. Parker. Not on purpose. I hope you’re not mad.” Johnny’s face fell a little bit and his smile lost some of its sparkle. Daryl shook his head.

  “No, my going into town wasn’t a secret, Johnny. I wouldn’t have cared if you were standing right next to your mother when I told her.”

  The look of relief on Johnny’s face amused Daryl. He knew the boy looked up to him. It wasn’t a surprise, since his own father was a cold, mean man who made a lot of noise when he got angry. All four of his children were afraid of him and his wife, Esther, feared for her life almost every day. Daryl tried to do what he could for Esther and her children. However, there was little he could do to stop what was happening to them.

  He’d given them shelter when they needed it and tried to protect them from Mr. Fisher’s monstrous anger. That’s what he’d been telling Esther the day before. He was going into town and would not be at home for several hours. If something was to happen and Esther was in need, he told her where his key would be so that she could get in his house. She could take one of his weapons if she needed it, he had told her, knowing that she was not strong enough to shoot her husband, no matter how brutal the man might be. She had thanked him.

  Daryl knew if Johnny heard him say he was going into town, he had heard his offer of help and where the key was to get in his house.

  As he rode away, he wondered if Johnny would take any of his weapons and if he did, what he would do with it. Johnny knew how to fire a pistol. Daryl had taught him. It was the only thing he knew to do for the oldest of the four children. Their life was hard enough. He wanted Johnny to feel safe.

  He headed directly to Laura’s house. She was expecting him, or so he thought. He was fairly certain word had gotten out that he would be proposing to her today. He noticed as he went down the main road how many people were outside. Had word really gotten around to everyone in this part of Louisville? It was a large town, almost the size of a real city. He knew many people, but even strangers were watching him ride down the street.

  He decided they were just admiring the size of his horse and continued on his journey.

  “Hey there, Daryl!” He heard his name called out and turned in the saddle. There were two men in Louisville Daryl counted on. One was Heath, who was waving at him from his own horse in front of the Long Trail Saloon. Daryl turned his horse and rode over to idle next to his friend.

  “Good to see you, Heath,” he said, nodding.

  “You don’t know, do ya?” Heath shook his head, clucking his tongue. He reached up and adjusted his hat. Daryl looked confused.

  “What are you talking about, Heath? Come on, spit it out.”

  Heath sucked in through his teeth, scratching his neck nervously.

  “All right now. I’m gonna knock you off your horse. What don’t I know?”

  “That girl you been seeing. Laura Hoffman.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to…”

  Heath was shaking his head. “You’re not gonna do anything, my friend. She took off in the middle of the night with Fred Corbin. They’ve been spending time together… behind your back.”

  Daryl sat frozen, stunned. He stared at Heath for a moment, trying to catch his breath. The ring he’d purchased felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. “Are you joking with me?”

  Heath shook his head, looking regretful. “I had to come out here and tell you, Daryl, you’re my friend. Everyone else knows about it, but you live so far out there, I reckon the news didn’t reach you. I couldn’t let you go out to her place and have her sister tell you.”

  Daryl moved his eyes to stare out over the land, though he didn’t see what he was looking at. He was remembering the times he’d spent with Laura, how close they had become. He had been sure she felt the same way he did.

  He was a fool. He looked at Heath and said, “I need a favor, Heath, if ya would.”

  Heath nodded, straightening his spine a little bit. “Whatever you need, Daryl.”

  “I need you to take this.” Daryl fished the ring from his pocket and handed it over to Heath. His friend merely looked down at it. “Take it and sell it. Do what you want with the money. I don’t need it.”

  “I can’t take it, Daryl,” Heath responded. “You might find another woman you want to give it to.”

  Daryl snorted, shoving the box back in his pocket. “Ain’t likely to happen. Got another favor to ask?”

  Heath nodded.

  “Help me put my things in the back of my wagon. I’m going on a trip.”

  Heath raised his eyebrows. “Where ya goin’, Daryl?”

  “My sister’s place up in Wickenburg. No need for me to stay here now. I was dying for change anyway.”

  “You know I’ll help you and I’ll get George to come along.”

  Daryl nodded. “If your son wants to help, that would be great. Thanks.”

  “I’m sorry, Daryl. I’m real sorry.”

  Daryl just nodded again and turned his horse to go back to his house and start packing.

  CHAPTER ONE

  A GRAND DAY

  A GRAND DAY

  There was so much noise that Elizabeth could barely hear herself think. However, it was good noise and she didn’t regret being caught up in the middle of it. She dropped to her knees and then sat back on the large square red and blue blanket her mother had spread over the grass. Her best friends, Sue Campbell and Riley Collins, were already seated. Riley was elbow deep in the big picnic basket, apparently searching for something in particular.

  “What in heaven’s name are you looking for, Riley?” Sue asked in an amused voice. “You’ve been looking through that basket for the last five minutes.”

  “It’s hardly been that long,” Riley said, purposefully putting an icy tone on her voice. She stuck her tongue out at Sue and then smiled. “I am sure I put a plum in here this morning. I can’t find it.”

  She pulled her arms out of the basket and placed them firmly on her hips, looking from one friend to the other. “Did one of you eat my plum?”

  Elizabeth laughed. She had not eaten the plum, but had a good idea who did. She glanced over to where the boys were throwing a round ball back and forth between each other. Chris, her strong, muscular older brother by two years, had soaked his shirt with sweat in the exertion of playing ball with Sue’s brother, Tom, who was equally big. Chris and Elizabeth’s brother, Allan, was participating, though he was mostly observing Chris and Tom as they tossed it back and forth. Allan had always suffered from a weak immune system and because of it, he was not as strong as a normal 18-year-old should be.

  “Oh no.” Riley looked in the boys’ direction and narrowed her eyes. “Did that boy steal my plum?”

  “Are you really surprised, Riley?” Sue laughed. “You should have brought two. You know he shares your fascination with plums.”

  Riley shrugged, reaching back into the basket and pulling out a plump round orange. She began to peel it. “I guess I should have known. But it’s still a good thing I adore him. Or he might have gotten an earful.”

  “Would you really fuss at Chris over that?” Elizabeth asked, raising one eyebrow.

  Riley shook her head, winking at Elizabeth. “Of course not, Liz. But that doesn’t mean I can’t say I would.”

  The girls giggled.

  “I am so glad the ground is not still wet from the recent rains. It was like that last year when you came to Wickenburg, wasn’t it, Liz?” Sue said.

  “Yes,” Elizabeth nodded. “It wasn’t a very good first four or five months when we first arrived. I’m glad we have survived a year from then.”

  “I know. It was very scary when that illness was going aroun
d and you caught it. I didn’t know if you would survive then or not. And Allan…” Sue didn’t continue. She and Allan were courting and he had almost lost his life. Medicine had arrived just in time, saving many lives in Wickenburg, aside from Elizabeth and Allan’s.

  “Come get some food, boys!” Riley called out, lifting her hand and waving in their direction.

  Allan was the first to quit the game, turning on his heel and heading to the blanket to drop himself next to Sue. “It’s a grand day for this, I’m so glad we decided to do it.”