Indentured bride: book one of the bride series

Indentured Bride is the first in my Bride Series, to be followed by Mistaken Bride, Kidnapped Bride, Traveling Bride and two others that are at present unnamed. The Bride series follows the loves of four men and two women, three of them brothers: Kendrick, Brett and Wolf as well as their friend Rick. Indentured Bride is Brett's story. The series begins in the mid-1800's. Brett is the brown haired, blue eyed son of Whitney and Falling Leaf Parker. While he felt secure in his family and had good friends, the one thing that eluded him was finding a woman to love and marry. A prominent rancher and Deputy Sheriff in Adler Creek, Wyoming, Brett has much to offer the right woman. Brown hair, brown eyed Jennifer Matthews grew up in security and luxury in New York City. As the only child of a prominent attorney and his wife Jennifer wanted for nothing. As a baby, despite her father's misgivings her mother's uncle, Julian, was named guardian. When her parents die, Julian rushes to assume his guardianship duties over Jennifer. There is a problem though-Julian is not the compassionate and caring guardian Jennifer's parents hoped for. Indeed, her first night in his home in Maryland he attempts to rape her. Seeking only to free herself from his advances Jennifer strikes him on the head killing him. Running from the house, afraid that the authorities will not believe her that it was Julian that attacked her first she spends the night in a box car and ends up not only in Virginia, but among a group of mail order brides. As the women excitedly chatter about their pending nuptials Jennifer decides to head west with them-except her plan is to leave the wagon train in St. Louis and create a new life, along with a new name for herself. Two women, Bea and Belle, take Jennifer under wing, offering to share their wagon with her and their journey west. Trying to leave her old life behind Jennifer tells them her name is Jenna Martin and that she is going to take her chances on the "Bride Train." The bride train is the brain child of one of the men of Adler Creek. A shortage of available women, a group of men who want to marry and one ingenious businessman come together in an advertisement for some mail order brides. Bea and Belle eagerly joined up, exchanged letters and tin type photos and are eagerly looking forward to their pending nuptials. When the wagon train arrives in St. Louis Jennifer, who has now changed her name to Jenna, tries to leave it, but wagon master Dusty Hendricks stops her, telling her that a good and decent man bought a bride and she is going to meet her commitment. Jenna makes a few attempts to leave the train, but each time Dusty manages to stop her. A few days out from Adler Creek Dusty sends a man ahead to let the men of the town know their brides are on their way. Much to the Sheriff, Rick's surprise, his deputy, Brett, announces that the one woman who seemed to be giving Dusty trouble is actually his bride to be. Brett heads out with the men to meet the train half way in and quickly spots Jenna when they arrive and goes over to meet her. When he tells her he is her husband to be which, she faints. This was not in her plans for her future. From the outset Jenna tells Brett that she does not want to get married. The problem isn't him, it's that she doesn't want to marry anyone. The biggest irony to her is that if she marries him, it could well be her own husband who arrests her for Julian's murder. Every step of the way she tries to convince him marrying her is a mistake, but Brett is determined. After being rejected by several women in town, including one who hurt him deeply, he is set on marrying Jenna. In an attempt to placate her and convince her marriage to him will not be a bad thing, he promises that he will protect and care for her-and not take her to his bed until she is ready. Reluctantly, with no other option open to her except to admit she murdered her uncle, Jenna marries Brett.