Mail Order Bride: Rescued By Hope: Rescued Western Historical Mail Order Brides, #7

By Kenneth Markson

Mail Order Bride: Rescued By Hope: Rescued Western Historical Mail Order Brides Book 7 is an action packed clean inspirational western historical romance. After her parents die in a tragic accident, pretty young Angela is raised by her wealthy and socially prominent Aunt and Uncle. While summering in Newport, Rhode Island, the young woman is given the ultimatum to marry a much older, loathsome associate of her Uncle, or lose everything. Refusing, Angela heads West seeking a better life. She decides to become a mail order bride, when the chance unexpectedly falls in her lap. Will she find the love that she yearns for with the handsome rancher and his young daughter in San Diego? Will Angela escape from the clutches of a mercenary banker and his criminal partner, and will hope save her, the rancher, and her father's old friends? 

If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy Kenneth's Redeemed series or the other books in the Rescued series; "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By A Rascal," "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By A Rogue," "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By A Rake," "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By A Rover," "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By A Romantic," and "Mail Order Bride: Rescued By Resolve."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Markson
• Release date: Mar 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9780986252846

Kenneth Markson

While an English major at college, I wrote a column which was published weekly. I have been writing ever since. The old West and Los Angeles in the forties are eras which lend themselves to tales of romance, courage, and fast paced adventure. I particularly enjoy writing stories about the mail order brides who fearlessly took a chance and traveled West, hoping to find love and a better future. Many of the locales that I write about are places that I have either traveled through or actually lived in. I try to make my works richly accurate. My desire is to provide you with an entertaining and fun read. When I'm not writing, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children.

Book preview

To my wife and children, always.

Chapter 1

Angela Travers was walking down prestigious Bellevue Avenue to the Newport Casino, where she was to meet her Aunt Harriet Wetherly for luncheon and tea.  Her long, lovely auburn hair blew into her hazel eyes due to a sudden, summer sea breeze.  She quickly brushed the hair out of her face with her hand, revealing a pretty young woman of twenty with a pleasant smile.

Angela passed numerous elegant homes as she proceeded to her destination.  Newport, Rhode Island had become known as the playground of the aristocracy.  The richest and most prominent families from New York, Boston, and Philadelphia came there to recreate among themselves during the summer months.

Bellevue and Ocean Avenues harbored mansions, largely hidden from view, which resembled European palaces.  The wealthy labored feverishly to keep this area off limits to the common townspeople, who lived there year round.  Such was also the case at Bailey's Beach, where the elite ogled one another, and occasionally, even swam.

A watchman stood guard in a gold-laced uniform watching like a hawk to prevent any outsiders from encroaching upon this exclusive bathing area.  Unknown carriages were swiftly turned away.  A stranger without an impeccable introduction from one of the regulars, was told to bathe in Easton's beach, derogatorily referred as The Common Beach.

Angela smiled as she reached the Newport Casino at the end of Bellevue Avenue.  It was just a lovely summer day, she thought to herself.  Still, there was a troublesome feeling in the pit of her stomach.  Whenever her dear Aunt summoned her to a luncheon, she always had some demand in mind, which was not to her liking.  What would it be this time, she mused.

The Newport Casino was built by New York Herald publisher, James Gordon Bennett, Jr.  The main building consisted of ground floor shops and second story club rooms for private members.  Croquet, tennis matches, archery contests, concerts, and balls were commonly held there.  It was one of the primary places for society to be seen.

Ah, there you are Angela, a voice called out.  Come here, there's someone I would like to introduce you to.

Aunt Harriet was appropriately dressed for the summer in a long, flowing white cotton dress with flower print.  She was a tall, middle aged woman, with nicely coiffed brown hair, and hard, dark eyes.  She was sipping tea in the patio, with her usual coterie of snooty ladies.

Angela noted with alarm a toad like creature seated at the end of the table with a forced, closed mouth grin on his face.  It was a short, squat man with a balding head, a brown moustache, and wire rimmed spectacles.

Oh my gosh, Angela thought to herself.  What has my Aunt been cooking up now? I hope she doesn't want me to go out with this man.

Aunt Harriet got up from her chair, with a broad smile on her face.  Angela's worst fears were about to be realized. 

Angela, dear, Aunt Harriet said, this gentleman is Mr. Franklin Braddock.  Mr. Braddock is a close business associate of your Uncle Keith's.  He is in from New York, visiting our fair town, and has informed me that he would like to make your acquaintance.

Franklin Braddock's grin opened a bit at the introduction, displaying a set of tightly closed white teeth.

Pleased to meet you, he said.

Nice to meet you as well, Angela replied, trying to appear pleasant.

There, Aunt Harriet continued, staring at her niece, now that we've all gotten acquainted, I've told Franklin that you would be happy to accompany him to the Casino tonight, for dancing in the ballroom.  You don't mind, do you?

Angela knew what Aunt Harriet's emphasis on the final you meant.  It was a way of telling her, you'd better do as I say.  Inwardly, she was bristling, but she kept her anger to herself.

That would be lovely, Angela replied.

Wonderful, Franklin said, wiping the perspiration from his balding head, my carriage will pick you up at eight.

With that pronouncement, he promptly walked out of the patio. 

He's quite a catch, Angela, one of the ladies piped up as soon as he departed.

Maybe for you, Angela mused, you meddling busybody.

Chapter 2

The silence was deafening, as Angela sat in her Aunt's carriage heading back to her home on Bellevue Avenue.

Don't be a child, Angela, Aunt Harriet scolded.  Not talking is rude.

Angela glowered at her Aunt.

Really, Aunt Harriet, how could you? Angela asked.  The man is a head smaller than me, and more than twice my age!  Why he's fifty at the least!

Aunt Harriet told the carriage driver to pull over to the side of the road.  She focused on her niece with a hard look.

I believe I had this same conversation with your mother, years ago.  It's time to knock those starry eyed notions out of your head.  Your Uncle Keith mentioned this to me the other day.  You're a twenty year old woman now.  How long do you think that we should carry you?

Angela had never liked her Uncle Keith.  He was a cold and selfish man.  She felt he had always resented her Aunt taking her in at the age of ten, when her parents tragically died in a fire.  Angela was certain that if it had been up to him, she would have been shoved into an orphanage.

Angela's eyes gazed bitterly at the large mansion where her Uncle and Aunt resided a few hundred feet up the street.

Poor Uncle Keith, she replied with a trace of sarcasm.  I wasn't aware that I had been such a burden for him.  Giving me room and board must have really taxed him.  He lives so shabbily now.

Her Aunt was taken aback by her remarks.

Don't talk about your Uncle that way, Angela! she snapped.  Besides, you know how your Uncle Keith loves you.

Oh, yes, Angela smiled.  I am well aware of that.

Aunt Harriet was getting so flustered, her face was becoming red.

This conversation is getting way off track, Angela, she stammered.  All I wanted to say, she continued, "was that a woman in your position needs to be concerned with things other than age and looks.  Franklin Braddock comes from an impeccable family of wealth and position.  He himself has made a great deal of money in banking and real estate.  It would be quite a feather in