[Three Brides of Haines 01.0] Yearning of the Reluctant Bride Read online

  Yearning of the Reluctant Bride

  Three Brides of Haines Press

  Contents

  Copyright

  Find Out More

  About The Author

  Dedication

  Prologue

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  1

  Chapter 1

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  2

  Chapter 2

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  3

  Chapter 3

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  4

  Chapter 4

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  5

  Chapter 5

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  6

  Chapter 6

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  7

  Chapter 7

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  8

  Chapter 8

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  9

  Chapter 9

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  10

  Chapter 10

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  Epilogue

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  More Books

  Find Out More

  Also By Faye Sonja

  Publishers Notes

  Copyright © 2016 by Faye Sonja

  All Rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * * * *

  I would love to hear from you, come connect with me here:

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  [email protected]

  Sign up for the author’s New Releases mailing list and get a free copy of the Western Romance story: Endless Love.

  Click the yellow Find Out More link button below to get started

  About The Author

  Faye Sonja is a multi-voiced writer who aspires to use different voices in telling her stories, seeing characters coming alive through the multi-faceted writing styles give her great satisfaction.

  As a young girl, Faye Sonja has been fascinated with stories of the Old West, especially the theme of Mail Order Bride where a woman will find the courage to leave her homeland, take the plunge to seek out the love of her life out there in the unknown land.

  Such an act requires bravery, such an act requires faith. It takes a woman with strong Christian faith to step out on such a pursuit for her love.

  It is Faye's desire that readers will once again have the courage to believe in love again from reading her books, to be inspired through the characters in her story who through perseverance, in the face of obstacles, overcame the hurdles using that simple faith and belief of theirs.

  * * *

  Here's what real readers are saying about Faye Sonya books :

  Brides of El Paso Book3

  The Doctor's Flawed Bride with a Lisp

  Writer's a litter different from the other authors I have been reading. She has a very good story and keeps your interest up. ~ Peggy Primavera

  Mail Order Brides of Western Romance Book3

  The Deaf Bride and The Sensible Teacher

  It touch me so much because it's about deaf just like myself. I'm deaf also it showed that we can do anything for being deaf. Thank Faye Sonja for great writing a stories of handicapped and etc. ~ Doxiesmom3

  Bride of Perry Lake Book1

  The Big Feisty Bride tamed by Her Scarred Banker

  I actually really enjoyed this book and I'm very interested in the fact that it's the first in a series. The author did a great job of making the characters relatable. The story itself shone, especially because it was romantic and sweet, and also a clean romance. The other thing I liked was that it wasn't predictable, which made the story an enjoyable read. ~ Cassandra

  The Archer Sisters of Goldrush Book1

  ADELINE - The Strong-willed Bride for Her Lonely Farmer

  This was an entertaining short story for a sunny afternoon. Adeline is a little more strong willed than what makes a really likable character for me, but James is a keeper. All in all Addie and James' story encourages me to move on to Amelia's story (2) and then Averil's (3), too when it's completed at the end of this month. ~ J. Smith

  Three Brides for Three War Comrades Book2

  Ashamed, Beaten & Saved by Her Burned Hero

  This the second story of the series was as good as the first, now I am looking forward to reading the last story of the series. ~ Jilm

  Comment & Review on Social Media- Facebook

  I love your books they are so easy to read and they are great I have right many of your books in my library, I particularly like you boxed sets with the stories leading into the next,keep them coming my friend as I have a lot of time and i intend to spend it reading now that I've retired and can read until I get sleepy and need to go to sleep! Thank you very much!. ~ Margie Cox

  * * *

  Dedication

  Jerry:

  Hello. I'm looking for my wife.

  .....but our little company had a good night tonight. A really big night. But it wasn't complete, it wasn't nearly close to being in the same vicinity as complete, because I couldn't share it with you. I couldn't hear your voice, or laugh about it with you. I missed my wife. We live in a cynical world, and we work in a business of tough competitors, I love you. You complete me. And I just...I…..

  Dorothy:

  Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at hello.

  “Jerry Maguire” (1996)

  * * *

  To those who have found the love of their lives:

  May you never stay out of love, taking every effort to rekindle the magic moment when both of you first held hands.

  To those who are waiting for the love of their lives:

  May you never lose that belief in love, that magical moment when all that really matters is to fall in love.

  * * *

  Prologue

  Haines, North Dakota

  Eve Haines’ hands felt cool against the gleaming slick surface of her father’s maple wood desk. She ran her hands over the light beige surface; the desk was supposed to have been hers. All too soon, the surface became warm; baking under the heat of her hands. Eve’s blood was pumping quickly, rushing rapidly through her veins. She felt the first warning signs of the major headache that was to come. She fought the urge to place pressure against her temples; fought and won. In front of her very much unwelcomed guest, it would be a sign of weakness. Eve needed to look strong at the moment. “Is that your final decision?”

  Mr. Gregory Lowe found an invisible piece of lint on the brown jacket of his suit to distract him. His silver hair-covered hand shook as he began to make brushing movements across the collar. With a sigh, he finally brought his pale blue eyes back to Eve. “It is not my decision alone, Ms. Haines. But, we, the investors, would simply feel better if Haines Press was run by a man.”

  A hard thud made them both jump. Eve looked down at her hands. They were twin fists; red with fury. She’d hit the table. She didn’t remember balling her hands into fists. It had just happened. She brought her eyes up to meet Mr. Lowe. His bushy white brows were wide; the whites of his eyes showing too much. His body was tense and sat as still as a man who’d caught death. Mr. Lowe was a lawyer and was usually very good at hiding his true emotions. Any true reaction out of him was a thing to see.

  Eve licked her suddenly dry lips. “I owe you an apology.”

  Mr. Lowe’s face relaxed first. The rest of him followed in degrees; shoulders, legs, and then he released the air that he’d been holding in his lungs. His lips quivered a
s he laughed. “Quite alright, Ms. Haines.” Mr. Lowe had a way of making each word sound like he were dragging his feet. “No harm done.” He tried a smile on that didn’t quite fit his demeanor.

  Eve hadn’t meant to scare that man. She’d just allowed her anger to get carried away once again. She shook her head, remembering that at one point in time, Mr. Lowe, one of the richest men in Kansas, had been a friend; or rather, her father’s friend, but still. “Since my father’s death three months ago, I’ve been running the company all on my own.” When Mr. Lowe’s pain-filled face started to blur, Eve shut her eyes; forbidding the moisture from becoming more. “Haines Press is still the most popular paper in all of The Great Plains. It’s my father’s ideas that drove it. It’s my grandfather, Adam Haines Sr., for which this town is named after. It’s my father’s paper that’s made this town the famed art centric community that it is. The company should stay in the Haines family.”

  Mr. Lowe sighed. “I agree.”

  Eve felt the pressure in her chest lift as if a great weight had left on the wings of Mr. Lowe’s words. “You do?” Eve smiled, but then felt it begin to slip from her face once she realized that Mr. Lowe wasn’t going to share in her joy.

  Mr. Lowe’s face still held pain. “And there is a way you can keep the publishing company...”

  Eve didn’t like the look on Mr. Lowe’s face. Whatever he wanted to say could not be good. Eve wrapped her hands around the edge of the wooden desk, bracing herself. “I’ll do anything,” she whispered.

  Mr. Lowe’s hands folded in his lap. He kept his eyes on his fingers, watching them as he twiddled them together. “Your family may keep the paper if you marry.”

  Eve felt numb. She waited for Mr. Lowe to continue. She waited for Mr. Lowe’s words to make sense, though his words only further confused her, so she decided to help him along. “Mr. Lowe, I don’t follow. You’re going to have to speak to me plain English.”

  Mr. Lowe sighed. “If you marry, the investors will allow your husband to run the paper.”

  Eve shook her head. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “And you couldn’t marry just anyone. The investors will only accept a man with a fancy education from somewhere out east.”

  “I’m not marrying, Mr. Lowe.”

  “Ms. Haines, this is only way to…”

  “No, no, no. I’m not marrying, Mr. Lowe. Not again. I won’t do it.”

  Eve’s eyes flew to the hand that touched her shoulder. She followed that trail of brown cotton all the way up to Mr. Lowe’s face. She looked into his eyes and let him see all the pain and fear that now gripped her. “Please, Mr. Lowe. Not this. Anything but this.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Eve,” he whispered, using her given name for the first time. Mr. Lowe had been around Eve’s family since before Eve could remember. Mr. Lowe knew all about Eve’s two-timing ex-husband, Harry King. Mr. Lowe knew how Harry had skipped town after Eve had given birth to their twin boys. He also knew about the painful years that had followed. If Eve’s father, Adam, had not been around to help, Eve would have lost her mind. It had been years since her first marriage; eight long years, but not long enough for Eve to ever want to walk down the aisle again. The first tear that rolled down her cheek seemed to open the floodgates. “Mr. Lowe, I can’t.”

  Mr. Lowe tried giving Eve a smile again. It was another failed attempt. “It’s alright, Ms. Haines. I told the board of trustees that you wouldn’t do it, and I admit that I don’t believe you should. But, I thought you should know that it is your only hope if you ever plan on keeping the company to pass down to your boys.”

  Eve sighed; shutting her eyes tight. Her boys, Lewis and Clark. True to their names, the seven-year-olds were true to the two men they were named after; turning everything into an adventure and trying Eve’s patience. A smile touched Eve’s lips. Haines Press was their legacy. She wanted her boys to have it. She’d give them the world if she could. Her eyes rolled back up to Mr. Lowe. “How long do I have to make a decision?”

  “Three more months.”

  Eve’s eyes widen. “Three months?”

  Mr. Lowe nodded. Eve looked away. “I’ll think about it.”

  The sound of Mr. Lowe’s heels clapped across the wooden floor as he made it to the door. He turned back to Eve with his hand on the knob. “Take your time and think about it all you want, but mark my works, Eve.” His face was very serious. “If you are not married by this day in three months, the investors will be taking over Haines Press.” He then turned his back and left.

  Eve’s body deflated under the news that she’d received. Three months. Three months to not only find a man, but to also marry him? And it was definitely not enough time to be sure he could run a publishing company. She had no illusions that there weren’t men out there that would jump at the opportunity. Haines Press was a big deal all over America. It specialized in books and papers about the west. Most of the books were fictitious tales about legions of desperados and cowboys which the world ate up like hotcakes and couldn’t get enough of. No, there would be no issues in finding a man who’d want to take over. It was just everything else that bothered her. Like the marriage part of the agreement. Eve kept telling herself to just pick up her things, take her loyal readers, and start from scratch somewhere else. But to do so would mean giving up her father’s company’s name. What’s in a name? Anyone who’s seen a Shakespearian play knew the answer to that. A great deal!

  Eve sighed. If she went through with this, the only thing that would be between Eve and another man would be a piece of paper. Nothing more. Eve wasn’t having any more kids, and she wouldn’t dream of letting another man touch her; not after Harry. No, she’d try and save the company, but only with the right man. Eve smiled. She could do this. All she had to do was find the perfect candidate. How hard would that be? With her nerves settled, Eve pulled a blank sheet of paper out of her desk, plucked the fountain pen from its holder, and began to write.

  * * *

  1

  Chapter ONE

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  “ Whether I am or have ever been married

  is no longer any of your concern.”

  Once Upon a time, there was a young prince who’d found himself a princess. The princess was far away from home and her name was Evelyn.

  Two Months, Three Weeks, and Four Days Later

  Robert Manning strolled through the doors of Haines Press, and was greeted by the easily recognizable sound of the intertype. The click of the keyboard and the clap of metal on metal was a symphony of music that only modern engineering could make. Robert breathed in the fresh sweet, but also salty aroma of paper and ink. This was a real publishing house, and soon to be his own.

  He opened his eyes and looked around. People moved in their own worlds and circles. A woman brushed past him, her nose stuck in a book. She didn’t look up as she made her way towards the back of the room. Robert followed a few feet behind. They were heading in the same direction. While he walked, he took in his surroundings. Robert nodded his head towards the few people that dared to notice him, but no one said a word as he passed. A few women did more than just glance his way. Their eyes followed him, and he knew they would follow behind him once he passed them by. Robert never let his eyes stray onto anyone. Instead, he unintentionally followed the woman in front of him, but when she made a turn and stopped at a desk, Robert kept walking, not stopping until he reached his goal. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door. Its frosted glass window had ‘ADAM HAINES’ printed in big white letters. Underneath it read: ‘EDITOR IN CHARGE’. “One minute.” The muffled female voice faintly carried through the wall.

  A small sadness crept over Robert. The door said Adam Haines, but it would not be Adam Haines who answered it. It would not be the man who, throughout endless pages of legends and tales, was actually the person who’d fir
st put Robert on his own literary road.

  Robert checked his pocket watch for the time, more out of habit than impatience. He looked around the large office space once more, but then the door opened. He looked down at the petite woman that stood there and gave her his best smile. “Hello, I’m Robert Manning.”

  The woman’s eyes, which only a minute ago had been full of impatience, turned to one of confusion. “Can I help you, Mr. Manning?” One of her dark brunette brows lifted, touching the top of her chestnut bangs. Eyes of intense hazel stared up at him with a look that was not so friendly. She was wearing a navy blue sports suit that stopped just below her knee. The sleeves were ¾ length that had white cuffs on the ends. A matching navy blue cloche sat on her head.

  Robert’s smile wavered. He’d never had a woman look at him like this; with annoyance. Not before they’d truly gotten to know him. For a moment, Robert was flustered and had to think hard to find his words. When he spoke again he made sure the charm was back in place. “I’m looking for a Mrs. Eve Haines?”

  The woman tilted her head, her chestnut-colored hair that was cut right under the chin followed. The style framed her heart-shaped face well. “What do you want her for?” she asked in a heavy country accent.

  Robert didn’t know how to reply to that. The business he had to discuss with Ms. Haines was personal. “I believe once I meet Ms. Haines, she will know.”