Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4) by Emily Woods

heart. She did want to be married. In fact, she’d thought about it almost every day since her parents had fallen ill years ago and left her an orphan with no brothers or sisters.
    To have a home of her own, a man that loved her, and a house to tend to with the possibility of children on the way… She sighed. It was something she wanted but had no power to control. A goal she couldn’t hope to achieve.
    “It may have crossed my mind a time or two,” she finally admitted.
    “Why don’t you do something about it then?”
    Hannah laughed. “Do something? What do you recommend? Go up to a man on the street and ask if he intends to marry and if so, would I do?” She laughed again just thinking about it.
    “Of course not,” Cook said with a frown. “You become a mail order bride. Simple as that.”
    “A mail order what?” Hannah frowned.
    “Bride, my dear. Didn’t you know that’s what Alice did? She wrote to a man from the west and, before you knew it, she was taking the train to some far off place.”
    “That doesn’t sound like an appealing proposition, Cook.”
    The older woman shook her head, taking a step back to the doorway. “No, no, nothing like that. She’s happy last I heard, and expecting a child. I’ll snag a copy of the advertisements when I’m shopping. You may just find a man to suit you. But I must get back to the kitchen. Just wanted to let you know that the family is expecting guests this weekend. You’ll want to prepare the rooms on the third floor.”
    “Yes ma’am,” she said, sending a smile as the woman left the room.
    In her wake Hannah contemplated what Cook had said. She’d never heard of a mail order bride or even considered the idea that someone would want to search for a bride without meeting them in person.
    Perhaps it was a valid option for her—then again, her situation was ideal. She had a good job that provided housing and a small allowance. More than what she needed really. Did she truly want to step away from that? Then again, it couldn’t hurt to look at the advertisements, could it?
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    C olorado Territory

    “ B ut Daisy ,” a young, masculine voice said, “I love you!”
    “You are quite mistaken, George. You are a nice young man and I’ve enjoyed my time with you, but I just don’t think that now is the right time for…well…us.”
    “But—”
    “I think she said to leave, boy,” Jonathan Reston said, stepping from the shadows at the side of the building. It was a Sunday afternoon and Jonathan had lost his last reserve of patience with his sister and this puny excuse for a suitor.
    “Jonathan,” Daisy said, eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”
    “Enforcing your wishes, dear sister. Now what do you say to getting lost?” He directed his question at the boy who was several inches shorter than he was and standing much too close to Daisy for Jonathan’s liking.
    “Y-ye-yes sir,” the boy said and ran off around the corner.
    “ Jonathan ,” Daisy said, his name coming out long and filled with frustration.
    “What? I did you a favor.”
    She crossed her arms, her petite nose turned up in the air. “You didn't have to be so mean. I was letting him down…gently.”
    “No, you were prolonging the inevitable and it wasn’t going your way. If I’ve told you one time I’ve likely told you a hundred, men need straightforward answers. Besides, I’m tired of bailing you out of these bad situations with young men. When are you going to start looking for a man worth something and stop falling for every handsome cowpoke who gives you a second look?”
    Anger and hurt reflected in her eyes and he could tell his words had hit their intended mark, though possibly with less tact than he would have liked. Tears pooled in her soft brown eyes and he immediately regretted his harshness.
    “How dare you, Jonathan,” she said. “How dare you meddle in my life like you’re in some position of power over me. I am old enough to make my own choices,