Mail Order Bride Leah: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Series Book 1) by Rose Jenster

four-poster bed. She directed his placement of her boxes, and when she was satisfied with their delivery, she dismissed him, never once asking his name. Her rudeness didn’t matter. Her figure and manner were so graceful, her airy step and gentle laugh belying her imperious nature
    . For six months after that, Henry was the delivery man who brought her every order from the trading post. He knew when she had correspondence from her friends at the school she had finished, or when her new dancing slippers arrived. He was young and impressionable, and she was beautiful and far above him, the star he wanted to reach.
    One day, he brought a handful of wildflowers to her along with her parcels from the shop. She laughed and called him a foolish boy but she obviously liked them—and him. For weeks after, she teased him, flirted with him. Finally, she agreed to meet him in secret, after dark. She left her parents’ home for a clandestine meeting like the ones she’d read about in sensational novels. But instead of a few stolen kisses with the forbidden stable boy, she got a chaste declaration of undying love and a marriage proposal from a young man who swept floors in a shop and had no obvious prospects. She laughed in his face and left.
    When he wrote her letters trying to explain the depth of his devotion, his plans to build an inn that would cater to rail travelers, how he would make a life worthy of her in time, Melody scorned him, returning only a packet with his letters enclosed and a brief request that he never insult her with further contact of such a familiar nature.
    Henry sat in the gathering dark and remembered the desolation of those months that followed, the way he’d burnt the letters to hide his humiliation and the rejection and feelings that he'd never trust another woman, assuming they were all leading him on . Even Leah, dear devoted Leah, could not have all of his heart even now. Simple and sweet, she had no idea that his trust had been destroyed years before.
    * * *
    When she left Billings to marry a wealthy colleague of her father’s, Melody took what was left of Henry’s shattered heart with her. She knew because she found the bundle of wildflowers he had left on her doorstep on her wedding day. She had laughed at the gesture and added them to her bridal bouquet for a joke. Now her annoying husband had had the good grace to die of apoplexy on their holiday in Italy and she’d inherited his funds. Before she settled on a course of action—probably a return to the exciting and fashionable European capitals—she was paying a visit of duty to her parents. Getting that recalcitrant shop boy back in her thrall would be a fine amusement for her rustic holiday.
    Melody dressed in her most daring black silk gown. It had an extravagant bustle and a low silk neckline cut off the shoulder—however, it nodded to propriety by having sheer black lace sleeves as well as lace up to the neck, which concealed nothing, but counted as fabric, she supposed. Dousing herself with rosewater scent, she rouged her cheeks for the party.
    * * *
    Leah pleaded with Henry to attend the mayor’s dinner without her. She was not seriously ill. It was only a headache and a runny nose—clearly a case of the winter sniffles—and he should not miss out on the opportunity to catch up with old friends. Reluctantly, he agreed and left her for the evening with strict instructions to send the stable hand after him if her condition worsened at all. Leah sipped her tea and was secretly relieved not to be at dinner with so many fancy strangers.
    When he returned home after several hours, it was to find Leah’s headache much better. He kissed her forehead fondly and sat up to finish his new book.
    The next day, Mrs. Gibson visited Leah to check on her health. Finding her completely well, the reverend’s wife made free to gossip a bit about the evening her friend had missed.
    “The china was magnificent. All white but with a gold edge on every