Mail Order Bride: Emma's Escape: (Clean Historical Western Romance) (Brides of River Valley Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

she had seen Henry do.
    “Leah, it’s okay. I’ve stopped. Please stop screaming at me. I’m not a bad man. I was trying to keep us safe.” Emma began to cry uncontrollably. Henry had to take her off the wagon and hold her in an attempt to stave off the adrenaline crash that was happening to her. She had never been able to fully let go of the fear from her mind and body and now was reliving both scenarios in her mind. Henry gently slapped her cheek to break the trance she was in.
    Holding her cheek, she cried normally.
    “Why did you slap me, Henry?”
    He fell to his knees to beg her forgiveness.
    “I’m so sorry, it’s all I seem to say to you, Leah. I was angry for crossing a line with you and when these two attacked us, I guess I just reverted to my old ways. I have a secret to tell you that no one knows. I used to be a bounty hunter but I tired of the life. I always had to be on high alert. Each fight was either him or me. I got so badly injured, I would have surely died if the Lord hadn’t sent a traveling preacher my way. He saved me and in return I vowed to change my ways. I’m new to the Lord’s way and there will be slips but I try to stay out of harm’s way.”
    Emma put her hands on his head.
    “I got such a fright, Henry. The reason I’m here is that I saw my fiancé beat a man to death and he was forcing me to marry him. That’s why I came here so soon I couldn’t risk being married to a man who frightened me.” She hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her.
    “Oh Leah, you poor thing. No wonder you looked so frightened. I would never want to see that look in your eyes again.” Their breathing patterns matched each other as Emma thanked the Lord for bringing to this good man. Lenny’s reaction to her seeing his true self was to threaten her but here was Henry begging for forgiveness and promising never to upset her again.
    “Henry, there’s one more thing I must tell you. It was for my safety as I thought the woman who ran the boarding house was a spy for Lenny. My name isn’t Leah Russell, it’s Emma Cooper. Leah was in the room beside me but I wrote the letter to you!” Emma quietly prayed that this news would not make her look devious in Henry’s eyes.
    After a moment Henry said, “Emma, such a pretty name. You did what you had to do.” Henry bent down to kiss her on the lips. The Lord had brought them together. Two wounded souls who needed each other. As they kissed, they held each other tight until nightfall. When the men began to stir, Henry checked them over.
    “You men should really read the Bible and turn your back on this way of life. I’m going to let you go, please don’t threaten anyone else, you don’t know what they are capable of. The love of this good woman has saved me and it can happen for you too. Now go home.”
    The men looked at each as if to say “crazy fool” and they were gone in a flash. Henry turned his attention back to Emma.
    “Emma Cooper, will you do me the honor of being my wife? I will promise to love and protect you.”
    “Yes, Henry, I will.”
    “Then we shall marry as soon as your ankle has healed!”
    He whisked Emma up into his arms as she put her arms around his neck and nestled into his shoulder as he twirled them around. Neither of them had ever felt so happy and unburdened.
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Two weeks later, Emma woke to her wedding day. She was so in love with Henry and they had grown closer in the intervening period. Mrs. Giles helped her to get ready and Henry arrived at the door.
    “Is my wife to be ready?”
    “It’s not time yet Henry. I don’t want you to see me until the church. You go there and I’ll be along shortly. Mrs. Giles, will you make sure my fiancé leaves.” Emma laughed as she spoke. She had been so relieved to no longer have a secret and to be able to use her own name.
    “Very well my love. I’ll see you at the church.” Henry shouted in the door as Mrs. Giles pulled him away.
    Alone,