Tempting Prudence: The Bride Train (20 page)
Read Tempting Prudence: The Bride Train Online
Authors: E.E. Burke
Our hearts in Christian love!
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above…”
Astonished, Prudence turned to meet Arch’s eyes. He threaded their fingers together. They stood and joined in, singing. Her husband’s rich, resonant baritone made a perfect accompaniment to Hope’s pure soprano. Prudence pitched her voice to blend with the others and sang from the depths of her heart.
Susannah bolted to her feet, holding her son’s hand. She took Prudence’s free hand, as her son reached for Hope, who gathered his small fingers.
More voices joined them, a few at first, and then a great swell. Chairs scraped the wooden floor as people stood. They moved into the aisle, reaching across to their neighbors. The sweet song of unity wove them together and for one precious moment, they sang as one.
Tears welled and Prudence let them flow, unheeded. Her heart couldn’t contain all the emotions she experienced in that moment. She and Arch would face challenges, of course. Not everyone would accept them. There were as many prejudiced, self-righteous saints as there were sinners. But for the moment, goodness had overcome.
After the service, she and Arch lagged behind to chat with friends. Charm and Patrick came up to greet them. Others offered best wishes as they filed past the front to greet the preacher. When the crowd thinned, Reverend Stillwater made his way over and shook hands with Arch. He greeted Prudence and thanked Hope for her gift
.
Hope beamed as if he had been the one to bestow it.
Oh dear. Hope, smitten with the preacher, who didn’t have a penny to his name if the worn condition of his suit was any indication… This might prove to be difficult. The contract signed by the women who’d come out west to be brides specifically stated they had to marry a settler with a valid land claim. Hardhearted Mr. Hardt wouldn’t make an exception.
“Prudence!”
The call came from amidst the departing crowd.
Delilah wormed her way through bodies headed in the opposite direction. Beautiful as always, with her black hair arranged to cover a minor flaw that she believed made her unlovable.
Prudence’s heart ached for her friend. She knew what it was like to believe no one could ever love her.
“Oh my stars, how I’ve missed you! I’m sure you haven’t had a minute to miss me, being newly married.” Delilah gave her a hug and then turned to Arch, tipping her head to present the unmarred side of her face. Her gaze flicked over him, widening for a split second before she regained her perfect comportment. “Good day to you, Mr. Childers.”
Arch sketched a very gentlemanly bow. “And to you, Miss Bodean.”
Being a polite Southern lady, Delilah didn’t outright express her surprise, but she had to be startled by the change. When she’d met Arch, at the spur-of-the-moment wedding, he hadn’t been at his best—beat up, dazed, wearing a borrowed shirt and filthy trousers.
Delilah leaned closer to Prudence, with a twinkle in her eyes. “Why, I do declare, he’s quite the catch.”
Prudence hugged her husband’s arm, proudly. “He is indeed.”
“Don’t let her fool you. It took some mighty hard convincing on my part.”
“How did you convince her?” Delilah asked.
A wicked gleam sparked in Arch’s eyes. He’d better not go into the specifics of how he’d convinced her.
Prudence elbowed her husband and whispered, “Remember, we’re in church.”
“You told me it was an opera house,” he returned under his breath.
The rascal.
She supplied a more suitable answer than what would be on the tip of his tongue. “I came to realize we were well suited.”
Arch gave a soft snort. “Now Pru, you’re in a church, remember? No lying.”
She didn’t think God would mind her discretion. However, Arch would provide a truthful answer if she didn’t. Prudence lowered her voice so only Delilah could hear. “The truth? He was a temptation I couldn’t resist.”
The End.
Author’s Note
The Bride Train
was inspired by a series of true events that took place in southeastern Kansas shortly after the Civil War. When the government opened former Indian land for settlement, the railroads used their political power to purchase large tracts. Settlers who’d staked claims under preemption rights were forced to broker deals with the railroads.
By 1869, riots broke out in protest of railroad land policies. Angry settlers burned ties and tore up track as fast as the railroad could put it down. As the situation worsened, President Grant sent troops into Kansas to quell the violence.
A more peaceful solution was proposed: a program sponsoring the immigration of single young ladies into Kansas to become brides and provide a “calming influence” on the unruly men. I couldn’t find evidence this program got off the ground, but what a great romance series idea!
Why did I choose to write about a bootlegger? Genealogy research revealed that some members of my husband’s family tree were involved in the illegal whiskey trade back in mid 1800s. The character of Arch Childers is loosely based on stories about those enterprising ancestors.
In 1862, Congress passed a law making distilling liquor without a license a federal offense (mostly because the government needed tax money to pay for an expensive war). Thus was born the illegal distilling industry and the long history of American
moonshiners
and
bootleggers
.
The term
moonshine
originated in Europe and originally referred to occupational pursuits that necessitated night work, or work by the light of the moon. Moonshiners worked at night so the smoke from their stills couldn’t be seen. The term
Bootlegger
is believed to have originated in colonial America in reference to those who sold alcohol to Native Americans. The practice was frowned on (for many reasons I won’t go into here), but some more determined peddlers wanting to trade spirits for material goods concealed bottles in the top of their boots. The terms are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking, the
moonshiner
manufactured the illegal whiskey and the
bootlegger
transported and distributed it.
In the West, illegal stills became the source of running battles between moonshiners and law enforcement officials who sought to shut them down. To avoid detection, stills were often located in remote mountainous areas with thick forests, like the Missouri Ozarks. This is where my character hails from, and where my husband’s ancestors hid their stills.
I hope you enjoy
Tempting Prudence
.
E.E. Burke
About the Author
E.E. Burke
is an award-winning author of sensual, humorous, heartfelt historical romance. Her latest series,
The Bride Train
, features a cast of unusual characters thrown together through a misguided bride lottery.
Her books have topped Amazon bestseller lists and her writing has earned accolades in regional and national contests, including the RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart®.
Over the years, she’s been a disc jockey, a journalist and an advertising executive, before finally getting around to living the dream—writing stories readers can get lost in.
You can read more about E.E. at her
website
.
Also by E.E. Burke
The Bride Train Series
American Mail-Order Brides Series
Steam! Romance and Rails Series
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