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    Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas
    Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas
    Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas
    Ebook174 pages2 hours

    Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas

    By Doreen Milstead

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    About this ebook

    The Cowboy’s Tiny Treasure - A Little Person who is an acrobat in a circus, decides she wants a family and children more than anything else, so she corresponds with a cowboy out west who has children; the only problem is she never tells him that she’s the size she is and when she arrives in California, he is shocked when he sees the beautiful but small woman in front of him.

    The Overweight Fish Seller From Maine - An overweight woman from Maine is tired of running her father’s fish selling shop and spending her days hacking off fish heads, so she decides to take a chance on love and travels to California and a rancher with three children. It’s an uphill battle to win over his son, and the rancher himself, who she suspects is not pleased with her excess weight or outward appearance.

    The Pregnant Woman From Manchester - A woman from Manchester manages to escape her abusive husband, just as she learns she’s pregnant; and trying to get as far away as she can, becomes a mail order bride to a farmer called Josh, in California. The trouble is – she cannot get up the nerve to tell him that she’s pregnant, and still married.

    The Widowed & Pregnant English Orphan & Her Rancher In California - This is a beautiful love story about an abused woman, pregnant by her dead and abusive husband, then traveling all the way to California only to be rejected by her intended mail order husband. She ends up working in a boarding house in town for a loud and uncouth couple, until her pregnancy is in the end stages and she has no idea what she’ll do next.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSusan Hart
    Release dateMar 16, 2017
    ISBN9781370633852
    Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas

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      Book preview

      Springing Into Love - Doreen Milstead

      Springing Into Love: Four Historical Romance Novellas

      By

      Doreen Milstead

      Copyright 2017 Susan Hart

      Cover photo copyright: nature78 / 123RF Stock Photo

      The Cowboy’s Tiny Treasure

      The Overweight Fish Seller From Maine

      The Pregnant Woman From Manchester

      The Widowed & Pregnant English Orphan & Her Rancher In California

      Cowboy’s Tiny Treasure

      Synopsis: The Cowboy’s Tiny Treasure - A Little Person who is an acrobat in a circus, decides she wants a family and children more than anything else, so she corresponds with a cowboy out west who has children; the only problem is she never tells him that she’s the size she is and when she arrives in California, he is shocked when he sees the beautiful but small woman in front of him.

      Her name was Lisa Solomon but Tiny Treasure is what they called her. She was the cutest little thing, everyone said; she was also the smallest person in town. And, being small had its advantages. She could hide out in a crowd. She was the last one to be chosen for work. She frequently received unsolicited pity that often came in the form of gifts and favors. But despite what would seem like obvious benefits, being small also brought on pain, rejection and ridicule.

      At two feet eight inches tall, Tiny’s life had never been an easy one. Born Lisa Solomon, abandoned by her birthparents as a toddler, and raised by an ailing uncle until she was sixteen, she learned not to put her faith in people. However, after being rescued by a traveling circus and meeting a man named Wilkie, who loved God with all his heart, Lisa grew to trust in the Lord.

      Wilkie, by example, taught her about having strength and resilience. And despite what she’d heard growing up, Wilkie showed her a better way to live.

      It’s not the size of your body that’s important but it’s the size of your relationship with God that makes all the difference, he said.

      In time she began to accept that it was true. Nicknamed Tiny Treasure for her miniature stature, Lisa had achieved what many in her position hadn’t -- fame and respect. But all the fame in the world couldn’t take away the loneliness she felt once the roar of the circus crowd ceased.

      Tiny sat in her circus tent with a few of her fellow entertainers. There was Rufus who did magic tricks, Bertie, who could whistle without puckering her lips and Wilkie, whose arms were shaped like an orangutan. The four of them made a very strange looking group indeed.

      Tiny talked with her friends as they did every day after a performance performances were good and her stage appearance was exciting she had many fans across the country and they were often good to her, but what Tiny really wanted was what everyone else seemed to have; a family of their own. Even Rufus had his wife Louise.

      Bertie had her husband Floyd and her children and Wilkie seemed to be living his life to the fullest on his own, but Tiny wasn’t like that. Although she had great respect for him and she appreciated the times they all spent together, still, she wanted to have her own family. In fact, she wanted a big family with maybe five or six children to start with but sometimes her size seemed like a hindrance.

      No matter how the fans claim to love her, at the end of the day she was alone.

      When I see the love in your eyes, I know that it’s something I must have for myself, Tiny said.

      Bertie suggested, "If that is the case, why don’t you try matrimonial news?

      Matrimonial news? Tiny squinted her eyes as she waited for an explanation. "What is that?

      Wilkie explained, It’s a newspaper for single and lonely men, who mostly live out west and who want wives.

      Tiny paused for a moment. "Out West? Do you mean with Cowboys?

      Yes Cowboys. They need love too, Bertie said.

      I’ve never heard of this matrimonial news. Explain it to me.

      Tiny listened carefully.

      Well, from what I hear some women are finding great success in matching themselves up with husbands. The man will place an ad in the paper and wait for a written response if all goes well then the relationship started on paper can be sealed with marriage, Rufus answered.

      But there are no guarantees, Wilkie added.

      Are there ever any guarantees? Rufus asked.

      I guess not. Tiny shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I don’t have anything to lose.

      Bertie shrugged too.

      If I can find this matrimonial news, I would like to look through it and view the Cowboys or other single men that are available, Tiny said, anxiously.

      So you would be come a mail order bride? Wilkie asked.

      I would become what ever it takes to fulfill my destiny and to be happy. I believe in finding happiness. That it’s something that you have to look for, that it doesn’t come looking for you – not necessarily.

      Well, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, Bertie said. I hope it works out for you, dear.

      So do I, Tiny said.

      Only God knows, said Wilkie.

      So, Tiny was actually excited about the idea of being a mail order bride, although she wasn’t sure about everything that it entailed. She bought a copy of the newspaper and read it from cover to cover looking at the ads.

      She tried to picture herself as the bride of each one of the young gentleman suitors, but one in particular stood out. He’d sent a small picture that wasn’t very clear but he also sent a lovely little poem and a description of the life that he used to live.

      He talked about his deceased wife and the children that they had together and he also expressed his desire that they should have a new mother. This particularly appealed to Tiny because she always wanted a big family. She’d come from a big family before she was abandoned and since she’d never seen those siblings again, something inside her still longed for that family unit.

      Tiny decided that she would write to this man. He was obviously a cowboy and he lived out west. Tiny wondered if she would be able to adjust well to the move since she was born and bred in the South.

      Wilkie asked her, Are you sure that you want to do this; to marry a stranger?

      Absolutely. I want to meet new people. I want to meet this person because he seems like a nice guy. Maybe God has a plan for me.

      Maybe you’re right, said Wilkie. Who knows? Maybe got really does have a plan in this. You just be careful.

      I’ll be careful. I just hope that this gentleman is the right one for me.

      I can’t believe that I still don’t have anyone for myself, she said. Every day I wonder if I will die alone.

      Don’t worry the right person will come along eventually.

      Rufus nodded.

      Tiny looked up to the heavens. But how long do I have to wait? I mean sometimes it doesn’t seem fair. You all have your families.

      Bertie shook her head. But what we have isn’t perfect and you should know that.

      What you’re saying, Bertie, may be true, but still I would like to experience it for myself. It’s important to me to marry and have children of my own. It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life but I’ve never been able to find that someone special.

      Hold on, Tiny. The Lord has much work for you to do, Wilkie said.

      It may be true that the Lord has much work for me to do but I feel that a part of my work is to be a wife and mother, Tiny added.

      Rufus nodded in agreement. He and his wife had just recently gotten married and were looking to start a family right away. Although Tiny agreed to help with any children they had, it hurt her heart that her own womb was empty.

      Once Tiny had made up her mind, she wrote to the man named Justin and told him that her name was Lisa Solomon. She described herself as being funny, intelligent, and overall quite a catch. She told him that she loved children, that she could cook very well, and that she was gentle and totally in love with the Lord. And, all of that was true.

      Then she sent him a portrait of herself but because it was only a headshot, he would not be able to tell that she was a little person; she didn’t want to scare him off so easily. She had considered telling him about her tiny size but every time she got around to it, she changed her mind. She just didn’t have the courage to tell him that she was an extra small person.

      She knew that it was deceitful but she sent the letter out anyway, not saying anything about her size.

      In a couple of weeks she received a letter from Justin and he seemed to be interested in her of all people. This made Tiny very excited and she leaped for joy. She wasn’t sure what to do so she ran off to see her friend, Wilkie.

      What should I do? I haven’t told Justin how small I am, she confessed.

      Wilkey looked her straight in the eyes and told her, It’s best to be honest.

      But I don’t want to frighten him away before he gets a chance to know me, she debated.

      Wilkie held his Bible in his hand. I can certainly understand that. But I say again, just be careful. I’ve heard about those Cowboys; they can be something awful.

      I just want to chance to see if he will be my husband. Maybe you won’t like my size but who knows, maybe he will. I’ll just have to see how this relationship goes, Tiny said.

      In the next couple of weeks she received a letter, which the postman delivered to her right before she was set out to do her act. She could hardly wait to open it and when she did she realize that it was worth the wait. There was another poem inside telling her how beautiful she was and how and how Justin could not wait to meet her in person.

      He also said that he thought she was very kind and that he was glad that she wanted a big family. He ended the letter by asking when or how soon she would be able to come.

      Tiny shook from anticipation, picturing herself going out west to be married it was such a romantic notion at least at first and then she began to get the backlash from her friends and neighbors, but Tiny refused to let anything or anyone stop her.

      She was determined to find out for herself what would be her expected end. Only the answer to that was what Tiny was willing to follow.

      Justin woke up that morning early as he always did and went to his walk down the hall to the first bedroom to wake up his boys; there were three of them: Justin Jr., Joshua and John. They each woke up and stretched and yawned. Then he went next door to wake up his two girls, who were the youngest of the bunch and very pretty. They too stretched and yawned at the sound of their father’s voice.

      Good morning good morning, it’s a beautiful day. And I’ve got a surprise for all of you.

      "What is it daddy? Mary asked.

      Yes, daddy, what is it, the youngest girl Ellen repeated.

      Hopefully we will be having a special visitor soon.

      A visitor, daddy ? Ellen asked.

      "Yes, a special visitor," Justin answered, smiling.

      "What kind of special visitor?"Joshua Jr. asked.

      "The kind that you can call mommy."

      What do you mean by that? Justin Jr. asked

      Okay, let me explain. Daddy put it in an ad for a mail order bride in the paper called Matrimonial News.

      A mail order bride? Are you serious? Justin Jr. let out a big sigh.

      I am very serious. Your mother’s been gone now for three years and it hasn’t been easy. I’ve been very lonely and I know that you all have been too. Your grandmother has been helping out which is good but she’s no replacement for a wife to me and mother to you all.

      "The children didn’t know what to say or do. They were confused and apart from that Justin himself was a little ashamed. He didn’t offend his children but the truth had to be told anyway.

      What exactly is the mail or order bride? One of the children asked.

      "Well, since there are not many young women out here where we live who don’t already have husbands, I am looking for a wife in other parts of the country where there are many young women.

      So, the women will read my ad and decide if they like me or not.

      Joshua asked. Just like that?

      Just like that. Justin snapped his fingers.

      But I don’t understand, Daddy, Ellen said.

      Don’t worry, baby girl. You will when you’re older. But for now just know that daddy is looking out for you and that I want the best for our family. Not having a mother is not the best for you or this family.

      I don’t want a new mother, the Justin said. I don’t care who comes. That person will not be my mother.

      Justin hung his head. You’re right. Then he lifted his head up and grinned. The new person will only be your stepmother but if you allow her into your heart, she can be more than that. It will be up to you. But daddy needs a wife. It’s been three years and it’s time now. It’s time to move on.

      Time to move on without mommy? Ellen asked.

      "No, baby girl, not time to move on without mommy. We will always keep mommy with us in our heart and we will always miss her. But mommy would want someone here to take good care of us. I’m sure

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