Guilford Crossing Brides
Lily
Book 1
Lily has lost everything, her home, her family and her reputation.
Matt is desperately in need of a young woman to help him care for his recently orphaned niece, and a marriage of convenience would be the solution to all their problems.
When the secrets Matt and Lily harbor are finally exposed, will their union end in happiness or despair?
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Excerpt
Chapter One
New Orleans – 1870’s
“Even if she is my sister, I don’t want that harlot at my wedding.”
Lily slumped against the wall outside Aunt Mildred’s drawing room. Tears welled in her eyes. To think Julia could speak about me in such a horrible manner after all I’ve sacrificed for her.
“Quite right, she’s not fit to mix with decent, God-fearing folk. Of course, she takes after your father’s side of the family. The Reardons were nothing but Irish trash. Thank the dear Lord you take after my side of the family.”
Aunt Mildred’s strident words didn’t cut her to the quick like Julia’s had. She expected nothing less from her snobbish aunt. The woman had always hated her because she favored her father’s side of the family with hazel eyes and mousy blonde hair.
Clutching the book of bridal material samples against her breast she took several shuddering breaths to regain her composure.
“I would die of humiliation if Douglas ever found out what she was,” Julia said. “He would cancel our betrothal as sure as God made little green apples.”
Hurt suddenly gave way to anger. Lily shoved the door open with her foot and marched across the room. “How could you say such scathing things about me, Julia?”
Julia tossed her blonde head as she tapped the toe of her shoe on the floor. “It’s true, you can’t deny it.”
“I did it to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies after Ma died.”
“You could have done something else,” Julia shot back and Aunt Mildred nodded her agreement.
“Pray what could a sixteen year old struggling to look after a twelve year old do?”
“You could have come to me for help.” Aunt Mildred gave a sanctimonious sniff into her lace edged handkerchief.
“You were away touring Europe when Ma died.” Lily couldn’t believe how raw the wound still was after five years.
“Well, you can’t blame me for that, I came here as soon as I could. The dear Lord knows how much I detest this place. Charleston is where I want to live.”
Yes, she had come back to collect pretty little Julia and take the child under her wing. She didn’t care about me, Lily thought bitterly. I was only good enough to work around the house while sleeping in a dingy attic room. Julia had been sent to an exclusive ladies academy in Charleston where she had met Douglas Fairchild. Of course, her sister Lily wasn’t good enough to meet him or any members of his family.
“Let me look at those samples. I want my wedding gown to be better than anyone else’s, and the French laces and silks in New Orleans are of the finest quality. Douglas’ father comes from the English aristocracy, so I do have to keep up appearances.”
Aunt Mildred smiled at her. “You are so pretty Julia, just like I was at your age.”
Julia smiled. “Oh, but you still are beautiful, Aunt and so fashionable, everyone says you are.”
Lily didn’t know whether Julia was blinded by the gifts Aunt Mildred lavished on her, or whether she was ingratiating herself. No reasonable person could think Mildred Wembly was anything but plain. From what she could remember Ma saying, she had always been ugly with a disposition to match.
“Now Julia is to wed Douglas, she will live in Charleston, and as there is nothing to keep me in New Orleans, I’ve sold this place.”
“Sold it?” Lily couldn’t believe she was hearing right.
“Yes, a cashed up gentleman from the East bought it.” Aunt Mildred sniffed. “New money, of course. He wants possession in three days. Julia and I can be packed and out of here by then.”
“What about my things?”
Julia gave a smug smile. “You aren’t coming.”
Lily gasped in shock and turned to look at the older woman.
“You’ll have to find somewhere else to live, or maybe the new buyer will let you stay on as a ……maid. He doesn’t have a wife, so…”
The ugly insinuation felt like a noose tightening around Lily’s neck, choking the life out of her. “Where am I to go? What am I to do?”
“Whatever you like,’ Aunt Mildred snapped. “We don’t want the likes of you near us. You’ve played on my generosity for far too long.”
“Generosity! I’ve worked hard here, not only keeping house, but keeping the place going when you’ve been away.” Truth be known Aunt Mildred and Julia had spent little time here over the years.
“Get out of my sight,” Aunt Mildred screamed. “You’re not fit to be in the same room as us.”
Gulping back sobs, Lily dashed up to her attic room and climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She felt as cold as death, her dreams of forming a loving relationship with Julia were dashed. She gritted her teeth to stop them chattering. Her temples throbbed, and a queasy feeling soured her stomach. Her once sweet little sister had been ruined by Aunt Mildred and the snobbish school she had attended.
She had to find somewhere to live until she could gain employment. No way would she work for the new Master of this house. She was done working for rich men.
Over the years she had done a little sewing on the side, which brought in a few dollars. Dare she ask Aunt Mildred to loan her some money to set herself up in a small shop? She had worked for years for practically no wage.
She hated having to throw herself on her Aunt’s mercy after their bitter exchange, but there was no other choice. Tomorrow morning at breakfast she would broach the subject.
Tears built up in her eyes and for once she didn’t blink them back. No point being stoic with no one around to see it.
How had they found out about her deep, dark secret? Could Julia have discovered what had happened each time she had left their bed in the middle of the night?
Freddie
Book 2
A catastrophic event delivers Winifred (Freddie) Guilford, into the arms of reclusive rancher Nicholas Brown.
Brought up by a tyrannical father, Freddie and her sisters dress and work like men. Nicholas is a suspicious loner who shuns people. Will their chance of finding happiness together be ruined by events from the past?
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Excerpt
Chapter One
Guilford Crossing, Texas 1870’s
I don’t like it, Pa.” Freddie Guilford stuck a colt in her belt.
“It sounds mighty suspicious,” Alex said.
“They’re paying big money so it’s worth the risk.” Sam Guilford glared at his daughters.
“We’re the ones who could be ambushed if anyone found out what we’re carrying.” Alfie sided with her sisters.
“No-one knows about it,” Sam snarled. “None of you are too old to feel my belt around your legs. Don’t forget it, either.”
Freddie knew it was useless arguing with Pa when he got into one of his moods. The problem was, these episodes were becoming more frequent and nastier. From being ornery he had become downright vicious.
“Where’s your brother?”
“He’s hitching up the horses.” Freddie picked up her Winchester and filled the pockets of her coat with bullets. She much preferred a rifle to a hand gun. She had a bad feeling about this job. Carrying the several boxes of rifles and ammunition Pa had picked up yesterday was bad enough. Delivering them to Everton, a ghost town off the beaten track, and exchanging them for gold dust, was fraught with danger.
Normally she wasn’t afraid to drive the freight wagon between Guilford Crossing and La Grange because she knew the route like the back of her hand. It was driving across country that worried her most. If something went wrong, there was little chance of anyone coming to their aid.
“Maybe one of us should go with them to ride shotgun,” Alex said.
“No. You and Alfie have got your own run to worry about.”
Alfie and Alex always traveled together sharing the driving duties and riding shotgun, whereas their brother Billy always drove, with Freddie riding shotgun. He wasn’t capable of using a weapon now, a bullet at Gettysburg had seen to that.
“Go on git, and look after your brother.”
Freddie picked up her hat and clamped it on her head, and carrying her Winchester, walked out of the room, waving to her sisters as she did so.
The early morning sun beat down on her, a prelude to a ferociously hot day. It was going to be a long, hard trip.
The team was already hitched up to one of the smaller Guilford Freight wagons. Billy sat in the driver’s seat ready for them to roll once she climbed aboard.
“Did you bring plenty of water?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“All right.” She leapt up on to the seat beside him. “We better be going, Pa’s got us on a tight schedule.”
As always she thought, wondering why her father was suddenly getting on her nerves. He’d been demanding and ornery for as long as she could remember. His one saving grace was the way he treated Billy. Kindly would not be an apt description, but he never yelled or abused him like he did his daughters. She sometimes wondered whether the war had sent him loco as well. The townsfolk didn’t like him, in return he detested most of them.
They passed the cemetery before Billy slapped the horses’ rumps and yelled. “Giddup.”
As they traveled along the dust churned up by the wagon wheels and the horses’ hooves almost choked her.
The further away from town they got the more her foreboding grew. She couldn’t understand why she felt so bad about this job.
Who would want six boxes of repeating rifles and ammo? What would they do with them? If they fell into the wrong hands, she shuddered to think of the damage they might cause.
Alfie
Book 3
Alfreda (Alfie) is a dead woman walking. Her ruthless in-laws, the Montagues, want her dead. If she is carrying a Montague heir, the death sentence will be delayed until after the baby is born. Overhearing their diabolical plans, Alfie flees.
Bounty Hunter, Eli Darcy, is hired by the Montagues to bring Alfie in. Once the pair meet, sparks fly between them and Eli has to make a choice. Turn Alfie in and collect a huge reward, or follow his heart and marry her.
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Excerpt
Chapter One
Guilford Crossing, Texas 1870’s
“Don’t do it Alfie,” Alex implored. “You know what Pa said. He means it. He won’t let you come back home.” Alex’s voice broke. “He’ll disown you.”
“I love Toby and he loves me.”
“You’ve only met him a few times, you hardly know the man, and he’s so young.”
He’s twenty two, and he’s Jessica Isaac’s cousin.”
“About three times removed. Pa says his family are no good.”
“He says his father owns a large ranch near Austin.”
“Toby could be lying.”
Alfie scrubbed a wayward tear that had somehow escaped and trickled down her cheek. “I thought you would understand.”
“I do, but you can’t just go off and marry a virtual stranger.”
“Freddie did when she married Nick,” Alfie shot back.
“That was different, anyway Pa said Nick saved Billy’s life. Giddup.” Alex slapped the horses’ rumps to hurry them up. They had taken freight up to La Grange and were now only an hour out of Guilford Crossing.
You won’t help me?” There was a note of pleading in her voice but Alfie couldn’t help it. No two sisters could be closer than her and Alex, that’s why it hurt so much that she wasn’t prepared to help her sister out.
“All right.” Alex gave a reluctant sigh. “Are you sure he’ll be waiting at the cross-roads?”
“Thanks. Yes, he’ll be waiting. He promised.”
“You’ll be leaving all your friends, and Freddie, Nick and baby Oliver.”
“I’ll be back.” Alfie squeezed her sister’s arm. “If Pa refuses to let us stay with him, Freddie and Nick won’t mind having us.”
“You should have spoken with Nick about it, or Matt and Lily even.”
“I’m old enough to know what I’m doing.” Alfie gnawed her lower lip. She didn’t want to argue with Alex, as well as being sisters they were friends who had always confided in each other, but she loved Toby and wanted to marry him.
Toby was the handsomest young man she had ever seen with his sun bleached hair and brown eyes, an unusual combination. He had been courting her in secret ever since they had met at her school friend, Jessica Isaac’s wedding. Strictly speaking, Jessica hadn’t been a close friend and she had been surprised to receive an invitation. There again, nearly all the young folk in Guilford Crossing received invites. Alex went, but left before the dance in the evening. Freddie and Nick stayed away because Nick hated crowds, something to do with his experience in the war.
Freddie had helped her make a pretty blue dress with white lace trim, and she wore her brown hair loose. They had even cut a few inches off her hair so it would sit better. She quite liked the freedom of not having her hair tied back, and Toby kept telling her how much he liked it.
She had admired him from the moment she saw him at the bridal supper. It was an unusual wedding for Guilford Crossing. A late afternoon marrying service followed by supper, with a dance to round off the evening at Jessica’s parents’ house. Her father owned the bank and her mother came from a rich New Orleans family, probably why Pa hated them. Of course, he disliked just about everyone.
Mrs. Isaacs was horrible woman who always looked down on anyone she thought of as inferior, which meant most of Guilford Crossing. Jessica’s wedding gown had been made up in Houston, with the best French lace and material money could buy. The bridegroom, Charles, owned a large law office in Houston, and after a honeymoon in Europe they would settle in Houston.
She didn’t liked Charles over much, like Mrs. Isaacs, he had looked down his nose at many of the guests, and spoke in such condescending tones she wanted to slap him. His eyes had been cold as they swept her from head to foot. He made it obvious he didn’t think much of her. Well, the feeling was mutual.
Alfie cringed when she recalled overhearing him remark to Jessica about why she had invited such a strange person to their wedding. “And just look at that home sewn dress.”
Several heads had swiveled in Alfie’s direction and she had never felt so humiliated in her life.
Jessica gave a cruel laugh. “I only invited her and some of the others to make up the numbers. I wanted more people at my wedding than Lucille St John had.”
Alfie slunk outside intending to go home, but Toby must have seen and heard what happened and followed her.
“Miss Guilford.”
She ignored the male voice.
“Please, Miss Guilford, don’t take any notice of them. I think you’re the prettiest gal here.”
“You do?” She crept out from behind the tall bush she had been hiding behind. I…I want to go home.”
“No, you don’t. I’m Toby Montague.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips, and a bolt of heat raced up her arm. The music started up.
“Would you care to dance with me, Miss Guilford?”
“I would like to Mr. Montague, but I can’t dance.”
“Call me Toby, please. It’s easy, just follow my instructions.”
He took her hand and led her out of the garden and through the double glass doors leading inside. The lamps had been dimmed, and what had seemed a magnificent room in the light, became even nicer, the subdued glow somehow softening the area.
Toby took her in his arms and spun her onto the dance floor. Following his whispered instructions she felt she was doing well.
“You’re light on your feet, Miss….”
“Call me Alfie.”
“Alfie?” he exclaimed and she missed her step and trod on his foot.
“Alfreda really, but I’m always called Alfie.”
He gave a low laugh, which caused her insides to quiver.
Alex
Book 4
Defying her father, tomboy Alexandra (Alex) Guilford, begins a perilous journey through Texas to rescue her missing sister, Alfie.
She expects to encounter danger and deception before her mission is accomplished. In her wildest dreams she doesn’t expect to be thrown into jail, or fall in love with a condemned rancher.
Branded a murderer, Noah Greene is in jail waiting to be hanged.
Under such dire circumstance will Alex and Noah’s love prevail? Or are the obstacles just too great for them to overcome?
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Excerpt
Chapter One
Guilford Crossing - Texas – 1870’s
Several weeks after Alfie Guilford had disappeared.
“You are not chasing after your sister, and that’s final.”
Alex stood, hands on hips, staring her Pa down. “I am, and you aren’t stopping me.”
“Goddamitt, it won’t do no good.”
“I’ll find Alfie or die in the attempt,” Alex yelled. Past caring what he thought or did now.
Sam Guilford’s face turned red, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Those hard eyes of his had once instilled fear in her, now they only strengthened her resolve.
No-one had heard from Alfie for weeks. It was like she had dropped off the face of the earth. Except for Freddie and me, no-one else seems to care. They had cried together at their sister’s disappearance. Freddie was married to Nick and had baby Oliver to care for, so she couldn’t do much.
Poor Billy couldn’t tell anyone how he felt. “Where’s Alfie. Where’s Alfie,” he kept asking.
How could you explain to someone with a damaged brain that his younger sister had run off to marry a stranger and had not been heard of since?
“I warned Alfie those Montagues were no good. She didn’t listen and see where it got her? Murdered by them varmints most likely.”
“Pa!”
“Well, I told her they were as dangerous as rattlesnakes. Did she listen? No.”
“But….”
“You want to end up with a bullet in the back?”
Alex hadn’t thought of that, but she had to find Alfie. Why hadn’t she made contact through cousin Jeb or Uncle John in Austin like she promised? They hadn’t heard of, or from her, either.
Maybe she didn’t make it to Austin? Had something happened to her on the way? Alex hadn’t thought of that before. Had Toby killed her on-route? Why would he, after professing undying love for her? Maybe the whole Montague family were vicious polecats like Pa said?
“Are you listening to me, gal?”
“What!”
“Don’t go. I’ve lost one daughter, I don’t want to lose another.” He sounded like he cared. Maybe he did? He had been pleased when Freddie returned and had welcomed Nick after they wed.
“John and Jeb couldn’t find out anything about her. If anyone in Bakerville saw your sister they ain’t saying.”
“She mightn’t have even made it there, Pa.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. I warned her. I told her….”
“Shut up, Pa.” He had started ranting again, and she wasn’t in the mood to put up with it. She had waited for weeks, fretting and fuming. Now it was time for action.
“I’m going, Pa, you can’t talk me out of it.”
Alex grabbed her hat off the kitchen table and marched out of the house, ignoring Pa’s bluster and threats. He didn’t care about her riding into danger. He was only worried about losing a driver for his freight wagons. She didn’t care. She only wanted to find Alfie. Or at the very least, learn what had happened to her. Was that too unreasonable?”
She saddled her horse, checked her Winchester was loaded and slipped it into the scabbard. She strapped her Derringer on to one leg, and on the other, a leather sheathed knife.
She was ready to take on anyone who got in her way.
Without glancing back, Alex rode off, wondering how long it would be before she saw Guilford Crossing again.
****
About a mile out of Guilford Crossing she saw a cloud of dust kicked up by a slow moving wagon. Intending to let it pass she stopped her horse, not wanting to be riding into that much choking dust. Cousin Jeb was driving one of their wagons with an eight horse team.
She waved him down and he pulled up. “Howdy, Jeb.”
His face registered surprise. “Howdy, Alex. “What are you doing out here?”
“I’m going to find Alfie.”
“Your Pa know?”
“We had an argument about it, but I told him I was going and I went. You know what he’s like.”
Jeb stroked his bristly chin. “He’s right this time, you shouldn’t go on your own. Pa and I made enquiries and couldn’t find out anything.” His expression grew somber. “I think Alfie is lost to us. That gal meant a lot to me.”
“I know, but I have to try. She’s not dead, I know she isn’t or I’d feel it. She might be waiting somewhere to be rescued. Until I find out for sure she’s dead, I won’t stop searching.”
Alex squinted her eyes against the sun, in the distance was another large, slow moving dust cloud. “What in tarnation is going on, Jeb, looks like another wagon. It’s busier out here than the cathouse on pay day.”
“It’s Pa.”
“What!”
“We’ve got a big job on. We’ll be gone for four or five weeks at least.”
“What is it?” Alex was interested despite herself.
“Some businessmen from Houston arranged to pull up an old wartime railway track, and they’re going to use the sleepers as spares for the Houston – New Orleans line. We got the contract to haul them to Houston.”
“What about Uncle John? He normally doesn’t do long trips like this. Does Pa know?”
“Yeah. Your Pa didn’t have a driver to spare.”
Alex felt a twinge of guilt. They were one short because of Alfie, now they’d be two short because of her. “Pa never mentioned it to me.”
“Your Pa thought Nick might do it, but he won’t leave Freddie for longer than one night at a time.”
The second wagon pulled up and a younger edition of her Pa climbed down.
“What in tarnation are you doing out here, Alex?”
“She’s searching for Alfie.”
“On your own. Goddammit, gal, it’s too dangerous.”
“I told her that, but she’s too stubborn and mule headed to listen. She had a fight with Sam and here she is.”
“Wait until Jeb and I get back, then we’ll help you. We’ve already nosed around a bit and found out nothing.”
“I can’t wait any longer, Alfie might need me.”
“Getting yourself killed won’t help her,” Jeb said.
“I’m going.” She turned toward her horse.
“At least let the Texas Rangers know you’re in Austin.” Uncle John said. “And stay at our place. Plenty of food in the cupboards.”
“Good luck for the trip,” she said, before mounting and riding off. She had already left it too long to search for Alfie. I’m not leaving it any longer. The trail is already cold because no-one would do anything.
“Where are you, Alfie? Give me a sign.” She squeezed her eyes shut, but there was only silence in her head and the surrounding countryside. How could a person just disappear?
Alfie would have contacted her if she could. The fact there had been no word was frightening.