What Comes My Way (Brookstone Brides Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Tracie Peterson

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153 pages

English

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Description

Ella Fleming is on the run from her past and the secrets that could tear her family apart. As a member of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, a wild west show comprised of all-female performers, her uncanny talent for trick riding impresses the viewers. Only while performing can she forget the truth about who she really is--the daughter of a murderer.Phillip DeShazer blames himself for his father's death and has done his best to bury his guilt in work and drink. Realizing he needs something more, he seeks answers and finds support and kindness from the beautiful Ella Fleming. However, the more she comes to his rescue, the more his guilt grows. He's fallen in love with her and feels confident that she returns his feelings, but until he can overcome the past and let God guide his future, Phillip knows he's not worthy of Ella's love.Uncertain of what will come their way, Ella and Phillip must learn to trust God even when the road they travel takes them in different directions. Only then can love be a part of their journey.

Sujets

Historical fiction

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 octobre 2019
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781493420445
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	3 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0461€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Tracie Peterson
B ROOKSTONE B RIDES
When You Are Near
Wherever You Go
What Comes My Way
G OLDEN G ATE S ECRETS
In Places Hidden
In Dreams Forgotten
In Times Gone By
H EART OF THE F RONTIER
Treasured Grace
Beloved Hope
Cherished Mercy
T HE H EART OF A LASKA **
In the Shadow of Denali
Out of the Ashes
Under the Midnight Sun
S APPHIRE B RIDES
A Treasure Concealed
A Beauty Refined
A Love Transformed
B RIDES OF S EATTLE
Steadfast Heart
Refining Fire
Love Everlasting
L ONE S TAR B RIDES
A Sensible Arrangement
A Moment in Time
A Matter of Heart
L AND OF S HINING W ATER
The Icecutter’s Daughter
The Quarryman’s Bride
The Miner’s Lady
L AND OF THE L ONE S TAR
Chasing the Sun
Touching the Sky
Taming the Wind
B RIDAL V EIL I SLAND *
To Have and To Hold
To Love and Cherish
To Honor and Trust
S TRIKING A M ATCH
Embers of Love
Hearts Aglow
Hope Rekindled

All Things Hidden**
Beyond the Silence**
House of Secrets
Serving Up Love***
*with Judith Miller **with Kimberley Woodhouse ***with Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano
For a complete list of Tracie’s books, visit her website www.traciepeterson.com
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2019 by Peterson Ink, Inc.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2044-5
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by Jennifer Parker
Cover photography by Mike Habermann Photography, LLC
Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Tracie Peterson
Title Page
Copyright Page
Epigraph
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Epilogue
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
Epigraph

Come one, come all to the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza—the only wild west show to give you all-female performers of extraordinary bravery and beauty! Women whose talent and proficiency will amaze and delight people of every age!
one
M ARCH 1902 L OS A NGELES , C ALIFORNIA
“Robert! What in the world are you doing here?” Ella Fleming asked, stepping back from her hotel room door as she tightened the belt on her dressing gown.
“Looking for you,” her brother replied. “I went to the train station and found the Brookstone cars, but they said you were all staying at this hotel.”
Ella laughed and swept her arm toward the room. “Isn’t it wonderful? It was a surprise treat from Henry Adler. He has all sorts of meetings here in Los Angeles and wanted us to stay in comfort and style. Plus, I think he wanted to be able to hold meetings in his room. Please come in.”
Stepping back, Ella waited for Robert to enter, but he hesitated. Turning to his left, he motioned to someone. Ella watched as a heavily veiled woman in black bombazine entered the room ahead of Robert. The woman was petite and clad in black from head to toe. She was obviously in deep mourning. Even her gloves were black.
Ella tried to hide her shock, but as soon as Robert closed her suite door, he hurried to explain.
“I know you’ll find this quite the surprise.” He reached out to pull back the woman’s veil.
Ella’s eyes widened as her former maid’s face was revealed. “Mara?”
The black woman nodded, her brown eyes wide. “It’s me, Miss Ella.”
Ella embraced her friend. “I can hardly believe this. I’ve missed you so much.” She looked over Mara’s shoulder at Robert. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“It may be pleasure to you, but it’s been a grave matter for Mara. Sit down and I’ll explain.” Robert motioned toward the sitting area of Ella’s suite.
She sat on the settee and waited for Mara to join her. “Tell me everything.”
Robert pulled a cushioned wingback chair closer. “I’m not sure where to begin. Father approached me two weeks ago. He’s deeply troubled about something. Personally, I’ve heard rumors, and I think Jefferson Spiby is forcing Father to do things he doesn’t want to do. That’s why Mara is here.”
Ella looked at her former maid and dear friend while Robert continued.
“You see, Jefferson has been insisting that Father let Mara work for him. Mara has no desire to do so, but that hasn’t stopped Jefferson from pressing for it. Father came to me and told me he feels helpless to fight Jefferson. Apparently Jefferson holds something over our father, and he’s had to yield to Spiby’s will more and more. Now, I know this topic isn’t for the gentler sex, but you must know the truth of it. Jefferson wants Mara for his mistress.”
A gasp escaped Ella’s lips. “He’s a monster. How can he even live with himself?”
Mara looked at the carpet as if she bore some guilt in Jefferson’s shameful behavior.
“Because he’s evil,” Robert declared. “The things I’ve heard about him are . . . well, I would never repeat them. Father asked me to figure out a way to keep Mara from his grasp, and this is what came to mind. Do you suppose Mara could go on tour with you—perhaps be your personal maid?”
“Of course. I’m sure I can get the others to agree. I’ll talk to Lizzy right away. She’s coming to get me in an hour. We’re going to tea with some people who would like to photograph us for a book.”
“I thought Miss Brookstone married and gave up performing,” Robert said, shaking his head. “What made her change her mind?”
“She didn’t. I mean, well . . . it’s a long story. Lizzy did marry. She’s Mrs. Wesley DeShazer now. She’s not performing, but her uncle was quite ill last year, and she’s hoping to keep him in better shape. Lizzy’s mother begged her to come on the tour for one more year and keep an eye on him. She and Wes both came as a favor to Rebecca Brookstone.”
“I see. Do you think she’ll accept Mara’s being here?”
“I have no reason to think she’ll refuse her. Lizzy is all too familiar with Jefferson’s cruelty and my own fear of him.”
Jefferson, Ella’s former fiancé, had once appeared at the Brookstone ranch with her father to try to force Ella to return to their Kentucky home. And then there was the other matter. Ella had heard Jefferson confess to being responsible for the death of the Brookstone Extravaganza’s former wrangler August Reichert. His sister Mary, the show’s sharpshooter, was still trying to seek justice for her brother. Unfortunately, Jefferson was much too powerful, and the authorities in Kentucky refused to prosecute him.
“Then, I’ll leave Mara in your care,” Robert said. “Her bags are downstairs. I’ll have a bellboy bring them up. It worked out well to bring Mara here, as I was planning to come anyway to deliver some horses. I’ll be in San Francisco in two days, and I understand the show will be there as well.”
“Yes. We have three performances there. Saturday and Sunday evening and a matinee on Sunday.”
Robert nodded. “Good. I’ll catch up with you there and make sure it was acceptable for Mara to stay on. For now, however, I have to hurry, or I’ll be late to my meeting.”
He got up, and Ella and Mara rose as well.
“Thank you, Mr. Robert, for savin’ me,” Mara said in a hushed voice.
“It was my pleasure, Mara.” He turned to Ella and hugged her close. “I don’t know what all is going on, but as you mentioned, there is a terrible secret at Fleming Farm. A secret big enough to implicate the entire county and its officials. I intend to get to the bottom of it, and I believe Father holds many of the answers. Given his current state of mind and obvious distress, I think perhaps he’ll be more inclined to confide in me.”
Ella pulled back. “I hope so, but I hope too that you won’t put yourself in any danger. Your family needs you, and so do I.”
Robert smiled. “Never fear. I’ll be on the lookout for trouble.”
And then he was gone as quickly as he’d come.
Ella turned to Mara and shook her head. “I never expected to see you—not in a million years.”
“I’s mighty glad to be here.”
Ella smiled and gave the black woman another hug. “I’ve missed you so much. You’ve always been my dearest friend and confidante, and now I have you back. This life on the road is sometimes wearying, but I think you’ll enjoy seeing so many things and places. It’s amazing when you think of all the miles we cover.”
“I’s just thankful to be safe. There wasn’t gonna be no safety for me back at the farm.”
Ella frowned. “Why do you say that? Father surely would never have let Jefferson take you.”
“Your father couldn’t stop that man. He had his way with me more times than I care to remember.”
“What?” Ella knew her expression bore her disgust. “Jefferson . . . he forced himself on you?”
Mara looked away and nodded. “I’s ashamed to say so, but it’s true.”
“Did you tell my father?”
“No. A black woman speakin’ out against a white man?” She shook her head. “Nobody in that county would be listenin’ to anything I had to say. ’Specially with Mr. Spiby involved.”
“Oh, Mara, I’m so sorry.”
Again, Ella hugged her friend. They had been in each other’s company since Mara’s mother had wet-nursed Ella as a baby. They’d grown up together, and even though Mara was older, she and Ella had been the best of friends. How it hurt to imagine her friend suffering at the hands of that evil man.
Ella started at