Percy's Unexpected Bride (Dalton Brides, Book 7) Read online

  Percy’s

  Unexpected

  Bride

  (The Dalton Brides, Book 7)

  by

  Kit Morgan

  ANGEL CREEK PRESS

  Percy’s Unexpected Bride

  by Kit Morgan

  © 2015 Kit Morgan

  Other titles by Kit Morgan:

  The Holiday Mail-Order Bride Series:

  The Christmas Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book One)

  The New Year’s Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Two)

  His Forever Valentine (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Three)

  Her Irish Surrender (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Four)

  The Springtime Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Five)

  Love in Independence (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Six)

  Love at Harvest Moon (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Seven)

  The Holiday Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Nine)

  The Thanksgiving Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Eight)

  His Mail-Order Valentine (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book Ten)

  The Easter Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail-Order Brides, Book)

  Prairie Grooms:

  August (Prairie Grooms, Book One)

  Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two)

  Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three)

  Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four)

  Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five)

  Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six)

  Amon (Prairie Grooms, Book Seven – coming 2015)

  The Prairie Groom (with Geralyn Beauchamp – coming 2015)

  The Prairie Bride Series:

  His Prairie Princess (Prairie Brides, Book One)

  Her Prairie Knight (Prairie Brides, Book Two)

  His Prairie Duchess (Prairie Brides, Book Three)

  Her Prairie Viking (Prairie Brides, Book Four)

  His Prairie Sweetheart (Prairie Brides, Book Five)

  Her Prairie Outlaw (Prairie Brides, Book Six)

  Christmas in Clear Creek (Prairie Brides, Book Seven)

  The Escape: A Mail-Order Bride Romance (Dalton Brides, Prologue – with Kirsten Osbourne, Cassie Hayes)

  The Rancher’s Mail-Order Bride (Dalton Brides, Book One – with Kirsten Osbourne)

  The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride (Dalton Brides, Book Two)

  The Drifter’s Mail-Order Bride (Dalton Brides, Book Three – with Cassie Hayes)

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  All characters are fictional. Any resemblances to actual people are purely coincidental.

  Cover design by Angel Creek Press, The Killion Group and Hotdamndesigns.com

  License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Books by Kit Morgan

  The person you were a year ago is not the person you are today. The person you are today is not who you’ll be a year from now. Thank Heaven for change and growth! And thank you to my co-authors Cassie Hayes and Kirsten Osborne, who like the Daltons and the Blues, have become like family. But this still doesn’t mean that any of us, (Cassie, myself, the Daltons or the Blues) are going to let Kirsten call any of her characters in this series Bob. Unless she does it when we aren’t looking …

  One

  Wiggieville, Texas, 1894

  Percival Jonathan Blue – Percy or P.J. to his friends – leaned against the door jamb of the post office and watched his brother-in-law Nate Dalton storm across the street to the wagon. They’d come to town for supplies and the mail and as usual Percy had gotten hit with another one of Nate’s lectures on propriety, good sense and how a real man knew how to use both.

  At least Nate made it sound like Percy had some – Percy’s own father often argued he didn’t have any. But after all that had happened to his family over the last few years, Mr. Blue would be shocked to find how much his son knew – including how to treat a lady, when to pick a fight (or walk away from one) and when to know he was about to get pummeled into mush for opening his mouth out of turn.

  He’d done a lot of that back in Beckham, Massachusetts, where he’d been raised. All it had earned him was a bad reputation for being a hothead and less than desirable company. Back in Beckham, he’d never find a decent woman to court, thanks to that …

  He pushed away from the jamb and decided to go down to the mercantile and help Nate with the supplies. He wasn’t doing anyone any good just standing there – least of all himself.

  “Howdy, Percy,” called a voice from behind him.

  Percy turned to find Preacher Dan peering up at him. The man reminded Percy of old St. Nick: at least eighty, with a round belly, white hair and beard, and even rosy cheeks. He’d been a traveling preacher for years in the northwestern part of the United States, Washington and Oregon mostly, before settling in Texas a few years back. He was the wisest man Percy knew and he’d learned a lot from the old preacher over the last couple of years. “Hello, Dan.”

  “What brings you to town?”

  “Nate and I came for supplies.”

  Preacher Dan squinted up at him. “Well, you don’t look any worse for wear. He must’ve gone easy on you this trip.”

  “As easy as he ever has.” Percy glanced over his shoulder toward the mercantile and shrugged. “Some of it must’ve sunk into my thick skull lately. They don’t yell at me as much anymore.”

  Preacher Dan laughed. “You’re learnin’. But you’re a young fella, with a lot a years ahead of ya to learn things. Take my advice, son – don’t ever waste an opportunity to learn something new. You’ll be better for it.”

  Percy smiled. “Aw heck, Preacher Dan. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be learning anything. I’d probably have done some foolhardy thing like gone off looking for gold, women and whiskey.”

  Preacher Dan sighed. “Ah, to be young and so full of life. When I was your age I had the same aspirations. That was one of the things that brought me out West back in the Forties. But the Almighty had other ideas for my life, and now here I am.”

  Percy nodded. Preacher Dan had never married, but spent his life going from town to town marrying everybody else, and burying just as many. The West was a wild place when it was first settled, and many parts of it still were. “Do you regret any of it?” he asked, curious.

  “Nope, sure don’t. I knew it was what the good Lord wanted for my life. Because of that, I was always content. Sure I had rough years, but I wouldn’t trade any of ‘em.”

  Percy stared at the dusty street. “I wish I knew what I was going to do.”

  “What’s the matter, son, gettin’ a case of itchy feet? That brother-in-law of yours been takin’ you on some of his expeditions?”

  Percy pushed his hat back. “Bart’s brought me on a few.”

  “You watch that wanderlu
st. It can get a man into a heap of trouble. You’ll go out lookin’ but never find it.”

  “Find what?”

  Dan grinned. “Usually something right here in your own backyard, son.” He winked at him, tipped his hat, turned and headed down the boardwalk.

  Percy watched him go as his words began to sink in. Sure he’d gone with Bart a few times on “safari,” as his brother-in-law liked to call it, but he wouldn’t say the excursions had instilled in him the same wandering spirit Bart had. In fact, whenever Bart took off he often took his wife Bonnie – Percy’s eldest sister – with him. A man couldn’t get into too much trouble with his wife along.

  He turned and headed toward the mercantile where he knew Nate was waiting for him. A thought he’d often had of late popped into his head as he walked, his eyes darting around at the people and buildings. Should he leave? What was here for him?

  Well, other than the obvious, his family. But that was just it: even if he left, his brothers and sisters and their spouses were still here. His folks would be taken care of. He was the only one unattached, the only one with nothing to burden him or keep him on the Dalton spread. He was the one with the luxury of freedom of choice.

  But freedom of choice was overwhelming – so much so that he’d even written a letter to his eccentric Aunt Edna for advice, a sure sign he was desperate. If he didn’t hear back from her soon, he’d write her again and ask should I head farther west?

  He certainly couldn’t go back east; that was out of the question.

  Percy’s jaw tightened at the mere thought of his hometown in Massachusetts. They’d lost everything because of a few crooked men who, consumed by greed, had ruined his father’s business. They took almost everything: the family business, most of their possessions, and had tried to get Percy’s three sisters as well.

  He’d never known true evil until he’d met the likes of Mr. Belafonte, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Smith, all of them – if you could believe it – deacons from the church his family attended! What better cover to hide their wicked deeds, after all? If those three devils had gotten their way, Percy and his two brothers, Hank and Benedict, would have delivered their own sisters to them. Who knows what would’ve become of Bonnie, Gwen and Libby had he and his brothers been stupid enough to do so?

  “About time you got here,” Nate groused. “I gave Mr. Green the list – he’s filling it now. Is there anything you want while we’re here?”

  Percy thought a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out some coins. “I might pick up something that strikes my fancy.”

  “Well, hurry up and get it done before Mr. Green’s through with our order. Then let’s go get some lunch.”

  Percy gave him a curt nod and strolled through the mercantile. It wasn’t like his father’s store back in Beckham had been, but it carried everything he and his family needed. He headed for a shelf lined with books – he’d been reading more lately and wanted a new one.

  “Are you here again?” Mr. Green called out to him as he crossed the mercantile.

  “Yes, sir. I finished the last one already.”

  “You know, son, you read those things so fast you might as well just bring ‘em back to me and trade ‘em in for new ones.”

  Percy’s head snapped up. “Are you joshing me?”

  “No. You take good care of ‘em, after all.”

  “I don’t know, Mr. Green. Then you’d be selling the next person a used book.”

  “True, but I’d give you a discount on the next one. It’s like I get my money twice.”

  Percy laughed and shook his head at the man’s ingenuity. “Well, I suppose that makes sense – and they do take up room. That being the case, I think I’ll get myself two today so long as I can bring them back for more.”

  Mr. Green smiled and continued to fill their order. Percy, meanwhile, picked out two books he thought looked interesting, went to the counter and set them down. He then placed his coins next to them.

  Mr. Green counted the money and gave one back. “I’ll give you a discount ‘cause you’re buying two.”

  “But I’m bringing them back.”

  Mr. Green laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Percy. Lately you’re the only one buying books anyway.”

  Percy glanced around the mercantile. “Has business been bad?”

  “No, but folks come and go. Seems the readers I had have moved on.”

  “Where?”

  “California, Oregon, some up to Colorado.”

  “Colorado? I can understand heading west, but why Colorado?”

  “A new gold rush. Up Cripple Creek way.”

  “Ah, I see,” Percy said with a nod. If there was one thing that could lure a man away from prime ranchland, it was gold.

  Nate approached the counter, drawing his attention away from Mr. Green. “You about done?” he asked the storekeeper.

  “I’m getting there. You two go have your lunch if you want, then load up after.”

  Nate put his hands on his hips as he scanned the mercantile. “I think we might just do that.” He stared at the books on the counter and smiled. “You mean to tell me you already read the last book you bought?”

  Percy shrugged. “It was interesting.”

  “It was about Egypt. Looked pretty boring to me.”

  “I liked it,” Percy commented. “Besides, it was nice to get a better picture of a place in the Bible.”

  “Don’t you go discouraging my best book buyer, Nate Dalton,” Mr. Green chided.

  “Indeed,” Percy chuckled. “You might upset Mr. Green’s new operation.”

  Nate looked between the two. “New operation? What are you talking about?”

  “Percy,” Mr. Green laughed. “Don’t go telling folks about our deal – then everyone will want in on it.”

  Percy smiled, nodded then turned to Nate. “Never mind, it’s nothing of importance. Let’s go get something to eat.”

  “Was there anything at the post office for us?” Nate asked as he shook his head and turned toward the door.

  Percy grimaced. “Oh, blast it! I got talking with Preacher Dan and forgot to check. I’ll go do it now – you go on to the café. Order my usual for me, will you?”

  Nate, clearly annoyed, nodded and left.

  “How is Preacher Dan?” asked Mr. Green.

  “His usual jolly self.”

  “That man sure has some good stories. Course I don’t believe half of ‘em.”

  “Nor do I, though I’d like to visit some of the towns he talks about. Especially that Clear Creek up in Oregon. It sounds like an interesting place.”

  “Probably doesn’t even exist,” Mr. Green laughed. “Now get on out of here and get that mail before your brother-in-law has to fetch it. I’ll see you after you fellas eat your lunch.”

  Percy tipped his hat and left to get the mail. The thought of the outlandish tales Preacher Dan told everyone about the towns on his circuit often piqued his curiosity. That, in turn, would prompt further thoughts of leaving Texas to explore further west. But he only ever got as far as Mr. Green’s mercantile and its shelf of books. Through them he could at least go somewhere without actually leaving.

  But the question still nagged at him. Should he really leave? He wished Aunt Edna would hurry up and write him back.

  *

  “What’s got you so quiet all of a sudden?” Nate asked.

  Percy picked at his food. “Nothing. Just thinking is all.”

  “Then you might want to think about marrying.”

  Percy’s head snapped up. “What?”

  “You heard me. It’s time you gave the matter some serious thought.”

  “What for? I don’t need a wife.”

  “You will.”

  Percy sat up straight and eyed his brother-in-law. There was the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips, and that meant trouble. “What are you saying?”

  Nate shrugged. “I’m just saying you’re old enough now to start thinking about a wife. You’re the only one
not married now. Wouldn’t do for all of us to be so far ahead of you, now would it?”

  “Ahead of me?”

  Nate smiled. “Younguns, P.J. I’m talking about babies and such.”

  “Babies?!” Percy squeaked. “Good grief, why do I have to start thinking about those?”

  “You don’t. But at least think about the wife part.”

  Percy stared at his sandwich and gulped. He’d never considered marriage – he figured he was too young. But now, many of his friends were married, even the ones that went to college. His brothers were the late bloomers, so to speak, and didn’t wed until a couple of years ago, when they were in their mid-twenties.

  But did he fancy a wife? Wouldn’t one keep him from seeing the world? Bart had told him about all sorts of wonderful places, and the more he read about them, the more he wanted to go. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in Wiggieville, Texas …

  … or rather, Dalton, Texas, if his other brother-in-law Walton had his way. He wanted the Dalton ranch to become its own town one day, and it was well on its way. The spread had grown exceedingly well over the last couple of years. Given a few more, they’d have to open their own mercantile just so the hands wouldn’t have to take the time to go to Wiggieville for supplies and such. It would be easier just to have everything sent to the ranch. Besides, folks in Wiggieville often referred to the ranch simply as Dalton, anyway.

  But he’d let Walt worry about all of that – it was his personal empire he was building, and he could see to the church, the bank, the mercantile and whatever else he thought they needed out there without Percy’s help.

  “Well?” asked Nate, pulling him from his thoughts. “Will you think about it?”

  Percy sat back in his chair and sighed. “I still don’t see the point.”

  Nate leaned his elbows on the table. “You know, maybe we didn’t beat enough sense into you. I’ll have to have a talk with Hank and Benedict.”