Sold to a desperate man, Hope finds herself married and on a wagon train bound for the mining camps of California. Will her faith sustain her? Can any good come out of such an arrangement?Hope Joy Roberts wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and then picked up the old Bible her grandfather had given her. She hugged the leather book close to her and could still smell the old itinerant preacher. Rosemary spice, leather, and the tonic he splashed on his hair still permeated the Holy Book.Because of him, she ministered to the ladies of the night. It had taken the women several months before they accepted her, but Hope had helped enough of them so that they trusted she came with more than words.Hope walked to the saloon on First Street, went through the swinging doors, and nodded at the bartender. “I’ve come to bring Good News.”“They’re waiting for you. Even Delilah got up in time.”“Good.” Hope went up the stairs and knocked on the door.Angel, the madam of the house, let her in. “I’m so glad you’re here. We think something is going on with Specter. He said we couldn’t leave the saloon today.”Hope set her reticule down on the nearest table and took off her shawl. “Julie Ann, you look chilled. Take my shawl.” She went to the thin woman, girl really, and put it around her bony shoulders. Hope picked up her Bible and looked at Angel. “I have to agree about Sheriff Specter. I saw him yesterday, and he wouldn’t even look me in the eye.”There was a loud knock on the door. Hope looked at Angel. “Are you expecting anyone else?”“On a Sunday afternoon? Not hardly. All the good folks are home eating lunch with their families. They don’t think of us until well after dark.” Angel laughed, but there was no mirth in it.They didn’t need an answer because half-a-dozen men shoved open the door and ran in. Before Hope knew what was happening, a sack was thrown over her head. She was tossed over a man’s shoulder. and carted down the stairs. By the muffled screams, she was not the only one.After minutes of riding roughly over a man’s shoulder, she looked through a slit in the burlap bag and recognized the sheriff talking with the wagon master who had rolled into town. Douglas Crane had seemed decent enough when she’d met him the other day.Sheriff Specter shook hands with the wagon master. “We’ve got you six. Just like you asked.”Douglas Crane nodded. “Here’s the money. A hundred for each. The men on the wagon train will thank you.”Specter laughed. “I doubt it, but you’ve got brides for your men.”Sweet and Clean Historical Christian Western Romance Read more
