A Bride Worth Billions

Some of your favorite authors present 21 all-new stories told through the looking glass—including a new Elizabeth novella!

*** Praise for A BRIDE WORTH BILLIONS ***
                 
"
Tiffany Morgan knows
how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters."
 
~Night Owls

"An absolute delight to read" ~Amazon Reviewer

"This writer never disappoints."
 
~Christine Arness

"She creates characters that seem to jump off the page."
 
~Amazon Reviewer

"with a captivating style, writes a compelling story..." ~Long and Short Reviews

"Amazingly good!"
 
~Romantic Times

A

BRIDE

WORTH

BILLIONS

Rocket Book
s
, California

An imprint of Joyce Random House LLC

373 Hudson Street

A BRIDE WORTH BILLIONS

A Joyce Book / Published by arrangement with authors

Copyright 2015 by Joyce Random House LLC

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PUBLISHING HISTORY

Version_1

JR mass-market edition/October 2015

Cover Images: “Landscape” by Petra Rasmussen

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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I was enjoying an ordinary night outside Denver, Colorado in 1876. The evening when the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains was my favorite time of night. Not so much because the scenery was pleasant, with the snowcapped peaks of the mountains. I liked that my father was not home yet and Mother was busy cooking dinner. Abe Slyker wasn’t doing anything noble he was at the saloon and my Mother was burning dinner because she was in a moonshine induced haze. I heard my father barreling up the dirt road to the ranch, which was followed by my Mother ringing the dinner bell.

“Get up here quickly Faith Slyker. I got you an early 18
th
birthday present,” Abe Slyker, slurred as he climbed off the wagon.

“My birthday is ½ a year away and you have never given me a gift. What is it?”

“You mean
who
is it? I got you a husband Faith as part of a business transaction. His name is Mert Flanders I was waiting for you to find yourself a man and I thought I would take this opportunity to help you out.”

“Father, you’re crazy. Who is he?”

I was mad, which made my face so red that it blended perfectly with my hair. I was particular when it came to men, which is why I had not yet found a mate.

“He’s new to Denver. Came all the way from Chicago because he heard about the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. He’ll give me a cut of what he finds, if I provide him with a sturdy frontier woman. He were gonna bring one with him but he thought he’d get one that was accustomed to the ways of the west. I told him that my girl Faith was young enough to bear him as many children as he wished and you’d keep the ranch house clean. I also added that year a good cook, which I’m not sure of but I said it anyway.”

Abe Slyker was proud of his recent transaction that was likely made while he was leaning against the bar in the saloon. I felt ready to explode so I ran to my happy place. A stream that trickled beyond the ranch property was a place I could be alone with my thoughts. Well, almost alone because my friend Henry Stanich went there too. We had known each other as long as we could remember. Through the years, we had flirted and when we were, 10 we showed each other our naked bodies. We were friends above all else and were probably better off that way.

“Didn’t expect to find you here at this time of day. Morning is you’re time of day,” Henry growled,

“I didn’t know I had to make a reservation to come to
my
secret spot.”

“Since when is it
you’re
spot?”

“Since never Henry. Sorry to sound like such a brat but I’m in a hell of a bad mood. My father arranged for me to marry a man from Chicago. He’s a prospector with bold new ideas that’s he willing to exchange a cut of for a bride.”

“You’re father’s always coming up with get rich quick schemes but this one takes the cake. Have you even met the man yet? Where does he plan to live?”

“I haven’t met him Henry but I don’t expect much if he can’t find a wife on his own. I don’t know where he plans to settle. There are quite a few vacant ranches that were left by folks when they failed to strike it rich.”

As Henry continued whittling his stick, which he did when he was thinking, I started to think myself. I wouldn’t have these moments with my best friend much longer. One thing was sure; Mert Flanders would not be as pleasing to the eye as Henry. I had not always noticed Henry’s soaring height, square jaw; and green eyes that sparkled when he was excited. Lost in my thoughts; Henry snapped me back to reality.

“I’m still your friend no matter what Faith and we’ll always have our special spot. If this Mert character starts bugging you, you’ll know where to find me.” Henry’s face tightened. “If the guy ever lays an unkind hand on you I’ll kill him. Don’t look at me like I’m telling a joke cuz I will – I’ll slit his throat.”

“Bad idea Henry. They’ll throw you in jail; besides, I’ll kill Mert myself.”

“I have a question Faith. Who has a name like Mert anyways? It ain’t right.”

Faith and Henry burst out in laughter, which was usually the case when they were together. They had a way of cheering each other up.

I stayed in my bed as late as possible the next day. Mother and Father had let me be in the past and probably thought I was already in the barn starting my daily chores. It wasn’t the case on this day.

“Faith Slyker, I hope you’re getting cleaned up and putting on a nice dress because Mert Flanders is coming early to meet you. I guess you can say he wants to see what he’s getting and we don’t want to disappoint the man,” Mary Flanders called to her daughter.

I got out of my bed and cringed at the thought of climbing into bed with a strange man. I pinned up my wild red hair with a clip. One of the only things I had left from my dear Grandmother, who was my protector while she was alive. She would not tolerate the way that I was being treated but she was gone and I had to follow my Father’s orders.

“Don’t say too much when Mr. Flanders comes. Men don’t like their wives to say much. The fewer opinions you have the better.”

“I’ll try to act as dumb as a door nail Mother.”

“Can’t see that being too difficult for ya.” Abe Slyker laughed.

The first sign that Mert Flanders would not be the man of my dreams came as I heard him walking across the wooden front porch.
Clop-clop, drag, clop-clop drag
. Either the man was dragging a sack of goods or he was dragging his legs and using a cane. I tensed my fists so tight that my nails dug into the palms of my hands. The door was pushed open and I saw my future husband. I tried hard not to gasp but it couldn’t be helped. I was 5’1” and Mert was not any taller if he even reached my height. His belly poured over his trousers; he had met my father in the saloon so it was likely that his gut grew from too much drink. His hair was yellow, greasy and combed over the top to conceal baldness. I was almost 18 and Mert Flanders looked as he was double my age.

“Abe my friend. I’m here for a proper introduction to Miss Slyker.” Mert approached. “A redhead with blue eyes. A rare one for these western towns. They tend to gather in places like Boston. I got myself a unique wife.”

Mert proceeded to poke me like a loaf of bread. Even my Mother thought Mert was a bit too handy. The worst came when he squeezed my tit. I yelped. He chortled and tapped my bottom.

“She’s feisty too. I think our transaction will be beneficial to both sides. Does she talk?”

“I do. It’s nice to meet you Mr. Flanders,” I said.

“You’d better start calling me Mert because that’s how a wife addresses her husband. I purchased the Depew ranch, which is just up the road. It’s on the same stream that runs behind this place so it’s not far from where you already are. That doesn’t mean you can run to mama if you get homesick. I know that life’s difficult in Denver, which is why I wanted a sturdy frontier woman and not some weakling from Chicago.”

My Father spoke. “Faith’s everything you need. I’m looking forward to learning your new mining skills and we can get started on the project as soon as you’re willing.”

“First I have to marry your daughter. I see no need to waste time with a ceremony. A justice will do a fine job and there’s no need for frilly foolishness. Are you in agreement Faith?” Mert’s smile showed a cracked front tooth.

“I was expecting that we’d take time to become acquainted. A brief courtship perhaps.”

Mert laughed. “I already have permission from your Father; therefore, I don’t see why the day after tomorrow is too early.”

“We would love to have you as out guest for dinner tonight Mert. It will give you and Faith an evening to get to know each other before she moves to your ranch. You can use the day tomorrow to secure the justice and I’ll gather a few things for Faith’s new home.”

“I’ll be here tonight before the sun sets.” Mert smiled and squeezed by buttocks before he left.

The door closed behind Mert Flanders as I was about to start a miserable life of servitude. I would be joined in marriage to a hideous man who apparently had no regard for hygiene or women. I grabbed my favorite blue coat and ran out to the barn where I cried and tended to my chores, which included milking three cows and gathering eggs. Doing these things only distracted me for a couple of hours before I ran like a wild stallion to the stream.

I climbed upon my favorite flat rock, which was surrounded by gnarled pines beside a stand of aspen. The rock heated beneath the afternoon sun so it felt good as I laid down and closed my eyes. I heard a light splash in the water; I looked down to see Henry Stanich skipping stones.

“Hey up there. I know something’s wrong cuz you only climb up there when you’re desperate. It’s impossible to not contemplate leaping into the cold stream. I know it’s something you ponder when you’re up there but I hope you find some reason not to jump. Either the shallow water or the ice chill will do you in for sure,” Henry said from below.

“I’d never jump but I can’t think of a time when it’s been more tempting. Are you coming up here or do I have to come down?”

“I’ll be up Faith.”

It only took moments until Henry was sitting beside me. He immediately told a story about an antic filled day he had spent with his brothers. Henry had a way of telling stories that made me forget my troubles. His animated and boyish behavior caused be to laugh till it hurt.

“So we caught no fish and my brother Daniel ended up looking like a wet rat. The story has no moral and we ended up not bringing home dinner.”

“Your mission to cheer me up is accomplished Henry. I don’t know if you make your stories up but I don’t care because they temporarily take me away from my melancholy. If you were to see my future husband, you’d know why I’m upset.”

“How bad could it be?”

“I never expected it to be this bad. The man makes my stomach turn and I’m expected to bear him children.”

“That alone makes my skin crawl. I can’t imagine another man’s hands on you.”

“Another man’s?”

“I’m just protective of you. I think of you as
my
Faith but probably have no right to say that because I’m just like a brother to you. Right?”

An awkward silence fell over us, which was rare between Henry and me. I looked deep into his green eyes and saw something that I had never seen. The gaze was serious and it confused me.

“Right. I guess.” I swatted away a gnat and the mood was broken. I popped up. “I don’t know where the time has gone but I have to prepare for dinner with Mert Flanders. Say good-bye to Faith Slyker cuz the next time you see me, I’ll be Faith Flanders.”

Henry stood up and kissed me softly on the cheek. “Good luck Faith. Don’t forget; I’ll be here if you need me.”