A Bride for Karl – New Release from Cheryl Wright
A Bride for Karl – Book Six, Brides of Broken Arrow Series
Written by Cheryl Wright
A Bride for Karl is now available! It is book six, the final book in the popular Brides of Broken Arrow series.
Karl and Florence get off to a very rocky start in this proxy bride series where the groom has no idea he is even married! If you love slow-burn romance as I do, check this book out.
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Excerpt:
Karl Adams loved nothing more than playing with his young nephew, Clyde, Floyd and Kathryn’s son in his spare time. It did, however, send a blast of need through him. As much as he longed for a wife and child, he’d been reluctant to send for a proxy bride.
At least until now.
He glanced up in time to see his brother Floyd pull his wife to him. Another pang of want wracked him. No matter how much Floyd had tried to convince him to send away for a proxy bride, Karl had resisted. He didn’t see the need for it, and certainly didn’t want to be accountable to another person.
Perhaps it was time to rethink his stance. He had seen how happy Floyd had been since he’d married, and wanted that for himself as well. Why it had taken so long for him to come to that conclusion, Karl did not know. Being the last single male on Jacob’s part of the ranch may have something to do with it, but he really wasn’t certain. He only knew it was at the back of his mind often.
Kathryn left the room momentarily, and when she returned handed him an envelope addressed to Karl, care of Floyd. He stared at the envelope for what seemed to be minutes, but in reality was only seconds. Why would anyone send him a letter via his brother? It was the strangest thing.
“This is for you,” Kathryn said quietly, which seemed out of character for his sister-in-law. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, then licked her lips. Floyd said nothing, but pulled her close.
Karl glanced from one to the other of them. Something was up, but he had no idea what that could be. Turning the envelope over, he noted the details on the back.
Florence Reeves
Care of Post Office
Clear Valley, Idaho
That was strange. He didn’t know anyone in Idaho, and he sure didn’t know this Florence Reeves. He carefully opened the envelope, ensuring he didn’t rip the contents. The folded paper was heavily perfumed. Even more weird.
When he looked up, his every move was being monitored. What did they do? He already felt his brother and sister-in-law had set him up, and not in the nicest way, either. He stared pointedly at the pair. “This is your doing, isn’t it, Floyd?” He knew in his heart it was his brother. Kathryn wasn’t the type to go behind someone’s back. Well, normally, neither was Floyd, but he’d been persistent lately that his brother needed a bride.
Karl was about to screw up the unopened letter and throw it in the trash when he remembered the unknown sender. Florence Reeves was also an innocent victim in all of this. He at least owed her the opportunity to have her story read. He sighed loudly and unfolded the fragrant paper.
Dear Karl,
I hope you don’t mind if I call you by your first name. After all, in our marriage, I would not go about calling you Mr. Adams.
Karl couldn’t help but chuckle. He already like this Florence person.
I guess I should tell you some more about myself. You already know I’m a spinster of twenty-eight years. I am about average height at 5’5” and have long red hair. According to my father, I have fiery red hair with a temperament to match.
Well, that’s just great. A wife with a temper—just what he needed.
Karl was ready to screw the paper up, but as he closed his hand around the flimsy paper, the remaining words swam in front of his eyes.
The reason I’m writing is to let you know I’ll be arriving by stagecoach…
He read and reread the date. This woman who was previously unknown to him was arriving the next morning! His head shot up and he glared at Floyd. “You told her I’d marry her?” Anger flooded him and he stood, ready to leave, his entire body tense. “I don’t even know this woman. It’s quite obvious, though, that you have corresponded with her for some time.”
“I…” Floyd was lost for words for once.
“What am I to do now? I suppose she probably thinks it was me corresponding with her? That is low, brother.” He clenched his fists. Karl was not a violent man, yet had to resist the urge to slap his older brother.
“It was me,” Kathryn whispered, but Karl knew that wasn’t true. Knowing his sister-in-law, she was trying to keep the peace. Making sure a rift didn’t develop between the brothers.
He stormed out of the cottage, his mind in confusion. The woman was arriving the next morning, and he did not know if he would marry her. Or even wanted to marry her. Suddenly he skidded to a halt, then turned back, his heart pounding. “Tell me we’re not already married,” he demanded.
Floyd didn’t say a word, he didn’t have to. Karl could see from his brother’s expression the woman already on her way to Halliwell was his legal wife. His proxy bride.
The damage was done, and there was little he could do about it except arrange for an annulment. But where did that leave Florence Reeves? There must be a reason she was willing to marry a complete stranger, sight unseen.
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