Patrick's Charm (The Bride Train, #2) (18 page)

“It’s saying
I love you
. And it will for as long as it beats.”

“Then I hope it beats forever, because that’s how long I’m going to love you.”

His heart pounded harder. He’d thought luck had failed him, that God had turned His back. Then Charm dropped into his life. He would never doubt goodness again.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said, about wanting to travel and perform. I can settle with McGill on a price for the saloon. We can travel wherever you want, get you performances in big theaters. I’ll help you. Be your manager, your assistant, whatever you want to call it.”

She blinked at him, incredulous. Now she was wide-awake. “Why would you do that?”

“If it’s what’s you want, then it’s what I want. That’s how love works.” He smiled at her astonished expression. “You might even decide you like mornings.”

She didn’t laugh at his joke. “You can’t sell this place to a dishonest man. No more than I can go back to Simon. Besides, we promised Mr. Hardt we’d stay and open a theater.”

That reason didn’t sit well with him. He wasn’t forcing his wife to bend her life around to suit the whims of a railroad agent, no matter what the man had done for them.

“Is that why you’re willing to stay? Because you promised him?”

“No, I’m willing to stay because I promised you.” A mischievous twinkle came into her eyes. “And because you’ll promise to turn the saloon into a grand theater and name it after me.”

***

A
n insistent knocking got them out of bed.

“I’m going to kill whoever that is. They should know better than to bother newlyweds this early in the morning...” Charm grumbled as she dressed hurriedly. She and Patrick had just taken up where they’d left off last night when someone started hammering on the door.

Patrick had dressed and gone to answer. It was probably that parasite, McLaughlin, looking for another handout. He seemed to think O’Shea’s was his second home.

She dragged a brush through her hair and twisted it up, jabbing hairpins into the bun. Patrick would be nice because he couldn’t be any other way. She, however, would send their unwanted guests to perdition with a tongue-lashing. Then she and her husband could get back to more pleasant activities.

Still grumbling, she headed down the stairs—and halted at the back door into the saloon. A strange sight greeted her.

Patrick held the front door open as Susannah, Hope, Delilah, Prudence and Rose filed inside. They carried trays of food, along with cakes and pies.

“Where can we put these?” Susannah asked him.

Without a word, he motioned to the bar.

He’d reported seeing Susannah and Prudence several days ago, and said they had been told a different story about why she left the hotel. She hadn’t expected them to actually come to the saloon. Prudence spotted her first, and started over with a very determined look on her face.

Growing nervous, Charm reached up to straighten the bun. She smoothed her hands over the light cotton dress she’d thrown on, the first thing she could find.

The other woman had dressed in their Sunday finery. Maybe that’s what this was, a Sunday school meeting. After all, Patrick had agreed to let the preacher use the saloon on Sundays.

Prudence wrung her hands, appearing uncertain. “Hello Charm... I owe you an apology for believing you would leave without saying goodbye, and for not coming by to check on you. Will you forgive me?”

The reason for their sudden appearance sank in. They were here to see her, and to extend an olive branch. The doubt and hurt coating Charm’s heart melted away.

“How could I not?” She opened her arms and her friend stepped into them.

“Oh, I’m so happy to see you, and I’m glad you’re not angry.” Prudence stepped back with tears running down her cheeks. She fished a handkerchief from beneath her sleeve and wiped her eyes. “We were told you left, and that you didn’t want to see us anymore. I should’ve known better.”

“Yes, you should have...” Charm started solemnly, then smiled with affection. “But I forgive you. If you forgive me.”

“For what?”

“For not having faith in our friendship.”

The other women approached and made their apologies.

“We missed your wedding. So we’ve come to surprise you with a reception.” Susannah hugged her. “We are still friends, aren’t we?” she whispered.

Tears filled Charm’s eyes. Her friends demonstrated courage and humility in coming here to ask for forgiveness. She had as much need of forgiveness, and for their friendship. “Yes, we will always be friends.”

“We’ve brought you gifts, too.” Hope gestured to a table where several boxes were stacked.

“Things you might be able to use to set up your home,” Delilah added.

Their thoughtfulness and generosity left Charm speechless.

Patrick gave her an
I-told-you-so
grin before he started taking chairs off tables. “You ladies can sit here.

Rose appeared beside Charm. She leaned down, whispering. “Remember, dear sister, The Order of the Garter. We stand by each other, always. Now you have to give the garter to the next woman who marries. Who do you think it will be? Delilah? Hope? Susannah?”

Charm’s gaze found the leader of the group, who had rounded up the others to move the food to the table. As usual, she was giving orders. She wouldn’t be an easy catch. It would take a man equally hardheaded. None she would accept came to mind. “No, I think...”

Prudence set out two pies, which she probably baked. That woman could cook.

“Maybe Prudence? If we can get her out of the kitchen long enough to meet a suitable man.”

“Any ideas?”

The only man who came to mind was the flirtatious rascal who had set off Patrick’s temper. But no, that wouldn’t be a good match. Mr. Childers had a wild reputation, not to mention being a bootlegger. Prudence wouldn’t know what to do with a man like that.

“Let me think on it.”

Patrick stepped onto the stage. “Attention everyone! I have an announcement to make.” He motioned for Charm to join him, and then draped an arm around her shoulders, his embrace forming an affectionate, protective shelter.

She slipped her arm around his waist, offering him the same.

“We plan to turn O’Shea’s into a theater,” he announced. “We’ll have shows and plays, and make it place women can attend.”

The ladies clapped loudly.

“Our theater needs a name, and my wife suggested one earlier today...”

Charm turned to look at him, and he winked at her. Oh heavens, he hadn’t taken her seriously, had he?

“Welcome everyone to
O’Shea’s Good Luck Charm
.”

––––––––

The End

––––––––

T
he Bride Train
 is inspired by a series of true events that took place in southeastern Kansas shortly after the Civil War. After the government opened up former Indian land, one of the railroads finagled a deal to purchase the entire tract. Settlers who had moved onto the land and filed claims under “preemption” were forced to broker deals with the new owner.

By 1869, riots broke out in protest of railroad land policies. Angry settlers burned ties and tore up track as fast as the railroad could put it down. Things got so bad that President Grant sent troops into Kansas to quell the violence. A more peaceful solution was proposed: a program sponsoring the immigration of single young ladies into Kansas to become brides and provide a “calming influence” on the unruly men. I couldn’t find any evidence this program got off the ground. But what a great romance series idea!

The Bride Train is first mentioned in my debut romance novel, 
Her Bodyguard,
 which is set against the same series of events in a different location. 
Click here to read a scene about the arrival of the first Bride Train
. This scene inspired me to conceive an entire series about a railroad matchmaking service.

Patrick’s Charm
is Book 2 in The Bride Train series. The hero, Patrick O’Shea, is a disabled veteran who desperately needs a lucky break. Research led me to the plight of Irish immigrants who fought in the American Civil War. Many were recruited “fresh off the boat.” They had no idea what they were getting into until they were in the thick of battle.

Few men who fought in the Irish Brigade made it home, even fewer returned unscathed. Wounded soldiers were routinely dosed with opium for pain, and many of them became dependent on the painkiller. Opium addiction among former troops was so bad it was given the name,
Soldier’s Disease
. Today, it’s difficult to imagine the strength it would’ve taken to cope with injury, addiction and the rigors of starting a new life on the frontier.

Patrick meets his match in Charm LaBelle, who shows up at his saloon looking for a job. Charm’s character is loosely based on the famous 19th century actress Lotta Crabtree, who got her start as a child, entertaining miners in San Francisco.

In her impromptu audition, Charm sings two songs that were popular during the war and afterwards.
The Irish Volunteer
you might classify as a fight song for the Irish Brigade. 
Lorena
is a ballad sure to bring tears to the eyes of lonely soldiers. If you’d like to hear them, check out these versions on YouTube.

––––––––

T
hank you, dearest reader, for joining me on a journey into a fictional world in the past. If you enjoyed
Patrick’s Charm
, you can find an up-to-date listing of other titles in the series on my website under
My Books
.

Feel free to lend a copy of this book to a friend or tell them about it if you think they’d enjoy it. Also, please consider posting a short review. Honest reader reviews help others decide if they’ll enjoy a book.

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I wish you many happy hours reading.

Warm Regards,

E.E. Burke

––––––––

The Bride Train Series

Tempting Prudence, Book 3

Valentine’s Rose, Book 1

American Mail-Order Brides Series

Victoria, Bride of Kansas

Santa’s Mail-Order Bride, the sequel

––––––––

Steam! Romance and Rails Series

Her Bodyguard

Passion’s Prize

A Dangerous Passion

Fugitive Hearts

––––––––

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About the Author

Weave together passionate romance with rich historical detail, add a dash of suspense and you have books by E.E. Burke. Her chosen settings are the American West, and her current series takes place during the tumultuous era of the steam railroads. Her award-winning writing has earned accolades in regional and national contests, including the prestigious RWA Golden Heart®. Over the years, she’s been a disc jockey, a journalist and an advertising executive, before finally getting around to living the dream...writing stories readers can get lost in.

Read more at
E.E. Burke’s site
.