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Chapter 6
St. Louis 1865
Charlotte POV
It was January of last year, when Mary Jane graced the boarding house with her presence. Mary Jane and her mother arrived and I had to wonder, at first, if they were in the right place. Mary Jane’s mother owns a brothel in Dallas, Texas. As Hannah, Emily, and I sat with Mrs. Sheffield in the parlor, Mary Jane’s mother, Kate, explained the reason for their arrival.
“I have watched as MJ as grown up and while she is well suited to care for her husband’s…um…how to say this politely,” Kate began, pausing as if to find the correct words. “Yes, that’s right. She can handle caring for his private needs, but her abilities to run a household are sorely lacking. MJ and I have spoken and we both agree that it is time that she learn how to run a household.”
Then she leaned
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May 1866 Cole POV As I approached the table in the dining room, Joseph was so lost in thought that he didn’t see or hear me approach him. And in our line of work, that can be a dangerous situation. I teased him as I reminded him of that fact. He refused to explain his “foggy head” as he put it and we quickly made our way out of the hotel. I was disappointed when he stopped by the mercantile to buy flowers for his girl, impatient to get to the boarding house. Once again, I teased him saying, “Is there anything else we need to do before we go to the boarding house. I am itching to find me a woman who makes me want to bring her pretty flowers.” As I was laughing at him, he reached out and cuffed me on the shoulder. He knew that I was only teasing him. I continued to chuckle at him as we made our way to the boarding house. He could hear me laughing but didn’t comment. After a few minutes, we finally arrived at the gate. Before pulling the gate open, he looked at me with a grin on his
California Secrets: Book #4 Boarding House Brides Chapter 10
Charlotte POVThe more I get to know Cole, the deeper I fall in love with him. He was everything I wanted in a life partner. He was kind, sincere, gentle with the orphans, and driven to make his mark on the world. It also didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes. He stands only a few inches taller than I do, which is a wonderful blessing to me. Most of the men I know would tower over my slight five-foot nine-inch frame. But the best part about Cole, I feel safe when he holds me in his arms.If I were keeping a ledger of pros and cons for being with Cole, the pro side would definitely be tipping the scale. However, one thing on the con side was keeping me from agreeing to go to California with him so that we could marry. My dreams. The monster came to me every night in my dreams. I was barely sleeping these days; the monster terrified me so.I should stop calling it a monster and say she. For I have come to understand that the monster that was trying to keep us apart was a woman. What
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Cordelia POVIt had been so easy in the beginning. I had seen him walking the shore and I wanted him for my own. I could not ascend my throne until I was married and Cole was a reasonable choice. He was easy on the eyes and had good connections within the human world. The pairing would make for a powerful couple in both my world and his.When we were alone, I had no trouble controlling him. It only took a kiss or two, and I could bend him to my will. When he was being overly stubborn, I would use my body to entice his and when he finally submitted, it was glorious. The power I held over his mind and body was a heady feeling.However, I couldn’t control him when his aunt was around. Beatrice knew what I was and she had warned me away from him many times. But I refused to back down. I knew what I wanted and nothing would stop me from succeeding.The last night we were together, I had given Cole a nightmare. I was the one pulling him from the arms of his dream girl. But I twisted the dre
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