A Mail-Order Chance (Miners to Millionaires Book 5) Read online

  “You’re going to anyway, aren’t you? I should’ve known from the start you weren’t one of us.”

  Declan raised a brow, but his tone stayed even. “Guess you’re not as smart as you thought you were. You don’t even know why I was really with the gang.”

  Jesse jerked Ellie’s head back until she was cheek to cheek with him and could feel his sneer. “Looks like I’m plenty smart now.” He edged a few steps back. “Besides, it’s easy enough to figure out. You were trying to take us down.”

  “If that were true, why would I have waited so long? I was with you for months.”

  Jesse’s lip curled. “Because you’re an idiot.”

  “I don’t think so.” Declan took a small step forward. “Aren’t you curious why?”

  Ellie stifled a wince as Jesse’s grip tightened even more.

  “Sure, Dec. Tell me what brilliant idea you and the other marshals had.” He laughed. “Looks like it turned out real good, by the way.”

  “We wanted the name of who passed information to you. Whoever fed you information about the payroll must be high up.”

  Jesse chuckled. “You’re stupid. You all are. You think you’re so brilliant. Well, let me tell you how smart you are, Dec. My informant isn’t high up. He’s a nobody. That’s what makes it so perfect.”

  Declan rocked back on his heels. “You’re lying. There’s no way they’d know that kind of information.”

  Ellie held still, hoping not to draw more notice from Jesse. He’d loosened his grip on her now that Declan had baited him. If she could get a little more slack, she could get out of his grip.

  “That’s where you’re wrong again,” Jesse crowed. “He is a nobody. A telegraph operator who broke his oath. Easy as pie. After sending the official message to whoever it was supposed to go to, he’d send me a duplicate. Not so smart now, are you, Dec?” He sneered. “Unless there’s something else brilliant you and the marshals came up with.”

  Declan shrugged. “Let her go and I’ll tell you everything. She’s not important.”

  “Do you think I’m an idiot? Without her, I’m not getting out of here alive.” Ellie cried out as he shook her.

  Declan stepped forward, his gun pointed at them both. “You’re not getting off this train alive with her.”

  “We both know you’ll never risk her life, so drop the act.”

  She watched as Declan weighed the situation, and she saw the moment he recognized the truth in Jesse’s words. He would never risk her life. As long as Jesse had her, Jesse was safe.

  Anger rushed through her. She would not be a victim. She would not be taken, abused, and eventually killed off on a trail. If she left here with Jesse, she was as good as dead. Declan would come after her, but how long would it take for him to find her? And how long would Jesse keep her alive?

  It was too risky.

  Her eyes bore into Declan’s, and she saw the determination there. She nodded slowly a second before she let herself become dead-weight, knocking through Jesse’s hold and slamming to the ground.

  Declan fired his gun, and Ellie’s hair stood on end as the bullet flew inches above her head, finding its target in Jesse’s chest.

  Jesse staggered back a step, glancing at his torso a moment, before collapsing to the ground.

  Before Ellie could comprehend what was happening, Declan swooped her up and into his arms.

  She cried out as he held her, and he immediately adjusted his hold away from her arm. “Oh Lord, Ellie. Hold on.”

  He yanked a clean bandanna out of his pocket and deftly tied it around the wound. She gritted her teeth as he tightened it, hoping it would help keep her conscious.

  “The bullet went through.” He took her back into his arms.

  “Finn…” She couldn’t bring herself to ask.

  “He’s alive.”

  “And the rest? Jesse’s gang?”

  “It’s over, Ellie. We got them all. Jesse was the last of them.”

  Relief pumped through her so strongly, she almost collapsed. It was over. Truly over. “You took your sweet time.”

  His hand went to the back of her neck. “I thought a dramatic save was in order.”

  She snorted. “I swear you’ll never have to save me again.”

  He stilled. “If you ever do need me, I’ll be there. In fact, I’m coming with you to Promise Creek, Ellie.”

  She pulled back. “You are? Why?” Why would he do that? She didn’t plan on being there any longer than necessary.

  “Because I want to make sure you get there all right.”

  “Jesse’s dead. No one is going to hurt me now.” It was better they parted ways now. Having even another day with him would be too hard. She couldn’t bear to hope.

  His thumb traced her jaw. “I’ll make sure you get to Ivan safely. He’ll thank me for safeguarding his… bride.”

  Her lips twitched at his pause before the word bride. “I’ll never be his bride.”

  His eyes jerked to hers. “What?”

  “I’m not going to marry him. I’m never going to marry.”

  “What about the ranch?”

  She shrugged, trying to act like none of it mattered, when in reality, her heart was breaking. “I’ll figure out a way to build one on my own.”

  He shook his head.

  “You don’t think I can?”

  His hold tightened around her waist. “Oh, I have no doubt you can. It’s just that you won’t be building one on your own.”

  “I won’t?”

  “Uh uh. I’ll be building one with you.”

  Her heart stuttered. “You will?”

  He nodded. “Seems only right that we do it together, since we’ll be married.”

  She gasped. “Married? But you can’t marry. You told me you never wanted that life, that it was too dangerous for a marshal to have a family.”

  He nodded slowly. “Some marshals do. But I’m not going to be a marshal anymore, will I? I’ll be a rancher.”

  She longed to believe him. “You love being a marshal; it’s part of you. You protect people. I don’t want you to give that up for me. I’d never ask it of you.”

  “I know. I’m not doing it for you; I’m doing it for me. This life holds little appeal now. Since I met you, living a life with you has become my dream. There will always be men willing to capture the bad guys. But there’s only one man who will love you the way you deserve.”

  Her lips curved, and she ignored the dull ache in her arm as she encircled both arms around his neck. “And let me guess, you’re that man?”

  “Bingo.”

  She was laughing as he bent down to take her lips in a slow, sweet kiss. “What do you say, Ellie? Will you marry me so we can build a life together? I may not be a perfect husband, but I’ll be perfect at loving you. Nothing is more important to me. And if I can get that one thing right, I swear you’ll never regret it.”

  She swallowed hard. Was it any wonder she loved this man? This amazing, wonderful man who was willing to give up everything he knew and start anew with her? “I say yes. I love you, Declan. More than anything.”

  “Thank heavens.” He kissed her hard and fast, telling her with his lips, his body, his soul, how much he loved her, before he gave her the words. “I love you so much, Ellie, so much, that I’d be lost without you.”

  Her eyes crinkled in the corners. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

  “No, ma’am.” Amusement filled his eyes as his lips took hers once more.

  He would never be lost again.

  Epilogue

  Ellie stepped off the train and onto the platform in Promise Creek, and eyed the place that had almost been her home. It had snowed recently and small snow hills scattered the sides of the platform, but the wind was sweet and clean, and the mountains stole her breath.

  Declan whistled at the surroundings, before wrapping his arm around her and whispering, “It’s too late to change your mind, no matter how picturesque it is. You already promised to
marry me.”

  She pinched him. “And I will. As soon as we find a preacher.”

  “There’s probably one around here.” He eyed the buildings down the street, his gaze searching for a church steeple.

  They’d already decided to stay a night or two in Promise Creek to settle things with Ivan, but they hadn’t talked about when they’d marry.

  Liquid warmth spread through her as she looked into Declan’s eyes. After all they’d been through together, after all they’d overcome, it was funny she’d still be married in Promise Creek. Just to a different groom.

  She hoped Ivan wouldn’t be too disappointed.

  He pulled her closer and whispered hotly in her ear, “Does that suit you?”

  “Yes,” she said breathlessly, wondering if she’d ever get used to the feelings Declan stirred within her.

  “Good. Because I don’t think I’ll even make it through the night without having you as my wife.”

  She laughed. “We have to talk to Ivan first. I want to properly cut ties with him before we marry. He and I are still engaged after all.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head. “We,” he said meaningfully, “are engaged.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  His eyes crinkled before he kissed her, and she marveled at the change in him. It was unbelievable that they’d captured and killed Jesse’s gang just two days ago. In the time since, after he’d informed Chief Marshal Marshall he was retiring immediately, Declan had become softer and more carefree. The hard exterior he’d had since she’d first seen him melted away with each second.

  And she loved every moment she was with him.

  “Come on.” He took her hand. “Let’s see if someone can point us in Ivan’s direction.”

  He tugged her over to a porter a bit too enthusiastically, and she wanted to laugh.

  The older man took his cap in his hands, before smiling. “What can I do for you?”

  Ellie smiled back at him. “I’m looking for Ivan Pavlova. I’m his fiancée.”

  The man swallowed hard as his eyes bugged out. “You’re his… fiancée?”

  “Yes. His mail-order bride.”

  His mouth opened and closed so many times, Ellie began to see a resemblance to the fish in her father’s creek.

  Declan intervened then. “Can you tell us where Ivan lives?”

  “Oh dear.” He pushed the cap on his head. “You’ll want to come with me. Sheriff Morrison will have to explain things to you.”

  He turned to leave, but Declan stepped forward, forcing the man to stay. “Explain what?”

  The porter turned around, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “He’s dead. And you’re his tenth bride to arrive.”

  Her mouth hung open. “His tenth…”

  The man made a hasty exit as she floundered.

  “His tenth,” she repeated.

  Declan turned her to face him, a grin on his face as he notched her chin up. “Looks like you’re not engaged anymore, honey.”

  “But, but...” she spluttered.

  “Let’s go find us a preacher. You’re the only bride I want.”

  At his words, she turned to him with a smile. Could she be any luckier? “And you’re the only man I want for my husband.”

  He swooped her up in his arms, and she laughed at his display. “I love you, Declan.”

  “I’m going to make you repeat that at least twenty times tonight.”

  She kissed his neck as he walked across the platform. “I’ll say it forever.”

  “You’d better.”

  He laughed again when she pinched him.

  Ivan might’ve lied to her, but she was grateful to him. Had he not written to her, she wouldn’t have come to Montana, and she would’ve never met Declan.

  So whoever the man had been, she was thankful.

  He’d given her the love of her life. And she would always, always remember that.

  Titles by Janelle Daniels

  Scandals & Secrets

  Scandal of Love (Scandals & Secrets - Book 1)

  Masquerade Secrets (Scandals & Secrets - Book 2)

  Secrets in Mourning (Scandals & Secrets - Book 3)

  A Kiss with Scandal (Scandals & Secrets - Book 4)

  A Christmas Secret (Scandals & Secrets – Book 4.5)

  Miners to Millionaires

  A Mail-Order Heart (Miners to Millionaires - Book 1)

  A Mail-Order Wish (Miners to Millionaires – Book 2)

  A Mail-Order Hope (Miners to Millionaires – Book 3)

  A Mail-Order Dream (Miners to Millionaires – Book 4)

  Single Title Romance

  Sunkissed

  My Only Wish

  Collaborations

  Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Brides)

  The Witches of Redwood Falls

  The Witching Moon (The Witches of Redwood Falls - Book 1)

  The Witches Craft (The Witches of Redwood Falls - Book 2)

  Discover other titles by Janelle Daniels

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  A MAIL-ORDER CHANCE

  Dream Cache Publishing

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

  www.janelledaniels.com

  Copyright © 2017 by Janelle Daniels

  Cover Art © 2017 Erin Dameron-Hill

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