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where you ’ ll sleep the rest of this week. ”
     
    Courtney le Brush had never been one to cry over a man, but that night, as she lay in the bed Brandon had shown her to, tears fell from her eyes. She had wanted so much for this to work out. It wasn ’ t going to though. In her heart, she knew that was true.
     
    For the first time in her life, she felt her heart break in a million tiny pieces.
     
     
     

Saving the Bride: A Mail Order Bride Historical Western Romance
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     

     
    It always happened when she saw Paul in town. Of course it did. Courtney hated the feeling that washed through her, the enormous wave of sadness that swept through her. It didn ’ t help that he gave her a look of pity before turning away.
     
    Like her, Paul had thought things would work out between her and his brother, Brandon. Courtney had married Brandon after answering an ad Paul had placed in the town paper. She was no longer married to the man though. After a single night of sex, he ’ d pushed her away, telling her to leave his place as soon as Paul returned.
     
    That had been over a month ago. She ’ d counted the days since she ’ d left the ranch. In the week she ’ d remained at the ranch, she had cooked and cleaned for Brandon and his hired hands, but she hadn ’ t spoken much. She ’ d done her duties and left it at that. Looking at Brandon had been the hardest part, for the more she watched him working with his men, his horse, the cattle, the more she fell in love with him.
     
    He was a kind-hearted person, she knew. It was just that she was here after he ’ d had his heart crushed before. She was a sore reminder of what he ’ d lost, she knew. She would never be to him what he ’ d become to her.
     
    She shook her head. That was the past. She had her father to think about. He was the reason she ’ d agreed to the marriage in the first place. Her father had informed her that they were broke. Even though he had no suspicions against the man, Courtney was pretty certain it was the doing of Talbert, the accountant her father insisted on working with.
     
    According to her father, Talbert was a respectable man with only the best intentions. According to Courtney, Talbert was a sleaze of a man who looked at her like she was something to eat.
     
    She hated the man. He disgusted her, repulsed her. Every time he touched her, she felt like bugs were crawling across her skin.
     
    It was nothing to the way Brandon had made her feel. He had looked at her like she was something to be claimed, with heat in his eyes, passion, desire. It drove her wild. Then, when he ’ d touched her, it had burned with the same intensity, but at the same time, she felt protected, cherished, and — to be honest — loved. He ’ d possessed her, but he ’ d thrown her away as if she disgusted him, or he disgusted himself. She had never known which it was.
     
    In the end, it didn ’ t matter. He didn ’ t want her, had sent her away the first moment he could. While she ’ d been willing to make things work between them, he hadn ’ t. He just wanted her gone, so when Paul returned to the ranch to visit, she ’ d packed her bags and left.
     
    It had been a miserable ride, spent with her face in her hands, crying as soon as the ranch was behind them. She ’ d felt sorry for Paul, who ’ d driven the wagon, as he sat looking uncomfortable and just as miserable. She ’ d apologized profusely when he dropped her off at her father ’ s house.
     
    “ It ’ s alright Miss le Brush. You love him. ” He smiled at her. “ You didn ’ t have to, but you did. He ’ s a fool not to have seen it. ”
     
    He was right, of course. She had fallen in love with his brother. She hadn ’ t expected it, and now she wished she could drive the memory of the man from her mind. Life at home had returned to pretty much normal.
     
    Her father had never even noticed she was gone. According to their butler, Gerald, he ’ d spent