Featuring "Christmas in July" Books 

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

A Surprise for Christmas

Confederate Widows, Spinsters and Proxy Brides series

by Zina Abbott 

          Pouringout the last of the coffee, Jeffrey placed the cup on the table before hehooked the cane on the top rung of the ladderback chair and eased his body intothe seat. He stretched out his leg and shifted it to find a comfortableposition. Then he opened the letter. 

 

          Jeffrey read with sorrow that thedoctor assured Analia that her mother had less than a month to live. His griefwas not for his own loss, but for that of the woman whose hand he intended toask for in his next letter. However, when he read the next paragraph, his browscrunched.

 

          “It is with gratitude that I read your agreement to aproxy marriage to be completed prior to my departure. Upon receiving yourletter, I took it to my pastor and made arrangements. I look forward to thetime I am able to travel to Kansas and meet you in person. I will explain thereason behind my haste once I arrive in Topeka.

 

          “Themarriage ceremony on my end took place this past Friday with a church deaconstanding in as proxy, and the pastor’s wife and the church groundskeeperserving as witnesses. I am including a duplicate copy of the marriagecertificate, which the pastor so graciously provided, and the witnesses agreedto sign in triplicate. According to him, he will file the original with thecounty clerk. I have one copy, and the third is enclosed. The marriage is nowvalid and binding. At least, it is upon me. I do understand and accept youropinion shared in your last letter you prefer the idea of us having a secondceremony once I arrive to reaffirm our vows before those of the society inwhich we will live. However, I ask that you have your proxy wedding performedin advance of my leaving Baltimore so the marriage is legal and in full effect.

 

          “Ianxiously await your reply, which I trust will include funds for my travel andthe date your proxy wedding took place.”

 

          As he stared at the second sheet ofpaper he pulled to the side to view, Jeffrey felt a surge of emotion well upwithin. He was unable to determine if what he felt was amazement, anger, orindignation—or a combination of all three. All he knew was, it almost took hisbreath away. There it was—a marriage record including his name and that ofAnalia Cantrell—signed with a signature along with a notation that theofficiator held the position of pastor. The signatures and spelled-out names oftwo witnesses were also present. I am a married man? At least, on her end?

 

          Although he wrote he was agreeable toa proxy marriage, what had prompted the woman to conclude that amounted to aproposal? He did not recall actually asking her to marry him. Why did she havethe proxy marriage performed so quickly?

 

          It was good he already decided she washis choice for a bride. After draining his coffee and shoving his cup to jointhe other dirty dishes on the table, Jeffrey pushed himself to his feet. Heturned toward the desk. It was time to write a letter officially asking for her hand in marriage. Sincehe planned to go into Topeka for a haircut, anyway, he might as well followthrough with everything. Before he sealed and mailed it, he would visit thebank and withdraw enough money to purchase train tickets from Baltimore toTopeka, plus enough extra to provide for travel expenses. 

 

          After walking to his desk in thecorner of the small room—an oversized closet with a window—that passed for hisoffice, he sat, pulled out a sheet of paper, ink, and writing nib. Shaking hishead, he began his response. He hoped the woman was not this impulsive abouteverything. What am Igetting myself into?

 

A Surprise for Christmas  is currently on a Kindle Countdown sale through Sunday, July 20th. Customers in the U.S. and U.K. may purchase the book for 99c. It is also available at no extra cost for those with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE   

Coming in August is my book, Mail Order Barber,  the final book in the Hopeful Husband's series. It is currently on pre-order. To find the book description and purchase options, please  CLICK HERE

 

 

Hal's Lucky Escape is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most recent book in the Prairie Roses Collection, Sue, is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

  

 

My book, The Mine Owner's Rescue,  Book 7 in The Rich Man Takes a Bride series is also available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

A Holiday Christmas in July

Includes my own VINEGAR PIE BY VARINIA, LEMON COOKIES BYLISBETH, MARIGOLD, and PHOEBE

Please CLICK HERE 

 

Watch for Anthelia Yosemite Bride, coming soon. 

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