Gunman's Bride

The Gunman's Bride is an Inspirational Historical Romance which I am using for my Romance book for the Literary Exploration Challenge and as G for Ato Z challenge.

Laura Rose C married Bart Kingsley when she was young.  Her father did not know about the marriage and arranged a marriage for her.  Bart disappeared after they were married and they had not consumated the marriage.  Laura Rose left Kansas and moves to New Mexico using the name Laura Kingsley.  Bart looked all over for his Rosey and winds up in New Mexico and is shot by the sheriff and climbs into Laura's room.  Laura does what she can for him and he soon disappears.

When Bart shows up again, he is helping put out a fire and is using the name Burt Springfield.  He courts Laura and they run away to get married.  Laura wanted to teach and they wanted a married woman to teach.  When they get back from their "wedding" Laura finds out that other woman was hired.  The Springfields settle down on a homestead and soon are raising chickens and have milk cows.  Burt is raising a beet crop.  Things seem to be going well.  The teacher that was hired does not work out and Laura gets the job.  When one of her student's is killed, she goes home.  Because of the death, Laura misses a doctor's appointment.  When she finally sees the doctor, she finds out she is with child.

Some of the outlaws thay Bart rode with come to town and try to talk him into robbing the train.  Bart has Laura move to the hotel in town.  Unfortunately, her father finds her there and decides to take her home.  Bart climbs into her hotel room to have a night with her.  Laura and her dad board the train, but the train is stopped.  Bart manages to hold the train long enough to show Dr. Vermillion their marriage certificate.  Laura tells him she is pregnant.  She finds out his record is cleared but he can not go to Missouri or he'll be arrested.  They get off the train and go home.

I finished this book in one day.  It was extremely easy to read.  I enjoyed the fact that Bert or Burt had to court Laura before they run off to get "married".   At the end of the book, there is historic background that was the basis for the book.  This book does have them going to church and Laura does try to teach him manners.  It is a book anyone should enjoy.