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Swept Away Book Cover

Swept Away

by Anne Caldwell
writing as
Jean Anne Caldwell

Jove Historical Romance
ISBN 0-515-11161-9

Prologue

    Jennifer Fairchild stepped down from the train and handed the porter a silver dollar for his untiring assistance with her mound of bags and boxes. It was difficult to imagine that after all the months of planning, she was finally on the brink of realizing her dream. St. Louis. Gateway to the West. The ride from Philadelphia had appeared to take forever. Yet she would reach Kansas City by evening. The true West.
    With regret, she glanced over at the two young ladies sitting on the wooden bench next to her baggage. It was a shame they would be parting company after having just met. Jenny would have welcomed their continued companionship on the next portion of her journey.
    Having checked on the arrival of her train, she joined them on the hard bench. She had so wanted to ask them their advice on the decisions she would have to make once she arrived in Kansas City, but she couldn't risk telling anyone of her destination in case her father sent someone to bring her home. But then she had known that running away from home would be a lonely venture. At least, until she was settled and could send for her sister, Izzy.
    Jenny leaned back and listened to Lucy tell about the husband-to-be waiting for her in Starlight, New Mexico and wished she could be as enthusiast about her own future. While Lucy went on and on about her good fortune, Lacey remained quite, almost cynical about the prospect of Lucy being a mail-order bride.
    Of course, Jenny would never consider such an arrangement for herself. Thank goodness she had money of her own and was able to secure a goodly portion of her inheritance before leaving Philadelphia. Money meant independence. With it, she had no call to have her way West paid by a stranger and for that she was grateful. She never planned on having to answer to the authority of a man again.
    "Paper, miss?"
    Jenny looked down into the face of the small boy standing in front of her. From the hopeful smile on his lips, she knew he must have seen the tip she gave the porter. Unfortunately, the train she would be transferring her belongings to would be arriving soon so she had no need for a copy of the St. Louis paper he was banishing about. Even so, the boy looked in need of a sale, Jenny told herself as she rummaged through her reticule for a coin.
    Finding a shiny new half-dime, she held it out to the lad. As he reached out to take it from her fingers, a man rudely pushed him aside and grabbed Jenny's bag.
    "Stop, thief," she screamed, but he was around the corner and out of sight before Jenny could get to her feet.
    She stared down at her empty hand. Gone. Everything was gone. Her money. Her ticket. All she had left was the newspaper the lad had left at her feet. The ad in the bottom corner drew her eye, mocking her with its words.

Mail-order brides needed.

Apply at

Miss Emily's Positions For Young Ladies.

Updated January 12, 2007

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