The Cowboy’s Orphan Bride

Good book. Bridgette and Garth were friends as children at a New York orphanage and planned to stay together. But they were separated during their trip west on an orphan train and hadn’t seen each other in the nine years since then. Garth was adopted by a cruel man and quickly struck out on his own, hooking up with a cattle drive. Nine years later he has become a respected cattleman in his own right. He has reached the point where he is driving his own herd to market, ready to begin the next stage of his life. While he has never forgotten Bridgette, he has pushed her memory deep into his past. Meanwhile, Bridgette was adopted by a doctor and his wife. She spent the last nine years as an assistant to the doctor and was frequently sent to stay with various families when they needed help. She never forgot Garth and the promises they made to each other and wondered if she would ever see him again.

I liked both Garth and Bridgette. Both of them had strong personalities. Garth is a man who is a hard worker, who thinks things through and makes his plans accordingly. He is honest and fair and respected by those who know him. He also has a sensitive side that he keeps pretty well hidden. Bridgette is feisty and independent and is frequently impulsive. She has a kind heart and often dreams of a home and family of her own.

I enjoyed the development of Bridgette and Garth’s relationship. Their first meeting did not go the way that Bridgette had often imagined, with sweet words and promises fulfilled. Instead, there was a confrontation over a cow and its calf, harsh words, and a lack of recognition. I ached a bit for Bridgette when that recognition did come, as Garth’s attitude was not at all what she expected and put an end to the dreams she’d had about him. Seeing Bridgette again brought his memories of her back to the surface, and though he tried, he couldn’t bury them again. Garth’s appearance stirred up Bridgette’s desire to pursue the future that she wanted, and she impulsively took off for Dodge, hoping to use that as a starting point for a trip west and a new life. However, things did not go quite as she expected, and she found herself in a situation where she claimed to be a married woman – Mrs. Garth McCain. When Garth arrived in Dodge, he hit a delay in processing his cattle. Not the patient sort, he went in search of the person he needed to see and ended up in another confrontation with Bridgette.

The sparks flew between Garth and Bridgette, and they only got stronger when Garth discovered the deception. Bridgette is apologetic, and Garth is ready to set the record straight, except a part of him doesn’t want to create problems for her. Things became more complicated when an issue with the cattle auction made it expedient for them to continue the masquerade. It was great fun to see the interactions between them, as Garth’s methodical planning of every little thing ran up against Bridgette’s impulsive, make-it-up-as-you-go attitude. Garth seemed to be in a constant state of confusion around Bridgette, attracted, amused, and frustrated but also certain that she would be better off back with the doctor. It didn’t take long for Bridgette to realize that she was in love with Garth and experience a rollercoaster of emotions because of it. I ached for her as she wanted that dreamed of a life with him, but he kept pushing her away. That love also drove her to want to help him, creating another hilarious yet heartwarming scene. I was on the edge of my seat as a near tragedy made Garth realize just how much he loved Bridgette.

There was a little bit of suspense as Garth encountered problems when he arrived in Dodge to sell his cattle. It was very interesting to get a behind the scenes look at the process and the machinations that ensued. I loved the way the issue was resolved. It was great to see the women save the day.

The secondary characters were terrific. I think JoJo and Bat were my favorites. It was pretty clear that JoJo knew Garth very well. I liked how he appeared to smooth the way between Garth and Bridgette at times, and how he helped Bridgette see past the gruff and grouchy cattleman to the man inside. The young boy Bat showed Garth’s softer side, as Garth’s kindness and protectiveness toward the boy demonstrated. Cecil was obnoxious and embodied everything that Bridgette didn’t want in her own life, but even he showed that it is possible for people to change. I enjoyed the various townspeople, from Nathaniel and his wife to the owner of the Crystal Palace. I loved the “recipe club” and expect that they will play a big part in Bridgette’s future. An epilogue showing Garth and Bridgette a few years later would have been nice. Maybe they’ll show up in a later book.