Southern Belle — Zoe Matthews

This short story is a prequel to the “Mail-order Brides of America” series.

Elizabeth is from a very prestigious family in North Carolina. She falls in love with Thomas when she is 16 and they marry a few years later. Elizabeth is so happy to have found love and is excited to start a family. One of her greatest wishes is to be a mother.

She soon finds that she is expecting a child, but complications arise and she is hit with a great heartache when her baby dies. Thomas has a difficult time seeing her suffering and decides to take matters into his own hands, helping her see that life sometimes can take a different course than planned, but that path can be a good one.

When Elizabeth finally understands and sees Thomas' vision of their future, she embraces it. With Thomas' help, they open their home to orphan girls in honor of their daughter. Throughout the ensuing years, they help many young girls have a better life, and some of them become mail-order brides that choose husbands who live different places in the United States.