The Ultimatum Bride Read online

  The Ultimatum Bride

  (Mail-Order Matches)

  Leah Atwood

  Copyright © 2014 by Leah Atwood

  Cover Design @ Ramona at coversbyramona.blogspot.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other notes.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  “I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do about you.” George West glared at his son with obvious disappointment.

  Jesse West leaned back slightly, rocking on his heels. He knew he’d pushed his luck one too many times. If only those boys from the Bar H hadn’t shown up in town last night. They were trouble and everyone knew it, but that didn’t stop the sheriff from detaining him for throwing the first punch. Nor did it matter to the lawman that he was protecting a woman’s honor.

  All that mattered was he’d been warned not to participate in any more physical altercations. As luck would have it, he’d actually been fighting for a noble cause this time- not just because some cowboy ran their mouth for too long. Cal Stevens had grabbed Regina Owens’ arm after her repeated refusals of his advances. When he began dragging her across the room, Jesse refused to stand by and do nothing.

  Staring back at his father, continuing to meet him eye to eye, he refused to back down. George West was a solid man, both in stature and virtue. He was firm with his workers, but to this point, had been much too tolerant with his only son. Jesse was well aware of the leniency granted him and had used it to his advantage many times.

  But if the glint in his father’s eyes was any indication, that time had come to an end.

  “At your age, I was already married, raising four kids on my own and running a successful ranch.”

  “With the help of housekeepers and nursemaids.” Jesse bit his tongue to stop from saying more.

  George West slammed his fist down on the mahogany desk. “That’s enough!” he bellowed. Breaking the eye contact with his son, he turned away and stared out the window overlooking the vast spread of the Circle W ranch.

  Jesse stood still, waiting to see what would happen. Minutes passed and still his father remained silent. The steady tick tock of the grandfather clock along the wall contradicted the pounding of his heart.

  Slowly, his father turned back toward him, a bereaved frown adding years to his leathery face. “When your ma passed, I was a lost man. I made lots of mistakes, especially not spending the time I ought to have with you and your sisters. For years, I’ve been soft on you, trying to atone for that time of our lives. Now I can see the folly in those actions.”

  He trailed off, and Jesse wisely remained silent. Now was not the time to offer an apology for his outburst. His father had more to say, and gut feeling told Jesse he wasn’t going to like it. Not one bit.

  “Darrel Young approached me last week about a potential marriage between his daughter, Elsie, and you. You know I’ve never taken much stock in telling my children whom they can and cannot marry, but I’m having second thoughts. It’s high time you settle down and decide what you want from life.”

  “I won’t marry Elsie,” Jesse defied. Just the thought of marrying her made his skin crawl. On more than one occasion, he’d seen her taunting Laura Mays for her worn clothes, teasing Billy Myers for wearing spectacles. Not to mention all the times he’d seen her sneak behind a tree with various men for kisses. He was no angel himself, but he’d always treated someone with respect until they gave him a reason to behave otherwise.

  “I’m giving you two months to settle down. Find yourself a respectable wife, stop the brawling and be the man I know you can be. Otherwise, I will tell Darrel to expect a wedding soon.”

  “And if I refuse to marry Elsie?”

  George West’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Then you will be written out of my will.”

  Jesse blinked at his father’s harsh words. He’d known his time was running thin, but he’d never expected an action this extreme. There was only one thing he could do—he would find a wife who wasn’t Elsie. This ranch was his birthright—it meant too much to him. His blood, sweat and tears were in its dust. The alcohol and fighting, he could give up—it was as easy as staying out of the saloons. The Circle W he could never give up.

  “Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes, sir.” Jesse wasn’t happy about it, but he wasn’t being given much of a choice.

  “Good. Now, ride out to the south border and get that fence fixed.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Late that night, Jesse sat in an upholstered chair, thinking about the available woman from the town and surrounding ranches. By his own doing, his choices were limited. He had a wild reputation, which he’d rightfully earned. The only reason most of the respectable women would marry him was because he came with money, and that wouldn’t do. Just because he’d done some things he wasn’t proud of, been in a few too many fights, didn’t mean he had no morals or dreams.

  Ultimately, he did want a family—he wanted a wife to love him the way his ma had loved his pa. He was only a child when his ma passed away, but he remembered her gentleness, the shared smiles between his parents, the way Pa’s frown would turn around when Ma greeted him at the door.

  Faced with his flaws and their consequences, he decided now was the time to change. His father was right—the time had come to act like a man. His days of sowing wild oats were behind him. All three of his sisters were younger than he but already married. Josie even had a little daughter. How quickly could he change his reputation and find a wife who would want more than just his family’s money?

  Too many thoughts were circulating through his mind. He knew sleep would be a long time coming, so he went out to the barn. After saddling Blaze, his prized stallion, Jesse went for a late night ride. The night’s tepid air beat against him as Blaze galloped across the landscape, soaking in the unrestrained freedom.

  By the time he finished the ride, Jesse still wasn’t sure where he’d find a wife, but he felt more relaxed. He was brushing down Blaze when the idea came to him. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? The newspapers he’d read from the east were always listing advertisements for mail-order brides. Someone from out of town wouldn’t know of his reputation, nor his family’s money.

  Timing could be an issue. There wasn’t enough time to send a correspondence all the way east like in the newspapers he often read. Maybe he should place his advertisement in one of the St. Louis newspapers. It was a substantial city—certainly, there must be women there who were in need of a husband. Yes, it was close enough to cut down on communication and travel time, but far enough away to have the anonymity he desired.

  He’d also be taking a risk, agreeing to marry a woman he didn’t know. Although, he couldn’t imagine that she would be much worse than what he’d be faced with here? The idea required further thought—he’d think about it overnight. If sending for a mail-order bride still seemed to be a prudent solution come morning, he’d slip into town and send off a message. One way or another, he’d have a wife, two months from now, and that wife would not be Elsie Young.

  Chapter 2

  With shaky hands, Faith Donovan accepted her letter from the postmaster and hurried home to read it. Time was running out for her to find a new means of survival. For eight years, she
had faithfully served as a governess to the Wallace children. Next month, the entire family would be leaving the states, returning to their native England, and Faith would no longer be needed. Mrs. Wallace had an orphaned niece who would take over the governess duties once the family reached their destination.

  At least she’d had time to prepare, for all the good it had done. Mr. Wallace had given her a stellar recommendation to carry with her, but it appeared there were no families in St. Louis who needed a new governess. Although she’d prefer a position similar to her current one, she had looked at other avenues for employment. Unfortunately, there were no respectable positions available for which she qualified.

  In a moment of desperation, she replied to an advertisement for a mail-order bride. It was a last resort since, after witnessing years of her father’s abuse toward her mother, she vowed never to marry, but to her thinking, she saw no other opportunity. She would accept the risk of marriage before she ever resorted to the life of a spoiled dove, and that’s what her options were narrowing to, with the failure of her search for employment.

  Jesse West was the name of the man she replied to. She liked his name. It sounded strong, fit for a man of integrity. Only two other advertisements had caught her attention, but Jesse’s had mentioned that he had time constraints and would like a bride as soon as possible. In the end, she’d chosen him because she had a similar urgency.

  Faith fumbled with the letter before managing to open it. She was so nervous—what if he’d written to tell her he’d chosen someone else? Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the single sheet of paper, and some other items fell to the table. Gingerly, she picked them up, still holding the breath she’d taken. A train ticket. He wanted her. She’d have a home.

  Exhaling, she released the air pent up inside of her, then proceeded to read his response.

  Dear Miss Donovan,

  I am happy to have received your reply to my advertisement placed in The Daily Times. Enclosed you will find a ticket for your travel to Morganton. The train will depart St. Louis on the twenty-third of March. I have made arrangements for us to be married in a quiet ceremony before returning to the Circle W.

  I have taken the liberty of enclosing additional funds for your use as needed. I eagerly anticipate your arrival.

  Sincerely,

  Jesse West

  Faith read and reread the letter several times before she finally allowed herself to believe the good news. Very soon she would be living in Colorado as a married woman. That terrified her, but less so than the alternative. She appreciated that Jesse had not written flowery words of love and affection. Had he, she would have felt suspicious of him. While she fervently hoped for the best in this marriage, she was not a fool. She held no illusions of a love match, especially at this stage of the relationship. At most, she wished for a mutual respect and friendship.

  There was much to be done before she left. She had little of her own belongings, but they would still need to be properly packed. The money on the table caught her eye. Perhaps she should purchase a new dress for the occasion, but not with the money Jesse sent. Most of her earnings for the last eight years had been saved. It hadn’t seemed much with no prospects on the horizon, but now that she was to marry, she felt it would be permissible to buy a new dress. After all, her husband wouldn’t want to see her in a dowdy dress.

  The Wallace family still had three weeks before their own departure, and Faith had thought to remain with them until their final day, for Mrs. Wallace’s sake. The gentle lady had borne children later in years than most women of the day, and therefore had always seemed more of a mother to Faith as well. The entire family had been kind to Faith, and she would miss them deeply, especially the four boys. She would go find Mrs. Wallace now and give her the news.

  Making her way downstairs, Faith debated on how much to tell her employer. Quickly, she decided to tell her the full truth—she owed the woman nothing less. She found Mrs. Wallace in the library, overseeing the packing of her precious books.

  “May I speak with you privately, Ma’am?” Faith asked softly.

  “Of course, dear. I was just about to break for my afternoon tea. Let’s go to the parlor, and I’ll have Nonie brings us a tray.”

  Despite the comfort of the chair she sat in, Faith struggled not to squirm against her emotional discomfort. She took a sip of the hot tea that Nonie, the maid, had set in front of her.

  “Have you enjoyed your morning off?” Mrs. Wallace asked, breaking the silence.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Have you found any success in your search for a new position?”

  “That is what I wished to speak with you regarding,” Faith announced. She lingered before continuing. Her employer’s opinions mattered to her because she considered Mrs. Wallace a fair, wise woman. What if she did not think becoming a bride was a good idea? “I will be traveling to Colorado to marry a rancher. I answered his advertisement in the newspaper, and he has accepted my reply.”

  The lines of Mrs. Wallace’s face lit up, turning into a smile. “That is wonderful, my dear. Mr. Wallace and I were very concerned for your future.”

  Her enthusiasm surprised Faith. “You don’t think it's strange to marry a stranger?”

  “While I don’t think it is ideal, I do believe many wonderful matches can be made that way,” Mrs. Wallace answered. “And it does my heart good to know you will be taken care of. Why, I just told Mr. Wallace last night that we must purchase an extra pass and bring you with us, if you’d nowhere else to go. You must know that we care deeply for you. We love our boys, but you are like the daughter we never had.”

  Touched by Mrs. Wallace’s words, tears misted the corners of Faith’s eyes. It was true that she had been treated well above and beyond how a governess would have been regarded in any other family. Too late, Faith realized she really had been considered an extension of the family. To know they were willing to take her with them across the ocean meant a great deal.

  Mrs. Wallace regarded her with a keen eye. “You weren’t much older than a child when your mama passed.”

  Faith nodded, not wanting to remember that horrible time in her life. When her mama passed, Faith remembered feeling a sense of relief for her, that she’d finally escaped the beatings. She hadn’t stopped to think that with Mama gone, the beatings might fall on her. Fortunately, they never had. Her pa was too drunk most of the time to pay her any mind. She fended for herself the next several years until she met Mrs. Wallace at the market one day.

  Her children, only two of them at the time, had barely been of walking age, but had woven in and out of the stands. Mrs. Wallace became frantic when she lost track of them. Faith, overhearing the commotion, had stepped in to help and offered to entertain them while the lady finished her shopping, in exchange for a meal. That day, Faith unwittingly found herself employed and out of her father’s house for only fifteen years of age.

  “I appreciate everything your family has done for me,” Faith told Mrs. Wallace, wishing she was better with words. “I’m not certain where I’d be today, had you not hired me.”

  “Life has a way of working things out in the most peculiar ways.” Mrs. Wallace set her porcelain cup down, then leaned in close to Faith. “Tell me, dear, do you know what to expect from a marriage?”

  Reluctantly, Faith had to shake her head no. She’d observed Mr. and Mrs. Wallace and their interactions, but had also seen her own parent’s volatile marriage. She’d also been with the Wallace’s when they were just coming into their wealth and had servants to take care of most tasks. When it came down to it, Faith wasn’t sure just what it took to make a marriage succeed.

  “May I be frank with you?”

  Faith almost laughed at the intensity with which Mrs. Wallace spoke. It was clear, she had something on her mind. “Of course.”

  “I feel there are certain things I should discuss with you, that every young woman about to enter marriage should know. Were your mother still alive, the responsibility
would fall to her. Be it as it may, I feel it is my place to have this conversation with you.”

  For the next hour, Mrs. Wallace spoke of many things. She gave Faith advice on all aspects of running a household and being a wife. By the time she finished, Faith felt certain she was blushing from her head to stocking-clad toes. There was much more to marriage than she had ever thought.

  Chapter 3

  One week shy of his father’s two-month deadline, Jesse West sat on a bench at the train depot, waiting for his bride to arrive. Conflicting sentiments were tearing him apart. On one hand, he was anxious to meet his bride and become acquainted with her. He knew precious little about her beyond her age, that she’d spent the last eight years as a governess and had no siblings or live parents. There was nothing but instinct to tell him she would be a suitable match, but he’d been saying lots of prayers that they would be a good match.

  On the other hand, he was nervous about his family’s reactions. He’d purposely not told them anything, even making Horace at the post office, Reverend Anderson, and Leonard at the depot promise not to breathe a word to anyone, except Leonard’s wife. His sisters weren’t a concern—they’d never met a soul they hadn’t liked or taken under their wing. Though vastly different in personalities, each of his sisters had a heart of pure gold. It was his father he was worried about and didn’t want to risk news getting back to him before Jesse could put a ring on Faith’s finger.

  The deception ate at him. He knew it wasn’t fair to Faith, but he saw no way around it. In time, Pa would come to realize and accept his decision to send away for the bride, rather than marry someone from Morganton. And in the meantime, Jesse would have fulfilled his father’s demands to marry a respectable woman—he’d never dictated where the woman had to be from. However, Jesse knew it wouldn’t be a pretty scene when he told Pa. He could only hope and pray Faith wouldn’t be privy to the explosion.