Mail Order Bride - Westward Destiny: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 4) Read online

  She not only knew her way around a kitchen, she was well acquainted with housework in general, she thought as she looked around Mr. Norton’s living room. She kept the place clean and neat. Jamie was the most fun person she knew, and she and her late husband Bobby had planned on having children, but he’d passed away before that could happen.

  As she read it a third time, hope began to rise within Jamie. She could envision herself living in Montana. The climate wasn’t much too different there than in North Dakota. She’d already been a wife, so she knew what that entailed. Jamie decided she would write back that night, but she was going to mail it from a neighboring town so the busybodies in Walhalla wouldn’t know anything about the letter. Everything Jamie did was gossiped about. Moving to Montana would give her some privacy, too.

  All through the rest of the day, Jamie kept thinking about that advertisement, and couldn’t wait to be done working, so she could go home and write a letter that would blow that Montana ranch hand’s socks off!

  Someone banged on Luke’s door so hard he jumped. He got up from the chair where he’d been taking off his boots. He was prepared to yell at whoever was knocking like that. Opening the door, he encountered Seth and frowned.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Luke demanded.

  Seth arched an eyebrow at him. “Is that any way to talk to your boss?”

  “You’re not my boss. Dean is and you know it. He’s everyone’s boss,” Luke said.

  “Nah. We just let him think that,” Seth said. “Are you gonna let me in or not?”

  Luke backed up so his cousin could enter. “What are you banging on my door like that for?”

  “Your door? Don’t you mean my door?” Seth said.

  Luke folded his arms over his chest. “Last I checked, this bunkhouse was given to me to use, and I have a reasonable expectation that it should be treated as my place of residence, which means that you need to afford me the same courtesy you would expect if I were to come to your house,” he said.

  “You’ve been hanging around with Marcus too much. That sounds like some kinda crap he would spout. Anyway, I come bearing news,” Seth said with a smile, as he waved an envelope. “I think you got a bite on that ad Marcus put out for you.”

  Luke gave Seth a displeased look. “That was supposed to be private.”

  “Well, the thing you need to know about Marcus is that when he’s hopped up on Lakota moonshine, his lips tend to flap a lot, so be careful what you tell him because you never know when it might come out. You’re better off telling me, because I can hold my liquor a lot better than he can,” Seth said conspiratorially.

  “Great,” Luke said and rolled his eyes. “Can I have my mail, please?”

  “Only if I get to read it, too,” Seth said.

  “Hell, no! Now fork it over,” Luke responded.

  “C’mon, Luke. Be reasonable,” Seth said. “It might be good for you to have someone to talk to about it. Someone who won’t say anything.”

  “Fine,” Luke said and held out his hand.

  Seth gave him the letter and Luke sat down to read it.

  Dear Luke,

  I hope you don’t mind that I don’t call you Mr. Samuels. I’m not the formal type, as you’ll see. I saw your ad in the paper today and I had to write you immediately. I’ve been looking for someone like you for a long time, and I didn’t want to waste any time.

  My measurements are 36-24-36 and I’m five feet, seven inches tall. Although you can’t see it in the photograph I sent, I have deep auburn hair and bright green eyes. I’m a widow, so I’m experienced in womanly ways. I cook, clean, and the women in my family are very fertile. I don’t have any children, but I hope to soon.

  I like having a good time and I’d like to have a good time with you. You sound like a man I’d like to get to know a lot better. A lot better. I’m twenty-six, but I need a younger man who can keep up with me.

  Don’t keep me waiting,

  Jamie Collins

  Luke handed Seth the letter while he looked at the photograph she’d sent. It was a black and white full body shot. Keeping her hair and eye color in mind, Luke scrutinized her face. Her eyes were very pretty and he could imagine they would be even more so in person. Her full lips were curved in an alluring smile and she had a pretty nose. Her hair was long and curly. His eyes trailed down over a tantalizing figure. She wore a dress that exposed a graceful neck and shoulders, not to mention a generous amount of impressive cleavage. Everything about her was beautiful and Luke couldn’t believe someone like that had answered his ad.

  Seth said, “If you don’t write this woman back, I’ll slap the crap out of you.”

  Luke was silent as he handed over the picture. Seth’s eyes widened and then he smiled. “Hot damn, Luke. You got a live one on the line. You better reel her in, son, before she gets snagged by some other fisherman,” he said.

  Luke got up and paced across the floor. “I can’t, Seth. Look at her.”

  “I am! And that letter? If I wasn’t crazy in love with my wife, I’d take a swing at her,” Seth said.

  “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. She’s gorgeous. Look at me around women. I can only string a couple of sentences together. She’s looking for someone fun. I’m not fun,” Luke said.

  “That’s not true. You’re fun and one hell of a poker player,” Seth said. “And you play a mean fiddle.”

  “Yeah, but that’s not around women. I’m not like Marcus–”

  “Nobody’s like Marcus,” Seth interjected.

  Luke gave him a dark look. “You know what I mean. Marcus can make anything fun without even trying. He finds the humor in everything. Hell, you’re more fun than I am,” Luke said.

  Seth said, “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”

  “The point is that she would come here, spend about an hour with me and be ready to head back or start looking around for someone else,” Luke said.

  Seth felt sympathy for his cousin. Charlene had done a number on him, all right. When she’d left him standing there in the church that day, she’d shattered the poor boy’s self-confidence. He couldn’t see his positive qualities.

  “Luke, sit down. I’m going to tell you some serious things. I’m not kidding around,” Seth said.

  Luke sat down.

  “Marcus is fun, that’s true. He’s also reckless, impulsive, and a little flighty. Don’t get me wrong, he’s sharp as a tack and a great husband and father, but still. His personality works for Claire, but not every woman is Claire. This woman might be looking for someone a little steadier. You’re loyal as the day is long, strong as an ox, you’ve got a good work ethic and you’re kind. Now don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a good-lookin’ man, too. So you’ve got a lot of good things going for you,” Seth said.

  “Thanks,” Luke said.

  Seth grinned and said, “Besides, I think this woman’s idea of fun is something you can handle. Plus, she’s broken in.” He winked at his cousin.

  Luke laughed. “Do I have to worry about you meeting her and trying to steal her from me?”

  “Nope, but I’ll tell you this– if you do make up your mind to have her come here, you’d better not waste any time getting her to the altar, because a woman who looks like that is gonna get all kinds of attention,” Seth said. “Understand?”

  Luke nodded. “I appreciate your advice.”

  “Told you I could help you,” Seth said. “Now, I need to go home to my woman or she’ll be wondering what happened to me. Goodnight, Luke.”

  “’Night, Seth.”

  Chapter Three

  “You did what?” Lacey Reagan asked Jamie a few days after she had sent the letter.

  “Shh! Keep your voice down,” Jamie said. “You heard me.”

  They sat in the local diner and Jamie didn’t want to be overheard.

  Lacey shouldn’t have been shocked at her best friend Jamie’s impulsive behavior, but she was. It was crazy, even for Jami
e.

  Jamie looked into Lacey’s dark eyes and laughed. “I just couldn’t resist. He sounds wonderful and he’s younger so I can bend him to my will. Or maybe he can bend me to his.”

  “Jamie!” Lacey said. It always amazed Lacey how open about sex Jamie could be. “You don’t even know him.”

  Jamie stirred her tea and looked around the diner. “I plan to. I gotta get out of here, Lacey. I’m tired of this place. There’s nothing here for me and all the women hate me. I can’t help it that men like me.”

  Lacey frowned. “You make sure they like you, Jamie. You like the attention and you know it.”

  Jamie gave her a little smile. “Maybe I do a little. I only act like that because I’m bored. It’s the same old thing here every day and there are no men worth having here. You know it’s true.”

  Lacey tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Yes. You’re right. The pickings are slim and even the available men are no one I would want to be with.”

  “See? So, I’m taking a chance on this big, strong ranch hand and getting the hell out of here,” Jamie said. “You should come, too. I’ll bet he has some friends. I hear there’s a shortage of women out west. You’re a pretty girl. You’d have a man in no time.”

  Lacey’s twin dimples flashed as she smiled at that. “I can’t go anywhere. I don’t have that kind of courage.”

  Jamie shrugged. “What other choice do you have? Stay here and become an old wrinkled up prune? Or should I say prude?”

  “I am not! I just think that you should wait until you’re married to… you know,” Lacey said.

  Jamie let out a sarcastic sound. “That’s overrated, but each to her own. So can you take me over to the post office in Sayre? I need to see if he answered me. Please?”

  Lacey had her own buggy and Jamie was always asking for rides.

  “All right. Let’s go,” Lacey agreed.

  The post office in Sayre was crowded, but Jamie didn’t care, because no one there knew her and she didn’t have to be worried about wagging tongues. When she went up to the window and asked if there was any mail for her, Jamie kept her fingers crossed for good luck. The clerk handed her a letter and she was so happy she could have kissed the man.

  She rushed back out to Lacey’s buggy and climbed in. Immediately she opened the letter and read it.

  Dear Jamie,

  I don’t mind that you didn’t call me Mr. Samuels because it makes me sound old, plus everyone calls my Pa that, so Luke is just fine with me. I’m not used to writing letters, but I’ll do my best. It’s nice to be writing to someone who speaks their mind. It makes it easier to get to know someone. You’re a beautiful woman and I thank you for sending your picture. I don’t mind that you’re a couple of years older than me. Two years doesn’t make much difference, I don’t think. Now if we were talking twenty that would be different. Especially since I want to have kids and I need someone fertile, as you put it.

  It’s good to know that you’re experienced with domestic chores, but I don’t need anything fancy. I have a steady job. I work for my cousins. They’re a great bunch of guys. I have a pretty little piece of land, but I’m working on saving up the money to build a house. I hope that doesn’t bother you. There would be no problem with us living on the ranch for a while once we were married.

  I’m sorry I don’t have a picture. I’m six feet four and my cousin Marcus tells me I’m built like Hercules, so I guess I pass in the looks department. The main thing I’m after is someone who’s committed to me and who I can trust.

  Dawson County is a real pretty place to live. I think you’d like it here. There are a lot of good people here, too. I’m close to my family and it’s never boring. There’s always something to do. I play fiddle and so does my cousin Seth. Sometimes at night we play together and everyone dances. It’s a lot of fun.

  I’m sorry about your husband passing away. That had to be hard. What kind of work do you do? I’ve actually been to North Dakota a few times on cattle drives and it’s pretty country. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Sayre, though. How come someone as pretty as you hasn’t been snapped up by some fella? Why do you want to be a mail-order bride?

  I might as well tell you that I was stood up at the altar a couple of years ago and I don’t ever want to go through that again, so if you’re not really serious about this, tell me now. Sorry to put it that way, but it’s the truth. Ask me anything you want and I’ll tell you the truth. I’m looking forward to hearing from you again.

  Sincerely,

  Luke

  Jamie put the letter back in the envelope. Her heart went out this man who’d been hurt so much. If Luke was as nice and handsome as his letter said, she couldn’t imagine why someone wouldn’t want him. She got a big smile on her face as she turned to Lacey.

  “I think I just found my next husband,” she said.

  Lacey’s dark eyes got big. “Oh, Jamie, please tell me you’re not going to go there to live. What am I supposed to do without you?”

  Jamie grabbed Lacey’s arms. “Then come with me!”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’m scared. What if I don’t like it there?” Lacey said.

  Jamie looked at her and said, “I’ll tell you what– I’ll go first and see what it’s like, and then I’ll let you know whether to come or not. First though, I’ll find you some handsome cowboy who’s good enough for you. How does that sound?”

  Lacey’s eyes lit up. “Ok. But please be careful. I mean, you don’t know this man. He could be awful. Or old. You have no way to know he’s telling you the truth.”

  Jamie sighed. “I guess that’s just the chance I’ll have to take.” Then she smiled again. “His cousin Marcus says he’s built like Hercules. How’s that for a picture? Mmmm. He sounds yummy.”

  Lacey giggled as she pulled the buggy back out on the road and headed for Walhalla.

  Dear Luke,

  I was so happy to get your letter! Dawson County sounds wonderful and so do you. I’m looking for the same things you are, so we have that in common. I am very intrigued by you and can’t wait to meet you. Yes, I’m ready to come out there. I think I know what I need to know about you and it’s better to learn about someone in person, anyway.

  I work for a horrible old man named Mr. Norton. I’m his housekeeper and cook and I like the work, but I don’t like him. The reason I’m not with anyone is because there aren’t really any men here to be had. I want to be a mail-order bride because I would like to get married again but I don’t want to go through a lengthy courtship. Plus, I would like to have a family.

  Bobby, my late husband, and I never got around to it. Thank you for your kind words about him. He was a good man and I miss him, but it’s time to get on with my life again. He would want me to be happy. As far as a house goes, I can make do until we would get one built. I’m not all that fancy, so that’s fine. Besides, it might be fun living on a ranch for a while.

  So Mr. Hercules, you just give me the word and I’ll be on the first coach out of here and on my way to you.

  Hurry,

  Jamie

  Marcus sat in the cookhouse with his brothers, their ranch hands Marty and Ray and his nephew. They were all looking at the picture of Jamie.

  “How’d you get this out of his bunkhouse?” Dean asked Marcus.

  “I’m sneaky, remember? Besides, I’ll just slip back in and put it where it was,” Marcus said.

  Ray said, “She’s one hell of a woman. You think Luke can handle her?”

  Seth said, “Yeah. He can handle her. Don’t worry. It’ll just take him a little time.”

  “It doesn’t sound like she’s going to give him much time,” Marty said. “She sounds hot to trot.”

  Dean said, “Now, let’s be a little gentlemanly about this.”

  Jack whistled as he looked at the picture. “Man, look at those…eyes,” he said as he flicked a look at his father.

  Marcus laughed. “Yeah, she has real pretty ‘eyes’ doesn’t she?”


  “Don’t encourage him, Marcus,” Dean said.

  “Aw, c’mon, Dean. Lighten up. We’re just having a little fun,” Seth said.

  The door to the cookhouse opened and Luke came in. Marcus snatched up the picture and hid it under the table. He pulled up his pants leg and tucked it into his boot and pulled his pants leg down. “Hey, Luke. How goes it?”

  “Fine.” He held out his hand.

  Marcus just looked at it. “What?”

  “The picture, Marcus. I know you have it,” Luke said.

  “Picture? What picture?” Marcus said.

  Luke stepped towards Marcus and Jack moved out of the way. “Cuz, you’re in close quarters and there’s no room for you to try your Indian fighting on me. So unless you want me to snap your neck like a twig, I’d suggest you give it back to me.”

  Seth snickered and the other men laughed as well. Marcus made a face and pulled the picture out of his boot and handed it over. “How’d you know it was me?”

  “You might be able to move silently, but you’re not invisible,” Luke said. “I saw you go in my bunkhouse earlier and when I went in there to get my other rope I noticed the picture was gone. I can add two and two. Anyone here takes it again and I’ll break their arm.”

  There was a chorus of “sure” and “ok” when he finished.

  Luke left and the cookhouse erupted in laughter. Seth grabbed Marcus by the back of his neck and shook him a little. “Sneaky, huh? Guess you’re not sneaky enough!”

  Marcus knocked his hand away but laughed right along with the rest of them.

  Luke smiled to himself as he went to his bunkhouse and put the picture back on his chest of drawers. He’d never seriously hurt Marcus or any of the others, but it was fun to let them think he would. He looked at Jamie’s picture and thought about her last letter. The more he did the more he wanted to meet her. Luke had received other letters, but none of them appealed to him the way Jamie’s letter had.

  He had a little time on his hands, so he figured he’d write her back.

  Jamie borrowed Lacey’s buggy and picked up her friend Samantha to go with her. Lacey was working at her father’s store, so she wouldn’t need her buggy for a while.