Mail Order Bride - Westward Joy: Clean Historical Cowboy Romance Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 16) Read online

  Dear Rachel,

  I’m not sure if you remember me, but my name is Will Foster. This letter is going to seem strange to you, but bear with me. I’m a friend of Sammi’s and she gave me your address. I’ve been looking for a wife and I really hate to admit it, but I’m not having much luck in that department. I’ve tried the mail-order-bride approach, but that didn’t work out very well for me. I’m still trying, but nothing has come of it yet. I told you this letter was going to be odd. Anyway, she said that you’re looking for a husband and thought that maybe you and I would be a good match. I’m not so prideful that I won’t consider it. If I don’t get a response back from this letter by the time a month is up, I’ll take that as a sign that you aren’t interested in pursuing something like this.

  I work as assistant manager of the Thompson’s Feed Mill. My older brother, Tucker, manages the place now because Mr. Samuels retired. It’s a good job, but I’m working to get my woodworking business officially off the ground. I’ll be glad when that happens because I’ll be doing what I love, and I won’t have my brother breathing down my neck all the time. I love him, but it’s a pain in rear end working for him.

  You might not recall what I look like. I have blond hair, green eyes, I’m 5’ 11” tall, and I am about 175 lbs. Marcus said I’m ruggedly handsome. I’m not sure what that really means, but I’ll just go with his description. Drawing, woodworking, and stone masonry are the things I like doing best and I’m good at it. At least that’s what my customers say.

  That probably doesn’t sound exciting, but it is to me. I’m really passionate about creating things that people can use and that they find beautiful, too. I don’t skimp on my work because I want it to be around a hundred years from now.

  I was real sorry to hear about your aunt passing away. I’m sure it’s got to be lonely for you since you’re not married. I remember when you worked for Elliot. You were always so cute and helpful. As I recall, I thought one time about asking you out, but you were going with Reckless at the time and I’m not the type to try to steal someone like that.

  I don’t know if you know, but he’s married and he and Brook have twins. They’re really cute. You’ll get a kick out of this next thing. The woman who came here to marry me back in April ended up marrying Raven. Yeah, Raven. Zoe (that’s her name) and I just didn’t click. We got along really well, but there was just no, spark, I guess you’d say. I find it both funny and annoying. So, back to the drawing board I went, both figuratively and literally.

  Anyway, I’ll stop rambling on. I look forward to hearing from you but if I don’t I understand, since this letter is completely unexpected. Take care of yourself.

  Sincerely,

  Will

  Rachel Crispin walked up the path to her little cottage she rented from a shrewish spinster named Bonnie Trainer. She hated the woman, but the rent was cheap and the place was nice. Entering her small parlor, Rachel sat her satchel down and smiled as she thought about Will’s letter. She’d been debating for several days about whether to answer it.

  He seemed sweet and very funny. From what she could remember, he was a nice looking boy and had always been well liked. His mention of Reckless in his letter was the only dark spot in it. She was still ashamed after all this time about the way she’d acted toward him and all of the trouble she’d gotten him in with Sammi. Guilt also weighed on her over the way she’d run off without a proper goodbye and an apology to him.

  A small smile crossed her pretty features as she thought about the handsome Lakota brave who had a crazy streak a mile wide and then some. The idea of him being married with children was amusing to her since he’d always lived up to his name. Maybe he’d settled down some. That Raven was now married was unthinkable to her. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been just a kid. She sighed as she realized how much time had passed since she’d left home.

  Home. Just the word created a big wave of nostalgia that washed over her. Aunt Amelia had been kind to her, but now she was gone and she had no one of any significance in her life. The man who’d proposed to her a year ago had turned out to be a two-timing snake, who’d seduced her and then expected her to condone him having a woman on the side.

  Rachel had sent him packing and had not sought to see anyone on a serious basis again. She’d had her share of beaus, but hadn’t entertained thoughts of marriage again. Will’s letter had come out of the blue and Rachel had been surprised that instead of being annoyed, she had been amused by the things he’d written. She’d also admired his honesty about his attempts to find a bride.

  As she fixed herself a drink of lemonade to take outside to her little porch, Rachel decided to write him back. What did she have to lose?

  Dear Will,

  I was very pleasantly surprised to receive your letter. I do remember you, although not as vividly as I wish I did. As I recall, you have sandy colored hair and your eyes were a shade of jade. Ruggedly handsome is very appealing, so consider this a good thing. Good jobs are hard to come by, so I’m glad to hear that your employment is steady. I do wish you well in your woodworking business. It’s true that if you love what you do, it doesn’t seem like work.

  I’ve been working as receptionist for a lawyer and I like it. He’s a stuffy old man, but underneath, he’s a softie. He’s always grousing about one thing or another, but I just let him ramble on and smile. Usually if I make sure he has a whiskey by early afternoon, his mood improves, and he’s actually amusing. I like hearing about his courtroom battles, which he always wins, of course.

  Thank you for your condolences. Yes, it gets lonely sometimes, but I manage and I’m fairly happy. I’m sorry to hear the trouble you’ve had in regard to finding a girl to marry. I can’t believe that Reckless and Raven are married now. They were always so wild and funny. I guess we’ve all grown and matured.

  I confess that I miss Dawson. When I left, it wasn’t under good circumstances and I couldn’t wait to leave. As time went by, I realized that I had been hasty and I should have stayed to work some things out. All that is water under the bridge, however, and I can’t change it. But, I’ve changed a lot and I have adopted a policy of complete honesty, even if people don’t like the things I say. Let that be a warning to you.

  I don’t think your passion sounds boring. Breathing life into something is an exciting experience and perhaps to those who aren’t creative, it might sound boring, but not to me. It’s funny that you should mention drawing. I’m an avid painter so I speak your language. I am flattered that you thought me attractive and I hope you still would should we meet again. Take care of yourself as well.

  Yours truly,

  Rachel

  Rachel finished the letter and readied it for the mail. She would drop it off tomorrow on her way to work. A flutter of hope stirred within her breast at the prospect of possibly going home again. As she sipped on her drink, she thought about the awful night her parents had died and she and her two younger brothers, Mason and Shawn, had gone to live with Mitch and Sammi. She thought about her brothers and smiled. They must be so big now.

  Shawn was eighteen and Mason was sixteen. Sammi and Mitch had adopted the three of them, but only the boys had taken the Taylor name. Because she had been so much older, Rachel vividly remembered her parents and although she loved Mitch and Sammi, she didn’t regard them as her parents the way the boys did. She missed her brothers. Shawn had always been so serious, but Mason was a clown.

  Another bout of homesickness hit her and she began to seriously consider moving back again. Thoughts of Reckless invaded her mind. She no longer had any romantic feelings towards him, but it would feel good if she could clear the air with him. It would also be good to be with Mitch and Sammi again. She missed Mitch’s hugs. No matter how sad she ever was, a hug from Mitch always made her feel better. She could have used some of his hugs a year ago.

  Rachel pushed memories of Brendon from her mind. He wasn’t worth her time or tears. Now, Will, on the other hand, he seemed like someone who
might be worth her time and effort. Yes, moving back home might be good for her for several reasons. Might Will be one of them? She would have to think about it carefully, she decided and got up to do a couple of chores.

  *****

  “I don’t care if she’s comin’ home! I’m not goin’ to meet the stage coach,” Mason said. His blue eyes blazed anger, his face a little pink from his high emotions.

  Sammi glared back at the sixteen-year-old boy. “Yes, you are, mister. She’s your sister and you’re gonna be there.”

  Mason snorted. “Yeah, my sister who abandoned us to run away to Canada because she couldn’t handle the mess she made of things. I don’t wanna see her.”

  Sammi reined in her anger. “Look, Mason, I know she hurt you when she left. She hurt us all, but we gotta move past that, and I know she wants to make it up to us. We have to meet her halfway.”

  Mason’s face grew even redder. “I don’t have to meet her at all! She’s only movin’ back here because that old bat croaked, and she don’t got no one else. Otherwise, she’d be stayin’ in Canada.”

  “Now, you look, here—”

  Mason interrupted Sammi. “No, you look here. I’m not going to that depot and unless you’re gonna hogtie me, there ain’t a damn thing you can do about it!”

  The boy was slightly taller than Sammi’s five foot ten height. He pushed past her and headed for the front door. Mitch came in and Mason bumped into him in his haste to get out the door. Mitch staggered back a little as Mason ran from the house.

  “Hey!” Mitch objected and then said, “What the hell’s wrong with him?”

  Sammi put a hand to her head and sighed. “He’s refusing to go meet Rachel at the depot tomorrow.”

  Now Mitch sighed as he hung up his hat and vest. “I think it’s a losing battle. He’s a long ways from forgiving her for leaving. You know how much she meant to him.”

  “I know. I was hoping that there could be some kind of reconciliation, but who knows when that’ll happen?”

  Mitch took his wife in his arms, his warm brown eyes smiling down at her. “They’re old enough to figure that out on their own. Nothing you or I say is gonna have a lot of sway on him. You realize that, right?”

  She scowled up at him. “Yes and I hate it. I wish he was little again and did whatever we asked him to do. He was such a good boy and then puberty hit and now he’s a holy terror some days.”

  Mitch chuckled. “He might not be yours biologically, but he acts enough like you that he could be. You could be talkin’ about yourself.”

  “I don’t think I like you anymore, sheriff,” Sammi said.

  Mitch kissed her cheek and then her neck. “I think you like me just fine.”

  Sammi laughed a little as goose bumps broke out across her skin. “You know my weakness, that’s all.”

  “Ma!”

  Mitch groaned as they heard their seven-year-old daughter, Skye, come running down the stairs. She saw them and said, “Are you two kissin’ again?”

  “Yep,” Mitch said honestly. He gave Sammi a loud kiss on her cheek, which made both Sammi and their daughter laugh.

  “I want a kiss, Pa!” Skye said as her brown eyes danced.

  Mitch let go of Sammi, grabbed Skye, and kissed her noisily. The little girl laughed and hugged her father back. “Pa, that tickles!”

  Mitch chuckled and pulled back. “Where’s your sister?”

  Skye waved a hand in the direction of the stairs. “Up there somewhere.”

  Sammi laughed at her blasé answer. “Where up there?”

  “The playroom. She’s coloring or something. I’m hungry. When’s supper?” she asked.

  “Soon. It’s in the oven,” Sammi said.

  “Good!” Skye said. “Are Uncle Owl and Aunt Hannah comin’ over tonight?”

  Mitch laughed to himself. Although Skye loved her adopted aunt and uncle, she had a crush on their eight-year-old son, Bobby. He was the one she really wanted to see.

  “I don’t think they are tonight, honey,” Mitch said. “Now, you go get washed up for supper and get Breanna while you’re at it, ok?”

  “Yes, sir,” Skye said and ran back up the stairs.

  Mitch chuckled and went to help his wife get supper ready.

  *****

  “I’m not goin’, Aiyana. I don’t want anything to do with her,” Mason said as he and his secret girlfriend sat on a log in the apple orchard outside of town.

  Aiyana Samuels, daughter of Marcus and Claire Samuels, was a beautiful girl with her father’s gray eyes. Her midnight black hair and darker skin were a testament to her Lakota heritage. Her biological mother had been a Lakota maiden whom Marcus, who was half Lakota, had been involved with a year before meeting Claire. Redtail, the Indian maiden, had been killed in a raid by a warring tribe. When Marcus had married Claire, Claire had become Aiyana’s mother.

  Aiyana took Mason’s hand and said, “She’s your sister, Mason.”

  Mason held her hand tighter and said, “I know, but I hate her.”

  Aiyana shook his hand a little. “You don’t hate her. You’re just still angry with her.”

  “You’re damn right I am!”

  “Stop swearing,” Aiyana said with a smile. “Just because you’re angry with her doesn’t mean you hate her.”

  Mason looked at her and said, “You don’t understand. She just up and left us. She ran away like a scared little rabbit and didn’t care about anyone’s feelings but her own.” He turned his head before Aiyana could see the tears welling up in his eyes.

  Aiyana moved a little closer to him. “I know that’s how you see it, but try to look at it from her side, Mason.”

  Mason brushed his angry tears away. “Why are you sticking up for her? She tried to force your cousin to marry her by lying about him. Did you forget about that?”

  “No. I’m just saying that people can change. It’s been a long time. You should give her a second chance.”

  “A second chance to hurt me again? I don’t think so, Aiyana,” Mason said.

  She sighed. “You don’t know that she’s going to do that, Mason.”

  “And you don’t know she won’t. Never mind. I don’t wanna talk about it anymore,” Mason said.

  Aiyana knew how stubborn Mason was about things and realized that he wasn’t going to change his mind about this. She sighed and said, “Ok. School starts next week.”

  Mason groaned. “Don’t remind me. I wish I was done with it. I’m old enough to not go, but Ma and Pa are makin’ me.”

  “It’s only this year and next and then you’ll be through.”

  “That’s right. I’m not going to college, either. I don’t need to go to college to be a deputy,” Mason said. He idolized Mitch and had wanted to become an officer for years.

  “No, you don’t, but you don’t know that there’s going to be a job when you’re done. Mitch already has two deputies. You have to consider doing something different,” she said.

  He gave her a half smile. “You mean like being a doctor?”

  She grinned. “I don’t think you’d make a very good doctor.”

  “No. Not like you. It’s in your blood,” he said, putting his arms around her. “I don’t want you to go away to college.”

  “That’s not for a few years yet, so don’t worry about it right now,” she said as she ran a hand through his blond hair. “Right now I think you should kiss me.”

  “Now that I agree with you on,” he said, and pressed his lips against hers as she giggled.

  Chapter Three

  As the stagecoach moved through town, Rachel saw that Dawson had grown since she’d left. There was now a bakery that Will had told her had only recently opened, a medical clinic, and the school had been enlarged. There was also another restaurant due to open by the end of October. The stagecoach stopped at the depot and Rachel saw her family.

  Rachel watched Sammi rush forward as she opened the door and started alighting from the vehicle. She was enveloped in a stro
ng embrace by Sammi and she hugged the woman who had become her adopted mother back with just as much enthusiasm. The two women shed tears as they kissed and hugged.

  Sammi pulled back and said, “You’re even more beautiful than I remembered!”

  Rachel laughed, her brown eyes shining. “You haven’t changed a bit, Sammi. I missed you so much. I’ve missed all of you.”

  Mason, who stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest, let out a sarcastic noise. His brother, Shawn, hit his arm.

  “Knock it off, Mason,” Shawn said. With his brown hair and brown eyes, Shawn looked more like his sister than Mason.

  Mason just moved further away from the group.

  Mitch pulled Rachel into his arms and Rachel smiled as she felt the hug that she’d missed so badly. It wasn’t something she could explain, but there was just something comforting about the way Mitch hugged a person.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Mitch said, and kissed her cheek. “It’s good to have you back home where you belong.”

  “It’s good to be home.” She moved away from Mitch to face her brothers.

  Shawn came forward to give her a hug.

  “I have to look up at you now,” she said. “Look how handsome you are.”

  Shawn colored slightly and laughed. “Thanks. I’m eighteen now, so I guess it only stands to reason I’d be taller.”

  “Ok, smarty pants. You haven’t changed, either,” Rachel said with a laugh.

  Shawn stepped away and Rachel saw Mason. She smiled at him, but he scowled back at her. Sammi had warned her in the last letter she’d written that Mason might not be very receptive.

  “Mason, I can’t believe how big you are,” she said.

  Mason smirked at her. “That’s what happens when you screw things up and run off for five years. Well, I got somewhere else to be.”

  “Mason, you stop right there!” Mitch said. “That’s no way to talk to your sister. You’re not goin’ anywhere.”

  Mason stopped but his expression was mutinous.

  “You’re going to eat with us and that’s final,” Mitch said. His tone brooked no disagreement.