A Mystery Groom for Christmas

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  A Mystery Groom for Christmas

  Spinster Mail-Order Brides

  Book 19

  By

  Patricia PacJac Carroll

  A Mystery Groom for Christmas ~ Author Patricia PacJac Carroll

  Copyright © June 2020

  Published by Patricia PacJac Carroll @ PacJac Publishing

  ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Cover by V. McKevitt

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  **The Series – Spinster Mail Order Brides

  Other Spinster Mail Order Brides stories by Patricia PacJac Carroll

  A Miracle for Christmas

  A Mystery Groom for Christmas

  A Contest for Christmas

  A Present for Christmas

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  A Mystery Groom for Christmas

  Spinster Mail Order Brides

  Book 19

  By

  Patricia PacJac Carroll

  Chapter 1

  Mary Louise Kemp dried her hair near the fireplace. Her father had sent her a small sum of money after he found out she’d failed to marry the banker’s son. But that had been months ago. She rubbed her arms and continued brushing her golden hair. Her cabin was small but big enough to meet her needs. After all, how much room does a spinster take up anyway?

  If she had a husband, he could be drying her hair for her. But no. Here she was thirty years old and alone. At least, Kate had caught Peter. That gave her, and the other Mystery Groom Girls hope that they too could find a husband.

  A burst of cold air swept through the cracks in her house. Although the cabin was sturdy, there were places where the mud had dried and fallen out leaving holes for the wind to come through. She took the newspaper she’d bought and tore up a sheet and stuffed it in the new crack while saving the page with the mystery groom’s letter.

  She held the newspaper up to the light and read the new letter.

  To the unmarried women of Lone Oak,

  So, one groom is down, taking with him the lovely Kate Mulvaney as his wife. I am pleased to say that there just might be other men looking for wives. I am. Who am I? Well, that is a secret that interested ladies must find out.

  Send a letter to the address posted in the back of Trent’s General Store. I’ll consider the ladies who write to me and will contact the one for me. Be ready.

  The Mystery Groom

  Well, Mary Louise hadn’t had any luck with the first mystery groom. She wondered who the second one could be. So far, her methods of finding a husband hadn’t worked. She brushed her hair harder. Why had Stephen put her aside and gone after Zoe Bristow?

  Mary Louise knew money had been involved, but that wasn’t a good reason for a marriage. However, Stephen had married the woman and now worked at the bank. Well, she hoped he was happy.

  But she was unhappy at her lonely predicament. Mary Louise threw the rest of the newspaper into the fire. It wasn’t that she wished Zoe and Stephen to be miserable, only that she could find her man.

  As a rule, Mary Louise didn’t get along with most women, and more times than not, wives held onto their husbands tighter whenever she was around. Mary Louise found it unbelievable that they thought she would want a used husband.

  After all, if a man would leave his wife for one woman, it was doubtful he’d stay faithful to the second wife. That’s how she saw it anyway. Yet, she was the one who had been robbed by another woman.

  No, she would hold out for the right man. If her father would allow it. Right now, he sent her a small allowance, but he’d warned her if she didn’t get married soon, he would order her back home to Tennessee and find her a man to marry.

  Mary Louise rolled her eyes at the thought. Father’s idea of a good man was one that was ten years older than her and a rich, good old boy. Like her father. Well, she’d seen her mother shed enough tears to not want that to be her life.

  At least, Kate had caught a good man. Mary Louise wouldn’t have minded winning Peter Gabriel’s heart, but he’d only had eyes for Kate.

  As for Diane and Adelaide, the other two women that were left in the Mystery Groom Girl’s Club, they were her good friends. They all had dinners together on Thursday at Heart’s Café and would come up with ideas on how to find and win over a husband. That they were all still spinsters testified to their luck. But they did have hope. Now, after the latest Mystery Groom letter, they’d have even more to talk about.

  Finally, her hair was dry enough for her to wrap it in a bun and venture to the café. It was Thursday night, and her mouth was already watering for some of Marge’s fried chicken and peach cobbler.

  She did enjoy Diane and Adelaide’s company. Still, as Mary Louise contemplated her life, she found it odd that here she was in a tiny town in Texas all because she’d met Stephen Adams at her father’s bank two years ago. She should have put her foot down and demanded they stay in Tennessee.

  The stubborn man hadn’t asked her to marry him or to follow him from Tennessee to Texas, but he had caught her attention. So, enamored by his shiny brown eyes, slicked-down hair, and handlebar mustache, she’d fallen head over heels for the man and followed him to this little Texas town only to stand by helplessly as he married another woman.

  Mary Louise did wonder if her one and only may have been one of the many killed in the dreaded war. She prayed that the man she was to marry, whoever he may be, was still alive.

  It was bad enough most of the people had lost sons and brothers, fathers, and husbands, but many had also lost everything they owned. That made it even harder to find the right man. The one thing Mary Louise wasn’t going to do was to settle for a man she didn’t love. She put on her shawl and walked down the street to the café.

  Lone Oak was small but also a very friendly town. Mayor Heart and his wife Marge did what they could to help those in need. The town had suffered a painful lesson when John Houseman’s mother had died of fever and neglect. The boy had already lost his father earlier that year and had become an orphan. Thankfully, Peter Gabriel took the boy in and adopted him.

  Mary Louise had just passed the barbershop and was almost to the café when a man ran into her, knocking her into the street. With a plop, she fell right into fresh horse droppings. Ugh, she rubbed her hand in the sand and struggled to get up.

  The sheriff, Kirk Taylor, ran out of the café after the man but stopped to pick her up. He laughed and dusted her off the best he could. “You couldn’t have found a worse place to fall.”

  Mary Louise looked at her dirtied hands. “It seems to be my lot in life. Thank you, Sheriff. I don’t know who that man was
, but he never even stopped.”

  “No, he didn’t. He stole some money from the café, but not enough for me to go after him. I’d rather help you anyway.”

  Mary Louise looked at him. “Why, thank you, Sheriff. I was on my way for dinner with Diane and Adelaide.”

  Kirk nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I think it’s great that you ladies get together and take care of one another. Can I walk you to the diner?”

  “Oh, I need to go and clean up. Would you be so good as to tell the others I’ll be a little late?” She stared at her soiled skirt and wanted to hide.

  He smiled and didn’t seem to notice. “Sure. I can do that. I need to make sure that man didn’t take more and see if anyone knows who he is. Can you make it back to your cabin?”

  “Oh, yes. Nothing hurt but my pride.” She smiled at him, making sure it was big enough for her dimples to show.

  She watched as he turned and went back into the café. Now, he was a man she could consider. So far, he’d danced with her a few times at the socials and seemed friendly. Then again, he was paid to be friendly to everyone because he was the town sheriff.

  Mary Louise turned back to her home to wash up and change into something clean. Of all the times for that despicable man to knock her into the street. And like Sheriff Taylor had said, of all the places for her to fall.

  Not that Mary Louise believed in luck, but if she did, it would be the bad variety. Goodness, she’d just washed the skirt. She hurriedly put on another outfit and strode back toward the café.

  This time she walked near the buildings so she couldn’t be shoved into the street. She opened the door and saw the sheriff sitting with Diane and Adelaide. Both of them were practically wrapped around the arm nearest them. It was clear to Mary Louise that they had staked their claim on that man.

  Well, Mary Louise would see that she made a good impression on the man. Hopefully, he would remember this one and not the one of her floundering in the street amidst the horse droppings. Anyway, she was the blonde that everyone knew and liked, especially the men. They just didn’t marry her.

  As she was about to storm the table and win over the sheriff, Kate rushed in before her and sat across from him, leaving no seat for her. Kate, she was Mary Louise’s favorite friend, but that might be because she was also about to be married to Peter and no longer competition.

  The sheriff looked up and grinned at her. “There you are. I was saving your seat for you. I have to go, ladies. Have a good evening.” He held the chair for Mary Louise and then left.

  Diane blushed. The shy woman always acted as if she’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry, Mary Louise. The sheriff came in and said a man had pushed you and you’d fallen in the street. Into, well, he said you had to change.”

  Looking at her friend, Mary Louise had to wonder why Diane would be sorry. It was not her fault. Unless it was because she had her eyes on the sheriff.

  With a toss of her head to shake off the memory, Mary Louise smiled. “I’m fine. The clumsy vagabond ran right past me and never stopped.”

  Adelaide, the serious one of the group, snorted. “Well, the sheriff needs to put him in jail. Whoever he is.”

  Mary Louise smiled. “As fast as that man was going, he’s in the next county by now.”

  Diane’s eyes grew large. “Sheriff said he stole two dollars.”

  Mary Louise shook her head. “It will cost me that much to get all the dirt out of my dress. I hope he’s happy. It’s terrible what our world is coming to.”

  Kate nodded. “It would seem the war only unleashed the hard hearts of mankind.”

  “It’s been almost six years since the war. I’m ready for people to be more civil to one another.” Mary Louise ordered her fried chicken and peach cobbler. Feeling better, she relaxed and began to enjoy the company of her friends. She lifted her glass. “To better days.”

  After the four clinked their glasses and toasted, Diane sat back and sighed. “Did you read the Mystery Groom’s latest letter?”

  They all nodded.

  Mary Louise touched her chest. “They do get better each time. How many mystery grooms do you think we have?”

  Diane shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I hope there are at least three more.”

  Looking at Kate and smiling, Mary Louise squeezed her friend’s hand. “There’s one less that we know of. I think his friends might be involved, though.”

  Adelaide nodded. “Yes, good idea. We know Peter hangs out with the sheriff.”

  “And the doctor.” Diane grinned.

  Mary Louise shook her head. “He’s too old.”

  “Older people want to have fun and be loved too. There are older women in Lone Oak who aren’t married. Like Claire.” Diane sat up taller as if to defend herself.

  With a frown, Mary Louise nodded. “I hadn’t thought of that. But don’t you think he’d write in there what age he wanted?”

  Adelaide frowned. “Older men can take younger women. We’re the ones that get set aside. Like the old gray mare put out to pasture.”

  Mary Louise could feel their Thursday night heading for gloom. “Stop. Ladies. We do not meet to bring each other down. We meet to help each other feel hopeful. Just look, one of our ladies has already gotten her happily ever after. I believe we’ll all get one.”

  Diane stared at her. “But I don’t look like you, and I’m not smart like Kate. How am I going to find the love of my life at this stage of my life?”

  Mary Louise pounded her fist on the table. “Because we will.”

  Adelaide sighed. “Mary Louise, you are the pretty one. Look at us. Diane is a mouse. I am a tall, austere woman. What man would want us?”

  Mary Louise studied her friends. “We all have good qualities. Let’s discover them and promote them to men we think might like them.”

  Kate stared at her. “Like selling a prized mare?”

  “Yes, take Diane. She’s trustworthy. Loyal. Kind. Quiet. Those are qualities that would spark any man to like her.”

  Diane shook her head. “I don’t know, I sound more like a hound dog than what a man is looking for in a wife. Maybe if I could hunt and point out birds, I could catch me a man.”

  Mary Louise laughed. “I can add a sense of humor to your list.”

  Diane smiled. “Maybe we need to see what qualities we want in a man.”

  Adelaide tapped her spoon on the table. “I’d like mine to be strong, smart, and able to take care of me.”

  Mary Louise tapped her fingers. “I think we’re missing something. I don’t think finding the love of your life should be like going to the store and choosing beans. I want a spark. That when he looks at me, his eyes light up, and he can’t wait to be around me.”

  Diane sighed. “Yes, who wouldn’t want a man that loves them? I don’t want to settle for an acquaintance that will put up with me just to have children. That’s what I’m afraid of. It’s what I see in a lot of marriages. And I am sure no beauty that would cause a prince to leave his kingdom.”

  Mary Louise looked at her. “Goodness, Diane, but you’re right. So many women have settled for a marriage of convenience because it’s too hard to live alone. Do you think they are better off than we are?”

  Adelaide nodded. “They don’t have to worry about making a living.”

  Kate shook her head. “Many do. Husbands and wives. At school, I hear about them from the children who are worried about losing the farm or going hungry or even not having the money to buy new shoes when they’ve outgrown the old ones.”

  Mary Louise shook her head. “Well, we can’t help everyone. Right now, each one of us wants a husband. So, I say that we make a pact not to settle for marrying just any man that will ask us. Let’s discover if they are what we want.”

  Diane looked at her. “To be honest, right now, I’d take any man that asked me.”

  Mary Louise stood. “Not that long ago, we didn’t even have a friend. Now, we have each other. I think it’s worth it to wait for the man of our dream
s.”

  Adelaide stood and faced her. “My dreams are turning into nightmares. If I don’t marry soon, I’ll move from the spinster column to the old maid column.”

  Mary Louise sat down. “This isn’t going well. Perhaps we need to start a mystery bride letter campaign.”

  Chapter 2

  Sheriff Taylor ran in the direction he’d seen the thief go. He had an idea of who it might be. He’d heard of a group of men that had moved into the woods back of town. Desperate folks did desperate things. Since it was getting dark, and he didn’t see any trouble, Kirk turned back.

  Tomorrow, he’d ride out and see what was going on. Since the war, there’d been too many men who had been uprooted and set on their own. With no families, they roamed aimlessly, getting into more trouble than they should.

  Then again, they needed a good woman to settle them down and give them something to live and fight for. That’s one thing Kirk had learned in the war. Life was worth fighting for. No matter how bad things got, he kept his head about him because he wanted to live a life of meaning.

  Some gave up. But not him. He learned how to shoot fast and sure. And after the war, he used his skills to become a lawman—a good one at that. Lone Oak wasn’t a hard town, but when he’d first come, it had its wild element.

  That was another reason he’d go to the woods and see who had settled there. He didn’t want a pack of outlaws thinking they could steal from the town to survive. He’d seen more than one city succumb to the wild packs of unruly men.

  Once that started, good people would leave, and more of the wrong element would come in until it was nothing but a city of uncivilized men that were a danger to anyone who entered. And then some poor sheriff would have to take his life in his hands to set the town straight.

  Kirk wasn’t going to let that happen to Lone Oak. It was a good town. Growing. And its people were good. Sure, they had their troublemakers, but as a whole, the town was a good place to have a family and raise children.