by Zina Abbott
Hannah had held her breath while her parents considered whether or not to allow her to go. In the end, they decided it would be good for continued business with the fort, including the forts being built in western Kansas, if they did. Her father, the practically-minded, not-easily-excited brother of the pair, insisted on escorting the girls.
As much as she loved her cousin, Hannah had learned on occasion Kizzie would make fun of her by calling her “the perfect daughter” or “the perfect sister.” Why Kizzie felt so jealous because Hannah chose to behave like a lady the way her mother taught her, and generally tried to be obedient, she did not know. It probably had more to do with Kizzie often being criticized because she liked to be outdoors more than inside. She wore trousers instead of dresses when working outside. She much preferred to spend time with her horse than with other young women their age. Her friends included a freighter—the kind of occupation held by men who generally lived a rough life and conducted themselves outside of acceptable societal norms—and a man who was half Kaw Indian. Hannah had met them both, and they seemed nice enough. She knew Kizzie was excited that the freighter’s horse served as stud to her mare, and they had produced some nice foals. She also suspected Kizzie was sweet on him, although she had never said so.
However, unlike her cousin, Hannah chose to spend her time with her female relatives or the other girls her age at church. She saw no reason to argue with her parents, because she would end up having to do what she was told, anyway.
Mrs. Prescott’s words brought Hannah back to the present.
“Here is the room where you and your cousin will be staying. Hannah, is it? And your cousin with the brunette hair is Kizziah?”
“Yes, I’m Hannah. My cousin actually prefers to be called Kizzie.”
“Ah. A cute nickname. I’ll try to remember.” She paused and her forehead wrinkled. “Where is your cousin?”
Hannah suspected Mrs. Prescott was not impressed with Kizzie’s nickname. She would probably be even less impressed with her cousin once she knew the most likely place where Kizzie could be found. “I’m not sure, but I suspect she is either taking care of her horse or persuading the head of your stables to take her to see the foal that came from her mare—the one your husband bought. If any of your horses are being shod, she’ll want to watch. She…um…she likes to spend more time with animals, particularly horses, than I do.” As she watched Mrs. Prescott purse her lips in what she guessed was disapproval, Hannah regretted sharing as much as she had about her cousin.
“I doubt they’ll let her see the horse, let alone fuss over him. She must understand, once a horse belongs to the military, we need it to be able to work hard. They are not pampered.”
Hannah nodded. “She knows.” I hope. When it comes to Kizzie and horses, there’s no telling how she will react if she doesn’t like what she sees.
Mrs. Prescott smoothed the lines of disapproval from her face as she focused on Hannah. “It seems like you and your cousins are very different in some ways.”
Hannah nodded. “Yes, we are.” What is so wrong with that?
“If you like, perhaps later I can find someone to escort you for a short walk around the fort. For the time being, I ask that you and your cousin not wander around the house, especially once the officers’ dinner is taking place. I hope you will be comfortable here.” She motioned to a chair with an upholstered seat cushion. “Do you have something to read?”
Hannah patted the carpetbag. “Yes, I brought a book. I also have some embroidery to work on. I’ll be fine until you’re ready for me. And, please, if you find you need extra help, come and get me.”
“I will, dear. For now, sit here and relax. Since this dance will last so late, it might be wise if you turned down your bed covers and rested for a couple of hours.” Muttering under her breath, Permelia Prescott turned to exit the door. “Now to find the cousin and get her situated.”
Once she found herself alone in the room with the door closed, Hannah stared at the chair with its striped cushion. Too excited about being at the fort for a social, she could not bring herself to sit. Instead, she paced the floor.
It was happening. Tonight, she would attend a fancy ball. She would wear a ballgown, maybe one made of satin or brocade—some fabric, she felt sure, that would be far finer than any used to make her best occasion dresses at home.
When her parents finally agreed she could come, Hannah had barely kept from blurting out her delight and dancing around the house. However, she forced herself to remain still, offering nothing more than a pleased smile. She knew her wisest course of action was to not reveal her excitement at the prospect of attending a dance other than at a church or Salina community social—usually the same thing. They might decide she was still too young and immature.
From the time the Atwells had moved from Missouri to Salina, except for when the entire family fled their homes when the Arapaho rampaged the countryside to the west and threatened Salina, she had not traveled far from her home. Even then, they stopped at Junction City instead of continuing the last five miles to the fort. But, now, she had arrived at Fort Riley. Tonight, she would dance with sophisticated officers, some with college educations, most of them West Point graduates—a far cry from the sons of shopkeepers and farmers back home.
Hannah turned seventeen two months earlier. For her, this dance would be comparable to a cotillion, or a coming out social such as she had read took place among the aristocracy in Britain or even high society in this country. This event would mark her entry into womanhood and availability to be courted. Since moving to Salina, she knew of a few local girls who married at her age. Hannah had no one she wished to marry at this time, but she was open to the idea, if she could find the right man.
However, her parents had let it be known they preferred she wait until she was a few years older to be courted. From comments made, she gathered they worried she would want to marry the first boy she felt attracted to, only to discover later, after it was too late, she did not really love him and had chosen poorly.
Hannah smiled at the thought. It was already too late for her to insist on marrying the first young man who had caught her fancy. For several years now, she found boys fascinating. A few of them had sent her giddy with infatuation. As much as she sought to spend time with them, she had not wished to marry any.
Hannah opened her carpetbag. She fingered the book but rejected it in favor of her latest embroidery project, a handkerchief she was doing in pink flowers and green stems and leaves. She had already rolled and hemmed the edges but had not yet crocheted a lacy border on it. She pulled out the smaller bag holding her project, her thread, and scissors, and forced herself to sit in the chair. Twisting to catch the light from the window, she continued the floral design on the third corner.
Perhaps after tonight, Mama and Papa will stop saying I need to wait until I’m older before I’m ready to choose a husband. After all, I’ve tried to show how willing I am to listen to them by being as obedient as possible.
As a thought struck, Hannah dropped her hands holding the project in her lap, causing her needle to prick her. She jerked her finger away and raised it to her lips to lick the drop of blood from her broken skin.
What if the reason her parents did not think she was ready to make her own decisions was because she always tried to be obedient? What if they believed, because she seldom acted independently, especially when it came to going against their wishes, she did not know how to think for herself? What if they thought she was incapable of knowing her own mind—knowing what she truly wanted from life?
.
.
.
.
My books that are part of a Sweet Americana Sweethearts multi-author series:
~o0o~
Grandma’s Wedding Quilts:
2.Kizzie's Kisses
Running from hostile Indians attacking Salina, Kansas in 1862, feisty Kizzie Atwell runs into freighter Leander Jones traveling the Smoky Hill Trail.
> (Also Book 2 in my Atwell Kin series.)
~o0o~
Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs:
3. Aaron’s Annulment Bride
Believing she’s unworthy to be any man’s wife, Andrea Dalton marries Aaron Brinks so he can get title to a mining company house. But now she wants an annulment. Can he convince her to stay?
6. Cat’s Meow
Catherine Everett loves tall, lanky miner, Harold Calloway. She wants to marry him, but there is one “meowly” little problem.
7. Bargain Bessie
Bessie Carlson, a confirmed spinster, meets Zeb Jacobson, a successful Monarch Bend rancher who is NOT pushing forty.
11.Dead-Set Delphinia
Delphinia is dead set on being married within a week before her father can track her down. Bennett is dead set on continuing to muddle through life on his own.
15.Evasive Eddie Joe
Cowboy vs. the miners – who will marry the bride?
18.Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom
Annie comes to Jubilee Springs to work as a maid. Kate comes as a mail order bride to marry a local miner, Michael. What could go wrong?
19.Nathan’s Nurse
Will she marry a man too damaged by an injury to know who she is?
~o0o~
Zina Abbott’s Independence Day 1881
Zina Abbott’s Collection 1 of her first three books in the
Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs series.
Zina Abbott’s Harvest Dance 1881
Zina Abbott’s Collection 2 of her fourth and fifth books in the
Sweethearts of Jubilee Spring series.
~o0o~
Lockets & Lace:
0.0The Bavarian Jeweler
The Lockets & Lace series prequel:
The back of her locket read, “My heart is always with you.”
19.Virginia’s Vocation
Will Virginia’s vocation fill the empty spaces of her heart?
(Also Book 1 in my Atwell Kin series.)
3.Otto’s Offer
Will Otto’s offer still stand when trouble from Libby’s past catches up with her?
(Also Book 3 in my Atwell Kin series.)
26.Hannah’s Handkerchief
(Also Book 4 in my Atwell Kin series)
.
.
.
.
Other Zina Abbott Books
~o0o~
Kendrick
Book 9 in the series, Bachelors & Babies
(Also Too Old for Babies in the Too Old in Columbia series)
Escape from Gold Mountain
Threatened by two unscrupulous men, he never wished to abduct her. Can he help her escape?
Nissa
Book 3 in the series, The Widows of Wildcat Ridge
Two romances. Following the mine disaster that killed most of the men in town, two women—one a widow with two children, one never married—wonder if they should plan a future in Wildcat Ridge
Diantha
Book 14 in the series, The Widows of Wildcat Ridge
Two romances. Following the mine disaster that killed most of the men in town, two women—one a widow with two children, one never married—are determined to stay in Wildcat Ridge. Will their decision mean they face a future without love?
Charlie’s Choice
Prequel to the Atwell Kin series:
Charlie, it would be easier to stop the flow of the great Missouri and Kansas Rivers than to prevent the Americans from coming to Kansas. Will Charlie stay with the white Americans, cling to the past with the Kansa tribe, or try to straddle both worlds?
Mail Order Lorena
Book 18 in the Widows, Brides & Secret Babies series
(Scheduled for release July 2020)
Mail Order Penelope
Book 24 in the Widows, Brides & Secret Babies series
(Scheduled for release August 2020)
Hannah’s Highest Regard
Book 5 in the series, Atwell Kin
If she could choose between two Army officers, which would earn her highest regard?
(Scheduled for release September 2020)
Millwright’s Daughter
The past held her future hostage. He risked future to save hers.
~o0o~
Christmas Stories
A Christmas Promise
The gift of second chances and a promise for a brighter future in this novelette set during Christmas in 1873 Wyoming.
Too Old For Christmas
In 1854 Columbia, California, Sean Flood meets the widow Ona McNair on one of the worst days of his life, and then he meets the widow’s two sons. At nine years of age, the oldest has been told he is too old for Christmas. Sean knows exactly what he wants for Christmas that year.
About the Author
Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels.
The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She is a member of Women Writing the West, Western Writers of America, and American Night Writers Association. She enjoys any kind of history including family history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.
Please visit Zina Abbott on her Website.
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit and follow her Amazon Author Page.
Please sign up for her Newsletter to stay informed of upcoming releases and special offers.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer
Map
Chapters 1-19
Epilogue
Author’s Notes
Thank you for reading Mail Order Roslyn
Excerpt Hannah’s Handkerchief
Zina’s Sweet Americana Sweethearts books
Other Zina Abbott Books
About Zina Abbott
