Laurel: Bride of Arkansas (American Mail-Order Bride 25)

by Carra Copelin

  LAUREL

  BRIDE OF ARKANSAS

  AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES

  by

  Carra Copelin

  Laurel Weidner desires a life of her own away from Philadelphia society and a dull, boring marriage. She is sent to live with her aunt in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When her Aunt dies in a tornado, she gets a job at the Brown Textile Mill to avoid going back home. Two months later the mill burns down, and her father threatens to bring her back to Philadelphia.

  When the mill and her livelihood perish with the fire, she has no other choice but to answer an ad in the Grooms’ Gazette and become a Mail Order Bride. Will she find peace and long lasting love in the arms of a stranger?

  Griffin Benning needs a mother for his children. When his wife died, he lost his two children to his in-laws who claimed to have a better environment for raising his children. He misses his family and is coerced into advertising in the Grooms’ Gazette for a wife to raise his children and work the farm in order to get them back.

  Will his ad for a Mail Order Bride provide what he needs? Can he find love and happiness with a stranger?

  Can these two strangers find a common ground to reach their goals along with a happy-ever-after?

  CHAPTER ONE

  Lawrence, Massachusetts, September 1890

  Laurel Weidner stood alongside her friend, Violet, and dozens of other women, all former employees of the Brown Textile Mill, on the bank of the Merrimack River. They’d lost their jobs when the Mill burned down a week ago. With most of them facing bleak times, each one listened closely as Roberta McDaniel, their previous manager, started to speak.

  “I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’ve gathered you here today.” She glanced over at her friend, Sarah, who nodded and smiled encouragingly. “All of us have been left jobless by the fire in the factory. Mr. Brown has no intention of rebuilding.”

  Laurel’s hands started to tingle and for a few seconds, she heard nothing but a roar in her ears. When her head cleared somewhat, she realized Roberta was still speaking.

  “. . . my sister recently went to Kansas as a mail order bride. A matchmaker in Beckham found her groom for her, and she’s happy. I went to see the matchmaker yesterday to find out if she had any other prospective grooms out there.” In her hands she held a small newspaper that she raised for them all to see. “She had just received the first hundred copies of the Grooms’ Gazette that she’d put together when I arrived. I told her about our predicament, and she gave me fifty copies. I’ve already picked out my groom and sent him a letter.”

  The wheels turned quickly as Laurel processed the information and before she could open her mouth, Gabrielle called out, “When will we hear back? How will we make it for that long?”

  “It takes about a month to hear back . . .”

  Laurel began calculating immediately. Her rent at the boarding house had been paid for the month and, with the little bit she’d saved, she might be able to stay a week or two longer if necessary. Two meals a day were included in her rent and that would be all she needed.

  Violet took hold of her hand. “Laurel, what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know at this point if we have much of a choice, do you?”

  Poppy called out from behind Laurel, “How do we know the men will treat us right?”

  That was a major concern, as Laurel had heard horror stories of how some mail order brides had been treated. A woman never knew if the prospective groom had given misleading information.

  Roberta continued, “All have been investigated. She can’t guarantee you’ll be treated right, but we’ll form groups. We’ll write to one another. If anyone is hurt, hook up with one of your friends and take a train to see her.”

  Laurel heard bits and pieces of conversation around her as the women discussed their options. Some, like herself, could wait longer but others had to decide much faster. Josephine was the first to make her way to Roberta and get a copy of the Grooms’ Gazette. She said with nowhere to go and no way to support herself, she’d have to be stupid not to do this.

  Before the tornado had hit Lawrence this past July, Laurel’s father had demanded that she come back home to live. Laurel had ignored her father’s attempts to reach her after her Aunt Lottie had perished in the storm. But if she stayed here, it was only a matter of time before he’d send someone, or come himself, to drag her back to Philadelphia and a life of extreme boredom. Being married to one of her father’s friends, or one of their sons, and making a home in society wasn’t her idea of a way to live. She’d watched her mother do that all her life.

  On the other hand, if she married someone of her own choosing, she would be able to make her own way. Her independence was at stake here and, in the last year, she’d found she liked making her own decisions.

  She and Violet had exchanged their current addresses with Cora earlier so they could stay in touch and leave forwarding addresses. Cora was unsure as to what she wanted to do, but, like Josephine, Laurel didn’t see there was much choice for their survival. She was better off than some of the women, having been able to put a small amount of money away as a savings, but that wouldn’t hold out for long.

  She turned to Violet and said, “Come on, what do we have to lose?”

  Violet sighed, but she took Laurel’s hand and they fell in line for their own copy of the Grooms’ Gazette.

  Laurel closed her eyes and said a small prayer for them all.

  Back in her room at the boarding house, her home since the tornado, Laurel lit the lamp and sat in the single chair next to the window. She cleared the knick-knacks off the surface of the small table so she could spread out the paper. Carefully she removed her reading glasses from the case and began searching the ads for her future. After several pages of ads, one, in particular, piqued her interest.

  **Help wanted. Need wife to keep house and raise 2 daughters, ages 5 and 3. I am 28 years, 6 feet 3 inches and in good health. I am self-sufficient, reasonably good-looking, and of good moral character. Require lady of same. Contact G. Benning, Flat Rock Point, Arkansas.**

  She still couldn’t put her finger on what drew her attention to this ad specifically, but he was certainly short and to the point about himself and the wife he needed. She read the ad several more times. Well, she knew how to keep house and could set the servants’ schedules down to the minute. She loved all her friends’ children, so that shouldn’t be a problem. As to self-sufficient, she’d been taking care of herself since her Aunt Lottie died. She’d never thought of herself as pretty, but she was definitely a God-fearing Christian.

  With these thoughts, she took a piece of paper and began her reply to Mr. G. Benning in Flat Rock Point, Arkansas. Her future lay in his response.

  ***

  Flat Rock Point, Arkansas, October 1890

  Griffin Benning stood at the train station waiting for a woman he knew nothing about. He didn’t even know what she looked like. In her letter, she’d said her hair was blonde, she was of average height, and her eyes were blue. Her description could fit hundreds of women. Hopefully they wouldn’t all be on the train today. If he had any luck at all, she hadn’t changed her mind, and would be getting off the train today. The way his luck had been running lately, though, he wouldn’t bet on it. Actually, he wouldn’t bet on anything. That’s what had gotten him to this point to begin with.

  Henry and Gwenda Sealy, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, had taken charge of his daughters one year ago after his wife, and their only child, Ora Lee, died. They’d moved them to their home in Little Rock and promised to take care of them until he could provide a proper
home for them.

  He understood why they were reluctant to leave the girls with him. He managed his father-in-law’s business, Sealy Lumber Mill of Arkansas, and made his living as a logger, which kept him away from home six of the seven days in a week. As a widower, he had no wife at home to take care of his two small girls. His attempts to find a housekeeper had been in vain because there were none in this small town. There were a couple of women who’d jump at the chance to be his wife, but neither one of them matched his ideas of what a wife should be. Besides, both their voices and personalities set his teeth on edge.

  He’d written his in-laws to bring his daughters, Josie, age three and Coral, age five, for a visit in the hopes he could talk them into staying with him permanently and raising their grandchildren, his children, here where they could be a family and he could have a hand in raising his girls. Unfortunately, he’d run head first into a brick wall otherwise known as, Gwenda Sealy.

  Some of the men on his team had talked about advertising for brides and had written their own ads. Finally, six months ago after a few drinks, they’d badgered him into joining them and had taken bets that no woman would answer his ad. After more than a few beers at the saloon, he’d strung a few words together on a scrap piece of paper and dropped it in the envelope with all the others.

  Last month he’d received the first of two letters from a woman in Massachusetts. He pulled the first one from the inside pocket of his jacket and reread the beginning.

  **Mr. Benning,

  I’ve seen your advertisement in the Grooms’ Gazette. I believe we can be mutually beneficial to each other’s needs. I like children and can keep a house in top running order. I am of average height, have blonde hair and blue eyes and possess good moral character.**

  She mentioned something about being able to plan a well-rounded menu and enjoyed working in the garden. She signed the letter, Miss L. Weidner. He hadn’t questioned her further in his second letter, he’d simply agreed to send her train fare from Massachusetts to Arkansas. She’d responded with the time her train would arrive. He looked forward to good home cooked meals and clean clothes on a regular basis. He also looked forward to a competent mother for his girls.

  Griffin pulled his watch from his pocket and checked the time as the train’s whistle wailed in the distance. He’d soon find out what kind of a hole he’d dug for himself and just how deep.

  ***

  Laurel sat by the window as the train slowed to a stop at the station in Flat Rock Point. She looked long and hard for a man as tall as Mr. G. Benning had said he was. From her vantage point, no one, man or woman, appeared much taller than her own height. Billows of steam cut off her line of sight rendering any further search useless.

  She gathered her reticule and valise and prepared to leave the train car. But, as she stood, her knees wobbled and she sat back in her seat to regain her balance. Doubts about her decision came flooding back and nearly overwhelmed her. This was the most outlandish thing she’d ever done. What choice did she have though? Josephine’s words from that day by the Merrimack River came racing back to her, “I’m in. I have nowhere to go and no way to support myself. I’d have to be stupid not to do this.”

  Her own plan, the one she’d so boldly plotted out in case this madness failed, seemed insurmountable. How was she supposed to find a job to support herself when she couldn’t even get off the train? She was letting her nerves get the better of her.

  “You can do this, Laurel,” she whispered. “Remember Philadelphia and your alternatives.”

  “Are you all right, Miss?” the conductor asked.

  “Yes, I am . . . I just . . . need . . .” What? What do I need? Gumption? A shove? Another option?

  The kindly older man looked at his pocket watch. “The engineer keeps a tight schedule, Miss, and we have five minutes to get you off this train.”

  More steam rose from under the car drawing her attention. It reminded her of a dream she’d had as a child where she wandered, searching for . . . something. She raised her head and suddenly, when the steam dissipated, the tallest, most handsome man she’d ever seen stood on the platform outside her window scanning the crowd. His hair was dark blonde, much like her own, and he had light brown eyes. The depot completely disappeared behind his shoulders.

  Oh, my.

  “Miss? According to your ticket, this is your stop.” The conductor reached over and took charge of her valise, as the train whistle sounded. “You’ll need to get off here or go on down to Pine Bluff. What’s it going to be?”

  Laurel stood, tugged on her gloves and smoothed the front of her dress. The effort did nothing toward calming the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. Glancing once more out the window, she said, “Here. Flat Rock Point is my destination.”

  She couldn’t have said why, but once on the platform, her nerves calmed somewhat. Perhaps it was taking that definitive step into her future. She was embarking on her next adventure. A couple of nerves kicked up a notch and she held her breath, as her future walked towards her.

  “Miss Weidner?”

  The sound of his voice stirred the butterflies causing their wings to beat wildly against the stays of her corset. She force herself to breathe.

  “Laurel, please.” She smiled and offered her hand in greeting. “Mr. Benning?”

  His hand closed around hers. “Griffin . . . or Griff, my loggers call me Griff.”

  She took great comfort in the fact that he seemed as nervous as she was. “Griffin, thank you for meeting me, it’s good to finally be here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The conductor handed over her valise, tapped the brim of his cap and hopped back onto the train’s step. As the engineer blew the whistle and headed the train away from the station, he waved goodbye and disappeared inside the car.

  Griffin escorted her toward the depot away from the grime and dust of the wheels and track. It had been a while since he’d been in the company of a refined woman, but he did remember a few of the things he’d learned from his mother.

  While waiting for the quiet to return, he stole a glance at the woman who’d agreed to be his wife. She was prettier than he’d imagined and he couldn’t believe his good fortune. A few of the loggers’ brides were not what the men had wanted and two of them had left Flat Rock Point on the next train headed north.

  “Laurel,” he began. “I took the liberty of getting a room at the hotel. I thought you’d want to freshen up before we meet with the preacher later this afternoon.” He’d thought it’d be nice if their first night together could be in a nice room instead of his house, which desperately needed a woman’s touch. He didn’t mention that, though.

  “This afternoon?” she repeated. “I thought we’d have some time to get acquainted before we married.”

  He noticed some of the rose tint drained from her face. That was saying something, too, since her features resembled those of a delicate porcelain doll.

  “As it turns out, the preacher is heading out tomorrow morning, after service, on his circuit ride and he won’t be back to Flat Rock Point for six weeks.”

  For the flash of a second, her eyes resembled those of the deer he’d shot while hunting. It was like she knew she was doomed, and yet wondered if she still might escape. The only difference was, instead of being brown, hers were the most incredible shade of blue he’d ever seen. Sort of like the sky on a cold, crisp afternoon just before the dusk.

  She drew in a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and met his gaze. “I haven’t eaten since last night’s dinner. Do you suppose we could get to know more about each other over lunch?”

  “Yes, ma’am, that’s a good idea. I ate early this morning before driving into town.” He slipped his hand under her elbow. “I’ll take you to the café. We can get a good meal there.”

  “Thank you.” She gestured over to the side of the platform. “Is it all right to leave my things here unattended?”

  He followed her line of sight to two trunks, a suitcase
and several hat boxes. “Those are all yours?”

  “Yes, I decided not to bring everything at this time, but to have them shipped later.”

  She smiled at him like having this many belongings was normal, and maybe it was in other circumstances, but not in the instance of a mail order bride. They were supposed to be destitute weren’t they? And desperate? At least that’s what he’d heard from the other loggers. Laurel Weidner didn’t look destitute or desperate. She appeared refined. She had quality.

  He, on the other hand, while not destitute, was most certainly desperate. He had to make sure he had a mother for his girls and a well-tended home so he could get them back. And then there was the bet. The money he won from that would surely come in handy.

  What if she didn’t like him or he frightened her off? What would he do if she bolted and ran? He had to make sure that didn’t happen. He had to tell her only as much as she needed to know to convince her to stay, and not let her find out about the bet.

  “I’ll have the station master arrange to have everything delivered to the house, so they’ll be there when we arrive tomorrow.”

  “All except for the small suitcase, if you don’t mind.” She pointed to the one sitting under a hat box.

  “This one?”

  “Thank you, Griffin. I appreciate that.”

  After he made the arrangements, he escorted her to the café for their meal.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Laurel sat at the table as Griffin held her chair. He seemed to be a nice man, but he had balked slightly when he saw how much she’d brought with her. His reaction might have been comical if she were more confident of her decision. Had she brought too much? It hadn’t occurred to her he might not have enough room for all her belongings. She’d taken a chance, as it was, leaving some of her things at the boarding house.