September 1887
My Dearest Constance,
I certainly hope this letter finds you well and happy. Hopefully your studies are going well. My town is talking about incorporating into the county, which I’m in favor of. It’d give us land owners rights we currently can’t exercise. With Hemet already being incorporated I assume it can only benefit us from here on out.
I miss you, but I suppose that’s an equal sentiment. How was your train ride home? Did I ever tell you that I’ve never been on a train? Are the as noisy and uncomfortable as they seem?
Write to me soon sweetheart!
Always,
Jameson
Constance replied with haste, wanting the letter to hit the morning mail call.
September 1887
Dearest Jameson,
Never been on a train? We must ride one together someday! My studies are progressing well. Hopefully this will be my last year before I can finally say I’ve graduated. With my high scores I’m sure I’ll succeed. I have never been more well or happier in my life, partly because I’m love by you.
Forgive me for not writing my own feelings down. I prefer to say them in person, when the opportune time presents itself.
I’m glad to hear that your town will become an incorporation of the county. It sounds as if that would bode well for your ranch? The legalities escape me, but if it will be good for the town and for you, then I’m thankful and grateful that it’s happening.
I miss you too, Jameson. More than I can or will put into words right now. We wait patiently for the plans of our Heavenly Father. I am sure that our patience will be rewarded and soon I hope.
For now, I will apply myself to my studies to become the best nurse and librarian I can be. I will learn the things from my mother to make me a good wife and mother. Then we can marry and I’ll let you love me for the rest of my life.
Truly yours,
Constance
***
Jameson had finally been able to hire a foreman for his ranch, after spending the fall building a bunkhouse. Manuel Escobar had earned his position and after three months with Jameson, he was experienced enough to take over all of the menial jobs, as well as, some of the big ones.
“You’re sure you can handle it?” Jameson asked for the hundredth time that morning.
“Si, boss,” the man smiled. “I will make sure everything runs smoothly.”
“Thank you, Manuel. And tell Margarete that I said Merry Christmas.”
“Si, I will.”
Jameson grabbed his bags and headed for the train depot, snagging a comfortable bunk in the sleeping car. He unpacked his things and buried himself in a book for the first several hours before he went hunting the food car. Ordering dinner, Jameson enjoyed a beautiful steak with roasted potatoes and carrots. He drank coffee and wondered how Constance was going to react when he showed up on her doorstep.
The train was indeed much more comfortable than she had imagined. His bunk was a single one and he was grateful for the added space in his cabin. That first night he slept fitfully, tossing and turning as his mind began to play havoc in his head. When he finally slept, he dreamed of Constance, dressed in white, floating toward him on their wedding day. In a flash she was holding a pretty little blonde girl and in his arms was a sweet-faced little boy who favored him. Then they were enjoying the sunset as their children ran around the yard, playing. The flashes continued as Jameson slept. Children grew up and had families of their own and Constance aged by his side, becoming ever more beautiful to him. Her sweet, sassy spirit never changed and she always seemed to add a spice to his life that would surely be lacking if he hadn’t met her one morning when she’d seen a little boy working much too hard.
“Grand Central Station!” the conductor announced, two days later, as Jameson finished his breakfast. Twenty minutes later the train was pulling in and Jameson departed. He found a taxi and made his way to the Lowell home, nervous as an alley cat.
Enjoying the city, Jameson watched the building fly by. He noted Claremont inn which was situated along Riverside Drive. Beautiful and stately, it rose above the street, almost begging patrons to come in from the frigid cold. Smiling, Jameson knew he’d be sleeping their tonight, having made prior arrangements by telegram.
An hour after leaving Grand Central Station, the taxi pulled up in front of a beautiful, two-story home that even from the outside looked warm and inviting. He paid the buggy driver and stepped down onto the walkway that led to the door of the Lowell home. Screwing up his courage, Jameson made his way up the path and knocked loudly on the door.
***
“Sweetheart can you get the door for us?” Constance heard her father say as he set the table for dinner.
“Sure, daddy.”
Constance headed for the door, hoping the wind wouldn’t blow too much snow in with the cold. She inhaled deeply and then jerked the heavy, oak door open. Seeing Jameson at the door though, made all the air leave her loves and her head felt so light, as if her body had grown cement shoes. Suddenly the face in front of her began to move sickly back and forth and then the black abyss swallowed her whole as she fainted.
Coming to, Constance opened her eyes to see three people standing over her. “I need to sit up. Can I have some water, please?”
Before she knew it a glass was in her hand. Taking a small sip, she closed her eyes as humiliation washed over her. “Jameson?”
The people around her parted and her vision took in the man she loved with all of her might. “How are you feeling?”
“Better now,” she said, touching his face. “I just couldn’t believe you were standing there, real, in front of me.”
“My intention was to surprise you for Christmas, not make you faint.”
“The fainting should be a compliment,” she laughed, still feeling a bit off in her stomach.
Christmas went swimmingly and before they knew it, it was time for Jameson to head back to his ranch. “You’ll continue to write to me?”
“I won’t miss an opportunity, love,” Jameson promised. Tipping her face up, he pressed his lips to hers. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Jameson.” Tears swam in her eyes as she watched Jameson board the train. The weeks flew by as Constance and Jameson continued to write to each other. Then, in the spring of 1888, Jameson wrote.
…we’ve been incorporated! This past week, on April 9th, San Jacinto became part of Riverside County.
His letter continued.
I know it’s sooner than either of us had really planned, but life seems too short now to wait much longer and I’m a better man when you’re close to me. I’ve already asked your father’s permission, but it’s only right that I ask you. Will you come to San Jacinto? Will you come and live here, close to me, until we can officially move forward?
I’m awaiting your answer,
Love,
Jameson
Constance ran downstairs and nearly plowed over her father who was standing at the bottom landing. “Is it true?”
“It’s true,” Richard chuckled. “I gave Jameson my blessing to bring you out to San Jacinto. Your mother and I will follow in a few months, once things settle down at the office.”
“Oh thank you, daddy!” Constance squealed. “Can you believe it? I’m going to be our family’s first mail-order bride!”
“Well, he hasn’t asked yet,” Richard said, grinning. “Although I don’t expect it to be much longer, once you arrive. Regardless, I’m thankful that Jameson didn’t have to advertise for you.”
“When do I leave?”
“This afternoon,” Richard said, holding out an envelope. “This envelope contains the inheritance, as well as some spending money to keep you until you can establish yourself in San Jacinto.”
“When will you and mother come to visit?”
“When we hear that our daughter is planning her wedding, we’ll be on the next train.”
Later that day Constance stood in Gra
nd Central Station, waiting for her train to come. When it pulled up she tearfully love her parents and then stepped onto the train, feeling as if she was finally heading toward her future. Having graduated the month before with her nursing degree and a follow-up degree in library sciences, she was well suited to find employment in either field. Truth be told she wasn’t sure she would work at all, it would all depend on what Jameson thought and where his ranch went.
Two days later, Constance stepped of the train at the San Jacinto depot and all but flew into Jameson’s embrace. Smiling broadly, she giggled, “I’ve missed you.”
“I could tell,” he grinned, tucking her hand into his elbow. “I’ve acquired a room for you at the Hamilton Inn, but I’d like to take you to dinner tonight, if you’re not too tired.”
“I feel like I have all the energy in the world right now.”
“You were able to sleep on the train?”
“For the most part. The closer we came to San Jacinto the harder it became, but I was able to get enough adequate rest. Can we eat at your ranch?”
“If you’d like,” Jameson smiled. “I think you’ll find the new upgrades much to your liking.”
Constance was once again amazed at the beauty of Jameson’s property and could scarcely believe that someday it would be hers as well. But it was when she looked across the expanse and saw Rebekah and Billy Porter running toward her that Constance knew she’d found her home.
“How did you two get here?”
“We was hired by Mr. Smitz,” Rebekah said, her smile broad and beaming. “I’m the cook and he paid me enough that Billy can stay in school.”
“Someone once told me that schooling was very important for young boys,” Jameson chuckled, pulling Constance to his side.
“That it is,” Constance smiled. Dinner was served on the Veranda and Constance told Jameson all about her schooling and graduation. “I was at the top of my class, although I was thankful to not be the school’s valedictorian. I hate public speaking.”
“Really?” Jameson said, truly shocked. “With your flamboyant attitude I’d think public speaking would be right up your alley.”
“Nope,” she smiled. “I can’t stand big crowds and everyone watching me.”
“So I suppose you don’t want a big wedding then?”
“Seeing as no one’s asked me to marry him, I don’t need to worry about it.”
“I’m asking,” Jameson said, his dark hair blowing in the wind. Constance watched as he got down on one knee and pulled out a pretty rose colored, gold ring. “This was my mother’s before she passed and it was always her wish that I would pass it down in our family. So I’m asking you to wear it proudly if you’ll have me?”
Constance couldn’t stop the tears that fell from her eyes as she laughed with joy. “Yes, I’ll have you Jameson Smitz and I will gladly wear your mother’s ring with all the pride my heart can muster.”
Epilogue
True to her word, Constance wore the small golden band with pride from the moment they were engaged to the date of their wedding that summer and throughout their lives together. Their children, a boy and a girl, did all the things Jameson had dreamed of and more. Rebekah stayed on as the cook for their home even after Billy had graduated from college and moved away. She often went to visit him and Jameson and Constance, along with their children attended Billy’s wedding in the spring of 1900. Manuel also stayed on as the foreman for the Triple “S” Ranch, which it eventually came to be named.
Constance’s parents enjoyed many visits to California. So much so, especially when the grandchildren came along, that they moved to the area permanently in 1895 and only spent an occasional trip back to New York, usually for business purposes.
“What will you tell our children when they start to ask how we came to know each other?”
“I’ll be honest,” Jameson smiled. “I’ll tell them that their spitfire mother couldn’t leave well enough alone and that because of that evident fact, I was blessed with the most amazing woman I’m sure God ever created.”
“You’re embellishing.”
“Probably a little bit,” he grinned. “But not for a bad cause. Why, what would you tell them?”
“I’d have to be honest as well mind you. I’d have to tell them about how I found Billy in your factory and that I was all ready to set you straight on the matter. Then I’d have to tell them about how shocked you were and how you not only remedied the situation, you kept your promise to be transparent by corresponding with me. I’d tell them about the times we spent apart and how it seemed as if we’d never be on the same page.
“Then I’d tell them how God moved quickly when the time was right to bring us together. How our love has endured despite the incredible hard times and that all of our blessings are because of Him.”
“I think you’d win that set, love.”
“Oh I know I would,” Constance grinned. “I’d also tell them that their father was so desperate to marry me that he had to order me through the mail.”
Jameson laughed and drew his wife to his side, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as their children read in front of the fire and snow began to fall outside their large picture window. Life was indeed sweet for the Smitz family. And tomorrow, when they held their very first Labor of Love fundraiser, which sought to raise money to stop child labor practices, was just going to add to the sweetness.
THE END.
A Widow Finds a Rancher
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1 – You Can’t Be Alone Forever
The rain patted on the side of the window, adding dreariness to the day. Rose looked down at her counted cross stitch, not paying any attention to what was going on in the next room. She could hear her sister Pansy talking to their mother about her, but she didn’t want to hear what they were saying.
The suddenly, her arm was bumped up as she carefully aimed to push the needle through the soft fabric once again. She smiled and placed her hand on the side of her stomach, and spoke softly aloud.
“It’s ok Little One, I am making this for you after all.”
She picked up the cross stitch and looked it over. Looking back at her was the small face of a stitched teddy bear sitting on a ball, waiving at her. She couldn’t wait for her baby to be born. She was going to spoil him and dote on him in every way she could. Starting with this cross stitch.
Rose Fratt was convinced she was having a boy. A little lad that was going to be the striking image of his father. Tall, strong, and covered in thick red hair. He was going to be brave like his father was, too. And know everything there was to know about his father.
She lay back, thinking of her husband. Missing him. It had been several months since he had passed away in a fire, but the pain was still fresh. He was so proud that he was going to be a father, talking about the topic every single second he could. Rose was so proud she could give him a child.
She just wished he was here to see their child.
Being a widow was hard. She did her best to bring in an income to support herself, but that was getting harder and harder the further along she got in her pregnancy. This last week she had moved in with her older sister and their mother.
Pansy was a spinster herself. She never bothered with marriage, feeling that it was a waste of time and emotions. She would rather be out serving those that were in need than sitting at home caring for her husband or a family. Rose thought it was ironic her sister was now the one taking care of herself and their mother.
“Mother doesn’t need me to take care of her, she is here because she was lonely where she was, and I thought I had plenty of room for the both of us, so why not?”
Rose remembered the conversation she had had with her sister on the topic. They hadn’t been able to reach an agreement, so she let the topic drop. That had been almost a year ago now, and at that time Rose never thought she would be the one in need of her sister’s hospitality.
It’s o
nly temporary. As soon as you are born and I am back on my feet, we are going to get out of here, and make our way on our own.
A rush of loneliness flooded through Rose at that moment, and she briefly wondered if she was destined to be on her own forever. She had been so happy with Frank. She thought she wouldn’t ever be on her own. Frank had promised her he would always be here for her. He promised her he wouldn’t ever leave.
Yet here she was, all alone.
Well, not entirely alone.
I still have you, Little One, and you are part of him.
Rose’s thoughts were interrupted when her mother and sister walked into the room. She didn’t know what the rest of their conversation was about, but they stopped talking abruptly when they saw her looking up at them.
“I thought you had gone into your room to rest, but I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you what we have decided.”
Rose sat up in surprise. She wished she had been listening better, realizing they were discussing something that had to do with her. Pansy always was one that liked to make decisions for the both of them, and now the three of them since their mother needed someone to care for her.
“Decided for what?”
Rose still kept her voice cool and controlled. She didn’t like to show her sister when she got under her skin, which was becoming increasingly more these days.
“Honey, your sister and I have been talking, and we don’t think it’s good for you to be alone like this. Your father passed when I was quite young, and trust me, it’s difficult enough going through life just on your own, but when you have a child to think about, it’s even harder.”
Rose sat up straight, more agitated now than anything. She didn’t like where this conversation was going, and she had a feeling she knew where it was going to end.
“I don’t want to marry again. Frank was the kindest, best man that ever lived. There’s no way I am going to marry another! Never!”
[2016] Finding My Cowboy Page 10
