Mail Order Bride: Ultimate Mail Order Bride Collection: 6-Book Bundle ~ Clean Historical Romance (Shades of Romance Series)

by Jill Maguire

  Her father nodded. “You will be the bell of the ball.”

  The gala was a wonderful event and Felicity couldn’t remember when she’d last been so happy. There was dancing and laughter and marvelous food, all topped off with the not so subtle implications of three young gentlemen who said that they would be seeking her father’s approval for courtship.

  And there could not have been a more proud father than Frederick Selkirk. Just as he suspected, his Felicity outshone all of the other young girls in attendance. When he looked at her he couldn’t help but marvel at the beautiful young woman she had become. Her road to womanhood had not been easy, and she had born the burden without a single complaint.

  He felt a small twinge of guilt for the responsibilities that had been thrust upon her, but he was determined that from this day forward, she would have her life. He made a vow right then that he would start managing the household and find some help for Royal in order to free up some of his daughter’s time. He told her as much as they rode home.

  “But you are already overworked in the vineyards, and I don’t mind taking care of Royal. He is advancing every day. I think soon he will be almost like a normal boy of his age.”

  “You may be right,” her father countered, “but nonetheless, if we have someone come in to give him his lessons, you will be able to pursue some of your interests that have already been far too neglected.”

  Felicity blushed at his words, unused to having this kind of intense attention. “Thank you, Papa. I promise I won’t abandon you completely.” He reached across the seat and squeezed her hand.

  “You better not,” he said with false severity, “At least not where it comes to preparing the meals. I’d hate to think what we might eat if the cooking were left up to me.” They both laughed and Felicity assured him that the time she took for her studies and interests would not come at the expense of their eating healthy meals.

  With her father’s kind words ringing in her head, competing for attention with those of the young men she had met that evening, Felicity entered the house in a strange state of elation that was quite foreign to her.

  As a result, she found it difficult to come home and delve straight away into everyday chores. But she did so anyway. She thanked the neighbor for staying with Royal and sent her on her way with a basket of fresh baked biscuits left over from the supper she had prepared for the two of them. While her father studied his notebook for what jobs needed to be done the following day, Felicity prepared the lunch pail that he would take out into the vineyards. Then she set to work tidying the little kitchen.

  Her last stop before her room was a quick check on her young brother. She watched him deep in sleep and wished with all her heart that he could just be happy. His brain had suffered some trauma during birth and as a result he was much slower at learning than most children. He was making progress, she knew, but it broke her heart to hear the other children make fun of him. She pulled the covers up over his shoulders and smoothed the curly blond hair from his face.

  By the time she headed to her room, exhaustion was pulling at every bone in her body, but her mind was still buzzing with the warm feelings of the night. Although tomorrow would bring another day of chores, lessons, and tending to Royal, it all seemed a little less of a burden with the promise of time for herself and maybe even courtship in her future. She smiled and hummed as she prepared for bed, certain that the excitement of the evening would keep her awake for hours. But instead she fell asleep almost as soon as her head met the pillow.

  But the light of a new day would not bring with it the joy she was anticipating. Instead, Felicity Selkirk would suddenly find her entire world turned upside down.

  Chapter Two

  “You gonna put that fence post in place son or just stand there holdin’ it?” Jacob Crandle’s voice startled Hayden from his daydream.

  “Sorry, Pa, I just got thinking about how all this fence building is going to change things. Our wide open spaces aren’t going to be so wide open anymore.”

  His father nodded, and for a moment stopped his work. “You’re right. But we can’t have those sheep roaming in here and destroying our grazing pastures. Our cattle come first. If those eastern fellas want to come out here and raise herds of wooly bleating beasts, then that’s up to them, but they best be keeping them off my land.”

  Hayden reached down and picked up the momentarily abandoned fence post and put it in place. “I guess you’re right. But between the sheep farmers trying to take over the grasslands and the gold miners taking over the towns, things are changing a lot for us.”

  Jacob Crandle nodded and shrugged his stooped shoulders. “We can’t complain. Those miners have brought a big demand for meat with them and meat is what makes us our living.”

  Hayden nodded and then, looking at the darkening sky, changed the subject. “Looks like we’re in for a storm. We’d best get this section of fence done and head on home. “

  The two men set to work in silence and placed the last fence rail just as a jagged streak of lightning split the sky. Storms on the prairie could be intense, and it was never a good idea to get caught out in the open.

  The aromas of beef stew and fresh baked pie greeted them as they walked through the door. The house was quiet except for muted voices coming from the parlor. Hayden could tell from the tone that Ma was reading to Caleb. Jacob headed straight away to the back room to wash up and Hayden headed towards the voices.

  He paused in the doorway to watch his mother and younger brother. Caleb sat beside Ma on the sofa listening intently to the story she was reading. Hayden felt a slight twinge of jealousy. He loved his Ma and he loved his little brother but he couldn’t help but feel a little left out of this bond that they shared. Caleb was just nine, the youngest of the Crandle brothers and twelve years younger than Hayden.

  Josh was sixteen and the middle child. Hayden often wondered why his parents had had their children all so far apart, but he supposed it wasn’t something they had had any control over. He knew if he was to ask his Ma about it, she would say, that it was just what the good Lord wanted.

  But at this moment, watching them together, Hayden wished for some of that same closeness. It seemed to him that he had never really been a child, enjoying things the way Caleb seemed to be doing. For as long as he could remember he had been working alongside his Pa on the range. There never seemed to be time for reading, learning and dreaming when he was Caleb’s age.

  Maybe he had never shown an interest, or maybe his Pa wouldn’t allow for such “foolish book learning” as he called it for his eldest offspring.

  Grace Crandle must have sensed Hayden standing there because she raised her eyes to his and smiled. “Come join us Hayden,” she said patting the empty space on her other side. Hayden smiled and shook his head.

  “Sorry, Ma, I’m filthy dirty from building fences. You don’t want me sitting there until I wash up.”

  “I suppose you’re right about that. We are just finishing up anyway. It’s time to get dinner on the table. Your Pa will be looking to eat as soon as he comes in. Have you seen Josh around?”

  A bit of a frown crept across Hayden’s face at the thought of his other brother. “Sorry, Ma. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him all day. I know for certain he wasn’t helping with the fence building.” Grace didn’t miss the resentment in his voice.

  “Well I’m sure he’ll turn up when his stomach starts grumbling.”

  “No doubt,” Hayden muttered under his breath as he headed out to wash up. Now it was Grace Crandle’s turn to frown. She loved all of her boys, but Josh was the one that brought her the most worry. He was headstrong and impulsive and not the least bit interested in ranching, but had no other direction in his life either. He wasn’t ambitious like Hayden, or interested in learning like Caleb. He truly seemed to be a lost soul and she worried that his drinking and gambling would be the death of him.

  She was just pulling a hot batch of biscuits from the stove when the subjec
t of her musings came crashing through the door.

  “Dang blasted gold miners,” he raged. “Bunch of them got crazy down at the saloon and near destroyed the place. Old man Billows says he’s gonna have to be closed for a week or two to fix things up again.”

  Grace turned to him, eyebrows raised and her hands on her hips. “Well, Joshua William Crandle, I daresay that’s a good thing for you. Might do you some good not to be able to go in there for a while. Might even give you some time to get your head on straight and think about what you’re going to do with your life.”

  For a moment Josh looked contrite. “Aw, Ma. Can’t a guy have a little fun before he settles down to a life of work? Look at Hayden there. Only twenty one and he’s never had a day of fun in his life.”

  Grace just stared him down, trying to decide if now was the time to continue this argument or let things lie. In the end, she just shook her wooden spoon at him and turned back to her cooking. “One day, Josh Crandle. One day.”

  And those were the last words that Grace Crandle ever spoke.

  Chapter Three

  Felicity woke to the silence of an empty house. Normally she could hear her father whistling in the kitchen as he prepared breakfast amidst the background sound of Royal’s chatter. But this morning the house was silent. She hurried to complete her morning routine, anxious to get downstairs and find out what was going on.

  She was startled to see Royal sitting in silence at the kitchen table. She glanced around the room doubting very much that her father had left Royal there alone, but there was no sign of her father anywhere. She turned to the Royal and knelt down in front of him so that they were on eye level. Royal had some trouble communicating unless you had his full attention. Making eye contact and holding it, she asked, “Royal, where is Father? Where did he go?”

  Royal looked at her while he took a few moments to process her question, and then slowly responded. “Father went to the vineyard with Mr. Johansen.” They went fast.”

  Felicity pondered that last remark. In Royal’s language, that probably meant they left in a hurry. Royal spoke up again. “I stay put here.” Felicity smiled at her young brother. Although he was almost six, he still struggled with putting concepts and ideas into words.

  “Did Father leave in a hurry and tell you to stay put until I came downstairs?” Royal nodded. “You did the right thing Bug,” she said using her nickname for him. Royal smiled at her praise and the name. Since the time he was old enough to walk he had loved catching bugs. He would take canning jars to the meadow and spend hours catching, watching and then releasing all kinds of creepy crawly things.

  “Ok, well we’d better find out where he’s gone. Come on, we can have breakfast when we get back.” Royal stood and followed her through the kitchen door. They didn’t have far to look. Frederick was heading back towards the house from the vineyard. Felicity could tell from his posture that something was wrong. Not sure if what he had to say should be said in front of Royal, she merely took Royal’s hand and headed back to the house. Frederick walked alongside with one arm encircling her shoulders.

  Once back in the kitchen, Felicity handed Royal a clean canning jar from the shelf. “It’s a beautiful morning, Bug. Why don’t you see what you can catch in the back garden while I prepare breakfast?” Always eager to be outside, Royal took the jar from her outstretched hand.

  Once she was certain he was out of earshot, Felicity turned to her father.”What is it? What has happened?”

  Her father sank down onto one of the kitchen chairs and then raised troubled eyes to her. “The vineyards are gone. Destroyed. Completely destroyed. Devoured by some sort of disease.”

  “But surely it can’t be that bad. This kind of thing must happen some times. What does Mr. Johansen intend to do about it?”

  Her father slumped forward, putting his head in his hands.

  Worry started to gnaw at Felicity’s heart. “What is he going to do? What does he say?” She wanted to shake her father and make him answer.

  “He says he will lose the vineyard. This crop was his last chance to get out of the debt he has incurred. He says the bank will call in his note. He is planning to up and move west.”

  “And what of us? What are we to do?” Her father simply shrugged and didn’t answer.

  Felicity was shocked by his words but more so by his resignation. Not since her mother died had she seen him look so defeated. Frederick had taken a long time to bounce back from the death of his wife, and had nearly lost his home and his family. Now, as she watched him sit there, Felicity knew that there were going to be some dark days ahead.

  She pulled up a chair and sat with him, thinking carefully before she spoke. “We will find a way through this. We always do. We just have to think things through.” Her father sighed.

  “Oh my dear Felicity, how do you always remain so positive? Here you are once again putting your life on hold for the sake of the family. And just when I had promised you that things would be different.”

  Felicity shrugged her slender shoulders and forced a smile. “Family must always come first. That’s how it has always been and it will be no different now. But let’s think on things for a bit and enjoy the day for Royal’s sake.”

  She finished preparing breakfast, and once they had eaten, she suggested they go for a wagon ride into town. Royal loved to look in the shop windows and Felicity thought they could all use a distraction. It was difficult to convince her father to come but in the end he agreed.

  They spent the day keeping Royal entertained and happy but worry about the future was never far from their minds. Later that evening after Royal was asleep, Frederick sat alone at the kitchen table.

  “I hate to see you so worried,” she said sitting down opposite him. “But there’s no sense sitting here stewing. Tonight we will have a good rest and tomorrow we will make a plan.”

  “You go to bed. I want to sit here for a while.” Felicity hesitated knowing that his plan was to open a bottle of whiskey just as he always did when trouble reared its ugly head. Reluctantly she left him alone with his despair knowing that she would have to come up with a plan quickly before he sank into the depths of depression.

  Although a good night’s rest was her hope, Felicity tossed and turned in an uneasy sleep. But by morning she knew what they had to do. It was a good thing too, because the empty whiskey bottle on the table and the absence of her father in the kitchen reinforced her decision to act fast.

  With pen and paper in hand she headed to the parlor to set her plan in motion. By the time a sleepy eyed Royal and a red eyed father made their appearance at the breakfast table, she was ready to tell them what to do.

  “We are packing our things up today, and heading for Aunt Caroline’s. I will post the letter today and she will be expecting us within the week. We’ll stay there until we can figure out what to do.”

  Her father stared at her blankly, holding his aching head in his hands. Finally he nodded. It seemed like the only solution. Felicity turned then to Royal.

  “Are you ready for an adventure, Bug? We’re going to go visit Aunt Caroline.” And, just as she feared, Royal became frightened and anxious. He didn’t like or understand any change to his routine. “It will be fine Bug. Father and I will be with you.”

  But as she looked from her brother to her father her heart filled with worry and doubt.

  Chapter Four

  “The doc says it was some kind of brain clot or something. Nothing that ever would have given Grace any cause for concern. It was bent to happen at any time. Guess this was the time.” Jacob Crandle paused, his head bowed and his shoulders sagging.

  “Jacob, I’m so very sorry. If there is anything you boys need you just let me know. I can be back out here in a matter of days if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Sis. But you’ve got your own family to tend to. The boys and I will manage alright. And thanks for coming out for the funeral.”

  Jacob Crandle watched and waved one last time as hi
s sister boarded the train. As he mounted his horse his last words to her echoed in his head, “The boys and I will manage alright.” He truly wondered if things would ever be alright again. How was he supposed to go on without Grace? She was the love of his life and the glue that held this family together. He was never one for praying much, but as he headed back to the ranch he sent a silent prayer skyward to ask for help to get his family through this tragedy.

  Mostly he was worried about Caleb, his youngest. He had been the closest of all the boys to his Ma and he was going to have a really hard time with her gone. The boy had no interest in ranching, and heaven knows his old Pa wasn’t going to be able to teach him the things Grace was teaching him. He needed Hayden’s help out on the range, so he couldn’t do it either and there was no point in even considering Josh for the job. Jacob decided he’d better have a chat with Miss Murdoch at the school. Maybe she’d be willing to carve out a little extra time for a boy who had just lost his Mama.

  And Josh, now he was a whole other kettle of fish. He had no interest in ranching either. In fact, Jacob mused, he didn’t have much of an interest in anything except drinking and gambling. He was headed for trouble, that boy. Grace had tried her best to tame him down, but he was a wild card. But he was a charmer and he wormed his way into Grace’s heart, bad habits and all. She always said that he needed to run out that wild streak and then he’d settle down and be a fine man. Jacob sure hoped she was right.

  He was glad to see the ranch come into sight, but not so glad to see Hayden and another man having a bit of a shoving match out in the yard. He picked up the pace a bit to reach them before things got out of hand. He pulled his horse to a stop just as the burly looking fellow lifted his arm to throw a punch.

  “Hold it right there, mister,” Jacob shouted, grabbing the man’s wrist before he could swing. “What in tarnation is going on here?”