Jake offered money, plus the office and the jail. Other than drunks and claim-jumpers, the town seemed peaceful enough. So, at first, I spent most of my time panning my claim. I’d taken over the duties of sheriff with a light heart.” His face tightened. “But lawlessness sprang up like mushrooms after a heavy rain.” He leaned his chair back on two legs and pulled in a deep breath. “Take Levi Harper’s younger brother, Seth. Got into mischief faster than a sack full of rattlesnakes. The kid badgered me like a weasel in a hen house. I had to handle Seth with kid gloves because Levi owns the richest mine in town and he’s a friend. Kid’s only eleven and with a new Mom seems to be straightening out. So that’s the long and short of it.”
He cuddled her hand inside his. “More importantly, what made you change your mind?”
“Some of the other Mail Order Angels told me that before Matt Thomas advertised for brides, Jake Underwood had one requirement for procuring brides. He took his demand from Genesis Chapters 24 and 25.”
“Abraham insisted his son Isaac’s bride must not be a daughter of Canaan, but must come from his own home country and family. So Abraham’s servant traveled to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor, to find a bride for Isaac.” She smiled.
“I remember.” Frank caressed her fingers. His eyes twinkled. Crinkles appeared in the corners of his eyes.
“So Jake Underwood stipulated that we twelve brides must come from his hometown, Merville, Maine. Jake echoed Abraham’s instruction to his servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac, in his hometown.” She pulled in a long breath. “So God had His Hand in all of this Mail Order Bride business. When I agreed to come, I echoed Rebekah’s agreement to come, sight unseen, to marry Isaac.”
Frank nodded. “Yes, I knew about Jake’s provision. And like Abraham and his servant, I prayed the woman God selected for me would answer, yes.” He grinned. “And you finally did.”
She smiled and twisted the wedding band on her finger. “Yes, I did. But neither my journey nor my decision was easy.” She gazed down at their entwined hands. “Rebekah’s task wasn’t easy either.” She peeked under her lashes at Frank. “When Rebekah met Abraham’s servant, that servant prayed she would perform a difficult task to prove she was God’s choice for Isaac. Rebekah had to offer to water the servant’s ten camels. She had only the pitcher she carried on her shoulder to fill the water trough. And camels drink tremendous amounts of water.”
Amanda lifted her index finger and traced Frank’s lips. His Adam’s apple traveled up and down the tanned expanse of his throat.
“That job probably took Rebekah hours of extra work. What if Rebekah had been unwilling to answer the still, small voice of God nudging her to rise above the necessities of hospitality and water those ten camels?” She touched the cleft in his chin. “Rebekah would have missed the love of her life.”
Frank ran a caressing finger up and down her cheek. “But she didn’t. And neither did you.”
Delightful shivers scurried from her scalp to her fingertips. “Think of this, Rebekah had to leave her family, her familiar circumstances, her home, and ride off on a camel into the unknown.” Amanda pulled in a deep breath. “Frank, darling, you’ve made my journey to Angel Vale end so very beautifully with the lovely cabin, the beautiful child, and all the caring things you’ve done for me. You’ve shown me great devotion.”
Frank leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “And Isaac loved Rebekah the first moment he saw her from afar. You read in my expression how I loved you the moment I saw your gorgeous blue eyes gazing into mine. You had such intensity, as if you could look into my soul.”
“And don’t you see God’s hand in the fact that Jake looked for brides from Maine, but he found you, an Atlanta girl, for me an Atlanta man? Sort of like the servant who brought Abraham’s own niece for his son. Though we couldn’t see it, God handled the whole situation.”
An explosion of joy jolted through her. “I’m so thankful God showed me that I need to go above and beyond what I have a heart to do. I must accept your difficult job as sheriff. I suspect I’ll need to renew that commitment each time you face danger. I’ll have to remind myself that Rebekah didn’t change Isaac. She went to him in blind trust and accepted him where he was, as he was, for what he was.”
She touched the stubble on Frank’s lean cheek. “And that’s what I will do with you, my love. I’ll trust God for your safety as you face down all the outlaws that infect this town with their evil. I’ll support you in every way. Together we’ll make Angle Vale a safe and wonderful place in which to live.”
His grin grew larger, white teeth gleaming. “You are the love of my life. A fine Christian woman.”
Her cheeks heated. “What better time to get married than on Christmas Day? The day when God came down from heaven and changed the world.”
Yesterday, she’d ironed her beautiful wedding dress, and at last she would wear her white gown to marry the love of her life. She’d have no more bad memories to associate with the lovely, silky gown. She hummed a bit of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day.
“After we wed, I’ll save my elegant gown for our daughter who absolutely, without question, will be yours.” She kissed Jamie’s plump jam-smeared cheek. “And our Jamie will grow and thrive and be accepted as if he were our first born. I couldn’t love him more.”
Outside a Christmas bell chimed. Inside Frank’s delightful lips met hers.
A joyous shiver warmed her whole body. The Lord gave her everything she ever wanted.
The Beginning
BIO: ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II. The first book, ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS is available on Amazon. Her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas with the first book, HOLLY GARDEN, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE, now available on Amazon. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, have visited twenty-five countries. A visit to Scotland resulted in her award-winning Scottish historical romances, Masquerade Marriage and Marriage By Arrangement. A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. To learn more of Anne, visit her at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. She writes a novel teaching class on her blog www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.
Buy all of Anne’s books on http://www.Amazon.com. Type in Anne Greene.
Anne loves to hear from her readers. Visit with her at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor. On Twitter @TheAnneGreene, On Pinterest at The Anne Greene, and on Book Fun Magazine at http://www.bookfun.org./profileAnneGreene.
Dear Reader,
I so hope you enjoyed A Christmas Belle as much as I loved writing the novella. And I’m certain you will enjoy the other stories included in CHRISTMAS MAIL ORDER ANGELS. I’ve also written another Christmas novella included in the MULLED CHRISTMAS KISSES anothology. My novella is titled A Groom For Christmas.
I find it such a pleasure to visit with readers, I hope you will talk with me on the above links. I enjoy discovering what you think about my books and about other Christian books you love.
I’m expecting to hear from you, and hope I won’t be disappointed. If you’d like to subscribe to my newsletter, please drop me an email at [email protected].
Blessings.
Check out more Christmas Mail Order Angels
JACOB’S CHRISTMAS DREAM by Darlene Franklin http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Christian-Historical-Romantic-Novella-ebook/dp/B013J2AR76/
CHRISTMAS GOLD BY Cynthia Hickey http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Gold-Mail-Order-Angels-ebook/dp/B013VET0JS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443216094&sr=8-1&keywords=christmas+gold+hickey
RELIABLE COWBOY by Susan Page Davis http://www.amazon.com/Reliable-Cowboy-Mail-Order-Christmas-Angels-ebook/
dp/B012YLM1TK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438356714&sr=1-1&keywords=reliable+cowboy
EVERGREEN WREATH by Tanya Stowe
http://www.amazon.com/Evergreen-Wreath-Christmas-Mail-Order-Angels-ebook/dp/B015BVUKFW/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443135338&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=evergreen+wreat+stowe
COOKING UP CHRISTMAS by Teresa Lily http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Christmas-Christian-Historical-ebook/dp/B015913QYQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443124167&sr=8-1&keywords=cooking+up+christmas
CHRISTMAS FIRE by Jennifer Allie http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Fire-Mail-Order-Angels-ebook/dp/B014XAP78W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_351_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VJ930BQVCJ0HJ0TBSZ6&dpID=61tffjlSqRL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR115%2C160_#reader_B014XAP78W
CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Mail Order Angels
By Martha Rogers
Copyright 2015 by Martha Rogers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Psalms 92:11 KJV
Chapter 1
What if the letter hadn’t come? What would she do then? Annelle Pugh had taken n the chore of picking up the mail to keep her Aunt Harriet and Father from seeing any correspondence addressed to Nelle from Wyoming.
When Becky Patterson had first made the announcement at the Ladies Aide Society meeting for a group of women to travel to Angel Vale, Wyoming as brides, Nelle had been of the first to volunteer. She had seen it as her chance to escape the clutches of her overbearing father. Retired from the sea as captain because of illness, he had become determined to keep Nelle tied down caring for him. After her recent thirtieth birthday, all hopes of a suitor had been dashed upon the rocks like the waves on the Maine shore. Even her ambition to be a teacher had been set aside so she could fulfill her duties to her father.
Now that Aunt Eleanor had come to stay with her brother, Nelle had seized the opportunity to apply as a bride. After her initial enthusiasm for the plan subsided, her head filled with concern that this whole thing was some kind of trick to get women to come to some sinful place with no one to rescue them. Then Becky had assured them the offer was legitimate. Her father, pastor of their church, had found the family of the man named Jacob, and they had lived in Merville. Besides, a town with the name of Angel Vale had to be nice.
Her heart hammered in her chest when the clerk handed her a stack of letters and she spotted the Wyoming postmark. She clutched them in her hand and hurried home. All but the one letter landed on the table in the foyer.
“Oh, I see you brought the mail. Thank you.”
Nelle jumped and spun around. “Land sakes, Auntie, you startled me.”
“Sorry dear. I thought you heard me.” She reached over and plucked a wilted flower from the arrangement on the table. “I just learned that Isabella Johnston is planning to go on that ridiculous trip out west to marry some man out there she doesn’t even know. Sounds a bit crazy as well as dangerous to me.”
Those words wrapped a coil of fear about Nelle’s heart, and she fingered the envelope now in her pocket. “I don’t know. It would be a great adventure.”
“Oh, pshaw, some adventure. Just a crazy idea that will spell trouble. I’m glad you’re more sensible than that. Mark my words, dear. Nothing good will come from it.” She walked away, thumbing through the remaining envelopes.
She stopped at the entry to the parlor. “Oh, I almost forgot. Your father wishes to see you in his study.” She arched an eyebrow. “Now.”
Again Nelle’s heart thumped wildly. What had she done to warrant Father’s summons? Had he learned of her interest in going west?
The letter crackled in her pocket. How she longed to read it immediately, but she couldn’t afford to anger her father at all. Squaring her shoulders, she breathed deeply and then exhaled with a huff and headed for her father’s study.
She knocked on his door and at his summons, her hand trembled on the knob as fear ate at her heart and soul. “You wanted to see me, Father?”
He removed his spectacles and peered at her with narrowed eyes. He said nothing. His piercing gaze sent Nelle’s knees to shaking. His illness had taken its toll on his once muscular body, and his complexion had paled from the robust tan of days on the sea to that of a landlocked seaman, but his bushy eyebrows and beard still gave him a ferocious countenance.
Finally, he leaned forward. “My sister tells me that you have been neglecting your household responsibilities of late.”
“I’m sorry, Father. I’ll be sure to do all she asks.” Aunt Eleanor, widowed and childless had taken over most of the care of Father, but the rest of the responsibilities fell to Nelle. How could her aunt have reported any negligence?
“She also said you are spending too much time with Becky Patterson and Isabella Johnston. Is that true?” His mouth formed a thin line and his eyes narrowed even more.
Nelle swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I’ve spent time with them at the Ladies Aid Society at church for several hours every week, but we don’t really share any common interests.” Especially since Isabella was a widow quite younger than Nelle.
“You do realize Eleanor is a guest in our home because she became too lonely up in Portland, and wanted to spend more time with her only brother and niece.” His face still wore the frown of a stern father.
“Yes, sir, I do, and I promise to do more to help her.” That is until she could leave this place.
“See to it then.” He waved his hand in the air. “That’s all. You’re dismissed.”
With heart still thumping, Nelle stepped into the hall and closed the door. She leaned back and lifted her eyes to the ceiling. “Lord, what am I going to do?”
With tears misting her eyes, Nelle raced upstairs to her room to read Riley’s letter. She chose Riley’s name because he sounded like a good solid man, and his plea for a wife and a mother for his baby had touched her heart.
She opened the letter and flopped down on a satin covered chair by the window overlooking the garden. A railroad ticket fluttered out and landed in her lap. Her hands shook at the sight of the name Angel Vale on the paper that would take her far away from Maine. Her attention turned to the letter.
As she read, doubt crept into her soul, for it sounded like this Riley Thornton had three children instead of one baby and was desperate to have someone take care of them and to teach his girls. He had deceived her. She thrust the letter away and closed her eyes. No wonder he mentioned teaching in his first letter. She had certainly misunderstood that request.
She could withdraw her name and let someone else with more experience go. No woman came to Nelle’s mind, and the idea of leaving a poor baby motherless wrenched her heart. The oldest girl was thirteen and still young enough to have been Nelle’s own daughter. A sob escaped her throat and mist formed in her eyes.
She reached for the letter and re-read it. She hadn’t really counted on more than the baby, but these three children needed a mother. They needed a teacher as well. Could this be God’s answer to her call to teaching?
Besides, how hard could it be to look after three instead of one child and take care of their house? After all, isn’t that what women were supposed to do?
Hilda, would help her learn to prepare more than the basics already gleaned from a few forays into the kitchen. Hilda had been the Pugh household cook as long as Nelle could remember. They could start tomorrow while her father napped and Aunt Eleanor retired to her room for a rest.
She stared at the garden below. The beautiful flowers now growing there would be sorely
missed, but at least she knew how to grow and arrange flowers to brighten up the house. She bit her lip. Would they even have flowers growing out in Wyoming? Never mind that. The children presented more of a problem than cooking or cleaning house. What little she knew about them had been learned from the time she had spent with families from the church and classes on teaching, but that wasn’t enough to teach her about mothering.
She reached over and grabbed up a sheet of stationary from the desk beside her. A list of all the things needed to be learned would help her organize the time remaining before the group departed for the west. As Nelle wrote, the list seemed to grow longer and longer with what she didn’t know.
Doubt turned to determination. A change of scenery would be the best thing that ever happened to her. A blank sheet replaced the long list. She must write down those things to be done around here as well as what would be packed to take along to Wyoming. Her first task would be to find a book or two of household hints to get her started. If she could locate a book or two on child rearing, she’d have all she needed to become a mother and ranch wife.
With the ticket in hand and Riley’s letter, the upcoming trip had become very real. Now, telling her father and Aunt Eleanor would have to be done, but hesitation kept her from going down and revealing her plans at this very minute. No, she’d wait until a day or two before departure, or perhaps wait until bags were packed and she was ready to leave for the station.
Christmas Mail Order Angels: The complete 11 Volume Set Page 56
