They’d make a major fuss and most likely forbid her to go, but they couldn’t keep her here. She was an adult who made her own decisions, or at least she would be from now on.
+++
Riley Thornton rode up to the ranch house and swung down from his horse. The rough frame house welcomed him after a long day in the saddle. Fences had to be mended and cattle checked on. At least he did have a home for his bride if the one he’d written to still decided to come. Aunt Harriet warned him that a man with three children might be the determining factor and told him not to be disappointed if the answer was no.
After taking care of his horse, Riley headed for the wash basin and stand in the barn. He always made sure he washed up good before going into the house. Miranda had insisted on it, and he hadn’t broken the habit since her death.
After rinsing off the lather, he swiped the towel across his face. The aroma of roasting meat wafted from the house and caused his stomach to rumble. Sure smelled good after a meal of cold biscuits and ham on the range at mid-day.
Aunt Harriet met him at the door. “My gracious, you look plum tuckered out. Better sit and rest a spell. Supper’s ‘bout ready to put on the table. Lizzie helped me, and she’s gettin’ right handy in the kitchen. You be sure to compliment her berry pie. She made it all by herself.”
With a swish of her skirts she headed back to her cooking, but then stopped and spun around. “I near forgot to tell you I picked up a letter for you in town. It’s from that lady in Maine.” She pulled a white envelope from her apron pocket and handed it to Riley. “I sure hope she’s still planning to come. I need to get back home to Laramie and take care of my dear Bert.”
The letter did feel a little heavier than the others. What if it was a rejection after he’d told her about his three young‘uns? May as well find out now as later. He settled in his desk chair in his office and ran his finger under the flap. A cream colored paper with neat, precise hand-writing slid from the envelope. As he read, his breath released in whoosh. No rejection. Miss Pugh informed him she’d be arriving with the rest of the brides from Maine.
Second thoughts pierced his heart. Did he really want a stranger taking care of his family? Was it fair to ask a woman from the East to come out here to this desolation? It had killed his wife, would it kill this Pugh woman as well?
“Riley, supper’s ready. The children are all washed and ready at the table.” His aunt stood at the door and tilted her head. “Was it good news about the bride?”
He stuffed the letter back into the envelope and stood. He strode to Aunt Harriet and enveloped her shoulders with his long arm. “Yes, it was very good news. She’ll arrive in September with the rest of the women coming to Angel Vale.”
“Now that’s news I like to hear. Soon as they arrive, I can head back to Bert and our ranch. He’s been patient and understanding, but I do want to go home.” She reached around his waist and hugged him tight against her side.
The two walked to the table where his three children sat waiting. Lizzie, now thirteen, sat with hands folded in her lap prim and proper and her golden-blonde hair hanging in one long braid down her back. Six-year-old Katie sucked on her fingers and fiddled with the fork beside her plate. Dark hair framed her sweet round face. He had to put a stop to that finger business. Maybe their new mother would help with that. Little Davey sat in his special chair and banged a spoon on the wood surface. He gurgled a happy greeting upon seeing his pa and Riley’s heart lurched at how much he favored his mother with his blond fuzz for hair and eyes as blue as the summer Wyoming sky.
After grace had been said and plates filled, Riley decided the time had come to tell them what he had done. “Um, children, I have something I need to tell you about. Aunt Harriet will have to go back to her home and Uncle Bert, so I’ve sent for a lady to come and live with us. She’ll be your new ma.”
Lizzie’s eyes burned with anger. “I don’t want a new ma. I can take care of us without Aunt Harriet.”
“I’m sure you could, but you have schooling and other things you should be doing instead of taking care of a house.”
She said nothing and only poked at her food. A tear glistened on her cheek. Riley’s heart ached for his beloved Miranda and their blossoming daughter. He’d spend some time alone with her later and help her understand.
Katie gazed up at him with a grin that exposed the blank space of her missing bottom tooth. “Is she a pretty lady?”
“Yes, I think she is. She sent a picture, and I’ll show it to you later. She’ll be able to braid your hair and tie pretty ribbons in it, and maybe she’ll make you a new dress.”
Katie’s grin expanded even more, and her eyes sparkled. She broke open a biscuit and popped a chunk of it into her mouth, clearly satisfied with his announcement.
Baby Davey banged his spoon and cried, “Mama, Mama.”
Yes, this family needed a mother. September couldn’t come soon enough for him.
Chapter 2
Angel Vale, Wyoming Territory September 1877
The dust from the horses pounding the ground didn’t help with Nelle’s first impression of Wyoming territory. The longer they rode on the wagon, the harder the seats became. The uncomfortable train had been luxury compared to this jostling. Even the woolen blankets the drivers provided didn’t soften the wood beneath her.
At least she wasn’t the only one having a rough go of it. Isabella, a young widow sat next to Nelle. They had already talked about their situations, and Nelle held great sympathy for her friend and the loss of her first husband at sea on a fishing expedition. How well Nelle understood as she had lost a brother to the angry waves of the Atlantic Ocean. They had promised to pray for each other after they married.
Isabella leaned over to speak to Nelle once again. “All we know is about living near the ocean. How will it be to live so far inland and such wide open spaces? And what if we disappoint the men? After all, they know nothing about us except what they read in our letters.”
A great sign escaped Nelle. Isabella had voiced Nelle’s greatest fear—rejection. “Oh, I pray we don’t disappoint. I don’t want to go back to Maine, but if Mr. Thornton isn’t pleased with me because I’m so small, I may well have to return.”
“At least you’re older and wiser than some of the younger, less experienced brides.”
Nelle nodded. Isabella had been widowed after only two years of marriage, but she had at least been married. Nelle’s father had scared off every suitor who dared to call on her. Then Aunt Eleanor had come to live with them, and the plea for brides arrived by way of Becky.
The other ladies chatted among themselves, their soft voices filling the air around Nelle. She gazed out at the forlorn landscape that would most likely be covered with snow in the winter. The majestic mountains in the distance made up for the bleak terrain around the line of wagons carrying the brides. Those mountains rose into a sky that had no end with white cloud puffs dotting the expanse of blue. She’d never seen a sky quite that color before and didn’t really have a name for its brilliance or the expanse unhampered by trees obscuring the view.
From what she’d read, ranches sat alone on acres and acres of land which meant very few if any neighbors. Isabella was the only other bride to be meeting up with a rancher and Nelle truly hoped they could be neighbors. That way she’d have at least one friend to call on, but Isabella wasn’t even sure if Edwin would have a home for her.
At least Riley Thornton had a house, but what would it be like? She’d heard stories of dirt houses carved out of a hill or built of mud bricks. A shudder ran through her at the thought of all the dirt that could accumulate in such a place.
Resignation to the situation took over. She’d come this far, and now there would be no turning back. That is unless Riley Thornton sent her back. Back to what? Father had been so angry he hadn’t even come to say goodbye. Aunt Eleanor thought Nelle’s actions to be scandalous and dismissed her with nary a word of comfort or encouragement.
Becky had packed a box of books and urged Nelle to do the same given her love of reading. Nelle had done just that, making sure she had some of her teaching books as well as books about taking care of a household and hints for housekeeping. She’d also been able to bring a few of her favorite novels. Poor Hilda tried to teach Nelle as much as possible in the few short weeks after the ladies made their plans to go to Wyoming. Even after those days of trying, Nelle’s biscuits and pastry left much to be desired.
The only things she had actually mastered were making cookies and stew, but that would hardly be sufficient. She hadn’t done too badly with cooking in general, but was it good enough to satisfy a man and three children? That she would find out soon enough. Keeping a house clean and neat would be much easier since she’d had some experience with that, but taking care of the children presented an entirely different set of problems. Everything she’d learned about child-care had come from a book the past few weeks. Maybe this hadn’t been such a great idea after all.
Becky waved from the back of the wagon, and Nelle moved to sit beside her for a moment. Phoebe Ross sat on the other side.
“You don’t look too happy, Nelle. Are you having second thoughts?” Becky patted Nelle’s arm.
“Yes, and I know it’s too late for that. I pray Mr. Thornton will accept me and not want to send me back.” Nelle bit her lip again. “I really don’t want to return to Merville. There’s nothing there for me now.”
Becky squeezed Nelle’s hand. “Now don’t you worry any. You’re a pretty woman, and I’m sure Mr. Thornton will be quite pleased with you, even if you are so small in stature.”
“I do hope you’re right, Becky. Since I’m not a good cook and know nothing really about children, I’m concerned I’ll never be able to fit in.”
“Honey, you have all of us, and we’re you’re friends. I know if you asked Henrietta about cooking, she’d be glad to help you, and you enjoyed taking care of the little ones during church services.”
“I know, but it’s a little embarrassing to admit I don’t know as much as the rest of you.”
“You’ll do fine as long as you are willing to ask us for help.”
“Thank you. We’re all in the same position of not knowing what’s waiting for us. I’m going back to my seat.” Nelle hugged her friend and returned to her place next to Isabella.
Noise and stirring from the ladies toward the front sent a spiral of excitement as well as dread through Nelle. Shouts up ahead indicated they had reached their destination. Indeed, scores of men filled the street waving and shouting their greetings.
One of the men stood up on a box and waved his arms. Only then did the shuffling and whistling stop. He turned with a sweep of his hand and a wide smile to the wagons. “Welcome to Angel Vale. We’ve been looking forward to this day for several weeks now.
Each of her friends stepped down and was greeted by the man who had claimed her as his bride. Nelle searched the crowd and spotted the man who looked like the tintype he’d sent. Oh my, he was even more handsome than his picture and much taller than she first thought. Maybe this wasn’t going to be such an ordeal after all. She stood back as others began climbing down from the wagon. No need to appear too eager. When she locked gazes with him, his eyes opened wide and his eyebrows shot up, not so much in surprise, but shock. Oh my, was she that much of a disappointment?
+++
Riley mingled with the men waiting for the wagons carrying the brides for Angel Vale. They’d been dubbed as angels, and as far as Riley could see, that’s exactly what a bride would be for him. If it hadn’t been for Aunt Harriet, he would never have made it the past few months. The last woman he’d hired to care for his children had been sent packing after she let Katie slip out of her sight and make her way to the creek. She could have drowned if Lizzie hadn’t seen her first. Now Aunt Harriet needed to get home, so his bride would take her place.
When the ladies began stepping down from the wagons, he craned his neck to find Miss Annelle Pugh. He finally spotted her seated toward the back of the wagon. At least he figured it was her from the resemblance to the tintype she’d sent him. He gulped and snatched off his hat. That tintype hadn’t done her any justice at all. A sensible bonnet sat atop golden light brown hair surrounding a very pretty face. When she saw him, a wide grin enhanced her beauty, and she stood up to wave.
A gasp escaped his throat, but his stomach knotted in disbelief. How could a tiny woman like this one handle three young’uns? She didn’t look any bigger than Lizzie. What kind of mistake had he made? She’d never survive the rugged life on a ranch, much less the freezing weather no matter how pretty she was.
He gathered his wits about him and stepped forward as Jake helped her down from the wagon. Now what to do? The money for her train fare had taken all he had to spare, so there would be no sending her back. Maybe she could hook up with one of the other men.
As she neared, he realized her lips trembled and her eyes held concern. This was it. He needed a wife and mother right now, so she’d have to do. He removed his hat and greeted her. “Riley Thornton, ma’am. You must be Miss Pugh.” He looked down into eyes that pierced his heart. Defying description, they weren’t a true blue, but wavered on the edge of being green.
She peered up at him and bit her lip. “Yes, I am.”
Her head hit right about the middle of his chest. She couldn’t be much over five feet tall and as slim as the reeds on a pond in the summer. He had one pretty filly here, but was she strong enough for the work ahead? He offered his arm, but couldn’t prevent the scowl from forming on his face. “Let me get your luggage then escort you over to the mill where the ladies will be staying. We must marry this evening and then get out to my ranch as soon as possible if you don’t mind.”
She said nothing as they walked around to the wagon carrying the boxes and trunks brought from Maine. Miss Pugh pointed out hers and he transferred them to his wagon. He loaded the trunk onto his wagon but almost dropped a particularly heavy box.
A hint of red tinged her cheeks. “I’m sorry it’s so heavy. It contains a number of books I wanted to bring with me, and some other things from my home in Merville.”
Riley grunted and shoved the box forward. Some of those books must be for learning. That would be good for Lizzie who tended to get lazy with her schoolwork. Still, if he had the money, he’d be putting her back on that train east. He needed someone with strength and durability, not a pretty face and petite body. His Miranda had been a pretty woman with a figure to be desired, but she also had the stamina needed to make life durable on a ranch far away from other people.
When he lifted Nelle to the wagon seat, it was as though he lifted up Lizzie. Miss Pugh couldn’t weigh much over a hundred pounds. More doubts about her capabilities pierced his heart. As they rode through town, he sensed the tightness in her frame. Her gloved hands were clasped firmly in her lap with her arms tight against a body sitting ramrod stiff beside him.
“All the brides are congregating in one place. I’ll take you there now. A few are marrying this evening, and others are waiting ’til tomorrow. You see, the circuit preacher doesn’t get this way very often, so we have to take advantage of his presence.” He snapped the reins and the wagon moved forward. He hoped she understood the urgency behind their being married now instead of later. If he didn’t need her help so badly, he’d wait like Edwin Gray planned to do. Of course Ed had to wait for a house to live in since his bride couldn’t live in the bunkhouse.
Miss Pugh remained silent beside him. May as well tell her a bit about the town. “We have a nice little town. Underwood’s Mercantile is where we get all our supplies, and we have a livery, a jewelry store, land and claim office plus an eatery, but the food is only passable.” Loud music and laughter erupted from the saloon as they passed by.
At Nelle’s raised eyebrows, Riley gulped. “Sorry about that. Guess every town has to have one of those.”
She still said nothing, and seemed to become even stiffer b
eside him. Of course a refined lady like Miss Pugh would find a saloon boisterous and crude. Miranda hadn’t liked it either.
He reined the horses to a stop at the mill house where she could change into her wedding finery. He hopped down and reached up to assist her from the wagon. This time the smallness of her waist and light weight sent heat up through his arms and straight to his heart. This little filly would need a heap of protection. His hands lingered a moment and he glanced down into those incredible eyes filled with uncertainty.
“Miss Pugh, I know this is rough territory and a little frightening to you, but I promise to do my best to make life here not so bad. We have several ranches, and with your friends from Maine here, maybe you won’t be so lonely.”
Her eyes glistened, whether from tears or the light from the sun he couldn’t be sure, but the strongest urge to wrap her in his arms and assure her came over him. He turned on his heel and reached up for her trunk and valise. Best get those thoughts out of his mind.
“I just need the large valise. It has my…my wedding dress in it.”
If her voice had been any softer, he’d never have heard it with all the noise of welcome and getting settled going on around them. Of course the trunk would stay in the wagon to take out to the ranch.
Several of the others greeted Nelle with open arms. After waiting a few minutes, he scrunched the brim of his hat. “I’ll be at the church waiting for you when everyone’s ready, so I’ll take my leave.” He furrowed his brow, but the question on his mind inquiring as to her ability to run a ranch home stayed lodged in his throat. With a quick nod, he jammed his hat back on his head and fled back to the outdoors.
Chapter 3
Nelle knocked on Becky’s door. Her best friend from home would give her an honest answer. Both Becky and Isabella were waiting until later, probably Christmas before they married their men. Deep inside, Nelle wished the same thing for her and Riley. How could she marry a man she had just met and didn’t know a thing about? She voiced her concerns to her friends.
Christmas Mail Order Angels: The complete 11 Volume Set Page 57
