Mail Order Madness

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Harriett nodded. “That’s perfect. Sign it, and I’ll send it off with the morning’s mail.”

  Susan quickly signed her name to the bottom and handed the unfolded paper to the older woman. “Now what?”

  “Come see me in about a month to see what he says. If he decides you’re the one he wants, he’ll send you some money for the trip to Texas, and a train ticket.”

  “Sounds good.” Susan stood up, realizing she hadn’t touched the tea and cookies Higgins had brought in while she was working on her letter. She grabbed a cookie from the plate. “Thank you so much.” She held her hand out to Mrs. Long. “I’ll see you in about a month, I guess.”

  Harriett got to her feet slowly. “I look forward to it.” She smiled at Elizabeth. “It was nice meeting you, Elizabeth.” She walked the two sisters to the front door and watched them walk away, smiling to herself.

  *****

  One month later, Susan knocked on Harriett’s door. She’d had to sneak away from the farm to come into town, because her younger siblings would have begged to come with her. She could just imagine the mischief they would get into in a house like Mrs. Long’s. There would be nothing left but rubble, she thought.

  Higgins answered the door promptly. “Come right in.” He opened the door wide and led her to the office again. He knocked once and opened the office door. “Miss Miller is here to see you, Ma’am. I’ll get some refreshments.” He closed the door softly behind him.

  Harriett got to her feet and smiled as Susan walked in. Susan couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the older woman to make her move so slowly. She obviously had an injured leg, but how had it been injured? She’d been taught not to ask such things, but she certainly wanted to.

  Harriett waved to the sofa. “Have a seat. Your letter came just this morning, so this is good timing.” Once Susan was seated, Harriett handed her the letter. “I didn’t open it, because it’s addressed to you.” She turned away to look through some papers on her desk and to give Susan a bit of privacy with her letter.

  Susan took a deep breath before opening the letter. She desperately wanted there to be a train ticket inside. As soon as she opened it, a train ticket, a check and some cash fell out. She smiled, knowing he wanted her. She picked up the check, which was made out to Mrs. Harriett Long, and handed it to her. She picked up the cash and showed Harriett. “Is this for me to keep?”

  Harriett nodded. “It’s for any expenses you may have. Your train ride will be a long one, so you’ll want to keep at least half of that for food on the train. The rest you can use for clothes or anything else you may need.” She paused for a moment. “What’s the date on the ticket?”

  Susan looked down to check. “I leave July twenty eighth. That’s a Monday, right?”

  Harriett checked her calendar. “It is. That gives you ten days. Do you think you can get clothes made in time?”

  Susan thought about it. “If Elizabeth and I ignore all the kids, we can probably get a couple of dresses made. Do I need a formal wedding dress?”

  “I usually say ‘yes’ to that. See if he mentioned the wedding in his letter.” Harriett indicated the letter in the younger woman’s hand.

  Susan looked down and laughed at herself. She’d been so excited about the train ticket she hadn’t bothered to read the letter. “I guess I should read it, shouldn’t I?”

  Harriett grinned. “I know you’re excited to get away, so I won’t say anything.”

  “Dear Susan, I’m so excited you answered my letter. You sound like you’re going to fill the missing space in my life perfectly. I’ve enclosed a train ticket for Monday, July twenty eighth. I will be waiting for you at the train station in Fort Worth on Wednesday, August sixth. I’ll carry a sign with your name on it, so you’ll know immediately who I am. I’m not going to subject you to a big wedding after your long trip, so I will arrange for us to marry at the courthouse with just my brother and his children present. I hope that meets with your approval. If it’s a problem, you can let me know when you get here, and we’ll make other arrangements. I can’t wait to meet you. Yours, Jesse.”

  “He said we’d just marry at the courthouse. I think I’ll just make a new Sunday dress. That’s better than spending a lot of money on a gown I’ll only wear one time.”

  Harriett nodded. “May I read the letter?”

  Susan didn’t feel any real attachment for Jesse, and he hadn’t put anything private in the letter, so she readily agreed, handing it to Harriett.

  Susan studied the older woman while her head was bowed reading the letter. If you ignored their dress, Harriett could have been her sister. She looked to be around twenty-eight and had blond hair and green eyes. She was slim and seemed very graceful despite her pronounced limp.

  “Everything looks good here. The train ride is a long one. You’re not going to have a chance to bathe or anything once you’re on the train. That’s one of the biggest complaints of my brides. Will that bother you?”

  Susan made a face. She didn’t like the idea of going for over a week without a bath, but it would be worth it to get married and away from her family once and for all. “I’ll manage.”

  “Most men do make some kind of arrangement for you to bathe before your wedding, I’ve found.”

  “Good. I can’t imagine getting married without at least bathing first.” The idea of a long train ride was both exciting and daunting.

  “I can’t imagine that either.” Harriett studied the younger woman for a moment. “Would you like me to see you off? I do that for most of the brides I send out.”

  Susan thought about that for a few seconds. “I think that would be good. I’m sure Elizabeth will be there if she can, but I have no way of knowing whether she’ll be able to get away or not.”

  “What time does your train leave on Wednesday?”

  “Eight in the morning.”

  “Come by here at seven and we’ll walk to the train station together. We can talk on the way. If your sister comes, great. Then there will be two of us to see you off.”

  Harriett stood and led Susan to the door. On impulse, Susan turned and hugged Harriett before leaving. “Thank you so much. You’ve helped me a lot.”

  “It’s my job to help as much as I can. I think of each of my brides as a friend.”

  Susan thought about Harriett’s words as she walked to the general store just a few streets over. Beckham wasn’t a large city, so nothing was very far apart.

  Once she got to the store, she went inside, looking at fabrics for some new dresses. Everything she owned had once belonged to her mother and had been cut down for her. Jesse had been generous with the money he’d sent, and although she knew she needed some for the trip, she could buy enough fabric for three or four dresses without a problem.

  She flipped through the bolts of cloth and picked out a pink with small flowers, a blue check, a pretty lavender, which she realized matched the cow exactly, and a forest green to match her eyes. She also bought an entire bolt of white linen for new undergarments. She couldn’t wait to get home to start sewing.

  After paying for her purchases, she carried the small wooden box the shopkeeper had given her home. Her mind was full of how perfect life would be without poorly behaved children climbing all over her. Oh, she had no illusions. She knew someday she’d have children too. Her mother had twelve for goodness sakes! But she would have some time before the children arrived to just be Susan. She loved the idea of just taking care of laundry and cooking and cleaning for two people. She sighed. Life would be heavenly.

  *****

  July 1884

  Outside of Fort Worth, Texas

  Jesse Dailey took a gulp of his water as he watched his four young nephews run around his brother’s house screaming. The four of them had been causing his brother problems ever since his sister-in-law, Caroline, had died at the birth of two year old twins, Thomas and Walter. He shook his head at his brother wondering just how he could live amidst the chaos. “I have news.�
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  David raised his eyebrow waiting. “You found a ranch?”

  Jesse shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m saving every penny.” He folded his hands behind his head and leaned back in the kitchen chair. He’d just had a good meal, thanks to his brother’s cook and housekeeper, Sadie. “I’m getting married.”

  David’s jaw dropped. “Married! I didn’t even know you were courting anyone.”

  Jesse grinned. “I don’t have time to court anyone. Not with spending every waking moment at the newspaper office, picking up extra articles so I can make enough to buy a ranch. I like being a reporter, but my heart is in ranching. I should have been the big brother.”

  David laughed. “I’ve told you a hundred times, you’re welcome to half the ranch. You can even live here with the boys and me while you build yourself a house.” He kicked his brother’s foot affectionately. “Who’s the girl?” He reached for a cookie and popped half of it into his mouth.

  “I sent for a mail order bride.” Jesse said the words nonchalantly, knowing they’d surprise his brother.

  David choked on his cookie. After a moment, his eyes watering, he asked, “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. She’s going to be here in a couple of weeks. You coming to the wedding? I’m just going to do a courthouse thing. No need for a big church wedding when she doesn’t know anyone here.”

  “Of course, I’ll be there. Girl got a name?” David studied his younger brother as if he was trying to decide if he’d lost his mind.

  Jesse’s brow furrowed. “Susan.” He thought over the details of her letter. “She’s 18 and the oldest of twelve kids. Says she can cook. I think she’s just ready to get out of Massachusetts.”

  David nodded. “I’ll watch and see how it works out for you, and I may do the same.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to where his older two boys were pointing imaginary guns at each other and screaming and his two youngest were pushing each other. “I’ll never get a bride who knows me and my brood. I need one who is unsuspecting.”

  Jesse laughed and clapped his brother on the shoulder. “You have a point.”

  David sighed. “Sure would be nice to have a warm body in bed at night again, though. A man gets lonely.”

  “I thought you were going to court that sweet nanny of yours.” He looked around, realizing she wasn’t there. “Where is she anyway?”

  “Where do you think? After the boys put a toad in her bed for the third time this week, she left. She said, ‘I’m not going to stay here another minute with your boys. They’re monsters.’ Then she stuck a finger in my face and told me if I didn’t find a good woman to be their mother and take them in hand, they’d be ruined forever.” He shrugged. “I guess she wasn’t volunteering to be that good woman.”

  Jesse shook his head, sympathizing. David had dealt with the four boys on his own for a year, before deciding to find himself a wife. He hadn’t felt right about remarrying before that. By that time the boys had been running wild for too long, and their behavior showed it. “Maybe a mail order bride is something you need to do. Next time I see you, I’ll give you the address of the woman in Massachusetts that runs the agency I used.” He stood up. “I’ve got to go. I promised my editor I’d run to Hell’s Half Acre tonight to do a story on a man who was murdered there.”

  David made a face. “Be careful. The Acre gets worse every year. Do you have anyone who can go with you?”

  Jesse shrugged. “I was going to ask you, but you seem to be without a nanny for the boys.” Again.

  “Yeah, I’d go, but it’s not a good time. Find someone, though. You really shouldn’t go there alone. Especially at night.” He looked out the window. It was dusk, but by the time Jesse made it back to town it would be full night. “Be really careful whether someone’s with you or not.” He made a face. “Maybe you should wait until daylight.”

  “I’ll be okay, big brother. I’ve been taking care of myself for several years now.”

  David stood up and hugged his brother. “Take care.”

  Jesse yelled over the din, “Goodbye monster children! I’ll be back!”

  Albert and Lewis looked up from their game of cowboys and Indians and ran over to hug their uncle. “See you at church!”

  The two younger boys ignored him as usual. With a last wave, he left, riding into town to find out what had happened to Joshua Campbell, a man who had died there the previous evening. He didn’t have time to find someone to go with him, so he went alone. He’d be okay. He’d been in The Acre for stories lots of times. Just never at night.

  Chapter Two

  Susan made the two mile walk home carrying her box of fabric. She wanted to start sewing immediately, but knew she still had to do her three day per week job for the Jacobs. She wondered if Elizabeth could take over there. Of course, that would leave Mary in charge of the younger siblings, and Mary was only ten. Whatever happened, they’d make it work.

  When Susan arrived at home, she saw her mother was already there. Ma usually worked until at least six, so Susan was surprised to see her before five. Susan walked up behind her in the kitchen and kissed her cheek, before asking, “What are you doing home already?”

  Lucy Miller turned and smiled at her eldest child. “We finally got enough money saved up to pay off the doctor bills. I’m home for good again.” She turned back to the stew she was making, carefully dropping in the potatoes and carrots she’d peeled and chunked. “What have you been off buying?”

  Susan sighed. She probably should have talked to her parents about her plans already, but they were always so busy she hated to bother them with little things. Of course, her moving to Texas to marry wasn’t exactly a little thing. “We need to talk for a minute, Ma.”

  Lucy turned back to Susan when she heard the serious tone to her voice. “What’s wrong?”

  Susan put the box down on the kitchen table. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m getting married and moving to Fort Worth, Texas.” She said the words quickly to get them over with.

  Lucy put down the spoon she was using to stir the stew and sat down at the table. “Sit and tell me everything.” Her face remained calm as she waited for her daughter to explain what was going on.

  Susan sat down in the chair next to her mother and turned to her fully. She quickly explained about the mail order bride service.

  “Why do you want to be married so badly you’re not willing to wait for nature to take its course? I’m sure you’ll find a young man here.”

  Susan sighed. “Honestly? There’s no one in our whole church except old man Duncan, and I’m not marrying him. I just want to get away and start my own life.” She paused. “And the kids are out of control. It’s hard to live here, Ma.” She felt bad being the one to break the news to her mother, but someone needed to tell her how bad things had gotten.

  Lucy nodded. “I’m going to whip the kids into shape now that I’m not working.”

  Susan almost laughed. The kids had been out of control for years. Her mother just wasn’t willing to be as strict with the younger ones as she’d been with her four oldest. Susan didn’t believe she’d do a thing to get the kids behaving better. Well, to her credit, she’d probably work hard at it for a day or two, and then she’d give up when she remembered how hard it was. “My train leaves in ten days, Ma.”

  “Train? You already have a ticket?” Lucy looked hurt that Susan had made as many plans as she had without consulting her first.

  Susan nodded. “Look. I bought all of this fabric so we can make me some pretty clothes to start my married life with. Would you help me? Elizabeth already said she’d take over my job at the Jacobs’ house.”

  Lucy bit her lip, obviously fighting tears. “Of course, I’ll help you. You’ll have the prettiest clothes any new bride ever had.” She stood up and dug through the box Susan had brought home. “Which do you want your Sunday dress made from?” She held up the different fabrics to Susan’s face to see which she thought suited her best. “I can’t quite decide between t
he pink and the green. What do you think?”

  Susan wanted to jump up and hug her mother to thank her for agreeing and helping so quickly. She knew her ma didn’t want her to go, but she was helping anyway. “Umm…I think I like the green for my Sunday dress if you think that’s okay. I’ll be getting married in my Sunday dress as well. Is green okay to get married in?”

  Lucy nodded. “The green is perfect.” She took the fabric and laid it out on the table. “Go get my sewing shears. We’re going to have this cut out before everyone comes in for dinner.”

  They worked together quickly, knowing their time before the family came in was limited. Susan filled the silence by telling her mother everything she knew about Jesse. “I promise I’ll write as soon as I get there.”

  Elizabeth came in an hour before dinner, having taken on a babysitting job for one of the neighbors for the afternoon. When she saw what Susan and her mother were doing, she smiled. “I’m not sure if I should be happy for my sister or sad for myself.”

  Susan turned to her sister, and best friend, and hugged her. “Just be happy for me. I’ll write so often, you’ll be sick of my letters.”

  Elizabeth smiled through her tears. “You’d better.” She walked to the table and looked at their mother. “I guess you know everything and are willing to help.”

  Lucy shrugged. “Susan’s an adult. It doesn’t much matter if I agree or not. I’m going to help my daughter, though.” She made the last cut and moved the scraps together. “I think we can make you a nice bonnet to match out of the leftover fabric.”

  “That will be wonderful. I don’t know much about Texas, but I do know it’s supposed to be hot. A bonnet will be necessary to keep the sun off my face.” Susan helped her mother gather up the pieces they’d cut.