The Duke's Dilemma: Regency Romance Menage Short Stories

by Lacoste, G. G.

Mail Order Bride Western Romance

  By: Sam Slater

  The Outlaw’s Bride

  Chapter 1

  George Allen hadn’t always been the quiet farmer he appeared to be. No, he once had rode with Hurricane Bill’s cattle rustling group. But those days were done for him. He wanted to settle down and find himself a wife. Bring some children into the world, maybe, and just have a decent and quiet life.

  Recently he had heard down at the bar that women were willing to be bought and brought out to this area. After leaving the bar he had stopped and picked up the paper.

  “You’ll find plenty of classifieds of these young women who want to come out here to live. But they won’t do it without having a husband.” Old Tom at the bar had stated.

  “How much do you have to pay for ‘em?” George had asked.

  “Well I guess it depends on what you want to get. I’ve heard talk of some men only paying for the trip out here. But I’ve also heard of others who have paid a pretty ransom.” Tom had said.

  “Hmm, well I just want some normal girl. I don’t need anything fancy. You know, someone who will cook and clean and will do her wifely duties.” George and Tom had a heck of a laugh at that one.

  “Yeah I’ve been thinking about it too.” Old Tom had admitted. “It gets might lonely at night.”

  George had shaken his head. “That it does Tom, that it does.”

  He got home and lit the light. It was late at night and the best time for him to really focus on how lonely it was out on the farm. George was used to more ruckuses going on around him. But in the past it had been the dangerous kind that he had around him. He just didn’t feel like being an outlaw anymore, and had decided to settle down. The last rustling job they did, some of the boys had gotten caught. George had been lucky.

  That was the night he left his old life behind and rode some 400 miles to start anew. Now here he was with a farm, a nice little house, some animals and a nice chunk of land. His father had been a farmer, so he knew the job well, and figured he would do quite well. But now he was just missing the right woman to share it all.

  Opening the paper he looked around and saw some ads that looked interesting. But one thing George really didn’t want was a used woman. He saw plenty of ads from ladies who had lost their husbands during the way. “Not for me. I need one who isn’t expecting anything.” George commented.

  The ones who had been married were out of the question. The women who had kids were even worse. “I don’t need any ready-made family.” He said aloud. “No I want one who’s still untouched.”

  George figured there had to be someone out there in the world who was looking. Then he ran across an ad that caught his eye.

  Our 18-year-old daughter needs to find a husband. We are willing to split the cost of a ticket if you want to take her as your bride. We simply do not have the money to continue as a family. My husband recently was injured and can no longer work. I have been able to scrape up enough money to pay maybe partial fare. Please write to Laura Parrish, let me know of your qualifications. We won’t let our daughter go to just anyone. Address: 145 Virginia Drive, Richmond, Virginia.

  “Well an 18 year old girl. She should be untouched. I think I’ll write to this woman!” George got out his paper and pencil.

  My dearest Mrs. Parrish,

  I am interested in your daughter and would be willing to pay her whole fare. This would assist your family, since your husband was injured. If you need a bit more money to help with other things, I will give you another 100 dollars. I am a farmer; my father was also a farmer, and my grandfather. You could say that it runs in the family! I have a nice home and a nice bit of land in Topeka, Kansas. I am 25 years old and have not been married before. I would take care of your daughter and make sure she would only get the best of everything. If I might seem a bit arrogant, I don’t think you will do better than this offer.

  Sincerely,

  George Allen

  George looked at his letter. He figured the extra money would help to seal the job. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford a bit more just to sweeten the deal. It had been the first 18 year old he found in the classifieds.

  He would mail the letter out the next day, and hope to hear back from them. It would take a few weeks or maybe even a couple of months before he knew if Mrs. Parrish’s daughter was going to be his bride. George wondered why they had not put her name in the ad. Well perhaps he will find out later on.

  Chapter 2

  The weeks seemed to fly by, as George was busy planting and taking care of the animals on the farm. A woman would be nice to have in his home. That way a nice hot meal could be ready after a long day of work.

  Now he worked in the kitchen, almost too tired to keep his eyes open after the day of work. Cutting up some potatoes and letting the stew meat boil. He was making enough so that at least the next few days he would have food right after work.

  But for now, he wished he would have done this yesterday. Instead he had gone to the bar after he had found no mail in for him. Walking to the bar he had been grumpy, and thought a shot or two of whiskey would do his mind some good.

  “Man I wish there would have been mail!” Pushing open the doors to the bar he had muttered.

  “Hey Georgie, what are you doing?” Jack, one of the other long-term patrons of the bar had called out.

  “Jack, how are you?” George had raised his hand in salute.

  “Nothing, thinking of doing what old Tom did though!” Jack had slurred out.

  “Aye, what’s that?”

  “Got him a nice little number from the paper, those classified ads they run. A nice looking little thing, she is too. Saw him two or three days ago when she first came to town. Don’t think I’ve seen or heard a lick from him since that day! I bet I know what he’s been up to!” Jack had laughed.

  George had wanted to punch Jack in frustration. “He sent out his letter after me? How did she get here already? I haven’t even heard from the person I wrote.” George had been so mad. The two shots he had planned on drinking had turned into a bottle or maybe a bottle and a half.

  Today he had paid for that drink. Not wanting to get up in the morning, he had been running late all day long. Now here he was trying to make his own supper.

  “If I had my wife here, I’d have already eaten today. And we would have probably done a few other things by now too!” George laughed at the thought of a hot young woman in his house.

  Well I don’t know where his girl came from either. So you know there is a lot of road to get across for the mail. Never know if he might have gotten attacked by some hostile Indians either.

  “That would be just my luck!” George laughed. “The guy whose carrying my letter got killed and I don’t know it.” He shook his head.

  Even though he thought having his supper ready would be nice, he desired someone to talk too as well. He hoped whoever this Mrs. Parrish’s daughter was, why didn’t they say her name? It still made him wonder. Perhaps I simply missed it in the write up?

  Thinking about it he pulled out the paper. He had kept it, just so he could read the classified every once in a while. George had developed a picture of her in his mind. Of course he had no way of knowing if his vision would be right or not. “Or if they even got my letter.” He reminded himself.

  Pulling the paper out he looked through the ad one more time. He had circled it the night he sent the letter. Skimming the lines, he said, “Oh there it is, pushed together with some other word. Her name is Sara, well Sara Parrish, what would you look like?” George closed his eyes.

  She would have nice soft white skin, it would be pale. His was a bit browner from the sun and working outside all day. Compared to him, she would seem very pale.

  “I’d like her to have long hair, I don’t care what color. A pretty nose, you know nothing too big. With my big nose our kids are already going to be teased! What color of eyes? I’ve always been partial to blue, but I guess it doesn’t matter.” George talked aloud,
like he had visitors who were listening.

  He had gotten into a habit of doing this. He had been alone for far too long. Now if he could just get a good girl, someone he could talk too, that would make his life better.

  There were times he missed the criminal life. The pull of that life was still there, and every day that he had to wait for a reply. Well it just got a lot tougher for him to think of farming long term.

  The danger of getting caught when they had been stealing cattle had sometimes been fun for him. The last time had been far too close for him. So he had got the hell out of town quickly.

  Now Topeka was home for him. No one knew him here. Thankfully, he had never been described to the authorities. Or most likely there would be arrest warrants up in every town in the state for him.

  He had of course changed his name too. Just in case one of the guys who got caught told them his name. When he had been in the gang his name had been faked. It was easier that way.

  One thing George had learned at the beginning of his life was always cover your back. It had been one of the main lessons his father had taught him.

  “Yeah good old pa, I miss him.” George thought of his father.

  He smelled the air, “Oh shit.” He looked down and he had burnt a good portion of the potatoes he had been frying. Long ago he had finished most of the stops of his dinner.

  “Oh well I just won’t have as much left for tomorrow.” George muttered.

  “With a person in the house it will be different. I’ll be happy, and won’t be so damn sad all the time. Hell maybe I’ll be able to put the bottle down too!”

  Finally sitting at the table he wondered once again what his bride might look like. “I don’t really care what she looks like. I just want someone who will learn to love me.” He finally admitted. George had never been a man who thought a wife had to look a certain way.

  The day had been long. He ate quickly and decided to clean up most of the mess tomorrow. He was tired and simply wanted to sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow there will be a response. He thought as his eyes closed for the night.

  Chapter 3

  George woke up early the next morning to a banging at his door. “What in the world?” He cried out. Stumbling to the door he opened it to a man standing there with a young girl behind him.

  “Yes, can I help you?” George asked rubbing his eyes to make sure he was seeing this right. Maybe I’m still sleeping, he thought.

  “Are you Mr. George Allen?” The man asked his accent strange to George.

  “Yes I am.” George answered puzzled.

  “I’m to deliver this one Sara Parrish to you. In return for her, I am to get from you the cost of my delivery fee, and some other funds for her parents.” The man explained.

  George looked at the girl. She was standing behind this man, who hadn’t introduced himself. She was looking down at the ground, so he couldn’t see her face fully. But her hair was long and brown. Her figure seemed to be a bit on the plump side. George didn’t mind that at all.

  “Okay, how much do I owe you? Can I meet her first?” George asked both questions. He really wanted to see what she looked like up close. Wanted to hear her talk even, but she seemed very shy.

  “I’m sorry sir, but I was late getting to you and must be going quickly. So if you could pay me the 250 dollars you owe me, you can talk to her after.” The man stated.

  “Fine, do you think I keep that money in my pajamas pocket? Give me just a minute.” George huffed off. He didn’t know who this man was but he was annoying.

  All George had wanted was to say hello to her quickly. Would that have been so hard to do?

  He came back to the door a few minutes later and handed the man the money. “I need a receipt for that.” George stated.

  The little man looked at him suspiciously, “are you trying to say I’m a thief sir?”

  “I’m telling you I don’t trust anyone who I don’t know.” George stated.

  “Well I’ll be.” The little man huffed, but wrote out a quick receipt and handed it to George.

  “Thank you. Sara, can I help you with your bags?” George asked as he walked toward Sara.

  She looked up and George was relieved. For a few minutes he thought for sure she must be hideous. That’s why this man wants the money and to get out of here. George thought. He knows I’ll send her back with him and not pay him a cent.

  “Thank you very much.” She whispered lightly.

  “Don’t be scared. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you. Come on inside. Welcome to your new home.” George said as he picked up the trunk that was beside Sara on the ground. “Is this all you have?” George asked.

  “Yes I didn’t get to bring a lot with me. You know my parents are quite poor. This dress was bought with the selling of all my other things.” Sara said shyly.

  George looked at the dress. It was by no means fancy. In fact it was pretty bad when you looked close enough. He could see how the person who had sown it messed up. If his mom was to see this dress she would shake her head.

  “We’ll get you plenty of things okay?” He said to her.

  “Thank you sir, I’m glad to have met you.” Sara said bowing to him.

  “Please you can’t go around calling me sir and bowing to me. I mean, I like polite and all, but just please relax. You’re going to be my wife.” George said, as he sat her trunk by the bed.

  He saw her skin turn red at the mention of being his wife. George figured it had something to do with her age.

  “Sara, I like that name. It suits you well.” George had lifted her chin up and looked at her face better.

  Looking over her skin he saw some light freckles on her cheeks. Her eyes were a hazel color, she was pretty. Not someone that would stand out in a crowd, but still pretty in her own right.

  “Thank you she said.” Her skin turned a light red shade again as she got embarrassed.

  George laughed. “You look really adorable when you do that, do you know that?”

  She turned a bright red at his compliment. Finally she looked down as far as she could, so that he could see much of her face.

  He reached out and touched her hair. “It’s nice and silky.” He ran his fingers through it.

  “Well come on I’ll get some eggs from the barn. Do you want to come with me?” George asked.

  She nodded her head yes and followed along behind him. Getting to the barn she watched as he got the eggs and held her hands out to him.

  “I’ll carry them in for us.” George commented.

  Sara shrugged her shoulders and fell in behind him on the way to the house. George really hadn’t expected this surprise this morning. He was shocked that his new bride was right behind him. He figured he would have at least got a letter from her parents.

  “Do you know how to cook?” George asked as they got into the house.

  “Well kind of, I haven’t done much of it though.” Sara nodded.

  “Alright, what about eggs, do you know how to cook them? He asked.

  “No I’ve never cooked eggs before.”

  “I’ll show you how so you can do it from now on. It’s pretty easy really. You just have to make sure you don’t burn them.” George explained as he put some lard in the pan and broke a couple of the eggs.

  Sara watched him as he cooked.

  “Do you think you can do the next ones? That way I can go wash up a bit better.” George asked.

  “Sure, I can try.” Sara said.

  He handed her the spatula and went off to wash up. He had thrown on a few clothes when he had come back in for the money. But he hadn’t anytime to clean up nicely.

  “If they would have let me know she was coming, at least I could have freshened up. He lathered up his face and was half way through shaving when he smelled the eggs burning. “What the hell?” He ran off to see how bad it was.

  “I thought you said you could do them? George shouted at her in the kitchen.

  Sara began to cry. “I said I would t
ry.”

  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to shave. Look you’ll learn don’t worry. Just sit down and I’ll finish at the basin and come back and cook.” George headed down the hall.

  He felt bad for making her cry. He could tell she was already nervous being around him. They both knew that eventually he would want her to comply with his wishes in the bedroom. After all, once they were married it would be part of her job!

  “George, come on just be nice to her.” He told himself.

  He sighed. It was just that one of the things he had really been looking forward to would be not having to cook. “She said she could cook some things!” He reminded himself.

  George cleaned up and went out to the kitchen. She had set the table and made some coffee while he was gone.

  “Thanks the coffee smells good.” He put some more lard in the pan and broke a couple of more eggs.

  She brought the plates over when the eggs were done for him to put them on. George smiled, “Thank you very much ma’am.”

  Sara laughed. “If I’m not supposed to call you sir, why would you call me ma’am?”

  “It was just because I appreciate you and how you are helping me!” George stated.

  Sitting down they ate some and George took a sip of his coffee. He spit it out. “How many scoops did you put in?” He asked.

  “I put in a few big scoops.” Sara answered.

  “I’ll show you how to make it from now on.” George answered. He put his coffee aside. If he would have looked at it he could have seen it was thicker than usual. He didn’t bother asking her to show him the scoops she used.

  George began to wonder what exactly Sara Parrish had done in her life. Weren’t most ladies back East being taught all these classes about how to take care of a husband? Or watching their mother?

  “What do you know how to cook?” George asked.

  “I know how to boil water.” Sara finally said after much hesitation.

  “Okay and what else?” George asked and waited.

  Please let her say at least one thing, he thought.