The Thanksgiving Day Bride: Mail Order Bride Novels

by Sandee Keegan

  “Standing behind these bars, I'm not so sure,” John admitted.

  “I'm going to leave you alone. When I leave, you need to pray, John. Pray from your heart and see what God tells you.”

  “I... sure, okay,” John told Greta even though his heart wasn't sincere. Doubt was clearly destroying the peace John had attained.

  Before Greta could speak, the sheriff walked in. “John, Judge Green has set the trial date for this afternoon,” he said in a steady voice.

  “So soon?” John asked but wasn't surprised. “That old buzzard has--” John paused and looked into Greta's beautiful eyes. “I mean, Judge Green doesn't like me none.”

  “Maybe not,” the sheriff agreed, “But the men in this town know you. A fair jury will be picked, you can count on that. Don't matter how Judge Green sees you, just the jury. You've got a lot working for you here, John. The body of Gennifer was found outside of Carson City's county line by a mere few yards, putting the murder in my jurisdiction. I just found this out yesterday. I was mighty surprised and mighty happy. I thought I was going to have to give you over to the Sheriff in Carson City, and those men over that way might have wanted you to hang no matter what.”

  John felt a small, warm, sense of hope enter his stomach. “Okay, Sheriff, I'll be ready for the trial.”

  “Ma’am, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” the Sheriff told Greta. “Visiting hours are over for now.”

  Greta patted John's hand with love. “Pray, John, and you will see a miracle this day.”

  Greta thanked the sheriff for his time and left the jail. Returning back to the church, she sat down in a front pew and began to pray for John. A few minutes later, Matthew appeared. “Rosie is tending to Mark in the back,” he explained sitting down next to Greta.

  Something in Matthew's face caught Greta's heart. “Matthew?” she asked.

  Matthew smiled and then frowned as if his mind was in a battle. Calmly, he pulled out a telegram. “I received a telegram from a friend in Sacramento. My friend wants me to relocate and manage a church that recently lost its preacher.”

  “I see,” Greta said in a sad voice. “You will be leaving then?”

  “Oh no,” Matthew laughed, “My place is here, in Brown Ridge. I have much work to do. However...” Matthew looked at Greta. “John could go in my place.”

  Greta stared at Matthew in Shock. “Matthew, that would be wonderful,” she said and then became sad. “But you would not see Mark very often.”

  “Oh,” Matthew smiled and patted Greta's hand, “God has His ways.”

  Greta smiled and began to tell Matthew how grateful she was when a man wearing a dark gray suit walked into the church. The man, Greta immediately noticed, was carrying a deadly expression and poison eyes, all hidden under a gray hat. The man was also carrying a hostage with him. She looked down and saw that he was shoving a gun into John's side. “Stay calm,” John begged Greta and Matthew.

  “You were supposed to hang,” Brad Mitchell told John in a furious voice. “You killed my brother! And what happened? A few measly yards stopped you from being sentenced in Carson City. I sent Gennifer to kill you, but she failed! She said she couldn't because of the baby. It was me who burned down your ranch, not Gennifer. But she paid with her life, didn't she? I killed her for failing me.”

  Matthew stood up and eased Greta behind him. “This is a church. How dare you!”

  “Pa, he's already knocked the sheriff cold,” John warned Matthew.

  “Don't worry, I didn't come here to kill you or the preacher. I've come to kill the woman,” Brad hissed at Matthew. “I stood outside the window and listened to you to talk. You want to get married, do you?”

  John glanced down at the gun shoved into his side. One wrong move, and he would be eating lead. “You're going to hang,” he promised.

  “Maybe,” Brad said, “But first I'm going to make you suffer for destroying my life. I had a good job at the bank in Virginia City. I was going to get married. But then came news that Nate was killed. The news put my mother in her grave and sent my Pa into the bottle!”

  “Nate Mitchell was a killer,” John told Brad.

  “He was my brother,” Brad hollered and shoved John down into a pew. “Move out of the way of the woman, preacher,” he ordered Matthew.

  “No,” Matthew answered bravely. “You will have to kill me first.”

  “Get out of the way,” Brad warned a second time.

  John stared at Matthew. There was nothing he could do. If he tried to charge at Brad, the man would send a bullet into his chest before he could get up one leg. “Shoot me if you must,” Matthew said shielding Greta with his body. Suddenly, a memory came rushing into John's mind. He saw Matthew shielding the bodies of wounded men with his own as bullets raced through the air. His pa had not been a coward the day the wagon train was attacked. “I'm warning you for the last time!” Brad shouted.

  Greta stared at John and then closed her eyes and began to pray. John understood. He closed his eyes and began to pray with Greta. “I fear God who can kill the body and spirit, not man who can only kill my body,” Matthew told Brad.

  “So be it,” Brad growled and fired his gun at Matthew. The bullet missed. “What?” Brad said and fired again. The second bullet missed Matthew. Brad kept firing. Each bullet missed Matthew. “This can't be!” Brad yelled and began to reload his gun.

  John opened his eyes and charged at Brad. Brad, standing in shock, didn't even notice John come at him. All he felt was a hard fist slam up against his head. He fell backward into a pew and tumbled down onto the floor. The gun in his hand came loose and fell away. “I'll kill you!” Brad yelled trying to fight John.

  John was much stronger and quicker than Brad. His fist came as quick as lighting and landed with the sound of thunder. Brad struggled against John's fist, but when John raised his right fists into the air and brought it down into his face with a power that seemed to shake the ground, Brad knew his end had come.

  Shaking his head in disgust, John crawled off of Brad and stood up. As he did, the sheriff rushed into the church rubbing the back of his head. When he saw Brad lying unconscious on the floor, he nodded his head at John. “I was hoping that rat wouldn't get far,” he said.

  “Are you alright,” Matthew asked the sheriff.

  “Yeah,” the sheriff said a little embarrassed. “Stepped outside to have a puff when that rat appeared. He wanted to speak to me inside the jail. As soon as I walked inside the jail, everything went dark.”

  Greta hurried to John. “Are you okay?” she asked taking John's bloody fists into her little hands.

  John looked deep into Greta's eyes. Gently, he leaned forward and kissed her. “I want to marry you,” he whispered. “I know now that God brought us together. Our prayers saved my pa.” John looked at Matthew. “You're not a coward, Pa. You never were. Can you forgive me?”

  Matthew wrapped his arms around John and nearly cried. “My son,” he said with joy.

  Rosie appeared with Mark in her arms. “He wants his mother,” she told Greta.

  Greta smiled and gently took Mark into her arms. “Hello, Mark,” she said looking down into a warm, smiling face.

  John put his arm around and looked at his son. “Sheriff, can I have a minute with my son before you take me back to the jail?” he asked.

  “I'm not taking you anywhere,” the sheriff told John in a calm voice. “If Judge Green don't like that, let them vote in another sheriff come spring.”

  “Speaking of spring,” Matthew said and smiled, “I received a telegram from a friend in Sacramento.” Matthew handed John the telegram.

  “Well, I'll be. So you'll be leaving Brown Ridge, Pa?” he asked.

  “Not me,” Matthew explained. “John, you're ready to be a preacher. I want to send you, Greta, and Mark in my place. I belong in Brown Ridge and--”

  “Nope,” the sheriff interrupted.

  “Sheriff?” Matthew asked confused.

  “It's
time you have a rest,” the sheriff told Matthew. Walking to a pew, he sat down. “This town needs a school teacher, and that little lady is person for the job. This town needs a preacher, a man who can get the job done. I'm not saying you don't get the job done, Preacher, but some men in this town see you as old and soft. We need a hard touch.”

  Matthew considered the sheriff's words. “I guess I have become...a little...soft,” he agreed. Then, he smiled and patted John on the shoulder. “My son, I will be going to Sacramento after all. You will take over here, in my place. I will leave come spring.”

  “Oh, we'll have the New Year’s together,” Greta said happily.

  “Of course,” Matthew smiled, “And just enough time for me to perform a very special wedding.”

  John looked at Greta. “If you'll have me?” he asked.

  “Forever,” Greta promised and placed her head down on John's shoulder. Outside, a soft and gentle snow began to fall.

  *

  Sitting in the dining room of the hotel, Matthew looked around at all the familiar faces. Then, he focused on Greta, who was holding Mark in her arms. “Everyone,” Matthew said tapping a water glass with a knife, “As you can hear, a mighty blizzard is outside. But, here we are, all together, safe and warm, preparing to eat our New Year meal together.”

  John looked into Greta's beautiful face and smiled. He couldn’t believe the woman was now his wife. “Together,” he whispered.

  “And as the New Year begins, we must remember what the old year taught us,” Matthew continued, “The old year was filled with much pain, sorrow, anger, grief, and sadness. Yet, the Lord was merciful and granted us with healing before the year could end and a new year could begin. And we must take that blessed healing and approach this New Year with hope, love, charity and compassion toward one another.” Matthew smiled down at John. “With that said, I have some news. I will be leaving Brown Ridge come spring.”

  The people in the dining room looked at each other, stunned at the news. Greta patted John's hand. John nodded his head and stood up. “I will be taking over for Pa at the church,” he explained in a nervous voice. “Now, I know I ain't much when it comes to public speaking and all, but I sure plan to do my best to serve the Lord with love, compassion, charity, and truth. I spent too many years being a spur in the foot of this town. Now I want to be a light if y’all will let me, that is.”

  Greta stood up with Mark in her hands. She glanced at a grumpy old man who frowned at John. It didn't matter to her if Judge Green approved or not. “I will stay on as a school teacher, too,” she explained, her thick German accent strong and steady. “My husband and I will raise our son to be a good member of this community and to serve its citizens with love and care.”

  John looked at Judge Green. “Every man deserves a second chance, right Judge?” he asked.

  Judge Green huffed and then simply shrugged his shoulders. “I'll be keeping an eye on you, John. However, yes, every man deserves a second chance.”

  “So if y’all will let me,” John continued to speak as the blizzard outside howled and screamed, “I would like to be your preacher. But before you say yes, let me say something. I plan to serve God without backing down. I ain't the same man I was a few weeks ago.”

  Greta spotted the old woman who had called John sour. The old woman stared at John with suspicious eyes and then smiled. She saw Greta staring at her and winked. Greta winked back. “I will stand by my husband's side,” Greta told everyone, “And together we will do what is right in God's Eyes.”

  “What's the vote?” Matthew asked.

  The people in the dining room looked around at each other. Then, they all looked at John and smiled. “We have faith in you, John,” a rugged looking man said in a proud voice. “And we know your wife will teach our children the right way.”

  “And if you step out of line, Greta will whack you with an ax handle again,” the old woman laughed.

  John rubbed his shoulder. “I remember,” he said and smiled at Greta. “My wife sure knocked some sense into my stubborn head.”

  Greta leaned against John with Mark in her arms. “And now we're a family,” she said in a voice so happy she almost began crying. “Oh, John, we were all so broken and now we're a family. We have each other to love and take care of. I'm so happy.”

  “You know what?” John asked and kissed Greta gently on her nose.

  “What?” Greta asked fighting back her tears.

  “This is just the beginning. Now, let's eat,” he said and touched Mark gently on his little nose.

  Greta sat down with Mark. Matthew leaned over and whispered in her ear: “God is very wonderful.”

  Looking down at Mark and then up at John, Greta allowed a tear to fall from her eye. “Yes, He is.”

  Outside the blizzard howled and screamed. But with all storms, the blizzard would eventually go away, and spring would come, but Greta knew spring had come early in her heart.

  THE END

  Valerie

  CHAPTER 1

  Valerie tossed a stone into the spring and watched the ripples it created. Her heart was aching, her body felt like lead. She had hoped against hope that things would not come to this but life was never easy. She knew that this was another trial sent by God to test her but, oh, it was hard. Today, as she sat away from the wedding party, having wandered deep into the woods, she wondered if this was what her life was meant to be like.

  Thirty-one years old and still without a husband. It had pinched her of course but she had been content with her life. Today, she had paid for her sister’s wedding and she had been happy. It had never occurred to her for one minute that her parents were unhappy, that they thought her a shame on their family. She had kissed her sister’s cheek and sat down behind her parents. She had been about to tap her father’s shoulder, wanting to see if he wanted something to drink, when she had heard his words, “How much longer does she plan to stay with us, Susan?”

  Her mother had told him to lower his voice and he murmured, loud enough for her ears, “I can’t even show my face to my friends. They keep asking what is wrong with her. What about Wilson’s son? He’s been looking for a wife.”

  “He’s a drunkard and he gambles, Tom. And I heard from Peggy that he beat up two of the women at the local pub.”

  “Baseless rumors. He seems like a fine young fellow. So he has a bit of a temper, who doesn’t? Talk to Wilson tomorrow.”

  “What about Valerie? Shouldn’t we ask her first?”

  “Just set the date for the wedding with Wilson and I’ll tell Valerie. She should be grateful that someone wants her at least.”

  Valerie let her tears flow unchecked. Her own father? She earned, she worked very hard, hard enough that she had been offered a managing post by her very modern employer. No longer did she have to sew bonnets herself. She managed six women from the village and whatever she earned, she handed every penny into her father’s hands. And yet he thought she was a burden. She knew Wilson’s son. She knew of his abusive habits. They would throw her at the mercy of that beast? Without a thought?

  Getting up, she started walking and soon came upon a familiar path. She had used to play here with her sister when she was a child. If she went straight ahead, an hours walk at the very most, she would find herself at her house.

  She took off her hat. And crumpled it in her hand. Everybody in town would be at Laurie’s wedding so she didn’t have any fear of running into anybody. She dragged herself home and changed her clothes. And then she sat on her bed and stared at the floor. She was not going to marry Benny Wilson. She could not!

  The local church was visible from her bedroom window and she clutched at her cross. Was this another trial for her? But God was kind. He was fair. And the pastor had once told her that God would always help her if she helped herself. She closed her eyes.

  Faith. She had to have faith!

  Opening her eyes, she clenched her teeth. Everything happened for a reason. If her parents were so tired of her
then she would leave. She looked at the time and got up. It was three in the afternoon. Her office would still be open. She had taken a leave for the day but maybe it was time to make some changes.

  She put on her dress and her bonnet and left.

  It was not uncommon for women to work but it was rare for them to be in a managerial position. However, Valerie was such a hard worker, that despite the protests from some of the people, her employer had appointed her as a supervisor. So it was to him she went today.

  “Miss Reiner, I thought I had given you leave for the day.”

  Her employer was a man in his fifties, who had a penchant for smoking and had a dozen grandchildren whom he loved to brag about. He was also one of the kindest men she knew.

  “You said, a few weeks ago, that you wanted me to transfer to your country branch in Bampton and I said no.” She looked him straight in the eye, “I want you to transfer me there today. I want to start working there tomorrow.”

  Samuel Whitford considered himself to be a reasonable man. However, he was quite taken aback by the sudden request from his favorite employee, his most hard working employee. He leaned back in his chair, “Has someone said something to you at work? Are you being bothered?”

  Valerie rubbed her eyes, not wanting to cry. Her voice was choked as she told him, “My parents, it seems, think that I am a burden on them and a stain on the family honor. So they wish to marry me to Benny Wilson with or without my consent. So,” She drew in a shuddering breath, “Will you give me the job or not?”

  Samuel stroked his beard, another favorite habit of his. He liked to think it made him look wise, “If I were to say no?”

  “Then I will resign from my post, effective immediately, pack my bags and leave town within the hour.”

  “You are such a stubborn woman, Miss Reiner, but I want to retain you as my employee for as long as I possibly can, so I will make you an even better offer.” He leaned forward and smiled, “The Bampton office has new employees. I do not know them personally. I do know you, however. It is just eight women working there. I want you to manage them for now. Teach them how we do things here.”