The Thanksgiving Day Bride: Mail Order Bride Novels

by Sandee Keegan

  Billie woke up with sunlight streaming in on his face. Disoriented, he looked around the sterile white décor of a hospital room. There, curled up in a chair not made to sit in comfortably, let alone sleep in, was Joy, wrapped in her sweater and resting. He looked at her face, lit softly by the sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains. It had always been her, he realized. Always been the idea of her that had driven him to protect, to be a hero for. He gingerly pushed himself up to a sitting position in the mechanical hospital bed. The squeaking made Joy start, and she blinked owlishly and looked at him, smiling.

  Billie could feel every injury, every bruise on his body, from broken ribs to the cuts on his face. As he looked at the woman of his dreams, who had once been the girl next door, he felt the weight of the world lift off him. Even lying in a hospital bed, bruised and broken, he felt like he was finally alive. In the weight of her gaze was all the promise he needed. He motioned for her to come closer and she slipped up onto the bed, curling up gently beside him. As her body gently warmed him, he held her close and knew. He was home.

  THE END

  Top Seller: Maddie’s Christmas Miracle

  Chapter 1 – Icy Winds

  “Merry Christmas Madam! I hope you have a great one!”

  “Good day to you, Miss! Merry Christmas!”

  “A fine day to wish a fine lady a Merry Christmas, isn’t it?”

  “Christmas isn’t for over six weeks! Just because it snows doesn’t mean you should all be thinking of that nonsense!” She didn’t mean to be rude, but it seemed people were getting excited about the holidays earlier and earlier every year.

  Maddie continued t0 walk down the boardwalk, ignoring all the further Christmas wishes. She couldn’t wait for the holiday season to be over, and the more people who wished her well, the unhappier she became.

  Part of Maddie felt guilty. She was young, very young to be hating this time of year so, but she felt it was unfair that the entire world embraced the merriness and joy, ignoring all the pain others had to go through.

  Maddie had married when she was just sixteen years old. She was deeply in love, and before they were married even a year a child had joined her family. Tom Graham was the kindest, most loving man she had ever met. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

  Back then, Maddie had loved the holidays. Few things made her happier than getting to spend Christmas with the love of her life. But that was before.

  When their baby had turned just six months old, the holidays arrived, and so did scarlet fever. Maddie had been so careful. She kept her baby inside as much as she could. She cleaned the house from top to bottom on a daily basis, and she kept visitors at a minimum.

  But her love worked as a blacksmith in town, and he met a lot of people during his day. Shortly after the outbreak in the town, he came down with the fever, bringing it into the house. Maddie once again did everything in her power to keep her baby safe, but she had to do what she could to bring her husband back to health as well.

  Maddie didn’t remember much of what had happened. She woke up in bed at the temporary clinic the town had set up for the sick. She was lying on a bed in a room full of beds and filled with people she hardly knew. Looking around, she couldn’t see Tom or their child anywhere.

  Maddie never forgot the feeling she had when the doctor told her how a neighbor had found her unconscious on the floor. The concerned neighbor had come to check on her after he heard the baby crying. But that had been a week ago.

  Now, Maddie was alone in the world. The love of her life was gone, her baby was gone, and all she had was emptiness.

  She never felt it fair that she was the only one to recover out of her family. She remembered returning home to an empty house, seeing a Christmas tree with its pretty decorations and looking at all the little toys her husband had made for their child over the past few months.

  She remembered walking into their room and seeing the empty bed and thinking how large the bed was going to feel without her love to share it with. She remembered sinking into a deep depression and shutting herself off from the world.

  That had all happened a couple of years ago. Time had healed some things, but not all. Though Maddie was now nearly twenty years old and working as a seamstress in town, she never let go of the pain she had felt when she lost her family, and it was a pain that was especially sharp this time of the year.

  So, she did everything she could to avoid the good wishes, she never wished anyone a merry Christmas in return, and year after year she would count the days until the holidays were over.

  An icy wind cut through the town, causing Maddie to pull her coat closer. Her coat was thin and worn and didn't fit her well. It had been her husband's old coat and the warmest thing she had.

  The buttons had fallen off the top of the front, and several more were loose on the bottom. There were holes in the elbows and patches on the front, but Maddie couldn’t bring herself to part with it.

  She would fix it nearly every week, but it was quickly becoming evident the coat wouldn't hold up to much more. She wanted to use some of the materials she had at work, but she knew she would have to pay for them. There was no way Mrs. Cat would allow her to take a button or a patch for free.

  Grabbing the front of it and holding it closed, Maddie picked up her pace. She had been late to work the past few days, and Mrs. Cat wasn’t too pleased about it. It was hard walking against the icy wind, especially since Maddie had no bonnet to help keep out the air.

  Her ears began to tingle and burn, and she knew her nose had to be red, but she was nearly to her destination. In the distance, it looked as though another storm was brewing, but Maddie tried to ignore it. She reached the little shop at the end of the street and braced herself before opening the door.

  The wind blew her in, and she had to use both hands to get the door closed once more. She looked around. The shop was cold and empty.

  With a sigh, Maddie walked to the back room and gathered some wood, then started a fire in the fireplace. Mrs. Cat would arrive at any second, and Maddie could only hope the old woman would be in a good mood.

  Chapter 2 – Bad News

  Maddie had the fire popping and crackling when Mrs. Cat came in, blowing air on her hands. The old woman was thin with a large nose and protruding cheek bones. She had bony fingers and an incredibly bird-like appearance.

  She pushed the door closed behind herself, then looked critically around the room.

  “Madeline! Why is it so cold in here? The fire’s going, but if it had been going long it would be a lot warmer than it is… were you late again?” Maddie wanted to argue, but she knew there was no way she could convince the woman she had been on time.

  It was true, the shop wasn’t very big, and it didn’t take long to heat once the fire was lit, but if she had been there when she ought to have been, it would be a lot warmer than it was now.

  “Only by a few minutes, Ma’am. The snow is deep around my house, and it was hard to get through. I made it to town as quickly as I could, but-“

  "Late again! Huh! I'm beginning to wonder why I thought you would take this job seriously. You know how important it is that we get the customers their mending when they ask, and how are we to do that when you don't show up until noon?" Mrs. Cat had a grating voice and was impossible to reason with.

  Maddie glanced at the old clock that was on the mantle. It was barely past eight in the morning. She decided not to argue but decided an apology would likely give her a better chance at soothing the woman.

  “You’re sorry? Sorry? Are you going to be sorry when I lose my business? Are you going to be sorry when the customers find someone else to do their mending? Are you going to be sorry when I end up on the streets?” Mrs. Cat shook her head, a look of disappointment written across her face.

  Maddie wasn’t sure how to answer, but she assured Mrs. Cat she would be on time the next day.

  “You had better be, Young Lady. Tomorrow is your last chance.”

  M
addie sat up quickly in bed, looking around the room. The sun was already up, and the snow was falling once more.

  “Oh no!” She said aloud as she jumped out of bed. She looked up at the clock she had hanging on her wall. Her husband had made that clock when they were first married, and the sight of it always brought a sharp pain to her chest, but she needed a clock, so she kept it up.

  Now, her heart thudded in her chest. She needed to be to work in only a few minutes, and she was just now getting out of bed. She pulled on her dress and quickly tied up the back, but decided to leave her hair in braids, so she didn't have to worry about that.

  Pulling on her boots, Maddie didn't even eat breakfast before she hurried out her door. The snow was still deep around her house, and her heart sank as she realized she had to break another trail to get to the main road. She only lived a mile outside of town, but with the snow to slow her down, it took her much longer to get to work than it did in the summer.

  Lifting her feet as high as she could, Maddie tried to take bigger steps, but she was quickly worn out. It had felt like an eternity before she reached the main road leading into town, and even when she did; she was forced to take her time.

  The ground was slippery beneath the snow, and whenever she tried to hurry, her feet began to slide, and she couldn't get her footing.

  It had felt like an eternity before she made it to town, but by the time she made it to work, she was only ten minutes late.

  Maddie breathed a sigh of relief. The shop was still dark, and the curtains were drawn, so Mrs. Cat wasn't there yet. If she hurried, she could get the fire going and everything set up, then argue that she had to leave the door open to fetch more wood, which is why it would still be cold when Mrs. Cat arrived.

  Maddie closed the door behind her as she hurried into the room, pulling off her coat and hanging it on the hook by the door. She hurried to the back of the room and grabbed some wood, then shoved it in the fire place. She tossed open the curtains, then turned around, and cried out.

  There, sitting in the chair next to the wall, was Mrs. Cat. The old woman was staring at her angrily, tapping her foot on the ground and her finger on the table in front of her.

  “You. Are. Late.” She said slowly. Maddie felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn’t believe this woman had hidden in the dark to see if she was going to be late or not, but she tried to remain calm.

  “I’m sorry, it’s the snow. You see-“

  "I don't want to hear anything else about the snow! There's snow all over the ground, and I managed to make it here on time!" The old woman cracked her knuckles, and Maddie tried to point out that she only lived across the street, but Mrs. Cat wouldn't listen.

  “I have given you many chances, but you only take advantage of my generosity. I need someone who is reliable! Do you understand me? I’m sorry, but I think it’s time I let you go.”

  The old woman crossed her arms, and Maddie opened her mouth to reply, but said nothing and closed it again. She could argue, but she knew it was pointless. Mrs. Cat counted out the rest of the money she owed Maddie as Maddie pulled on her coat, then Maddie took it without a word and left.

  She’d lost her job… the job that had taken her months to get. It was hard for a single young woman to find work in this Vermont town, and now she had nothing.

  Maddie walked down the road a little way with her hands in her pocket, deep in thought. Sitting down next to a tree, Maddie felt her eyes fill with tears.

  What are you going to do now? She thought.

  Chapter 3 – Making a Change

  Maddie woke up the next morning feeling depressed once more. She laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what she should do next. She had very little money, not nearly enough to make it very long without some income.

  She had already sold the horses and the cow, and the chickens had gone next. She had sold anything of value she could bring herself to part with inside the house. The house was sparsely furnished these days, only a bed and a table and a few things in the kitchen.

  Anything and everything she could have gotten money for, she had sold the last time she was out of money and couldn't find work. Now, she was out of money, work, and anything that could bring her more. Sighing, Maddie watched her breath rise in a cloud above her, and she rolled over on her side.

  “I can’t just lay in bed all day. That’s not going to get me anywhere.” Maddie said out loud. She clenched her hands around the quilt as hard as she could, when suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Startled, Maddie opened her eyes and walked over to the window, peering out through the curtain.

  It was the banker.

  "Oh no," Maddie whispered to herself, then pulled on a robe before she opened the door.

  "Good morning, Miss." The banker looked at Maddie from head to toe, a look of condescending judgment was in his eyes.

  “I was making my rounds this morning, and I thought I would stop by and inform you that you are late.” He handed her a piece of paper, but Maddie didn’t even look at it.

  “Mr. Franklin, you know that I’ve been having a tough go of things lately, and I’m doing my best, can’t you-“

  “Miss if I were to allow everyone to skip their payments, the bank would go out of business, and this wouldn’t be much of a town without it.” He smiled down at her, though she gave him a dirty look for cutting her off.

  “I’m not asking you to let everyone skip payments; I'm asking you to give me more time." She said coolly. He laughed and shook his head.

  “That’s what everyone says. Anyway, I will expect the payment by Monday, or I will have to begin proceedings.” He turned to go, but Maddie stopped him.

  “Proceedings? But I’ve only missed a couple of payments!”

  "I'm well aware of exactly how much you have missed. Now, if you will excuse me, I have more news to deliver." He pulled away from her and whistled as he trudged through the snow back to the main road. Maddie stood for a moment, then let out an exasperated sigh.

  Closing the door, she leaned against it for a moment before looking around the room for something she could possible sell. She ran her fingers through her hair, and her hand brushed something on the back of her neck. With a sinking feeling, Maddie looked down at the necklace that hung around her neck.

  It was the last thing her husband had given her before he passed. His final Christmas present. She hadn’t received it until she had regained consciousness in that clinic, but when she saw it, she promised herself she would never part with it. Now, looking down at it, she knew she could get enough for what she needed if she were to sell it.

  With tears in her eyes, she looked around, then finally decided she’d barter it at the general store. After all, that’s what Tom would have wanted.

  Maddie stood in line at the general store, waiting for the clerk to be free. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this, but she was desperately in need of money, and she had no other way to get it. If she lost the house, she would be out in the cold. With nowhere to go, she would be sure to freeze in just a few days.

  Maddie felt a lump in her throat as she stood there, but after seeing how long the clerk was taking with his current customer, she decided to take a look around the store.

  Maddie would often hurry in and out of the store without looking at anything besides what she needed, but today, things looked different. She had never noticed the dolls on the shelves of the ads on the walls. Suddenly, her eyes fell on a piece of paper that caught her attention.

  It read: Bride Wanted

  Curious, Maddie picked up the paper and scanned the contents.

  Hello ladies,

  My name is Hank Lipton, and I am a farmer in Wyoming. I am looking for a wife to help me out around the place. I know this isn’t the time of year to be traveling across the country, but if you make the journey, I have a house all ready for you.

  I promise I’ll treat you right and take care of you, and you’ll never want for anything.

  Thank you for
taking the time to read this.

  Hank

  Maddie skimmed the letter a few times, her mind in a whirl. She didn’t have much money left, but she had enough to purchase a train ticket out West. She could write to this man tonight, and be on her way within a few days. If the bank was going to take her house anyway, she didn’t have to worry about taking care of that.

  Feeling warmth spread through her body, Maddie tucked the paper into her pocket and ran out of the store.

  Chapter 4 – The Western World

  The next few days flew by in a blur for Maddie.

  She didn't have any extended family, and ever since she had lost her family she hadn't made any new friends. No one would miss her, so all she needed to do was take care of the basic things, and she could be on her way.

  Maddie had gone straight home to write Hank her reply letter, then she quickly sealed it and headed back to the general store, ready to send it off and purchase a ticket. She had explained her situation briefly in the letter, telling Hank she had no desire to fall in love, but only needed a place to live.

  She assured him she would do her part in the house and tend to the chores and anything else needing to be done around the place, and that she was very nice and easy to be around. She also wrote that she wanted to beat any bad weather that may arise, so she felt it best to follow the letter she was sending as quickly as possible.

  Maddie felt relieved as she saw the clerk stamp the letter for the post, and eagerly grasped the train ticket he handed her. Though it wasn't an ideal situation, Maddie felt better knowing she wasn't going to end up out in the cold.

  As soon as she had her ticket, she headed back home to pack the few things she was going to take with her.