Chapter Seventeen
Evelyn smiled as she made breakfast the next morning. Here she was at last, using Joel’s kitchen as her own, cooking for her husband. There were some things she’d change—the curtains on the windows were hideous, and the place needed more decorations, but she was happier than she’d ever been.
A knock came at the door, and she crossed the floor to open it. A telegram for Joel? That meant something was wrong.
He came out of the bedroom just as she was about to call him. “Who was at the door?” he asked.
“A telegram for you,” she replied, handing it to him.
He opened it, his mouth pressed in a firm line. He appeared to read it twice before lowering it and shaking his head. “A boat full of illegal Chinese immigrants wrecked near Prince Rupert,” he said. “We’ve been asked to send reinforcements—the locals are causing some trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” Evelyn asked.
“Telegram doesn’t say in detail—just that the Chinese aren’t wanted in their town. I’ll send Nolan. He craves excitement—this is right up his alley.”
“You don’t want to go yourself? I know you’ve been meaning to get out from behind your desk a little more often.”
He smiled, a long, lazy smile. “Sweetheart, I’m a newlywed. Why would I want to chase off to Prince Rupert when I could stay here and eat the breakfast my bride prepared for me? Besides, if I went myself, Nolan would have my head. Trust me. This is the right choice.”
That was exactly what Evelyn had been hoping he’d say. She went up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. “And how does my groom like his eggs?”
***
Joel had been right in his assessment. When he told Nolan about the assignment, the other man’s eyes had lit up, and he’d quickly nodded. What he didn’t expect was for Nolan to ask permission to bring Tilly along, but he didn’t see any harm in it as long as she was protected from any of the nuisances the locals were creating for the Chinese.
With Nolan on his way, Joel was now free to turn his attention to other things—like paperwork. Thankfully, now he had a beautiful assistant at his side, and they worked out a system that met his needs for confidentiality and hers to be helpful. No one else got shot in the leg, and all in all, it was very quiet for the rest of the week. So quiet, in fact, that as he lay in bed at night and listened to Evelyn breathing beside him, he had a chance to clear his mind of all the clutter, something that hardly ever happened, and he was grateful for it. Miss Hazel was right—he had needed to learn how to relax.
***
Joel stood on the train platform, holding yet another telegram in his hand, this one more astonishing than the last. Nolan had wired to say that he’d caught Black Jack Bitters while they were in Prince Rupert. What a thoroughly unexpected turn of events. He couldn’t wait to hear the whole story, and Nolan and Tilly were due on the next train.
When they arrived, he delayed them just long enough to get a quick verbal report and to praise them for their hard work, and then he sent them on their way. He and Evelyn weren’t the only newlyweds in Squirrel Ridge Junction.
Then he sat down to draft out a telegram he’d been longing to send to his superiors for quite a while.
Wheeler apprehended Bitters. Sent to Vancouver for trial. Case closed.
That was the most rewarding telegram he’d ever sent.
***
A week later, Joel was bent over his desk in his office when a shadow fell across the doorway. He looked up to see Inspector Jacquard, one of his superiors, standing there, and he came to immediate attention.
“Welcome to Squirrel Ridge Junction, sir. May I offer you any refreshment?”
“No, thank you.” Jacquard entered the office and glanced around. Joel was infinitely glad in that moment that Evelyn had cleaned—who knew how many layers of dust had built up since the last time he’d done it. “I’ve come in response to the telegram you sent most recently.”
Oh, no. Joel’s stomach tightened. What had he done now? “Will you take a seat, sir?”
“Yes, thank you.” Jacquard sat down and crossed his legs, setting his hat on his knee. “Not only did I receive your telegram, but the report that was mailed the following day. Nolan Wheeler writes quite an engaging report. I almost felt like I was reading a novel.”
“He does take a great deal of satisfaction from a bit of adventure, sir,” Joel replied.
“Yes. I could tell.” Jacquard looked around again, and Joel’s anxiety climbed. Whatever he’d done wrong, he’d try to fix it, but first he needed to be told what it was. At last, Jacquard’s gaze returned to him.
“I’ve come to congratulate you on a job well done, Corporal. You’ve gathered, I’m sure, that I was somewhat skeptical about your appointment to this post because of your youth, and I worried that you wouldn’t have the leadership skills necessary to train your men. However, this recent capture, and Constable Wheeler’s account of it, have made me realize that I was wrong. You are an effective leader, and I would like to offer you a promotion to sergeant, if you’re inclined to accept.”
Joel came to his feet and gave a slight bow. “I’m honored, sir.”
Jacquard rose and shook his hand. “Thank you for your service, Sergeant Clark. And Constable Wheeler will be receiving a medal for his heroic actions.” He gave Joel a salute, then disappeared as quickly as he’d come.
Joel exhaled and sank back into his chair. Sergeant. He had finally proven himself—shown his superiors and the world what he could do. He took just a moment to revel in that feeling, and then he went home to find his wife, the woman who believed in him no matter how many or few commendations he received.
***
My dear Miss Hazel:
I know I should probably be calling you Mother, but it's hard to get used to calling someone that other than my own mother. You've been a part of my life for so long, and I've always known you as Miss Hazel. Maybe by the time Teddy and I have children, I will be able to call you Mother.
Everything is going well here in Squirrel Ridge Junction. All of the couples you brought together have found their way to love. I sincerely hope you'll be able to make many visits here to spend time with us. All of us would be pleased to see you.
I'm writing to ask you if you could possibly find four more brides for more lonely Mounties. Evelyn's brother is a Mountie in Yukon Territory. When Evelyn wrote him about her marriage to Joel, he expressed an interest in you finding brides for him and three other Mountie stationed near him. I know we're asking a lot from you, but you do seem to have the knack for matchmaking. I never would've guessed it that night when we ran into Elizabeth Tandy at the theater in Boston.
If you choose to take on this task, they would greatly appreciate if you could have their brides there by the middle of October. Winter sets in early in the Yukon, and it may be difficult to travel after that.
The men sent me their requirements for a bride, hoping that you would agree to find wives for them. The first Mountie is Wesley. He's looking for a bride who likes animals, is willing to learn new things, and doesn't mind dealing with the natives of the area. He said if she's afraid of someone who doesn't look just like her, she needn't come.
The second man is Preston. He is looking for a woman who can cook and doesn’t mind taking care of others.
Dermot is looking for a lady from a “good family” who is also skilled at cooking, cleaning, gardening, laundry, and all other such wifely duties. He also mentioned that she should be very beautiful. (I think he’s asking for too much, but who am I to say?)
Last but not least is Evelyn’s oldest brother Jonathan. Evelyn didn’t think he ever had any intention of marrying, so she was surprised by his letter, but she promised him we’d try.
I’ve enclosed another letter with the men’s location. They’re all in the southern part of the Yukon. Please send a telegram letting them know when you’ll arrive.
Did I mention I’m expecting? I hope you won’t mind being a
grandmother …
All my love,
Jess
Epilogue
“Joel?” Evelyn said from somewhere near his left shoulder in the middle of the night.
“Hmmm?”
“Do you remember that odd assignment Miss Hazel gave me before she left, the one where I’m supposed to remind Theodore and Jess to give her a grandbaby?”
“Hmm-mm.”
“I’ve really been very faithful with that assignment, but the oddest thing happened.”
“What’s that?” he asked, still not fully awake.
“Well, it seems that while I’ve been encouraging them, I might have been encouraging myself as well.”
Joel rolled over, his eyes now completely open. “Evelyn, are you saying . . .”
She grinned. “Yes, Daddy. Monty the moose is going to have a new little human playmate.”
He reached out, took her in his arms, and pulled her close. There was nothing in the world he could even begin to wish for—he was quite sure he was the happiest man in all Canada.
***
About Amelia C. Adams
Amelia C. Adams is a wife, a mother, and a novelist. She spends her days dreaming up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you might just see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels.
She loves all things historical and enjoys learning about days gone by, but she's glad she was born more recently (she won't say how recently or not recently) because the Internet is awesome, and she's glad she doesn't have to wash her clothes by hand in a galvanized tub. She has hit Amazon bestseller status three times.
You can reach Amelia at [email protected].
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The Kansas Crossroads Series:
A New Beginning (free!)
A Free Heart
The Dark and the Dawn
A Clean Slate
A Clear Hope
The Whisper of Morning
A Careless Wind
A Narrow Road
The Bitter and the Sweet
The Calm of Night
A Begrudging Bride
A Broken Wing (A Kansas Crossroads novella)
A Twisted Fate
An Unspoken Dream
The Nurses of New York series:
Sea of Strangers (free!)
Cause of Conflict
Touch of Tenderness
Heart of Hearts
Test of Time
The American Mail-Order Brides series:
Hope: Bride of New Jersey
Tabitha: Bride of Missouri
The Hearts of Nashville series:
Whiskey and Women
Records and Rebels
As part of the Brides of Beckham series by Kirsten Osbourne:
Mail Order Molly
As part of the River’s End Ranch series:
Accidental Agent
Rugged Rockclimber
Welcome Wagon
Santa’s Shopkeeper
Delivering Destiny
As part of the Grandma’s Wedding Quilts series:
Meredith’s Mistake
As part of the Magnolias and Moonshine series:
Sweet Georgia Peach
As part of the Burnt River series:
Ashley’s Hope
As part of the Rocky Mountain Romances series:
Utah Sunrise
RNWMP: Bride for Joel (Mail Order Mounties Book 4) Page 9
