Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. White

by Kit Morgan

  “Right, Ma.” Oscar let go of Lily, picked up the stew pot in one arm and the pan of rolls with his free hand. “Follow me, Mr. Cooke. And thanks again for comin’ all the way out here to offer Anson a job on the Triple-C – mighty kind of ya.”

  “Think nothing of it. Besides, I wanted some of those delicious rolls. And to see how the cattle were faring. All in all, I’d say they’re …”

  “He did it!” An excited Henry burst in from the porch. “He did it, Ma, He did it!”

  Ma blinked in confusion. “Who’d what?”

  “The Lord, Ma! I prayed He’d bring her back and He did!” Henry spun on his boot heel and rushed back outside.

  Everyone’s jaw went slack. Harrison cocked his head to the side as he heard Henry’s voice, then a woman’s. “Was he referring to …?”

  “I believe he is.” Oscar glanced up a moment, as if double-checking with the Almighty, then looked at the door just as Henry opened it, escorting a tired but happy Evangeline Norton into the front room. The little group’s eyes widened at the sight of her on Henry’s arm. From the look of it, she was the only passenger.

  “Thank you so much, Mr. White,” Miss Norton told Henry as he led her straight to the table. “I’m quite famished.”

  Oscar shrugged and set the food back down. Harrison, concern on his face, quickly sat as Henry pulled a chair out for the woman.

  “I’m so angry, I can’t tell you,” she went on. “Oh, but I mustn’t complain about my problems to you. I’m so sorry.”

  Henry sat next to her. “I don’t mind. ‘Sides, maybe I can help.”

  Harrison, recognizing his chance might disappear, took two rolls and hid them under his napkin while everyone’s attention was elsewhere.

  “But … you can’t, you see …” She pulled a lace handkerchief from her reticule. “No one can. I don’t know what to do.” She blew her nose as the first tears fell.

  Henry looked at his mother. “She got cheated outta her job, Ma. The town done hired a man and let him have her position. She told me so on the porch.” Like Oscar, he looked up, but with a wide, knowing smile as Miss Norton blew her nose again.

  Ma glanced between the two, sighed, then looked at Anson. “Yer goin’ t’work fer Mr. Cooke’s gonna leave a right big hole to fill. Gonna be lotsa extra work ‘round here.”

  Henry’s face lit up. So did Oscar’s. “Ma?”

  She nodded to herself. “Yep. Might need t’hire someone. But findin’ a body right away’ll be tricky.”

  Henry began to chuckle, while Oscar put his hand over his face. “Ma …”

  “Don’t matter if’t’s a man or a woman …”

  “Ma!”

  “So do ya want the job?” Henry blurted at Miss Norton.

  She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and stared at him. “Wha … what job?”

  “Bringin’ in wood, cleanin’ out stalls, scrubbin’ floors, helpin’ in th’kitchen,” Ma said. “Maybe keepin’ Henry’s fingers outta the cake frostin’. Ain’t purty work, but’t’s work.”

  “Job?” Miss Norton repeated, still not catching on.

  “And ya can go fishin’ with me and help catch dinner sometimes,” Henry said excitedly.

  Miss Norton looked around the room as Harrison snuck a third roll. “Are you saying you’re offering me a job?” she asked, stunned.

  “Take it!” Henry urged. “Then ya won’t have to worry none about nothin’!”

  Miss Norton, a hand to her chest, slowly smiled. “You’re offering me work?”

  “Pay ain’t much,” Ma continued. “But ya’d have yer own room, though ya might hafta share it on ‘ccasion with a passenger. ‘N three meals a day.” She looked at Oscar. “Sound ‘bout right?”

  Oscar’s brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to speak, saw the look on Henry’s face, and let himself smile. “Yeah, sounds ‘bout right, Ma.” He put an arm around Lily again and shrugged.

  Lily laughed and looked at Miss Norton. “We’d love to have you stay. I’m sure you’d enjoy working here – you can try it for a while and see if you like it. After all, what have you got to lose?”

  Miss Norton quickly put a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. “Thank you, thank you so much. I prayed for a miracle to happen ever since I found out my position had been given away, and …” She couldn’t talk, just wept.

  Henry smiled proudly and looked at everyone in turn. “Yeah, the good Lord knows what He’s doin’. He puts folks right where they need to be if they let Him.”

  Oscar and Lily exchanged another look. “That He does,” Oscar said.

  “Yes, He certainly does,” she replied.

  “Amen to that,” Harrison said, and, unable to wait any longer, took a generous bite of one of Oscar’s famous rolls.

  About the Author

  Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, lives in a log cabin in the woods in the wonderful state of Oregon. She grew up riding horses, playing cowboys and Indians and has always had a love of Westerns! She and her father watched many Western movies and television shows together, and enjoyed the quirky characters of Green Acres. Kit’s books have been described as “Green Acres meets Gunsmoke,” and have brought joy and entertainment to thousands of readers. Many of her books are now in audio format, performed by a talented voice actor who brings Kit’s characters to life, and can be found on Amazon, Audible.com and iTunes.