“Anyone here by the name of Quill Roderick?”
“What do you want with him?”
“I’ve got Mercy—”
Quill punched him in the jaw. The man staggered back but didn’t fall, nor did he come after Quill.
“She’s waiting for you at the store,” the stranger said as he rubbed his jaw.
“To tell me she’s running off with you?”
“While she’s a beautiful woman, I’ll stick with her sister. I’m Stone Kincaid, married to Patience. We’re on our honeymoon, and you just walloped my kisser, which I don’t appreciate.”
“You married Patience?”
“Yes.”
“And she stayed?”
“Not exactly. But we’re here now and Mercy has invited us to visit with her at your ranch. She said there’d be a wagon waiting.”
“So why was she on the ferry?”
“Patience forgot something and we had to go back to get it.”
With the back of his hand, Quill scooted his third drink across the bar and tossed some coins on the counter as he headed out the door. Stone followed, rubbing his jaw.
Once in Hiatt’s store, Mercy ran to Quill and hugged him. “The best news! Patience and her new husband are visiting us, and they’ll be here for our wedding.”
She sounded so excited, he wanted to kiss her all over right there in the store. Or maybe drag her to the backroom and have his way with her. “I’m glad you came back.”
“Back? I never left.” She frowned, then studied him. “Quill, did you think I left you?”
He stared back, not wanting to tell her the truth.
“Because I trust you with my life and my heart. I hope you do the same.”
And in that instant, he did, but his heart was near to bursting and all he could do was squeeze her hand and nod. Yes, he truly believed she loved him and would stay with him through thick and thin.
“I still have some shopping to do,” she said, “but it won’t take long.”
Quill took a deep breath and said, “I’m inviting everyone to the wedding, so it’ll be a heckuva shindig—dancing and a big spread. You might as well order everything you need. I’ll, uh, load your sister’s luggage while you’re shopping. Where is it?”
“I know where it is,” Stone said. “Let’s go—and then let’s finish that drink at the Silver Sage. I think the ladies have a lot of shopping to do.”
“Don’t you dare,” Mercy said. “I know exactly what I want and we’ll be ready to leave in half an hour.”
Before he headed out the door, Quill gave Mercy a hug and whispered, “I trust you, Mercy Eaton.”
* * *
Jake shooed Mercy out of the barn as if she were still in short skirts. Lobo and Inky stuck by her side as she stood in the barn door.
“The wedding’s tomorrow.” Mercy tried to calm herself—her enthusiasm elevated even more than usual for all the excitement. She was anxious to become Quill’s wife, and then again, she had to admit to a tiny seed of fear. “I just want to make sure everything is ready for the reception, er, party after we say our vows.”
“Don’t you worry yourself none.” Jake forked a pile of horse apples onto the wheelbarrow. “We’ll have this place so clean, you could lick the floor.” She leaned on the pitchfork and wiped her brow with her sleeve. “Ain’t one dang thing for you to do out here ‘ceptin’ to get yourself dirty, and there’s plenty of time for that after the wedding.”
Then it occurred to Mercy that she had no family other than her sister and brother-in-law to sit on her side of the aisle.
“Jake, can I ask you a favor?”
“You can ask.”
“Would you be the mother of the bride? I know you’re only five years older, but you’ve helped me—taught me—a lot in the time I’ve been in Idaho.”
“Sure nuff. Glad to.” She straightened and scooped another forkful of manure. “Now, since I’m your mama, get yourself to the house and tend to them wedding plans you’re so all-fired nervous about. And purty up your dress with all that frippery you bought.”
“Will you wear a dress?”
“Hell, no.”
Mercy had to laugh. Ray had told her earlier that Jake hadn’t even worn a dress at her own wedding. “Didn’t think so, and frankly, I don’t care what you wear, as long as you’re there.”
“Go on with you now. I expect your intended is about done with his chores and I know he wanted to see you before the big day.”
“Alone?” She blushed, drat it all. “I’ll see if he’s in the house yet.”
He wasn’t, for she saw him in back of the chicken coop with an armload of wood, so she headed in his direction.
“Quill,” she called.
“Meet me in the house—I’m about done here. I have something for you.”
Maybe a wedding gift? “I’ll be in the parlor.”
A faint squeal of excitement escaped as she hurried to the porch with Lobo and Inky leading the way. She had a wedding gift for him, too. Patience had tried to talk her out of it, but Mercy knew in her heart it was the perfect gift.
“You stay here,” she told the animals before she opened the door. “I’ll be out to pet you after supper.”
She dashed upstairs and grabbed the carefully wrapped package, then checked her hair and straightened her skirts before she went downstairs to the parlor. Quill was already there.
He held out a small, beautifully carved rosewood box. “This is for you.”
After carefully opening the lid, she lifted out an exquisite sapphire necklace. “I love it!” But he hadn’t even been to town—and anyway, no one carried jewelry in Henderson Flats.
“It was Aunt Dora’s. I asked Uncle Ike if he’d let me have it because I thought it would look right pretty on you. And he said, ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,’ and this fit it all—his mother gave it to Dora, so it’s old, but it’s new to you, and we could consider it borrowed even though it’s yours now, and it sure is blue.”
“I love it! It’ll go perfectly with my wedding gown.” She hugged him, still hanging onto the necklace in one hand and the box in the other. “It’s gorgeous.”
He kissed her and she was so undone, she nearly dropped her necklace. Then she remembered his gift.
She pushed back a little and grinned at him. “One more kiss and I’ll give you your gift.”
“How about two?” He pulled her close again.
“Ray will be coming in here any minute.”
“The nosy old goat.” He kissed her again. “I’ll take kisses over presents any day.”
“But I really want you to have this.” She ducked out from his reach and fetched the package. “Open it.”
He made quick work of the bow and tossed the wrapping on the fainting couch. She would have given a hundred dollars to have captured the look on his face when he pulled out the watch.
“It’s my papa’s timepiece,” she said, positive she’d made the right decision to give it to Quill.
“You can’t give this to me,” Quill said as he studied the watch. “Your father gave it to you.”
“But I want you to have it. Mama gave it to Papa when they got married. Time means everything—they’ll be together always, and so will we.” She took the fob and attached it to his vest pocket. “It’s yours now, and you can give it to one of our children for good luck in their marriage.”
He cleared his throat but it sounded more like a growl. “Best we start practicing making those babies.”
“Tomorrow night, Quill. One more day.”
“That’s forever.”
“You can keep track of the time on your new watch.”
* * *
The next day, Quill rose early—partly because he spent half the night thinking about what he and Mercy would be doing the next night, and partly because he wondered if he’d gone plumb loony for getting married in the first place.
But no, he felt good about wedding Mercy, and su
rely she wouldn’t give him her most prized possession if she’d intended to leave. He’d come around. He took the timepiece out of his pocket and studied the Egyptian engraving in the gold. The family had been in dire financial straits but hadn’t parted with the watch.
And now Mercy had given it to him.
Jake slugged him in the arm. “You gonna stare at that thing all day, or are you gonna get your crew to settin’ up the barn for the dance?”
He slugged her back, although gently. “Tell you what, Jake—you do the bossing and I’ll stare at my wedding gift.” He showed it to her. “Mercy gave it to me. Her mama gave it to her father for a wedding gift, and now she gave it to me.”
She admired it a bit and said, “I’d say that little gal is stuck on you, so you best do your damnedest to make this a special day.”
Jake was right, of course. “I’ll fetch Harp and we’ll have this place up to snuff in no time.”
“Good, on account of I’m thinkin’ you better get yourself a bath before the big doin’s.”
He checked his new watch. Three hours and he’d be a married man. The lump in his throat kept him from saying anything so he headed to the bunkhouse where Harp and the outfit would be finishing up breakfast.
It was time to make this thing happen.
* * *
Mercy felt beautiful in her wedding dress, especially since she and Patience had sewn French lace around the neckline and cuffs. Patience had created a fine veil that matched the lace perfectly. Ike escorted her down the stairs and into the parlor, where Quill stood, the most handsome man she’d ever met. And to think, he wanted her.
She fought back tears of joy as she approached him. Ike pressed her hand into Quill’s and backed away.
The pastor began the ceremony. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in God's presence to witness and to celebrate the marriage of Mercy Dawn Eaton and William Allen Roderick...”
She looked at her groom. “William?” she whispered. He grinned and squeezed her hand.
All the words ran into one another and it seemed as if she were watching another couple be married. Her wish was to be with Quill, alone, and forever. She said her “I do” in the right spot and repeated her vows properly because she’d practiced.
Finally, the pastor said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
She’d been waiting for those words and his kiss, because in her heart, she couldn’t have been more married. The pronouncement and the kiss. Especially the kiss. Quill lifted her veil and gazed into her eyes.
“Are you ready?” he whispered.
“Very.”
And he kissed her until everyone in the room faded away and the clapping sounded like it was a mile away. She felt his lips and his arms holding her. Glorious. The happiest moment of her life.
When he broke off the kiss, he still held her tight and whispered, “Mercy, I love you.”
She changed her mind—that was the happiest moment in her life.
The End
If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here: http://www.newwesternromance.com/.
Dedication
To my daughter Mercedes Christesen, who is ever sunny and has more determination than anyone I ever met. She brings joy to the hearts of all who meet her.
And always dedicated to my hero in real life, Mark Rogers.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Kirsten Osbourne, Cindy Tahse, and Pamela Kelley for coming up with the crazy idea of a fifty book series, releasing one book each day. Also thanks to Caroline Clemmons who signed me up for this project, unbeknownst to me, while I was on a book tour.
This whole project, with the Sooper Seekrit build-up, has been a blast. I’ve enjoyed working with all the authors and am grateful to be included.
I also want to thank Mercedes Christesen for her encouragement and her positive attitude. Nothing gets that girl down—at least not for long.
Dear Reader
This is book #43 in the American Mail-Order Brides series, but it is also part of the Hearts of Owyhee series, directly connected to Much Ado About Mavericks (book 4). The heroine is Jake O’Keefe, and she plays a strong secondary role in Mercy: Bride of Idaho.
Most of the character names in this book come from my old friends in Owyhee County—the musicians really were musicians. That’s one of the fun parts of being a writer because we get to revisit the past and make the good parts come alive again.
Henderson Flats is an early name for Marsing, Idaho, which is in Owyhee County. Owyhee is the original anglicized spelling of Hawaii and was named after fur trappers who were lost there in 1819. Owyhee is pronounced OH-wye-hee. I grew up on a dairy farm six miles from the fictional Circle ID.
I do a lot of research for every book I write. A scene might be only a few pages but take several hours of sleuthing to find just the right fact to fit the circumstance. In this case, I went looking for ferries. Here’s a photo of a ferry in the same location only eighteen years later. My guess is that Mercy wouldn’t have wanted to get on this rickety looking thing; hence, the ferry scene. Can you imagine a stagecoach, four to six horses, and a dozen people on this ferry? Makes me shudder to think about it!
Yes, that’s the real Henderson Flats on the other side of the Snake River.
And remember the series Mercy’s going to read, Honey Beaulieu: Man Hunter? You can read it, too! The first book, Hot Work in Fry Pan Gulch, will be published March, 2016.
The other thing I wanted to point out is that Mercy is the younger sister of Patience, Caroline Clemmon’s Patience: Bride of Washington, so if you haven’t read that book, please do. I loved it!
Thanks for coming along with Mercy for the whole ride! Be sure to check out my other books at http://www.jacquierogers.com/books.html.
♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥ series:
Much Ado About Madams
* A story this good can only come from the imagination of Jacquie Rogers
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
* A rollicking riot of a good read!
~Ann Charles, author of Nearly Departed in Deadwood
* A romantic trip to the Old West stamped with Jacquie Rogers' special brand of humor
~ Caroline Clemmons, author of Brazos Bride
* A Magical, Romantic Romp in the Old West!
~BookwormForever
Much Ado About Marshals
*** RttA Winner: Best Western Historical Romance ***
*** NOR Top Pick ***
Buy a copy and see for yourself what everyone is talking about. Once you read just one of Ms. Roger's books, I can assure you that you'll be a fan...
~Diana Coyle, NOR Reviewer
*** CTRR Award ***
Jacquie Rogers creates a witty, delightful, and downright amusing book with impressive charming players.
~Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance and More Reviewer
Much Ado About Miners
*** Laramie Award Winner: Best Western Humorous Romance ***
*** Easychair Bookshop Finalist!***
From Chanticleer Reviews: Rogers' delightful characters bring their own distinct flavor to Much Ado About Miners: the Shakespeare quoting sidekick, Phineas; a trouble-making scraggly yellow feline named "Duke;" dastardly despicable bad guys; and others. Her scenes had me laughing so hard at times, I was in tears! This entertaining tale will have you rooting for the good guys while hanging on for a wild and fun ride that starts on the first page and doesn't let up to the very end. And, trust me, you'll never think about biscuits in the same way again.
Much Ado About Mavericks
FIVE STARS! Jacquie Rogers writes some of the best Historical Romances on today's market. Not content to simply write a plot and toss in a lot of bed scenes and/or filler, this author adds in subplots, humor, action, suspense, and some endearing strays. ~Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
When you read a Jacquie Rogers book, you know you're in for
a fast, fun ride! ~BookwormForever
Much Ado About Mustangs
* I loved this book. The characters were very relatable and the story kept me wanting more. I couldn't put this book down! This book had everything; romance, intrigue, and a whole lot of meddling. I can't wait for more!!!
~~ J. Kennedy
Secret lives, hidden dreams, and forbidden sex in the Old West—what’s a woman of nobility to do when a handsome rancher tears through her world like an Owyhee dust devil?
Other Books by Jacquie Rogers
Sleight of Heart
Sleight of hand? or Sleight of Heart?
A Straight-Laced Spinster
Lexie Campbell, more comfortable with neat and tidy numbers than messy emotions, is determined find the sharper who ruined her little sister and make him marry her. When his lookalike brother Burke appears, she greets him with a rifle and forces him to help her. Can she resist his magic charm?
A Gambler With Magic Hands
To claim the family fortune, smooth-dealing Burke O'Shaughnessy has to find his brother Patrick, despite being saddled with an angry spinster. But when Lexie shows an astounding talent for counting cards and calculating odds, he figures she might be useful after all. Can he draw the queen of hearts?
"... a fun and fast paced read with a charming and sexy hero!" ~Jennifer Haddad
Mail-Order Tangle
(with Caroline Clemmons)
Two Dickerson sisters, two Johanssen cousins, two great stories!
Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons
Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers
Novellas and Short Stories
Muleskinners: Judge Not
Willow, Wish For Me
Mercy: Bride of Idaho (American Mail-Order Bride 43) Page 13
