Beverly supposed that she had a business mind, which was why she had spent so much of her life making things. Her sister helped care for the home with her mother, but Beverly was the one who enjoyed crafting clothing and preparing meals. Carrie of course could also cook and mend, but her passion was more in helping people in their work than in the creation of things. Carrie’s dresses were practical whereas Beverly’s were unique and interesting. At least in her opinion. Now that she was working for Mr. Stewart, she wondered if she might be able to offer some of her skills to Stewart House. He seemed largely opposed to change, because things that worked just worked, so why change them? That was the impression she got from talking with Rita anyway.
The small town of Wallace was a sweet little place, once Beverly got used to its dusty, tan coloring. Ohio was a great deal greener, and she never thought she would miss the bright sight of corn stalks along the road, but here she was. She smiled as she walked, finding each new sight interesting and wondering how long it would take for things to no longer be so quaint to her. It shall be a sad day when I’m no longer excited to live here, but Carrie is still in love with the place, she thought.
Finally, Beverly arrived at her sister’s home. It was a cute, little house – the sort of home one could easily imagine a man like Mr. Jackson owning. She was still smiling as she knocked on the door. It would be good to spend some time with her sister again, even if they just chatted about how their lives were going and she didn’t bring up the restaurant at all.
After only a few moments, Carrie opened the door and beamed out at her sister. “Beverly! What a lovely surprise. Please come in. How are things at Stewart House?”
Ah, I should’ve known it would come up right away. Carrie cares about how I’m settling in, of course.
Beverly entered Carrie’s home and walked into the living room, taking a seat on the odd-looking leather couch without question, which made her sister laugh. “Have I done something odd?” she asked self-consciously.
Still giggling a bit, Carrie shook her head. “No, not at all. It’s just that Leeroy made this couch and I’ve always made fun of it for how it looks. He’d be pleased to know you didn’t notice.”
Beverly smirked at her. “Oh, I noticed. I just kept my comments to myself.”
Carrie laughed more at that. “I’ve missed you, sister. How have you been doing at Stewart House? Getting along with everyone, I hope?”
“Of course! I’m not the sort of person who would berate people to their faces. I’ve been doing well. Rita showed me how things were done and you know I’m a fast learner. She’s quite a character that one, isn’t she?”
Carrie nodded her head. “She certainly is. She’s incredibly attached to that place, and the way that Mr. Stewart expects things to be run. Have you been on your best behavior with her?”
Beverly nodded her head, laughing a little. “I made the mistake to question why we don’t serve fresh steaks from the butcher’s shop instead of cooking up the ones that were frozen on the train.”
Carrie grimaced ever so slightly, but Beverly noticed. “Oh dear,” she said. “Yes, they are very protective of their steaks.”
“But it makes no sense!” Beverly exclaimed. “They’re selling frozen steaks to their customers when, right up the road, the customers could just as easily enjoy fresh ones. It seems that, instead of taking away from the butcher’s clients, they could… I don’t know… Have they ever tried working with him?”
Carrie looked at her contemplatively. “I’m not sure that Mr. Stewart has thought to talk to Mr. Maddox about this issue at all. He opened his restaurant there by the station and it’s pretty much the only thing he thinks or cares about. I reckon that, if you asked him, he wouldn’t be able to tell you where the town’s bank is.”
Beverly laughed lightly. She wasn’t surprised by this. Even still, it bothered her that a businessman of Mr. Stewart’s apparent stature in the town had placed such miniscule interest in his surroundings. “I simply think he would do well to reach out to other businessmen in the community,” she said. “But it’s not my place to question him about it or make suggestions, of course.”
Carrie smiled delightedly at her little sister. Beverly had always been rather virtuous and optimistic about things, and Carrie knew that she also harbored her own thoughts on business. No girl who made clothing and housewares like Bevie could ever truly be satisfied without profiting off of such things, at least in some way. Now that she was older, Beverly clearly had thoughts of making her own way. This was why Carrie thought she’d do well at the restaurant, but perhaps having to follow questionable orders was a struggle for her.
“Would you like a beverage or a snack?” she asked Beverly pleasantly. “How long can you stay?”
“Yes, please,” Beverly replied, smiling. “Look at you. The waitress in you is still alive and well.”
Carrie laughed.
“I have to be back for dinnertime, but I’ve still got about an hour or so,” Beverly added before Carrie went into the kitchen to fetch some vittles.
Beverly really wasn’t all that hungry, but she knew that she would regret it if she passed up the chance to eat before the dinner rush. Being around all of that food in the restaurant – even the frozen steaks – was bound to make her feel starved if she delayed her meal until after work.
Carrie nodded her head and walked into her kitchen to fetch a few things for her guest, as well as for herself. Some sandwiches and tea seemed like the perfect thing for a meal before Beverly had to go back to work. She likely received plenty of meals there, provided by the restaurant, so some homemade sandwiches would be a welcome change. Carrie placed everything onto a tray and carried it out, setting it on the coffee table in front of Leeroy’s unique couch. She sat down next to her sister, cringing a bit only to get a laugh out of Beverly.
“How have you been enjoying married life?” Beverly asked her with a smile as she grabbed a sandwich and began eating. A ham and cheese sandwich would do the trick for her. Carrie had brought out a whole trayful, too, in case she wanted more.
Carrie appeared thoughtful. She took a sip from her cup of tea. “Well, I dare not say that it’s all been easy. It’s been quite a transition again from working as a waitress to working as a housewife. We’ve got big plans to turn this small house and bit of land into a real profitable farm, and it largely falls to me because Leeroy is always off driving his stagecoach around. The people who come from all over and often eat at Stewart House are sometimes mighty interested in riding around with Leeroy, once they’ve had some food in them. And of course, some people also stay in town for the night or longer, and they have need of him, too. I told him that he shouldn’t begrudge Mr. Stewart for his restaurant, because his business helps bring more work to Leeroy, too.”
It was now Beverly’s turn to look thoughtful. She carefully set her sandwich back down on its plate and sipped at her tea. “This is precisely my way of thinking about the whole affair with the steaks. It simply doesn’t make sense to me why we wouldn’t try to work with our neighbors instead of closing off from everyone else and going it completely alone. Doesn’t it seem like being friendlier and more cooperative would be beneficial for Mr. Stewart?”
“I agree with you, Bevie. I do,” Carrie told her. “But I think you have to be careful in the way you go about it. Perhaps don’t tell Rita what you’re thinking. She will always side with Mr. Stewart on things like this. Trust me on that.”
The two sisters ate the rest of their meal together and promised to visit each other more often, when time permitted, now that Beverly was fully trained at the restaurant and would have more time to look around and explore the quaint little town of Wallace, Kansas.
“I certainly won’t mind being your tour guide if you’re ever in the need of one,” Carrie told her with a friendly smile. “I know that Annie is a good guide as well, but she doesn’t want to be in charge of shepherding the Nelson girls around for the rest of her life, surely.”
Beverly smiled and gave her sister a hug. “Thank you for the offer. I’ll remember that. And thank you so much for giving me your advice. I know that it might not always seem like it, but I promise that I do take it to heart.”
With that, she toddled her way back down the dirt road to the Stewart House restaurant. She couldn’t afford to be late and make Rita even more annoyed at her. Besides, any minutes lost would mean less money on her end; this she was well aware of. As soon as she got back to the dormitory, she hastily changed back into her black and white uniform. She was grateful for having changed, because any crumbs or – heaven forbid! – stains on her uniform would only bring her further agony. The girls were all in charge of making sure that their work clothes remained spotless and neat. Rita went around and collected them for washing every few days.
As she went to tie the white bow into her hair once more, Annie came bursting into the room. “We received word that an overly-crowded train is on its way into the station. The eating house is going to be packed tonight! You must hurry and get ready. Mr. Stewart has asked for everyone to meet in the back room immediately. Where were you?”
Beverly blanched a bit at the very idea of a full restaurant. The dinnertime train usually caused the restaurant to be its busiest as it was. Would they even have enough places to put everyone? “Do we have enough tables? Plates?”
Annie took her by the hand once the bow had been tied and they walked together out of the dormitory and into the restaurant via the back entrance. “I don’t know,” she said excitedly as they walked. “I’ve never experienced anything like this. Suppose we have to turn some people away. That would be a disaster.”
I don’t know about that, Beverly thought, a small smile forming on her face despite her best efforts to hide it. I could think of a few other places they could go, if we’re too packed in here…
The Stewart House being overbooked only meant good business for the other venues in the area. People like Mr. Maddox the butcher would surely be able to accommodate the overflow. “It would be a shame to have to put them out,” she said for the sake of Annie and Mr. Stewart. She didn’t want to do anything that was bad for the restaurant where she worked, but she couldn’t help but see the benefit to other people as well.
If you enjoyed this preview of Beverly: The Butcher’s Bride, you may download the entire story HERE. Available with Kindle Unlimited.
Also Available From Charity Phillips
Brides Of Weber Valley Box Set
In 1868, life for the townspeople of Ogden begins to change rapidly when the railways expand to the Utah Territory. Follow the struggles and triumphs as new opportunities–and the chance for true love–arise for the young ladies from the Hughes and Cooke families in the Brides Of Weber Valley series!
This collection by Amazon bestselling author Charity Phillips includes the following six sweet western romances:
Book 1: Zelda’s Story: Zelda, the eldest daughter of the Hughes family, longs for a life away from the rolling hills and barn animals of her parents’ farm in Ogden. She loves and supports her family but longs to explore what else the world might have to offer her. When word gets around that there is a railway expansion planned to be constructed nearby, Zelda is excited for the new opportunities–and people–it might bring. (Included as a bonus in Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand)
Book 2: Diana’s Story: One day while running errands, Diana Cooke meets a striking young man named Aaron Pratt. She learns that he comes from a proud line of farmers, but is currently facing challenge after challenge at his family’s dairy farm. His father is bedridden from a terrible injury, leaving Aaron to take on all of the daily tasks to keep their livelihood afloat. Her heart goes out to him and his plight and they become fast friends. She finds herself thinking of Aaron every day and longs to help him and his family overcome their hardships. Included as a bonus in Beverly: The Butcher’s Bride.
Book 3: Hattie’s Story: Hattie Hughes works hard as the assistant innkeeper to her sister-in-law, Diana’s, prosperous business and finds herself longing for a husband of her own. One day, along comes a handsome, mysterious traveler who needs a room for a more long-term basis as his train is delayed by the snow. This stranger, Matthew Ford, turns out to be kind and understanding towards Hattie, offering a friendship she never realized she needed.
Book 4: Tabitha’s Story: With her younger sister, Suzy, Tabitha Church fled her home in Chicago one autumn night, running away from an engagement that was doomed to become a loveless marriage if she didn’t do something about it. They arrived in the small town of Ogden, Utah with nothing but the dresses on their backs and a fair amount of hopefulness. Included as a bonus in Beverly: The Butcher’s Bride.
Book 5: Millie’s Christmas Surprise: Millie Saxton knows what she wants. Or, more accurately, she knows what she doesn’t want. She left New York, the place of her birth and her successful job as a seamstress at a shirtwaist factory, to find love out West. She met a man named James O’Neill who placed an advertisement in the newspaper and, before long, sent for her. But when the train stops in Ogden, Utah and a nasty winter storm hits, Millie finds that her future as Mr. O’Neill’s bride might not be what she wants after all. (Included as a bonus in Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand)
Book 6: Amelia’s Blessed Christmas: A recent widow, young Amelia Hawkins leaves behind her life of bereavement and bad memories to travel west to live with Mr. Percy Andrews, a friendly and caring general store owner who is well-liked by everyone in the town of Ogden. From their very first meeting at the railway station, she is taken by his kindness and gentle nature and knows that God has blessed her with a second chance at happiness.
Click HERE to download the box set
Included with Kindle Unlimited!
Also Available From Hope Meadow Publishing Author Faith-Ann Smith
Nurses Of The Civil War Series Box Set
Amazon Bestselling Author Faith-Ann Smith’s Nurses Of The Civil War Series follows the struggles and triumphs of four volunteer nurses seeking a new lease on life and love after caring for our country’s wounded war heroes.
This collection includes the following four heartwarming historical mail order bride romances:
Mail Order Bride: Mary’s Secret
Since returning to her uncle’s home after volunteering as a nurse during the Civil War, Mary had rejected numerous suitors, but finally, she was given an ultimatum: she would either marry Mr. Wendell–the infamous rake–or find herself homeless and without a penny to her name.
Brave and quick-thinking, Mary decides to respond to an advertisement for a mail order bride, but surely, no sensible gentleman would care to wed an already-betrothed woman. Out of sheer desperation, Mary is forced to concoct an entirely different persona for herself through her letters to Caleb Knight. But how long can Mary keep up her pretenses before the truth finds its way to the surface? (Included as a bonus in Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand)
Mail Order Bride: Annika’s Courage
Young Annika Neville bravely volunteers as a nurse in the Civil War after her father and only living relative, William Neville, takes his place amongst the Union soldiers.
William isn’t leaving anything to chance, however—especially not his daughter’s happiness. So, when a strapping young Union soldier named Gabriel Cole crosses his path while serving in the War, a plan quickly takes shape in his mind. William takes it upon himself to ensure that the young man, who plans on heading West, finds his way into his daughter’s New England heart after the war comes to an end.
But does father always know best, or will Annika’s own hopes and dreams for her future thwart his plan?
Mail Order Bride: Grace’s Second Chance
When young Grace Williams decides to courageously volunteer as a Civil War nurse in the City Point tent hospitals, little does she realize that treating her most obstinate patient yet will prove to be rewarding in more ways than she could ever imagine. Included as a bonus in Beverly: The Butcher’s Bride.
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Major Michael Cade demands for his injured men to be seen before himself, yet, the selfless man can barely stand, suffering from several life-threatening wounds. As his men are tended to, Grace boldly recommends a risky treatment to save his leg against the recommendation of the attending doctor, and is forced to treat the Major on her own.
As the Major convalescences under Grace’s care, the two begin to form an incredibly special bond through sharing stories about their pasts. But one morning, when Grace finds the Major has been suddenly discharged from the hospital without her knowing, Grace is left heartbroken. Will her heart ever reunite with the Major’s, or will their blossoming relationship be left on the war fields forever?
Mail Order Bride: Cate’s Change Of Heart (included as a bonus in the Brides Of Weber Valley Box Set)
As Cate McLachlan boards a westbound train to meet her betrothed in Nebraska, the former Civil War nurse will soon learn her plans for love are about to be derailed.
Her train is forced to come to a screeching halt when a group of sinister bandits decides to wreak havoc on its passengers. Cate narrowly escapes her demise when one of the outlaws captures her in a rush, throws her over the back of his horse and flees the scene.
Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand - A Clean Historical Western Romance (Stewart House Brides Book 3) Page 97
