Mail-Order Christmas Brides Boxed Set

by Jillian Hart

  Annabelle knew she should step back and close the door. Neither brother knew she was here listening, but she couldn’t seem to move.

  “Well, I always did like that hat,” Adam said with a little more warmth in his voice. “She had it on tonight or I wouldn’t have known her. She’s a plain little thing, isn’t she?”

  “You must be blind,” Gabe shot back. “She’s beautiful. Watch her eyes. They change color slightly as she goes through different emotions.”

  “If you say so.” Adam yawned. “I wonder if she has any money. I didn’t win like I thought I would at the fort poker game. I can’t start the ranch back up without some money.”

  “Then I suggest you get a job,” Gabe said as he ran his hands through his hair. He looked tired.

  Annabelle wondered if either of the men had slept any this night as she quietly closed the door again. A little light came in the window of the kitchen now so morning must be coming before long. She walked over to the table and sat down.

  She didn’t move for a few minutes. She kept expecting a wave of pain to wash over her. She’d just found out her Adam wasn’t interested in marrying her. Oh, Gabe might be able to convince him to do so, but she just didn’t see how that would be something good.

  She bowed her head slightly. Elizabeth Hargrove might have firm confidence that Annabelle could trust God, but she realized she’d never had to trust Him like she was going to now. She wasn’t going to marry Adam Stone and she didn’t know what else she would do. She didn’t have enough money to go back to her cousin. None of the soldiers that had come by had really proposed to her and, given Adam’s words, it was not likely they would. She even understood. Life was hard here in the West and there was a lot of work to be done. No man needed a wife who couldn’t do all that was needed.

  She sat at the table until she grew chilled. Then she went back to bed and lay there. She wouldn’t say anything to anyone tomorrow. It was Christmas Day. But on the day after, she would need to make plans. Maybe there was a job she could do in Miles City.

  No tears came even though she kept expecting them. Maybe she was too weary to cry. The journey here had been long and she had traveled far. She was doing her best to trust God, but He wasn’t leading her where she needed to be.

  Forgive me my doubts, she prayed even as she felt them fill her.

  Chapter Eight

  Gabe had woken Adam and made sure his collar was straight before he sat him down in one of the chairs still by the fireplace.

  “So, what’s it going to be?” Gabe said, not bothering to cover the irritation and harshness in his voice. He hadn’t slept much last night and he didn’t expect to get any rest today.

  “About what?” Adam replied.

  “You know what! You promised your children a mother for Christmas so, if you’re going to do it, you better ask her today.”

  Gabe had a sour feeling in his stomach, but someone needed to do something for his brother’s family.

  “Do you think I need to ask? That’s why she came out here from the East Coast.”

  Gabe gave a bitter laugh. “After all you’ve put her through? Yes, I think you need to ask. And I’d do it nicely if I were you.”

  Adam took a deep breath and nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”

  Then he started walking toward the door that led to the other part of the building.

  “Now?” Gabe asked in sudden panic. “You’re going to ask her now?”

  Adam turned and shrugged. “Why not? I might want to go back to the fort later today. So I should get it over with.”

  Gabe swallowed back every protest that wanted to come out of his mouth. He gave a curt nod then and reached for his coat. “I’m going to go out and feed the horses, then.”

  With that, Gabe stomped over to the heavy door and went outside. The morning was cold and he welcomed the discomfort. If he had his choice, he’d be farther away from here today than just the lean-to, but the children were expecting Christmas morning and he wouldn’t disappoint them. At least the proposal should make his niece and nephew happy. And Annabelle, too. He told himself his brother would settle down and be a decent husband when he actually said his marriage vows again.

  He gave some oats to the horses first and then sat down to milk the cow. Being with the animals gave him some peace. Things had shifted last night between him and his brother. They had been closer than they had since Adam came home from back East almost ten years ago. Maybe all it had taken was a crisis to bring them together.

  He had the pail filled when Adam came into the lean-to and threw a saddle on his horse.

  “Aren’t you even staying for breakfast?” he asked.

  Adam laughed. “No. I’ve got too much to celebrate.”

  Then Adam got on his horse and rode away.

  Gabe shook his head. He doubted Annabelle would be too happy with receiving a proposal and then having her fiancé leave like this. No woman would like that.

  He picked up the pail full of milk and started back to the house. He’d have to congratulate her anyway.

  Gabe set the pail in the trading post and then walked over to knock on the door to the living quarters. Annabelle’s quiet voice told him to come in, and, when he opened the door, he saw her and the children sitting at the table. They all looked excited.

  “We’ve been waiting for you,” Annabelle said with a grin.

  “We have presents,” Eliza added, her eyes twinkling.

  Gabe had forgotten about the presents. Fortunately, he and Annabelle had gathered them all together yesterday afternoon before the party. He saw that she had the bag on the floor beside her.

  “I’m ready.” Gabe sat down and resolved to be as excited as the children.

  Annabelle passed out the presents, one by one.

  Daniel got the moccasins from Gabe first and rushed to put them on his feet. “They fit!”

  Eliza looked at her leather doll in wonder and touched the silk dress that the doll wore. “Pretty.”

  Each child got a handkerchief with their name embroidered on it from Annabelle, and Daniel traced the letters.

  “Now I’ll always have my name with me,” he said.

  Gabe shyly handed over the present he had for Annabelle. He’d finished the small leather bag that had the French hairpins inside.

  “Why, it’s beautiful,” she said as she examined the floral design he’d made in the leather. “I had no idea there were such small bags for sale in the mercantile.”

  “I made it,” he told her.

  She looked at him in shock. “You’re the one who makes those leather goods that were on display.”

  Her voice sounded distressed.

  “Yes, but it’s not a problem.”

  She shook her head and started to laugh. Then she held up a paper bag. “It is since this is the present I got for you.”

  She handed him the bag and he pulled out the knife sheath. He grinned then. “It always was one of my favorite designs.”

  “And I wanted to get you something to remember me by,” she said, still shaking her head.

  “I’ll never forget you.” He said the words before realizing they might not be appropriate since she was engaged to his brother—recently engaged after this morning. He squeezed out the next words. “Of course, I won’t forget you. Not when you’re married to my brother.”

  He supposed he should stand up and make pancakes. The children would be expecting that next. And, he didn’t want to sit at the table and let his sadness grow. There’d be time enough for grieving when he was alone.

  “I’m not marrying your brother,” Annabelle said softly.

  Gabe looked at her. “He was supposed to ask you again this morning. If he didn’t, know he will later today, I’m sure.”

  “He asked me,” Annabelle said then. “I said no.”

  “But—” Gabe started to protest and then stopped. “You’re sure?”

  She nodded her head emphatically and looked at Daniel and Eliza with fondness in
her eyes. “I thought about it last night and decided to offer to take care of the children as a nanny instead. Adam wrote me out a letter saying he was employing me to do just that. Surely no judge would take children away from a parent who has them in the care of a nanny.”

  “He can’t pay you,” Gabe felt obliged to point out.

  Annabelle nodded. “He explained that, but we don’t say how much I’m being paid in the letter. He dated it and signed it. It’s official.”

  “Well, how will you manage with no salary?”

  “I don’t know yet,” she said. “But I’m trusting God to provide.”

  Gabe started to grin wider and wider. Maybe God did know what He was doing.

  “You’re sure you’re not going to change your mind about my brother?” he asked.

  “I’m very sure,” she nodded.

  Gabe reached across the table and offered his hand to Annabelle. “Then, would you consider marrying me instead? I think I’ve loved you since I saw you step down from that train.”

  “It’s not the hat, is it?” she asked with a sudden frown.

  He laughed. “The hat is lovely, but no, it’s not the hat.”

  “And you love me?” she pressed again.

  “With all my heart.”

  “And you know about my injuries,” she said with a frown.

  He nodded.

  “You’re not asking me because of pity, are you?”

  “No,” he said with a smile.

  “I never thought I’d love a tall man like you,” she added, beaming. “So, yes, I’ll marry you.”

  The children let out a cheer and they all stood up.

  “I think I loved you when I first saw you, too,” she whispered as he took a step closer. “You see, I had this little flutter in my heart.”

  “Something like this?” he asked as he bent to kiss her.

  Gabe decided he had a little flutter in the vicinity of his heart, too. He had a feeling he had a lot to learn about love from this woman he was going to wed.

  Epilogue

  Christmas, 1886

  Snow had been falling all day and, now that the lanterns were lit and Daniel and Eliza were tucked into their beds, Annabelle was ready to sit down at the round table in the log house Gabe had built this past fall. She was determined to finish writing her Christmas letter to her friend Christina—the one she had been working on every evening this week. Last night she had told the other woman that she’d fallen in love with Gabe even more completely when he spent hours in this new house of theirs building cupboards that she could open easily with her injured arm. Tonight, she needed to tell about her other good news. She had Christina’s last letter open in front of her and smiled as her eyes fell on the words her friend used to describe her new husband, Elijah Gable.

  The door to the house opened and Annabelle looked up to see Gabe walking toward her.

  “You tell Christina they’re welcome to visit anytime they want,” he said.

  “I know she’ll want to visit when the baby’s born,” Annabelle said as she put her hand on her belly as a reminder. They had felt the baby kick for the first time this morning.

  Gabe walked over and stood behind her chair, his hands on her shoulders. “They could come for Christmas, too.”

  Annabelle grinned as she stood up and turned to fit herself into Gabe’s arms. “Who would have thought we would be the ones to host the Dry Creek Christmas party?”

  “It’s your apple and raisin cake,” Gabe said.

  “And the children,” she added.

  The soldiers had talked about their Christmas visit to the old trading post until winter had turned to spring. By the time summer was over, she’d received many little bags of nuts and dried apples from the youngest of the troops.

  “I warn you right now that Mrs. Baker is going to come,” Gabe said as he cradled her close to him.

  “Of course,” Annabelle said as she smiled. “She was the first one I invited.”

  Gabe chuckled as he buried his head in her hair. “I invited her, too.”

  “Well, it is Christmas,” Annabelle said, by way of excuse. “And she has started sitting in the pew beside us instead of in front of us.”

  They stood there together for a moment before Annabelle whispered, “I sent word to your brother, too.”

  Gabe nodded. “I expected as much.”

  “I still believe he’ll come around,” Annabelle said. “For the sake of the children.”

  “I hope he does.”

  They were silent then, content to be together in the warmth of their home.

  Then Gabe looked down at her. “Have I told you lately how glad I am you agreed to marry me?”

  “Yes, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” Annabelle said with a smile. She marveled that God knew which man was her own true love.

  With that thought in mind, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt of Handpicked Husband by Winnie Griggs!

  Dear Reader,

  I’m always grateful when you join me for one of my Christmas stories. I’ve written quite a few of them by now, so you may have read several of them. If you like this one, please go back and check out my other Christmas stories, starting with the first, An Angel for Dry Creek.

  One thing I often mention in my letter at the end of a Christmas book is that this is a time of year when people experience different feelings. For some, Christmas is a hard time either because of remembered tragedy or current difficulties. If that is your situation this year, please seek out a local fellowship group. We all need the care of others over the holidays.

  If you have a minute, drop me a line and let me know if you enjoyed this story. I love to hear from readers. Just go to my website at http://www.janettronstad.com and contact me there.

  And have a joy-filled Christmas season.

  Janet Tronstad

  Questions for Discussion

  It took a lot of courage to be a mail-order bride. Annabelle struggles with trusting God in the situation. What situations have you struggled to trust God in lately?

  Gabe and Adam had a falling-out as children that has followed them into adulthood. Have you had something like this that just seems to grow worse as the years pass by? What have you done about it, if anything? What would you like to do?

  Mrs. Baker was threatening to have the children taken away from Adam Stone. Do you think she was right or wrong? What would you have done in her place?

  Annabelle feels more confident when she wears her hat. What makes you feel more confident? Is it all right to feel confident because of things or should our confidence come from God alone?

  Annabelle can’t do the physical work expected of wives in the Western days. Have you ever been in a situation where you have physical limitations? How does that make you feel? Did it make you turn to God or away from Him?

  The soldiers are lonely at Christmas and come to the trading post for cake and conversation. Have you ever offered hospitality to others who were lonely over a holiday? How did that make you feel?

  Mail-Order Christmas Brides

  Jillian Hart

  Janet Tronstad

  Her Christmas Family

  Jillian Hart

  That their hearts may be encouraged,

  being knit together in love.

  —Colossians 2:2

  Chapter One

  Montana Territory, December 1884

  Tate Winters tipped the brim of his Stetson to cut the glare of the sun, watching as the westbound train squealed to a noisy stop along the depot’s platform. The great metal beast spewed steam, smoke and uniformed men who ran to set brakes, open doors and toss out luggage. He braced his shoulders, preparing for the worst.

  Who knew what sort of woman was going to step off that train? She could be homely, she could be desperate, she could be so bitter and sharp-tongued that no man who’d ever met her would have her. The way he saw it, he had to be ready for just about any t
ype of horror a woman could bring a man.

  “Pa, do you see her?” Gertie clutched his hand, her fingers so small and slight within his own. “Do you see my new ma?”

  “Hard to say, since I don’t know what she looks like.” He didn’t care how ugly the woman was. He’d promised to marry her and he would. His life might be in shambles and there wasn’t a thing of his heart left, but he hadn’t been able to say no to his daughter’s wish. Gertie, eight years old, wanted a mother. After everything she had lost, everything his mistakes had cost her, he could not deny her the one thing she wanted most. Regardless of how disagreeable, quarrelsome or shrewish Miss Felicity Sawyer was, as long as she would devote herself to his little girl, he would put a ring on her finger.

  “Ooh, look at the pretty lady.” Gertie breathed the words in awe and jabbed one finger. “Is that her?”

  Tate took in the cheerful woman in a bright yellow dress with a daisy—yes, a daisy—mounted on her bonnet. What kind of woman wore a hat like that in winter? Slender, graceful, lovely. No way would such a beauty need to resort to answering a marriage advertisement in the territorial newspaper. No way would that woman be desperate enough to marry a stranger.

  “She’s like a princess.” Gertie looked captivated, blue eyes wide, button face hopeful. “Like some of the stories in my books, Pa.”

  “She isn’t for us. Let’s find the woman who is.” He leaned heavily on his cane and took a careful step. The pain wasn’t as bad these days but it was still enough to make him grit down on his molars when he transferred weight onto his left leg. He ignored the glance of disdain a few townswomen threw his way as they bustled by. He’d gotten used to that pain, too.

  “But, Pa, the pretty lady is all alone.” Gertie went up on tiptoe straining to see through the milling crowd. “No one’s comin’ to greet her.”