MAIL ORDER BRIDE: Brides of Sawyerville - Box Set, Volume 1: Journeys to Sawyerville - Clean and Wholesome Western Romance (Sawyerville Brides Series)

by Debra Samms

  "Long process," remarked William.

  "And a very profitable one," answered Mr. Mitchell.

  At the far end of the path, right along the river, there were pole corrals built down to the water to hold the many horses, mules, and oxen that were used for hauling the logs out of the forest and down to the river. Lean-to sheds within the corrals provided a little shelter for the animals, and other sheds nearby were used for storing hay and grain.

  The last thing Molly saw, as she and the others prepared to turn back up the hill, were the logs floating in the river as they slowly drifted along to the west on their way downstream. But to her surprise, even though this was supposed to be the men's day off, she saw three of them having a log-rolling contest out in the river while another big crowd looked on from the shore. There was the same amount of shouting and gambling and drinking as there had been for the fistfight farther up the side of the hill.

  "Don't they want to rest on their day off?" asked Molly.

  "Apparently not," said William. "Loggers are some of the toughest men around. You can see that from just one turn through the camp."

  "And I don't think I want another one," said Molly, as their horses started back up the hill.

  William nodded. "Good. You belong up at our house, on that street – and never below that street. Do you understand?"

  "The other women already explained all that to me." She glanced at her husband as the horses walked along. "Before I came to Fort Lapwai, you told me that you expected me to defer to you in all matters of safety and I agreed. This time, I assure you – there will be no need for you to worry. I have no wish to ever be inside that camp again."

  He smiled at her. "Good. There will be plenty for you to do up there. Even though the school building has not yet been started, there are still four children up in the houses. Beginning their schoolwork as soon as possible would be a great start, even if it was just in one of the homes. I'm sure I can count on you to do that, Molly."

  She felt quite relieved, and even happy. "Of course. I'd love to teach school again, even if it's just inside our own parlor or on the front step. I'll start just as soon as I can." But the truth was, she would have been happy to take on anything that would keep her away from that lumber camp down on the side of the hill.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Two days later, just as Molly and William were finishing breakfast in their new home, there was a knock at their door. William pulled it open, and just past him Molly could see several people standing on the front porch of the house. There was Mr. Mitchell, the camp boss, along with Peter and Ezekiel. Molly knew them as the two who had driven her and William's wagon out here from Fort Lapwai and had stayed on to work as loggers in the camp.

  There was even a man standing there who appeared to be a minister. Molly had heard that there was a traveling minister who came through from time to time, though she wondered what sort of reception he would get down in Sawyerville.

  "Good morning," said Mr. Mitchell. "We'd like to call on the new sheriff and his wife."

  "Of course," Molly said, rising and going to the door. "Please. Come in. I'll make some more coffee."

  "No need," said Mr. Mitchell, holding up one hand. "There are four of us. We'll sit on the porch. This is actually a business call, not a social call."

  "I see," said William, as he walked out to join them. "In that case, please – have a seat right out here."

  They all sat down on the rough benches on the porch, and introductions were made all the way around. But before there was a chance for any more small talk, the minister spoke up. "We are here," said Reverend Graves, "to ask about arranging to have more women move out here to Sawyerville."

  "Marriageable women," added Mr. Frost, the owner of the mercantile.

  "For – the loggers?" gasped Molly, before she could stop herself. "You want to advertise for brides for them?"

  All of the men turned to look at her. "Yes, Mrs. Strong," said Reverend Graves. "You have seen how violent and chaotic the camp can be. We believe that the best way to bring order and civility to any settlement is to bring in wives."

  "We're allowed to speak for the loggers," said Peter Martin.

  "And they agree that they'll consider writing to women back east in order to marry," said Ezekiel Hanover.

  William and Molly looked at each other, and Molly realized that these men were serious – though William spoke before she could. "When I was an officer on a U.S. Army outpost," he said, "I thought that was a rough place, with almost two hundred bachelor men. But even they were nowhere near as wild and lawless as this. Those men were soldiers and bound to follow some discipline, and they did. A few of them did have wives and most of the others did want to marry. But these men – these loggers – "

  "Yes," said Reverend Graves. "These are the wildest and most uncouth of mountain men. They favor consumption of alcohol to while away their free time."

  Mr. Mitchell nodded in agreement. "There is constant drunkenness, swearing, fights, brawls, and wreckage. It's bad for business. Something has to be done."

  "No woman would set foot in that camp," said Molly. "I would not. I'm sure your own wives would not, either."

  "Mrs. Strong," said Mr. Frost, the owner of the mercantile, "we understand that you yourself were matched with your husband by the process of arrangement. It was done through a publication called the Matrimonial Times."

  "Yes. That is true," said Molly. "And you are thinking of having the men here do the same? Place notices in that newspaper, and hope to find women to write to? Or women who will write to them first?"

  "Exactly so," said the reverend. "And we would like you to help with writing those letters."

  But Molly just looked at them all. "I'm ready to agree with you that having wives might go a long way towards civilizing these men. But there isn't time for letters."

  "What do you mean?" asked Mr. Mitchell. "I am told that that's how you and Sheriff Strong were introduced and agreed to marry – that many couples meet in just that way. Why couldn't the same be done out here in Sawyerville?"

  "Because," she said, "it is now mid-August. It will take at least eight weeks, and quite possibly much longer, for letters to reach the east at all. Then you must wait for the Matrimonial Times to print the letters as notices, and for women to see them, and send their own letters, and for the men to respond in kind – "

  Molly shook her head. "Do you really think these men have the patience to wait for months – perhaps even years – to do all of that, in hopes of getting a response or two?"

  She turned and looked at the two men who'd driven their wagon from Fort Lapwai to Sawyerville –Peter Martin and Ezekiel Hanover. "What's needed," Molly said, studying the two of them, "is someone who's willing to make the journey back east and find suitable women who want husbands – as many as possible – and bring them back here as a group."

  "I agree," said William. "Bring women here and let them live in the town, and meet the men as they normally would."

  "But – where would they live? What would they do?" asked Mr. Mitchell.

  Molly shrugged. "This place has plenty of lumber. And plenty of men with idle time. A boarding house could be built where the women could live. They could work there, or anywhere else in the town where they are needed."

  "There would be time to complete it before the first women returned," said William. "I think it's a fine idea."

  They all turned and glanced at the reverend. "I think that would be acceptable," he said. "If a separate place was built for these women, then proper social events could be held to allow them to meet the men in a refined fashion. Just as it's done back east."

  Molly's spirits began to rise. "I don't see why it couldn't work! All we need now," she said, turning to look at Peter and Ezekiel again, "is someone to make the journey east and find women willing to come to Sawyerville as brides – and bring them back."

  Peter and Ezekiel looked at each other. "I'll go," said Peter."

  "So will
I," said Ezekiel. "We found out very quickly that we're not cut out to be loggers. But as marriage brokers – traveling men – I think we would be quite suitable."

  "Then it's settled," said Mr. Mitchell. "You two will go as soon as you can get ready. Mrs. Strong is right. It's not that long until the winter storms will begin."

  "What sort of terms can we offer the women?" asked Ezekiel.

  "Terms?" said Mr. Mitchell, with a laugh. "I think you mean 'bribes.' But yes, we'll have to offer them something. Tell them they'll have their travel expenses paid in return for marrying one of the men out here."

  "Within a year," added Molly. "Otherwise, she can work off the debt."

  "Agreed." Mr. Mitchell shrugged, and looked at Molly. "I suppose it's something of a risk for these women to come out with no match made before leaving – the way it's usually done – but the odds are certainly good."

  "Indeed they are," said William. "And in the meantime, perhaps some prospective brides could be found in San Francisco or Portland."

  "Possibly," said Reverend Graves. "As soon as the boarding house is completed, that might be done."

  "Of course," said Molly. "As soon as it's ready."

  She looked at her own husband, and at the four other men sitting on her front porch. "I agree with you. I think it's high time we brought brides to Sawyerville, just as soon as they can be found and as soon as we can be ready for them!"

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Winter was coming, as had been noted, and so it was barely two weeks later that Peter Martin and Ezekiel Hanover – along with a few other loggers who'd had enough of the hard life in the camps and had decided to head east – left Sawyerville with the same wagon they'd brought in with Molly and William Strong just over a fortnight earlier.

  They'd brought along a couple more men whose job it would be to return the wagon to Sawyerville, since the first leg of the journey took them west to the mouth of the Umpqua River at the Pacific Ocean. There they would pick up one of the steamships making a mail run and take that down to San Francisco; and from there, take the railroad all the way across the country.

  It was still a very long and difficult journey and took nearly eight weeks, even though Peter and Ezekiel were afforded the great convenience of not having to travel by wagon for any other part of the trip. And finally, in the midst of a snowstorm on November 1, 1877, the two men arrived at Manchester, New Hampshire.

  They stepped off of the train and pulled their coats close around them, and picked up their bags. Though it was barely at the time of day for sunset, the sky was already dark with clouds and snow – and with smoke from the many mills and factories.

  "I'll be glad to get to our hotel," said Ezekiel.

  "Well, we're not going just yet. We've got a stop to make first."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Right now," said Peter, "before we even go to the hotel, we're going to that place right there – to the Merrimack Mill."

  "What do you mean? Why would we go after dark? Why not go when it's operating and all the women will be there?"

  "We're going to drop off a stack of our notices at their boarding house beside the factory, where the mill girls live. But we've got to get away before anyone sees us."

  "Why?" asked Ezekiel. "What does it matter if we're seen?"

  "Because the mill doesn't want us stealing away their girls to go west and get married," Peter said. "But I'm betting that's exactly what the women want. They live in this dark place working ten to twelve hours a day. Maybe life in the fresh air and daylight of Oregon would sound better."

  Ezekiel looked doubtful. "If you say so. Maybe if you leave out the part about the kind of men they'll have to marry, we'll get all the brides we need."

  ***

  Manchester, New Hampshire

  November 2, 1877

  The next night, in the meeting hall of a local church, Peter and Ezekiel stood and watched as first the seats filled up and then the aisleways filled up – and there were still more women trying to get inside.

  "There must be a hundred and fifty mill girls in here!" whispered Ezekiel. "If even half of them agree to go, what a wonderful start that would be!"

  "I'd settle for a third of them," said Peter. "Fifty brides would make everyone back in Sawyerville very happy. And then those brides would write home to their friends, and more would come out. We'll have those men married off before we know it!"

  "Better get out there and talk to them, then," said Ezekiel. "The place is full up already."

  Peter stepped out onto the small platform at the front of the hall, and took a deep breath. He was certain he'd never seen so many women at one time in his life – certainly not when they were all sitting still and listening silently to him with their full attention.

  "Good evening, ladies," Peter said. "We are here to recruit brides to go out to Oregon, to meet and marry the loggers working out there. If you agree to go tonight, we will pay all expenses for you to travel out there either by railroad or by steamship. If you marry within one year, the debt is cleared. If you do not, you may either pay it back in cash or work it off in the town."

  Not one of the women moved.

  Peter cleared his throat. "Now, I don't want to give you any false ideas," he continued. "Life is hard out in the Oregon logging country. In the town of Sawyerville, there are no paved streets or railroad stations or fancy stores for shopping. There is almost nothing in the way of a church or a hospital. There's not even a schoolhouse – not yet. But we hope to have all those things soon. And one thing the west does have is an endless supply of fresh air and clean water, as well as sunlight and tall trees and wildflowers and green grass."

  "Never mind all that," called out one of the mill girls. "Tell us about the men!"

  "The men," Peter said. He glanced sideways at Ezekiel, who nodded enthusiastically. "Okay. The men."

  Peter took a deep breath. "I don't want to give you false ideas about these men, either. These are not Eastern gentlemen in long coats and top hats. These are the roughest sort of mountain men anywhere, doing the hardest and most dangerous work you can imagine. And doing it all day long."

  The women all glanced at one another. Peter could see small smiles on their faces. "Names!" another of them called. "What are their names? Tell us about them!"

  "All right," Peter answered. "I can mention three of them, just as a for-instance.

  "One of them is Red Lyon. Yes, that is his real name. And he's a nice friendly sort. He's believed to have killed a man – or possibly two, or maybe three – but there's no proof to be had, so he's not in prison. Instead, he's a faller, swinging an ax out in Sawyerville in the state of Oregon."

  He paused, watching his audience. A few glanced at each other, but on the whole continued listening.

  "Another goes by the name of George the Giant Ox," Peter went on. "His real name is George Conyers, but no one ever calls him that. He's in the habit of disappearing sometimes. He just goes off into the mountains alone for hours or even days. Nobody knows where, though he always comes back eventually. They're not sure if he just likes to be alone, or what it is. And he's never been heard to say an actual word. He just grunts and gestures. But he's one of the strongest men in the camp – there's no better choker setter than George – and so he stays.

  "And I can tell you about Bradley Fisher, known as Beast Bradley. He's a river rat, which means he can drink more than any man alive and still stand upright while walking on logs to drive them down the river with a pole. He's been known to stay up for a week and then sleep for a week, apparently with no ill effects. Believes it's not a good day if he hasn't driven a hundred logs or fought five men. Or both."

  Peter fell silent again. The girls all sat very still. Then, all at once, about a third of them got up and walked out of the hall.

  He and Ezekiel looked at each other, and quickly Ezekiel came forward to stand beside his friend. "We have a table set up right here," he called out, pointing to the front corner of the room,
"and we will be taking the names of all those who wish to go to Sawyerville with the intent of meeting and marrying a man who lives there."

  "That's right," Peter added quickly. "You can go entirely by steamship, which will take about four months, or you can go by railroad to San Francisco and then by steamship to Sawyerville. That takes about two months. But in any case, the goal is to arrive by the first of May."

  "The men of Sawyerville, right now, are building a boarding house for you. It will be for single women only," said Ezekiel.

  "And they're going to build a church. And a school. And do all they can to build up the town and make it a suitable place for wives and families." Peter grinned at them, and then he and Ezekiel sat down at the table with paper and pen and ink. "Line up right here, ladies! The men of Sawyerville are waiting to make you their brides."

  ***

  For the next two hours, Ezekiel and Peter sat at their table and signed up at least one hundred women. They took down names, and ages, and basic descriptions, and what skills each woman had. Nearly all were mill girls, of course, and so they were quite good at tending to factory machines, but most had other abilities as well – cooking, sewing, knitting, teaching, or nursing, and almost all could read and write.

  And Peter was elated to find that these women were certainly attractive enough. They appeared to be young and strong, with fair skin and bright eyes and slim but curving figures. He could only imagine how very pleased the men of Sawyerville would be to see these pretty young women arrive in their town!

  At last they were nearly done with the signing up. The meeting hall was almost empty. And then Peter looked up to see five more women standing in front of their table.

  At first, all he could do was stare at them. He realized that Ezekiel was doing the same. These five women were not like the rest. They were, frankly, the plainest, homeliest, and downright ugliest females he'd ever seen.