by Danni Roan
Ruth
A Needful Bride
by Danni Roan
Ruth Warthan is tired of her sedentary life. She longs for adventure, excitement, and most of all love, but her overly protective parents are content for her to stay with them forever, shunning even a hint of romance. Will an advertisement for a mail-order bride in faraway Texas be the answer to her prayers, or will she find that her parents were right, and she isn’t suited for marriage or life outside their cloistered home?
Copyright © 2020 by Danni Roan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. FIRST EDITION https://authordanniroan.com
Contents
Chapter 1 7
Chapter 2 13
Chapter 3 20
Chapter 4 26
Chapter 5 32
Chapter 6 38
Chapter 7 44
Chapter 8 51
Chapter 9 55
Chapter 10 65
Chapter 11 73
Chapter 12 80
Chapter 13 85
Chapter 14 97
Chapter 15 108
Chapter 16 118
Chapter 17 121
Chapter 18 127
Chapter 19 133
Chapter 20 137
Chapter 21 144
Chapter 22 154
Chapter 23 160
Chapter 24 166
Chapter 25 176
Chapter 26 182
Chapter 27 190
Chapter 28 197
Chapter 29 204
Epilogue 208
Chapter 1
“My, it is getting warm,” Ruth Warthan said fanning herself with a colorful flip out fan. “I knew things in Texas were different, but I didn’t expect it to be so warm already,” she smiled, her green eyes sparkling with excitement as she addressed the older couple across from her. Mr. and Mrs. Farley had boarded the stagecoach at the same distant train station she had, and now they bumped and rocked over the dusty paths of Texas together.
“Do you think there will be many people at the stage stop?” the young woman continued, her dark green eyes bright behind round spectacles. “I’ve read everything I could find on Needful, but there really isn’t much to be found,” Ruth added with a shake of her head as she rambled on. She knew she was talking too much, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself as nerves and excitement gurgled in her belly. She was excited, nervous, worried, thrilled, and several other emotions she couldn’t name all rolled into one.
“I understand it is a rather small town,” Mr. Farley said kindly, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Who did you say you were going to visit?” Ruth asked, “A young woman who came to Needful this spring as a bride? I hope I get to meet her. She must be very special if you are willing to come all this way to see her.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Farley said, her eyes shining. “Beth went to Needful to be a mail-order bride, and though she wrote telling us everything is well we wanted to see for ourselves.”
“It’s rather an adventure,” Mr. Farely grinned with delight.
Ruth giggled, her bright smile flashing once more. “I’m glad you told me about your friend,” she laughed. “I’m also a mail-order bride, and I can’t wait to meet my intended. It’s a comfort to know that your friend has done well.”
“Do you know him already?” Mrs. Farley asked. “Beth didn’t have the name of a suitor when she arrived in town, though what she has written about him sounds like a good match,” she paused for a second her dark eyes darting to her husband, “Well, we wanted to see her.”
“I don’t know whom I will be matched with,” Ruth admitted. “I think they do things differently in Needful. There are so many men looking for a wife you can practically have your pick,” she giggled.
Ruth turned looking out the window as the horses began to slow, she could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and couldn’t wait to step off the stage and start her new life. At twenty-one she felt as old as Methuselah’s mother and bit her lip trying to quell some of the excitement she felt. She hadn’t come all this way to ruin it all now.
For the first time in her existence, Ruth was on her own. She was away from her mother and father, out of their staid, drab, boring old house, and doing what she wanted. Her heart soared with the thrill of her new adventure.
She had never had so much as a suitor in all her twenty-one years, and though she loved her family, she was determined to find the same joy and happiness her brothers had found when they left home to enter wedded bliss.
“Oh, isn’t it amazing!” she gushed looking at the buildings that rushed into sight as the horses slowed to a walk. “It’s so rustic!”
Mrs. Farley looked at her husband smoothing her perfectly coiffed hair and raising one brow. “It does appear quaint,” the older woman said eyeing the false-fronted stores and heavy log structure of the boarding house they had pulled up to in a rattle of harness, and a cloud of dust.
Mr. Farley reached for the door handle, but before he could unlatch it, Ruth’s hand descended flinging the door wide as she bent low and hurried to climb from the stagecoach.
“I’m here!” the young woman said throwing her arms in the air and spinning on the spot making her plum colored skirts swirl around her, her brown hair sparkling in the sun, offsetting her pleasantly rounded figure.
Mrs. Farley looked at her husband not sure if she was delighted by the young woman’s exuberance or dismayed.
Ruth gazed around her taking in the town in a glance. The dusty street was what she would have expected of a western town. Nothing at all like the bustling city where her parents kept a brownstone for their shopping visits. No, she was in the wilds now, and excitement zinged through her at the possibilities ahead.
A group of loud cowboys galloped down the street, whooping loudly, but slowed to a quiet walk as a handsome man with a shiny tin badge stepped out of the jail, giving them a hard look.
Ruth looked up for a moment, squinting into the afternoon sun as the driver and shotgun rider of the stage swung down and began unloading bags, boxes, and trunks then she turned back to the building before her and hurried to the door as the Farley’s disembarked. The Hampton house was her final destination, and the next step on the adventure that would lead to true love.
“Hello,” Ruth called stepping into the darker interior of the boarding house and eatery with a smile. The letter she had received indicated that she was to meet with Miss Olive, or Peri then determine who her groom would be. Her secret correspondence had explained the process, but she was impatient and wanted to move things forward right away.
Pausing in the doorway, Ruth grinned as several men turned to look at her, their weathered faces and bright eyes zeroing in on her attentively, even as they stood to their feet in a scrape of chairs.
“I’ll be right there,” a disembodied voice called from a room at the end of the dining area, but Ruth didn’t wait hurrying to a nearby table.
“Can I have this one!” Ruth cried hurrying across the room to where a dark cowboy stood over a plate of steaming food, his gray eyes almost hidden by a hank of unruly black hair that fell over his forehead. “I want you,” she said again leaning in and studying the face under a short cropped beard. “Are you available?”
Chapter 2
“Ma’am,” Darwin Rivers said blinking at the pert woman staring up into his face. She wasn’t a very big thing, but she had a bit of meat on her bones and looked cheerful and healthy.
“I’m Ruth,” the young woman said tipping her head and maki
ng her spectacles flash. “I’m here as a mail-order bride, and if you’re looking, I’ll take you.”
“What’s going on here?” an older woman said bustling out of what must have been the kitchen and drying her hands on a towel. “Who are you?”
“I’m Ruth,” the young woman smiled. “I’m here to be a mail-order bride, and I want this one,” she finished pointing at a befuddled Darwin.
“You don’t even know him?” the older woman said. “Darwin sit down and finish your lunch,” the older woman ordered, nodding with approval as the man flopped back into his chair.
“Isn’t he a potential groom,” Ruth asked looking between the older woman and the cowboy. “I thought Mrs. Hampton said there were more men than you could throw a stick at looking for a bride.”
“I’m Mrs. Hampton,” Olive said shaking her head. “I take it you’re Ruth Warthan our next potential bride.” Olive raised a brow at the enthusiastic younger woman.
“Yes,” Ruth nodded a bright smile on her face. “I just arrived on the stage, and I’m ready to get married.”
Olive’s brows rose and she stared at the spritely young woman standing by the table. “I don’t see that there’s any great hurry,” Olive said smiling. “Most girls want a bit of time to settle in town and get to know a fella’,” she added.
Ruth studied Olive Hampton taking in her sensible dress, gray hair, and dark eyes. She seemed like a nice person, but Ruth was determined not to wait. It had taken her nearly a week to arrive in Needful, and she knew that a Pinkerton Agent, private detective, or police officer couldn’t be far behind. There was no way her parents would trust her to manage on her own, and the sooner she married the less likely they would be able to drag her back home again.
“I thought mail-order brides married as soon as they arrived,” she chided. “I like the looks of this fellow, and if he’s amicable, I’ll have him,” she smiled, nearly poking Darwin in the face with her index finger.
Darwin stood to his feet looking at Olive as hope sparked in his gray eyes. “I don’t know what amic-able,” means the hostler spoke, “but I’d like to be married as soon as possible. It get’s lonely over there with only horses to talk to,” he finished.
“Darwin, sit down,” Olive scowled. “I’ll get this sorted out.”
The lean man with the shaggy black hair dropped back into his seat once more, but didn’t take his eyes off the woman talking to Olive. He had put an order in with Olive and Peri months ago and still didn’t have a wife. He was lonely, tired of being on his own, and now that he didn’t frequent the saloon in town anymore, sober.
“Now dear why don’t you come upstairs, and I’ll get you a room. Tomorrow, if you’re still set on getting married, I can introduce you to some of the men here in town.”
“But Olive,” Darwin said springing to his feet once more. “What if she likes someone better than me?”
“Darwin you’ll just have to wait your turn,” Olive insisted.
“You want to get married Mr.?” Ruth asked, looking over her glasses at him, squinting her hazel-green eyes.
“I do,” Darwin said turning and addressing Ruth for the first time.
“Well then I say we get married. Is there a preacher in town?”
“Yes, he just got hitched himself.”
“I don’t see any reason to wait,” Ruth grinned nodding as he hurried toward the door. “You go fetch the preacher, and I’ll talk it over with Miss Olive.”
***
Olive Hampton took Ruth’s hand leading her back toward the family living quarters in a rush. She was determined to deal with this enthusiastic new bride and do right by her.
“Now you tell me right now if you’re in some sort of trouble?” Olive asked pushing the younger woman toward a chair in the sitting room. “If you are, we’ll sort it out, but you need to be honest.”
“Trouble?” Ruth asked with a shake of her head, wondering what the woman was on about. “I’m not in any trouble. I came here to get married, and that’s what I intend to do.” Ruth lifted her chin and met the older woman’s dark eyes boldly.
“You sure you aren’t in a family way or anything like that?” Olive said squinting narrowly at Ruth as she set a kettle on the stove.
Ruth gaped, eyes wide. “No ma’am!” she spat offended to her toes. “I’m a good God fearing woman. I’ve never even had a beau.”
Olive studied the young woman a moment longer, taking in her nice dress, dark hair and bright eyes. She seemed well enough off, unlike some of the brides that had arrived in Needful, Texas, and by the look of shock on her face, Olive couldn’t help but believe her emphatic statement.
“Then why such a hurry?” the gray-haired matron asked, pulling down the tea pot and scooping loose leaves into its depths.
“I came here to marry and I intend to do so before anyone can change their mind,” Ruth said looking around the room. “From your letters it seems there are a good number of men looking for a wife, and as an upstanding member of the community, I suspect you wouldn’t saddle a woman with a no good drunkard, gambler, or thief. I’m not exactly the most homely prospect in the world,” she continued dropping her eyes, “but no one has taken any interest in me in the past, and I’m done wasting time.”
Olive chucked despite herself, noting the twinkle in Ruth’s eye. “Well you are determined aren’t you?” she grinned. “But you know the old adage, ‘marry in haste, and repent at leisure’.”
Ruth giggled a warm bubbly sound that filled the small kitchen in the family quarters, and Olive couldn’t help but smile once more. The girl seemed full of such joy and adventure. Darwin was a good enough fellow, and if Ruth’s mind was made up who was she to stand in her way?
“I’m not worried about that,” Ruth spoke taking the tea Olive offered her. “I’m sure that two grown people can figure out how to live together if they set their minds to it. Besides, Mr. Rivers is rather cute.” Her dark green eyes sparkled with delight as she sipped delicately from a chipped mug.
Olive shook her head wondering if there was any way she could talk the young woman into waiting. “You don’t have to rush though,” she offered. “You could wait awhile, court and the like.”
“No, my mind is made up,” Ruth grinned pushing her glasses up her nose. “I knew the minute I laid eyes on the man he was just what I wanted.” She didn’t mention that the sooner she was married the less likely her parents would be to drag her home again. She had set out to make a new life for herself, and she would do just that. All that was required now was to convince Mr. Rivers that he loved her. How hard could it be?
Chapter 3
Darwin shuffled down the street in a daze. A woman wanted him. Maybe she wasn’t a slim blonde like that girl Beth that the preacher had married, but she was nice lookin’ and not nearly as scrawny as some he’d seen.
Was he a fool for hurrying to fetch the preacher? He didn’t even know this girl, she could be horrible. Of course, he’d made his own fair share of mistakes recently, and a wife would be sure to help him stick to the straight and narrow as long as she wasn’t some sort of charlatan. Of course if Peri and Olive had accepted her she must be alright.
Picking up his step, he pushed a hank of black hair from his eyes and hurried toward the church. Preacher Brandon wouldn’t be the only newlywed in Needful by the end of this day, he smiled.
Besides, if the girl was willing to marry straight away, no one would tell her what a fool he had made of himself recently. No, this was more than he could ever have hoped for. A willing wife, a new start, and an unsullied reputation, Darwin Rivers was a new man.
He had a good job at the livery stable, a little house on the back part of the big lot, and soon a new wife. He grinned, his gray eyes shining. He wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth, and if that pretty little filly back at the Hampton House was willing to marry him, he wouldn’t baulk. After all the other men in town who had married recently were much happier than they had been before.
/> Men like Spencer Gaines, the sheriff, or Anderson Bowlings that fancy English fella with the second biggest ranch in the area. Darwin grinned again thinking of others. Why Bear Cassidy was a new person since he’d met his sweet Periwinkle.
What could possibly go wrong in marrying a stranger? Folks did it all the time, and maybe his new bride was one of those left alone and penniless after the unpleasantness between the North and South. So many men, women, and children had been set adrift at the end of that war. He didn’t even care if she was a Yank or a Reb, she would be his wife. He would care for her, provide for her and in time he would grow to love her.
“Preacher,” Darwin called as he skipped a pace into the quiet sanctuary of the first church of Needful. “Preacher where are you?”
Brandon Tippert stepped through a door at the back of the church in his shirt sleeves and gray trousers. His unruly brown curls were mussed and he looked like he had been running his fingers through it by the way it stuck up in all directions.
“What’s wrong Darwin?” the tall thin man asked hurrying toward him. “Am I needed?”
“You’re needed all right.” Darwin nodded “You’re needed for a wedding.” he said, a bright grin spreading across his handsome face.
“A wedding?” Brandon asked. “I hadn’t heard anyone was to be wed.” The preacher looked bemused as he rolled down his sleeves studying the man before him. “Who's getting hitched?”
Darwin poked out his chest and lifted his chin. “I’m gettin’ married preacher,” he grinned, hooking his thumbs in his belt. “My very own mail-order bride just turned up.”
