Mail Order Vows (Sweet Mail Order Bride Historical Romance Novel) Read online

  The two friends hugged each other. Cassie stepped back, not wanting to dirty Julia's elegant dress. It was quite a contrast. Cassie, sweat covered, flushed, out of breath. Julia, the composed, dark haired, pretty and elegant mother and wife. Julia had fine delicate features, a full figure, and a warm, welcoming smile that always made Cassie feel good. Julia was only a few years older than Cassie and sometimes felt like the older sister Cassie had never had.

  Julia inspected Cassie with a critical eye.

  "What are you doing to yourself, Cassie?" she asked concernedly.

  "I'm working the land, Julia. That's what I'm doing," Cassie replied defensively.

  Julia furrowed her brow. "You are going to wear yourself out. You look exhausted. And are you eating properly? You are getting to be skin and bone, young lady."

  Cassie straightened her dress and stood tall, feigning self control.

  "I've always been slender and delicate," she stated.

  "Slender my foot. You need a few good meals in you and bit less of the pretendin' to be a farm hand."

  Cassie scowled. "I'm not pretending anything Julia. You know I have to get this land to produce,"

  "Otherwise what," Julia challenged.

  "I don't know if I'll be able to stay here if I don't," Cassie said.

  Julia took Cassie by the elbow and walked toward the porch. Stopping outside the front door, she looked Cassie straight in the eye.

  "Fiddlesticks, Cassie. You know you're not going anywhere," Julia stated with a tone of finality.

  They walked into the cabin and headed for the kitchen.

  "Well. I'm certainly not taking up residence above the mercantile, if that's what you mean," Cassie told her friend.

  Julia drew some water and put on a pot of coffee. Cassie cleaned herself up and prepared herself for even more pressure from Julia. She knew that Julia always had her best interests at heart. There was not a bad bone in Julia's body. She only wanted the best for Cassie. Of that Cassie was certain.

  The subject of marriage came up, like it had on many of Julia's previous visits.

  Julia and Cassie sat down at the kitchen table each with a mug of coffee in their hand. "Joseph at the mercantile is not the only option, Cassie. And you know it,"

  "What do you mean?" Cassie asked.

  Julia placed her cup down. "I came here today to invite you to town. The ladies club is holding a special lunch to which you are invited. Everyone is so concerned about you. You are the only topic of discussion."

  "Is that a good thing?" Cassie asked.

  "Of course it is. We know your predicament. Everyone wants to do the best they can to help you."

  "I don't need anyone's help. I can look after myself."

  Julia nodded. "Of course you can. I know that. I've seen how you have coped after Joshua's passing. Believe me. No-one knows how tough you are more than I do. I've seen it first hand. I feel your sorrow." There was a small tear in Julia's eye.

  Cassie reached across and took her friend's gloved hand in her own.

  "You have been so good to me Julia. I don't know how to thank you. You've done so much to support me. But there are some things I have to do for myself. Some decisions only I can make."

  Julia fixed her gaze on Cassie. "When an entire community is worried for your welfare, you don't turn your back on that, Cassie. No-one wants to see you go back East. It's hard enough to get any woman to come out here, let alone someone with your fine qualities."

  "Not everyone thinks so well of me Julia, and you know it. Some of them would just love to see me at the train depot with my bags, waiting for the train back to New York."

  Julia shook her head. "There are one or two curmudgeons. There always are in any town."

  "A widowed woman living alone in a backwoods cabin is going to be an object of suspicion. That's just the way some women think."

  Julia fixed Cassie with a stern look. "Well, you just have to make sure you are not an unmarried woman for much longer."

  Cassie sighed. "How many times have I told you? I'm not going to marry the owner of a mercantile. I need to keep what Joshua and I made here. It means too much to me."

  "We're not talking about Joseph."

  "Who is we?" Cassie asked.

  Julia straightened and looked Cassie full in the eye.

  "The ladies of Sweetheart Falls have decided that this town needs some more brides. There are too many men who need the firm and loving touch of a gentle but strong woman." Julia laughed a little. "They intend to set up a society of their own whose sole purpose is to get as many woman and men married in this town as is humanly possible."

  Cassie frowned. "Do you mean like a matrimonial agency?"

  Julia nodded. "Kind of. They are going to bring in mail order brides to this town. There will be so many perfectly beautiful young women coming here that the men of Sweetheart Falls will not know what has happened to them."

  Cassie took a sip of her coffee. "What has that to do with me?"

  Julia rolled her eyes. "Cassie. You are to be their first client."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The Sweetheart Falls Matrimonial Society's first job is to find you a mail order husband," Julia said and sat back with a wide grin on her face.

  Cassie felt the blood drain from her face.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Julia made sure that Cassie got dressed for the trip into town despite her obvious reluctance. She inspected Cassie before they set out. Satisfied with what she saw, they got into the buckboard, Julia took the reins, and they headed towards town.

  Cassie was stunned by what Julia had told her. Surely the women of Sweetheart Falls couldn't possibly take such a strong interest in an outsider like Cassie. She had been here barely a year, although her brief life with Joshua had been so intense that it felt like it had been years and not months.

  Joshua had been a local man and he had been held in high regard by the residents of the town. His death had affected many of the residents. But then again, death out in the West was so much more commonplace than back East. People here accepted that life was dangerous and fragile; it made them appreciate people. Perhaps that was why they valued Cassie so much. It was their sympathy for Joshua as well as for her.

  Julia was a fast driver and handled the buckboard with assurance as it rolled along the trail toward town.

  Cassie held on to the side of the seat as it bucked from side to side. "You can't be serious about this idea," she demanded. "The ladies are going to find me a mail order husband?"

  "They already have some candidates lined up," Julia told her.

  "What! They never even asked me if I wanted that," Cassie blurted out, indignant.

  "I've been assured by Hettie that these men are just perfect for you. All you need to do is choose the one you like the most. It's simple," Julia said with a shrug of her shoulders, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You've done it once before."

  Cassie shook her head. "That was different. Joshua wasn't like any other man."

  "I know that. And no-one will ever replace him in your heart. But you have to move on, even while you keep his memory sacred. I know you will always love him. But he would want you to continue Cassie. Really, he would."

  Cassie paused. "I know. You're right," she said, knowing that Julia, as always, understood her better than she could imagine.

  "So who exactly are the ladies in the Sweetheart Falls Matrimonial Society?" Cassie asked, trying to contain the mocking tone in her voice.

  "There are three of them. You have Hettie, of course. Although she is the town busybody, and general know it all, her heart is in the right place. I've known her since we came here and she has done so much to make this little town what it is today."

  Cassie knew that for sure. When she and Joshua had set up home, Hettie had been one of the first to come out to nosy around and check that what was going on at Miller farm was respectable. Although she was in her fifties Hettie had the energy of a twenty year old. She was
constantly organizing and planning socials and town events, digging her nose into people's lives. She wasn't universally liked, especially when she would harangue drunk men in the street imploring them to turn away from their wicked ways.

  "Then there is Mabel. She is Hettie's sidekick. You know her husband, Charles; the banker. Mabel does everything Hettie doesn't want to do. You know. The boring stuff."

  Cassie had had some dealings with the bank since Joshua's passing and she recalled meeting Mabel. Her impression of her was of someone who might be described as...well...mousy, even a bit timid. But she had heard that Mabel could organize a party down to the finest detail even if there was a hurricane blowing.

  "Finally, there is Alice. She's the one with connections back East. Her family is involved in newspapers. She knows the best places to find the right kind of girl for the men here."

  Back East. Even just that phrase made Cassie's stomach sink. Cassie didn't even want to meet Alice. The less awkward discussions she had about life back there, the happier she would be.

  "So that's it," Julia concluded.

  "And those ladies hold my fate in their hands," Cassie murmured.

  Julia looked questioningly at Cassie. "They only want the best for you. I think it's kind of nice that people care. Don't you?"

  Cassie nodded. "I guess so. It just feels so sudden. So fast."

  "The seasons aren't going to wait for you Cassie. The ladies don't want to see you leave. They like you." Julia saw Cassie's frown. "They have ambitions to make Sweetheart Falls a good place. A better place. And they want you to be part of it."

  The buckboard rolled into town and they made their way up the dusty main street. The town was busy with locals going about their business. Sweetheart Falls was a new town that had sprung up when the railroad had pushed it's way through the territory. There was the usual overcrowded saloons, a variety of stores, a church, a blacksmith's, a livery, an eating house, a basic hotel and even a bank. Everything that was needed for a thriving and growing community.

  People in Sweetheart Falls were optimistic about the future. That was one thing that Cassie loved about the residents of this town. Their unapologetic hope for a better life. Back East it was all cynicism and selfishness. Dog eat dog. Sure there were problems out West. There was more than the fair share of trouble makers in Sweetheart Falls. Despite the name, all was not sweetness and light. But Cassie still loved it.

  On the way into town they passed the railroad depot. Memories of her arrival and meeting Joshua filled Cassie's mind. She remembered the thrill of meeting him, seeing him waiting for her on the platform, being amazed at how handsome he was. She had felt so nervous, worried that he might not like her, but he had put her at ease so quickly. The fact that they hardly knew one another just faded away as they made their way to the town where they would soon be married.

  As Julia steered the buckboard past each of the various places in town, each one of them evoked memories. Images of her and Joshua walking up the boardwalk flooded her mind. She had strolled here on many evenings, the sounds of the town like music in her ears. Joshua had taken her by the arm, and she had felt truly like a married woman with a fine and noble husband, who was respected by the community. He had done everything possible to make sure she was accepted and seen to be a true resident of Sweetheart Falls, every bit as important as any other woman in the town.

  They passed the church where they had been married. The plain wooden building prompted memories of her wedding day and how she had felt on that momentous occasion; the hesitation, but also the excitement of a new life. Her heart sank as the buckboard rolled past the church entrance where she and Joshua had stood, two young people gazing forward into a bright future.

  Cassie looked away. Julia looked at her.

  "You feeling okay?" Julia asked.

  Cassie didn't even try to put a brave face on it. She knew that Julia understood how she was feeling. "I'm fine. You know how it is every time I come into town. It's why I don't come in, unless I have to."

  Julia reached over and patted Cassie's hand. Nothing needed to be said. Julia parked the buckboard outside the hotel. "This is where the lunch is being held."

  They stepped off the buckboard. There was a steady stream of people walking along the boardwalk.

  Cassie heard a voice behind her. "Why, good afternoon Mrs Miller."

  She turned and saw the town preacher, Reverend Baxter, raising his hat in greeting. He was tall and rangy, with a long nose and friendly eyes.

  "Good afternoon Reverend Baxter,"Cassie replied.

  "And how are you keeping Mrs Miller?"

  "I'm well. The farm keeps me busy."

  "I'm sure it does. I haven't seen you in church in recent weeks. Might I look forward to welcoming you this Sunday?"

  Cassie looked at Julia. "Why, I'll certainly try my best. But you know the elements aren't always forgiving Reverend Baxter,"

  "The Lord will enable, Mrs Miller. He cares for us all. Even when we don't quite feel it. He's always there," Reverend Baxter said with a nod of his head.

  "She'll be there this Sunday, Reverend. She can come in to town with my family," Julia said quickly.

  Reverend Baxter smiled, seemingly satisfied. "I'll look forward to it." He looked at Cassie. "You are in all of our prayers Mrs Miller."

  Cassie raised a hand to her collar, touched by his sincerity.

  "Thank you Reverend. I appreciate that very much."

  Reverend Baxter raised his hat. "Good day to you both," he said, and strode off toward the church.

  Julia and Cassie went into the hotel and made their way past reception and into the dining room. It wasn't full and in the corner Cassie saw three women already seated at a long table. They already had cups in front of them and cake stands loaded with delicacies. Cassie suddenly didn't feel very hungry.

  The older of the women raised her head and saw them enter.

  "There you both are. We were beginning to wonder where you had got to," she said. Her voice was firm and loud and Cassie was suddenly glad the restaurant was almost empty. She didn't much like being the center of attention.

  Julia and Cassie sat down at the table and were served coffee. Cassie saw that Hettie was dressed formally in an elegant outfit, as were Mabel and Alice who sat on either side of the matriarchal, middle aged woman. Cassie suddenly felt underdressed.

  Hettie Longfellow was a distinguished, if slightly stiff woman with greying hair pulled back from a face which had arched eyebrows, thin razor sharp nose, and a mouth pinched into a permanent expression of mild disapproval.

  In spite of the apparent severity of her expression Cassie knew that Hettie had a heart of gold when it came to helping others. Cassie had seen numerous examples of Hettie risking the disapproval of other senior and influential townsfolk. In fact Cassie was sure that Hettie didn't care at all what others thought of her.

  It was a character trait that Cassie secretly felt she shared with Hettie. Cassie admired Hettie for being so determined in doing what was right. She longed to be more like that herself. She knew she faced a really important choice. Cassie wondered what Hettie had planned. It was surely something to do with helping her out of her plight. But Cassie couldn't imagine how Hettie planned to bring her a husband.

  On either side of Hettie sat Mabel and Alice, who Cassie already knew from numerous social functions her and Joshua had attended. Mabel and Alice couldn't be more different in appearance.

  Mabel was portly and slouched, rather apologetically, in her chair. She had small, thick lensed, round glasses that hid dark eyes that seemed to scrutinize everyone around the table. Mabel was a serious, but kindly person, who had been a close confidante of Hettie's for as long as Cassie had known her. Mabel seemed very calm as she sat next to Hettie, almost as if she were determined not to move a muscle.

  In contrast there was Alice who sat opposite Mabel. Alice looked every inch the Eastern educated young lady. Alice was a very attractive and composed woman of her late twentie
s. She had a pleasant and open demeanour with a ready smile. She had none of the stiff formality of Hettie, nor the plump seriousness of Mabel. Cassie didn't know Alice's history but she knew that at some point in the last few years she had been forced to come West by circumstances which no-one asked about. She was married to a rancher and lived outside town but retained her privacy not mixing much with the other ladies of Sweetheart Falls. She was Hettie's connection to the outside world back East.

  Cassie felt positively out of place faced with the forced elegance of Hettie and the others who had obviously gone to great lengths to make sure they were well presented for this meeting.

  Hettie spoke with a matter of fact tone. "We decided not to order a full lunch because the business today will be rather more brief than I originally thought."

  Cassie realized that Julia had suddenly gone very quiet.

  Some cakes were eaten and Hettie, Alice and Mabel engaged in some light chat, none of which Cassie felt able to join in with.

  Eventually after the coffee and cakes were finished, Hettie cleared her throat, and laid down her empty cup. She adopted the air of someone who was used to being the centre of attention.

  "I would like to announce that this meeting of the Sweetheart Falls Matrimonial Society is now formally convened." Hettie shifted her gaze directly at Cassie. "Mrs Miller. I don't know how much Julia has told you about our new enterprise but I want you to know that we all feel the greatest sympathy with your situation," Hettie said.

  Cassie nodded. "I appreciate that Hettie. I truly do."

  "It must be the most difficult thing trying to maintain that homestead. So much of that is just a man's work. And that is just the truth. It isn't ladies work," Hettie declared, looking at Mabel and Alice. They both nodded quickly. "We women of Sweetheart Falls all know what it takes to make a family home. It takes so much work and labor and...yes...love. It is simply not the kind of thing that a woman on her own can possibly achieve,"