The Bartender's Mail Order Bride Read online

  She’d already been out to milk the cows and carefully placed the eggs Rosemary had gathered into the carriers to take into town. Her job, beyond milking the cows, was to take the extra milk, eggs and produce into town to sell, and for simplicity, she’d chosen to stick primarily with one, James and Suzanne’s mercantile. Over the course of the past year, Archer Ranch had become their best supplier, and she was happy with their arrangement, as was her father.

  “You’re awfully quiet these days,” Maria said from behind her, startling her, and she groaned as the egg she’d held slid from her hand and splattered on the table.

  “Maria, don’t sneak up on me like that,” Meg said to the longtime housekeeper who had also served as her and her sisters’ surrogate mother after their own had died several years ago.

  Maria raised her eyebrows as she circled around in front of Meg and sat down at the table, resting her chin in her hand. “Quiet, and jumpy, too,” she said slowly as she narrowed her eyes at Meg. “What’s going on with you, mi hija?

  Meg wiped her hands on her apron and looked up at Maria, unable to keep the smile from her lips as her heart skipped a beat. She’d always loved it when Maria used that phrase, my daughter in Spanish, but it wasn’t about to make her tell Maria that she’d offered to be Sam Allen’s wife.

  “You’re imagining things. Nothing’s going on. I’m fine.” She hurriedly placed the remainder of the eggs in the carriers and set them in the basket, doing her best to avoid Maria’s steady gaze.

  Maria cleared her throat and stood, helping Meg with the baskets as she headed toward the door. “I don’t believe you, but you know I am here whenever it’s time to talk about it.” She placed her hand on Meg’s shoulder.

  Meg turned around, grateful for Maria’s kind eyes and slight smile. “Thank you, Maria, but there really isn’t anything to tell you. Nothing exciting happens in my life at all. Ever.”

  “Now, Meg, that’s not true…well, maybe it’s a little true. I did hear your father say that he was not ready for you to make yourself available for suitors. I plan to educate him about young ladies and their need to find love, just like he did. You know he’s a little slow to understand these things,” she said, her eyes twinkling as she laughed.

  Meg sighed and squeezed Maria’s hand before she walked out the door. “Thank you, Maria. I can use any help I can get,” Meg called over her shoulder as she carefully placed her wares in the buggy, hopped in and set off down the drive toward town.

  As she was lulled by the rhythm of the horses’ hooves, she allowed herself to conjure up an image of Sam in her head, his bright eyes and welcome smile mixing with her memory of his handsome, rugged jaw and kind eyes. She pictured the two of them together, at his house by the fire as it was starting now to become chilly with fall in the air.

  “Would you like some cider,” he said in her daydream, settling on the settee beside her as he offered the warm mug to her.

  “Thank you.” She moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, his arm around her, pulling her closer.

  “I’m so glad that you offered to be my bride, Meg.” Her heart filled at the words as she stared at the fire, enjoying his masculine scent.

  “I’d loved you long before that, Sam Allen. You just didn’t know it.”

  “I can’t imagine how or why I missed that, Meg. We could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble. I would have just courted you outright.”

  “You would have? I was positive you didn’t know I existed. I was invisible, I thought,” she said, reaching up to take his hand that was wrapped over her shoulder. The warmth tugged at her heart.

  “Of course I would have. You’re the only one for me. The only one I’ve ever wanted.”

  She sighed with pleasure, dreaming of how it would feel to have Sam say that to her, to hold her in his arms, to look at her with love in his eyes.

  “Meg, can I help you?”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m just enjoying the fire.”

  “The fire? What fire?”

  She opened her eyes and sat bolt upright as she heard Sam Allen’s voice…not just in her head, but the real voice. She felt the heat creep up her neck as she looked around, suddenly aware that the horses had taken their own course, their daily walk, straight to the mercantile.

  She shaded her eyes from the sun and looked up onto the porch outside the Occidental restaurant, which was right next to the mercantile, and shook her head as she saw the object of her daydream, Sam, standing on the wooden steps, his eyebrows drawn together as he stared at her.

  Wiping her hands on her apron, she squared her shoulders and replied, “Fire? Ride is what I said. I was just enjoying the ride. It’s a beautiful day.”

  She looked away, hoping that her explanation hadn’t sounded too outlandish, shocked that she could have daydreamed that long on the ride into town.

  She heard him laugh behind her, a sound that she’d grown very fond of. She had seen and fallen in love with Sam at the ranch, mostly, the times he’d come out to see her brother, Hank. But it was that laugh that she loved most, knowing that only a very kind and happy man could laugh like that. And even this time, she loved hearing it, even if it was at her expense.

  “All right, Meg, if you say so. Need any help with the milk pails?” He reached into the back of the buggy.

  “Thank you, Sam. That would be helpful. They can be very heavy. I’ll get the eggs.” She reached over into the buggy and sighed with relief as he turned toward the door of the mercantile, seemingly not intending to question her any further. She shook her head as she followed behind him, particularly grateful that she hadn’t said his name in her daydream. That would have ruined everything.

  As Sam set down the pails of milk near the icebox where Suzanne had bottles prepared, Meg set the eggs down on the counter. Suzanne looked up and gave her a big smile, walking around the counter and gathering her into her arms for a hug.

  “Hello, Meg. How nice to see you. I’ve been so busy getting the girls ready for school that I haven’t come to the mercantile for weeks.”

  “Oh, Lily and Lucy are starting school already? I can hardly believe it,” Meg said, remembering the day the girls were born.

  “I can barely believe it myself. And there’s a new teacher there, quite young, and I’m not sure how the girls will get on with him.”

  “Him? The school committee hired a man?” Meg’s eyebrows tweaked at the news, as Tombstone had not had a male teacher for the school before.

  “Yes, and I can see by your face that you thought the same thing I did. But he seems nice enough, and very qualified. And so far, it’s going well.”

  “I had mostly male teachers when I was in school in New York,” Sam said as he left the pails of milk and came to the counter.

  “Oh, is that right?” Meg said, surprised as she had had only female teachers.

  “Yes, I think in the bigger towns it’s more common. If he’s qualified and kind, I don’t see that it should be an issue.” Sam leaned against the counter and folded his arms over his chest.

  “Well, thank you for that, Sam, and I’m glad you’re here,” Suzanne said, waving an envelope in the air that she’d picked up from beside the cash register.

  “Are you all right, Meg?” Sam said as she stepped slowly backward. “You’re white as a sheet.” He looked from Meg to Suzanne, who also looked concerned.

  “I…I…I’m fine,” she managed, never having thought in a million years that she would be present when he opened the letter from her, asking to be his bride. Her heart had never beaten so fast before and she thought she might faint.

  “You don’t look fine,” Suzanne said as she fetched a glass of water and handed it to her. Sam brought a chair and helped her sit.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. If we can just settle up for the delivery…”

  “Oh, I think you should sit for a bit just in case. I’ll run next door and fetch Sadie, and we can read the letter together with Sam. Then if you’re not still feelin
g poorly, we can settle up and send you on your way,” Suzanne said as she headed toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”

  Meg shook her head as she pondered her horrible luck at being stuck with her friends and Sam as he read her mail order bride letter. What if he said no? What if he didn’t want her? She could hardly bear the suspense as she looked up at Sam, noticing that he was watching her intently.

  “She’ll be back in a moment, Meg. You feeling all right?”

  Meg forced a smile as best she could. “Perfect,” she replied, not believing her bad fortune.

  Chapter 7

  As Suzanne closed the door behind her, Meg let her forehead fall into her palm. The nerves she’d been trying to quiet for days now had all come to life at once, and she was going to be stuck here as he read the letter. What horrible luck.

  She and Sam had fallen into silence and she’d gotten up to pace. She turned quickly to the door as Suzanne and Sadie bustled in, grateful that Suzanne had been as quick as she’d said she would. It helped that her twin sister, Sadie, worked right next door at the restaurant.

  Meg helped the pregnant Sadie over to the chair she’d occupied, giving her a quick hug. “Hello, Sadie. You look beautiful.”

  Sadie laughed, waving her hand in the air as she quickly dismissed the compliment. “Goodness, everyone says that but how could that be true when I feel ill most if the time?”

  Sam chuckled. “You may feel that way, but there is something about you that glows,” he said, nodding slightly in Sadie’s direction.

  “I agree,” Suzanne said, shaking her finger at Sadie when she started to again protest. “And that’s all we’re going to say about that. Besides, we have big news. We’ve gotten a letter for Sam.” She waved the envelope in the air as Meg cringed, remembering her quick decision to use the scented paper.

  “She has very pretty handwriting,” Suzanne said as she studied the envelope then handed it to Sam. He lifted it to his nose and breathed in the lavender scent she’d rubbed on the envelope. Apparently, it hadn’t worn off, as he said, “It smells good. Like lavender.” He frowned as he looked at the envelope.

  “There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” Sadie asked.

  Sam jerked his head up. “No, no, nothing wrong with that. It’s just my mother’s favorite scent.”

  “Oh, that’s good luck, then,” Suzanne said. “Maybe that means your mother will like this one.”

  “Or that this one said yes,” Sam said, smiling ruefully as he began to open the envelope.

  Meg felt her stomach flip as he read the letter silently, his eyebrows rising bit by bit as he did.

  “Well?” Suzanne and Sadie said in unison.

  “It’s a yes,” Sam said slowly. “Her name is Helen, and she’s from here in Tombstone. Isn’t that odd?” He lowered the letter for a moment, then shook his head and handed the paper to Suzanne.

  “It says that she’s here in Tombstone, pretty enough, and willing to become your bride. She understands that you need a bride for the reason stated, she has experience in ranching and animal husbandry and—wait, didn’t you say something in the ad about musical interest or ability? It says here she sings.”

  Meg tried to shrink and disappear into the wall. Surely they would know it was her. How could they not? She stood right in front of them as they described her perfectly. Her nerves buzzing, she stayed quiet, dreading the next part of the conversation that she’d hoped not to be involved in.

  All eyes turned to the door as the bell rang, the tall figure of her brother, Hank, entering. He took off his hat as he looked around at the faces in the room and his brow furrowed.

  “What? What is it? You all look like the horse died,” he said, striding into the room after he hung his hat on the rack.

  “I got a taker for my bride position.”

  “And she sounds perfect,” Suzanne said, smiling at Sam. “Doesn’t she, Sam?”

  “She certainly has all the qualities that I specified. Besides being interested.”

  “Yes, and she didn’t mind that you are a bartender like the others did. That’s important,” Suzanne said.

  “Sam, I hate to put this so plainly, but this is the only woman who has applied with a positive response. And she does have all of the qualifications you asked for. It’s really not something that you can debate about if you truly want to have a bride by the time your mother arrives,” Sadie said as she placed her hand on his arm.

  “You’re right, Sadie. I know you are. I guess it’s just…”

  Hank clapped his friend on the back. “Sudden? Yes, it is. I know exactly how you feel. But look how lucky I got with Clara. And Sadie with Tripp. I’m sure that you’ll be just as fortunate,” he said to Sam with a reassuring smile.

  No matter if he’d really meant it or not, Sam seemed to relax a bit. He took the letter back from Suzanne and peered at the return address, which Meg had thought out carefully.

  “Hm. It’s a number at the post office. She’s so close. What if it’s someone I know?”

  “That would sure be odd, but I don’t imagine it will be. Tombstone’s a big place and we don’t know everybody,” Hank said.

  Sadie rubbed her chin as she frowned. “That would be very odd, wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t someone who were interested just come by?”

  “I don’t think so,” Meg said softly. “What if he didn’t want her? It would be much better to get that information by post rather than in person, don’t you think?”

  Silence fell as they all turned to Meg for a moment. Finally, Sam spoke. “I guess you’re right. I hadn’t thought about the whole thing from her perspective. And I’m not even sure what type of woman needs to find a husband in this manner.”

  “Don’t think about that part. Does she sound like someone you’d want to try this with?” Suzanne held out her hand for the letter.

  Hank cleared his throat. “As Sadie said, you don’t have much of a choice, my friend, if you want to do this. She’s the only one who wanted you.”

  Sam chuckled as he grinned at his friend. “You’re right about that. All right, let’s move forward,” he said as he gave a quick clap.

  “Do what?” James, Suzanne’s husband and owner of the mercantile, said as he opened the door.

  Suzanne exchanged warm smiles with her husband, and Meg wondered how they seemed to be so much in love, even after very busy twins, running a business and over six years together.

  “Sam got a positive response,” she said as she walked over to take his coat, hanging it on the rack along with his hat.

  James smiled as his eyebrows rose. “Is that so? A good one?”

  “The only one there is,” Meg’s brother said as he laughed and shook his head at Sam. “He’s a bartender. There’s only one taker.”

  Meg felt heat creep to her ears and was grateful that she still wore her , hoping they might not notice. She’d never thought that she’d be the only taker for Sam, who she thought would be the greatest husband for anyone, but as she sat while they searched for quill and paper to respond to her, her nerves settled.

  Did it matter that she was the only taker? Not really. It just meant that he would be that much more interested in making a success of their marriage as she was his only option. Besides, it wasn’t personal that he wasn’t quite convinced. He didn’t know it was Meg.

  She drew in a deep breath at the thought that he would soon, in fact, know that it was her. She tried not to let that thought take residence as it pushed her toward panic.

  “Meg? Meg, are you there?” Her brother’s voice interrupted her thoughts and she shook her head quickly.

  “Yes, yes. What is it?”

  “You’ve been far away. Are you still feeling ill?” Suzanne leaned over and peered into Meg’s eyes. “You don’t look quite as pale as before.”

  “No, I’m fine. Thank you.” She stood and smoothed her apron over her dress. She looked down at the dirt on her shoes and cringed once more, and her hands reached up to finger her braids
. She’d had no idea this event would be taking place, or she’d have made a stronger effort to look…different. Actually, though, she could do that later. When they were introduced as future husband and wife.

  “There you go again,” Hank said. “You sure daydream a lot lately. Not like you.”

  “No, no it isn’t,” she said hastily. “Suzanne, if we could settle up, I’d best be going.”

  “Oh, of course. Do you want cash today or have it added as a credit to your account?”

  “Credit is fine. We’ll be making purchases for school supplies soon, I’m sure,” Meg said as she re-tied her bonnet under her chin.

  “All right, then. I’ll just add the items and their payment. If you’re in a hurry, I can give Hank the bill of sale in a bit.”

  “That would be fine. I do need to get back.” Meg suddenly wanted to be as far away from the mercantile as she could possibly be…and soon.

  She had her hand on the doorknob as it swung toward her, knocking her a step back toward the wall.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Meg,” Sadie said. “I didn’t see you.” She stepped into the store, followed by Sam who had a new, white envelope in his hand.

  Meg hadn’t even remembered them leaving the shop. Her daydream must have been longer than she’d thought.

  “Oh, Meg, are you heading home?” Sam said.

  Meg’s breath hitched. “Yes, I am. I need to get back.”

  Sam held out the envelope to her. “Would you mind delivering this to the post office on your way? I don’t think anyone else is going out for a while and it’s on the other side of town, but on your way home.”

  Meg stared down at the letter, reaching slowly and gingerly toward it.

  Sam laughed, pushing it closer to her. “Go on, it won’t bite.”

  She looked up into his smiling eyes, her hands steadying as she heard his laugh, reminding her that it was her favorite sound in the world, and remembering that with this letter, she would soon be on her way to becoming Mrs. Sam Allen.