He sat at his desk and went through yesterday's mail. He ought to have done it when it arrived, but rarely was anything so urgent that it needed immediate attention so he'd allowed it to wait. As he flipped through the stack of envelopes, he confirmed his suspicions. Nothing urgent.
He came to one letter addressed
Mr. Foreman
Windy River Ranch
Juniper Junction, Wyoming Territory
He opened it, expecting some sort of solicitation from a salesman. He got a lot of those. Windy River was known far and wide and their business was much sought after. Bracing for another sales pitch, his eyes went wide as he read.
My dear Mr. Foreman,
How my heart races when I see your bold handwriting on an envelope addressed to me. I hope my missives have the same effect on you, dear man.
Wha—?
Jake reared back in his seat. Who the devil was writing this sort of thing to him? He hadn't sent anyone a letter and most certainly not anyone who would refer to him as 'dear man'. He flipped the envelope over to check the return address. St. Louis! He didn't know anyone in St. Louis. Surely this was a prank of some sort.
His mind conjured an image of Aggie and Myrtle. This seemed like just the sort of thing those two would do to create problems. He fisted his hands. What he'd like to do with them...
He continued reading.
Your life at Windy River Ranch sounds wonderful and so does the town of Juniper Junction. Though I enjoy the things that life in St. Louis has to offer, those are nothing compared to being able to spend the rest of my life with a man such as you.
He dropped the letter like it was a hot potato. What craziness is this?
So, if you have not guessed, my answer is yes, I will marry you. I look forward to the day when I will become Mrs. Matthew Foreman.
I will send details of my travel plans soon.
Yours affectionately,
Elizabeth
Whew! Now it all made sense. Thank goodness. Jake blew out a big breath and chuckled to himself. He was as bad as Posey at jumping to conclusions. He'd have a bit of explaining to do, but he folded the letter and headed out to the stables.
Some of the new hires were working with Matt Foreman who was a master at breaking horses. As Jake approached, they all turned to look at him. As foreman of the ranch, he commanded a great deal of respect. He felt he'd earned it and it was nice when the men on the ranch deferred to him that way. Not that he had a big head, but he considered it recognition that he was doing a good job. He nodded to the men and then gestured for Matt to join him away from the group. Matt gave some instructions to the others and then caught up with Jake.
"What can I do for you?" Matt said, tipping his hat back and wiping his brow.
Jake, never one with fancy words, was at even more of a loss for how to explain what had happened. He felt awful for intruding on Matt's privacy, however innocent the mistake might have been.
He paused for so long that Matt grew concerned. "Jake? Is there a problem? Have I done something wrong?"
"What? Oh no. Not at all." Jake took a deep breath and then let it out. As he did so, he held the opened letter out to Matt. "I'm sorry as I can be, Matt. But I opened this letter and read it. It was in my mail but obviously it was meant for you."
Matt took the letter and blushed when he saw the handwriting on the envelope. "Oh," he said, his blush deepening. "Y-you read it all, huh?" He toyed with the envelope, clearly eager to know the contents, but not wishing to be rude and read it while Jake was talking to him. Considering that it was the answer to what had apparently been a marriage proposal, Jake marveled at his friend's self-control.
"It came to Mr. Foreman, so when they sorted the mail for the ranch, they assumed it was for me," Jake said. It was the God's honest truth, but it sounded ridiculous. "I swear, I had no idea it was meant for you. Truthfully, before I figured out it was meant for you, I thought it was Myrtle and Aggie trying to cause problems between Posey and me."
Matt nodded. "That's understandable. Somebody ought to do something about those two. But, Mrs. Summers has Mr. Conners wrapped around her finger and those girls have Mrs. Summers wrapped around theirs."
"That's a good description of it. Anyway, Matt, I'm really sorry."
Matt stared at the envelope and then up at Jake. "I suppose you think I'm a fool, advertising for a mail order bride."
"Not at all," Jake said. "I hope you'll be as happy as Posey and I are."
"What do you mean?"
"She said yes. Congratulations to you, Matt."
Matt opened the letter and quickly read the contents, a huge grin spreading over his face. "Yeehaw!" he shouted, then neatly folded the letter and put it back in his pocket.
Still grinning, Matt tried to contain himself a bit as he spoke. "I'm kinda glad you know, Jake. I wanted to tell someone but didn't want to say anything until I found out if she would agree to be my bride. Oh, Jake. She's the most wonderful girl."
Jake clapped Matt on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you. Truly I am."
"Promise me something, though, will you, Jake?"
"Anything."
"Please don't tell anyone about this. I just feel like saying too much before she actually says when she’s arriving might put a jinx on the whole thing. Besides, I don't want everyone knowing my business. Won't they be surprised when I introduce my new wife?"
"Everyone loves a surprise."
Another busy day at the post office, but Posey was determined to do a good job and not let anyone distract her from her duties as an employee of the Wyoming Territory. Mrs. Everett had left her in charge for a few minutes and Posey kept her focus and fulfilled her duties flawlessly. Having a job, as well as Jake's praise and support, had done wonders for her self-esteem.
As she'd felt more confident about herself, she found her need for news diminished. Ironic because even without snooping through the mail, Posey found out all kinds of information. It seemed everyone loved to chat and since she was stuck behind the counter and had to behave nicely, she was a prime target for lonely folks. Posey understood loneliness and so she listened with good humor but strove not to encourage gossip.
After serving several people in a row she finally got to the last customer. "How may I help you?" she said, turning to the counter with a smile.
"Oh," she said, her smile vanishing. "Uncle Fritz. How nice to see you."
"Do not call me that. You are no relative of mine." His icy words shot through her and her hands shook. She clutched them together beneath the counter hoping he couldn't see the effect he had on her.
"How may I help you, Mr. Parker?" she said, forcing herself to speak evenly.
"I'd like to mail this letter. It's going to my lawyer in Monroe City. I'm cutting you out of my will."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Uncle... Mr. Parker. Let me get a stamp for you." She turned from the counter, surprised by how much his words hurt her. And he seemed determined to continue.
"If you'd done as I wanted and waited to marry, I'd have felt differently, but you've done nothing but bring shame to your family, so much so that your family no longer wants you."
She kept her back to him, taking a deep breath to calm herself. I will not let him bother me. I will not let him bother me.
A growl behind her caused her to turn back to the counter.
"Jake!" She gaped. Her husband had her uncle by the front of his shirt and held him up in the air. Her uncle's feet dangled several inches above the floor. Posey rushed around the counter.
"I've heard all I want to hear from you, Fritz Parker. Ever again. Posey does have a family. Me. And in my family, we protect each other. And if that means I gotta take you outside and pound some manners into you, then so be it."
He took a step toward the door, Uncle Fritz flopping like a rag doll.
"Jake!" she shouted again, torn between beaming with pride at her husband's protectiveness and terror that he might actually hurt her uncle. Not that he didn't deserve
a good punch or two...
Uncle Fritz, uncharacteristically, had not said a word since Jake first hoisted him into the air.
She followed them outside, her heart in her throat. Several people on the street had stopped to take notice, including Cal Watson, the sheriff. Posey shot a glance at Cal and saw him fighting back a smirk.
Seeing Cal must have startled Jake out of his rage or at least it gave him pause in his plans. He tossed the other man to the ground, then stood over him, hands on hips. "I don't want to see you anywhere near my wife. Understand?"
Uncle Fritz scrambled to his feet, dusted off his pants and righted his hat. He turned to Cal. "Sheriff, I'd like to lodge a complaint against this man," he pointed at Jake.
"Man's defending his wife's honor, Fritz," Cal said. "Not sure you've got much of a defense. Probably best if you get on home."
"Why! I never!" Uncle Fritz glared at Cal. "I'll be talking to the town council about you, Cal Watson."
"Election day is coming up. You're welcome to vote as you please."
"And I'll be talking to Mr. Conners about you," he spat at Jake.
"Did I hear my name mentioned?" Posey looked up to see Mr. Conners coming out of the general store, several others exited the building in response to the growing crowd.
"You ought to know that your foreman here was just manhandling me." Uncle Fritz pulled himself up to his full, but still average, height. "I demand that you fire him."
Mr. Conners looked at Jake. Posey stood next to her husband wringing her hands. Oh this could be bad.
Then Mr. Conners turned back to Uncle Fritz. "Aren't you the same man who left his niece waiting on her wedding day because you refused to walk her down the aisle?"
"She's nothing but a tramp."
With lightning speed Jake's fist shot out and connected with Uncle Fritz's jaw, propelling him backward until he fell to the ground.
Posey gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. She took a step toward him and then halted. He was not her family. Jake was. Jake her husband, her defender and protector. He was her future. Her everything.
"I've talked to Mr. Parker and he's agreed to keep his distance as long as you do the same." Cal looked up at Jake. The two of them were standing in the jail where Cal had taken Jake after the incident outside the post office.
Jake had stared at the empty cells and wondered what would happen if Cal decided to put him inside one. What good would he be to Posey then? He kicked himself for being impulsive. But that man had been cruel to his Posey for years and Jake was fed up.
"I know I shouldn't have hit him," Jake said, "but he insulted my Posey. What kind of man would I be if I let something like that go without response? You were there. Heard what he said."
"Yes, and I'd have done the same thing. But, you could have caused him serious injury, Jake. You forget your strength."
Jake's seething anger subsided a bit and he blew out a breath. "Just don't want anyone to hurt my Posey."
"I understand," Cal said. "I feel the same way about Tassie. If anyone said something like that about her or upset her in any way, I'd be hard pressed not to do what you did. But, unpleasant though he may be, Fritz Parker has some sway in the community."
"I know. And I've caused you a bit of trouble as well, I'm sure. My apologies, Cal. I lost my head."
"Oh, what are friends for?" Cal replied. "Besides, no jury would convict a man who was defending his wife's honor. Now," Cal opened the door, "get on home and see to your wife. I'm sure she's worried sick over you."
As he walked the distance from the jail to his home, Jake continued to berate himself.
When he turned the corner toward his house Posey came running down the street and threw herself into his arms. "Jake!" She covered his face with kisses. "I was so scared. Are you all right? Did Cal hurt you?"
He held her tight and breathed in the sweet scent of her, filling his lungs with Posey. "Oh, darlin'," he said into her hair, "I'm so sorry."
Posey pulled away and looked at him. "Sorry? You have nothing to be sorry about. You're my hero. No one has ever stood up for me like that." She hugged him tight and whispered in his ear. "Take me home, Jake. Love me."
Chapter 12
Several days had gone by since the incident between Posey's uncle and Jake and Posey was back at work. Mrs. Everett had been understanding about the whole situation. "Heavens, Posey, if people lost their jobs every time someone in their family behaved badly, none of us would have jobs. Including me."
"Really?" Posey had squealed, hugging her employer. "Thank you. I just love this job and I know I’m still on my one month trial period but I hope you'll keep me on." She was so excited, it was all she could do to contain herself. Working at the post office had made her so happy and proud.
"Now, now. Time for us to get to work." Phyllis nodded toward the door where people were starting to line up. She lifted a sack of mail onto the table and poured out the contents. "We've got mail to sort, Posey."
It was a mundane task, but Posey had come to love sorting the mail. Taking the disorder of the heaps of envelopes and packages and turning them into organized stacks for the people of Juniper Junction.
With her head down, Posey focused on the task. By now, it came as second nature to her to toss the letters into the proper bins, almost without thinking. "You're getting really fast with the sorting," Phyllis said with a smile.
By the time Phyllis opened the door for the early customers, Posey had nearly finished getting all the mail organized so that everything went smoothly that morning.
"Thank you, Posey. You've become such a good helper. That all went about as well as I could ever hope for."
Posey puffed up with happiness at Mrs. Everett's praise.
"I've got Josie making a new dress for me. Do you mind if I run over to the general store for a fitting? It might be longer than I'm usually gone, but I think you're ready to handle things."
"Oh yes!" Posey said. "I'm sure I can take care of things while you're gone. And you'll just be down the street if I need you. I can't wait to see your new dress. Josie works wonders, doesn't she?"
"Yes," Phyllis said, "we're lucky to have Josie here in Juniper Junction making such fashionable clothes." Phyllis hung up her apron on a peg and headed for the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Take your time," Posey called after her. "I'll manage everything here."
Once she was alone Posey got out the broom and swept the floor so things would be nice and tidy when Mrs. Everett returned. The broom caught on something under the work table. When she bent down to investigate and found an envelope.
Her heart pounded when she saw the address. Not again.
Mr. Foreman
Windy River Ranch
Juniper Junction, Wyoming Territory
This one reeked of rose perfume. How could the scent stay on for that long? She took another whiff and her stomach knotted. The last time she'd seen one of these letters, she'd had a horrible feeling about it and had allowed Aggie and Myrtle to upset her. And that had gotten her a spanking. This time, she refused to let it get to her.
She looked at the letter one last time, bit her lip and reached over to put it in the pile of mail for Windy River. She trusted her husband. He'd punched her uncle in the nose and nearly gotten arrested, hadn't he? Wasn't that a sign of love? Devotion to her.
Just before her fingers let loose of the smelly envelope the bell on the door jingled. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end before she even turned around.
"Well, if it isn't Posey the Postmistress," Aggie's caustic voice floated across the room. "I can't believe Jake almost ended up in jail because of you."
Posey gritted her teeth and counted to ten. She would not let them rile her up.
And she sure as hell wasn't going to let them see another letter for Mr. Foreman, especially not one heavy with the scent of roses. Slipping the letter into her pocket, she picked up the mail for Windy River and turned to the two mischief makers.
"Here you are," she said, fighting to keep her voice even and not give them the satisfaction of seeing that they'd upset her.
"Are you sure this is everything?" Myrtle flipped through the stack. "There must be another letter for Mr. Foreman. That girl had such nice handwriting." The two cackled and Posey gripped the edge of the counter, silently wishing Phyllis would return. Myrtle tucked the letters into her handbag and gave it a pat
Myrtle and Aggie acted sweet as molasses around others, saving their particular venom for people like Posey.
She thought about the sound Jake's fist made when it connected with Uncle Fritz's jaw. She stared at Aggie's jaw and wondered how it would feel to crunch her knuckles into that pointed piece of her anatomy.
"What are you smiling about?" Aggie asked. "And stop staring at me like that. What's wrong with you?"
Before Posey could answer, Myrtle jumped in. "Come on, Aggie. We need to get back to make dinner. Today it's beef stew and biscuits. One of Jake's favorites. I bet you didn't know that, did you, Posey the Postmistress?" Myrtle smirked at her. "Funny, everyone in town calls you Nosey Posey but you don't know anything about your man."
Posey nearly bit a hole clean through her lip, she was trying so hard to maintain her composure. Mrs. Everett had forgiven the fight Jake caused but how many more tussles would she tolerate?
Not to mention what Jake would do to her backside if she gave in to her impulse.
But oh, how she wished she could.
"Oh dear, Myrtle," they all turned to see Tassie arrive at the post office. "You've got three buttons missing on the back of your dress. How on earth can you be seen strolling around town like that? Why, what will people think about a woman showing so much of herself? And in broad daylight." Tassie tsked and shook her head then stared down the two intruders. "Seems like you two had best head on back to the ranch. I'm sure there's some dusting or chicken plucking that needs your particular talents."
Cowboy's Orders (Brides of Juniper Junction Book 2) Page 9