Sam looked quite dapper in his suit and tie, his blue eyes shining, and Meg had had a new dress made from the fabric that Mrs. Allen admitted she had no idea what to do with. Mrs. Allen had had one made, too, and they headed toward the Occidental, all wearing their best.
“Hey, Sam, nice to see you and your wife,” a man called out from the porch as he smiled and ducked into the restaurant.
“Who was that?” Meg asked.
“One of my better customers,” Sam said. “He might have thought I was working tonight.”
Mrs. Allen stepped down from the buggy almost as soon as it stopped, not waiting for a hand down. She hurried up the steps and reached for the door, saying, “I’ll get us a table and meet you inside.”
Sam covered Meg’s hand with his as she rested it on his arm.
“Did I mention you look beautiful tonight, Meg? Well, every night.”
She sighed as he kissed her cheek, then came around to help her down. She had never guessed she’d be this happy.
Sam opened the door for her, and she stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the light from the bright sun outside. She spotted Mother Allen waving at her from near the small dining room where she and Sam had been married, and she took Sam’s hand, pulling him in that direction as he waved and nodded to many people who greeted him as he passed by.
As Meg reached the doorway to the dining room, she saw Sadie. She waved and stepped inside, pulling Sam along behind her.
“Surprise!” came from all directions and she turned around to Sam, who looked as shocked as she felt.
She turned back around and Mother Allen came over and took her hand. “You two deserve a proper wedding reception. A real one. More suited for couples in love.”
Meg smiled as she leaned forward and kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek. She held her gaze with this kind woman for a moment, the blue eyes reminding her very much of her kind husband’s eyes, and said, “Thank you. For everything.”
“Nonsense, my dear. Nothing to thank me for. I know love when I see it.” She turned and greeted the rest of the guests, and Meg clasped her hands in front of her at the sight of her sisters, her brother, her sister-in-law, Sadie and Suzanne and their families. Once again, her heart swelled at just the thought of how fortunate she’d been.
She blushed as Sam came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. He bent down, whispering, “This is a lovely surprise. Congratulations, Mrs. Allen.”
“Congratulations to you as well, Mr. Allen,” Meg said as she squeezed his hands and moved to give hugs to all of their guests.
Once they’d had an opportunity to greet everyone in the dining room, Mrs. Allen lifted a glass of water and a fork, tapping the glass to get everyone’s attention.
“Excuse me, all. Firstly, thank you for coming to what is a joyous occasion for me and my new family.” She smiled and nodded at Meg. “And for joining us as they start their new lives together. I’ve had the assistance of the charming proprietors of the Occidental, Tripp and Sadie, and with their permission, I’d like to present my son and his bride with their wedding gift.”
She sighed deeply and smiled at Meg and Sam, her eyes softening as she walked to the side of the room and removed a white sheet with a flourish, revealing a beautiful piano.
As Meg gasped and Sam squeezed her hand, Mrs. Allen said, “It’s the perfect gift, I believe, for two people who make such beautiful music together. And if they are willing, I’d like to ask them to provide us with a song.”
She clasped her hands in front of her, nodding at Meg and Sam. Sam glanced at Tripp and received a nod of permission.
“Meg? Are you willing?”
Meg’s heart soared as she nodded and Sam led her to the piano. She glanced around at her family, her friends and her husband, admiring the way Sam had taken his playing back up with a passion, remembering the nights they’d played and sung together since she’d come home.
She became lost in the music, swaying to the sound of Sam’s playing and was surprised that the song ended almost as soon as it had begun, it seemed to her, as they always did.
She smiled and bowed at the applause of their friends and family, and her eyebrows rose as Sam took her arm and turned her toward the door to the dining room, where every diner and employee was standing, the applause almost deafening.
Her mouth agape, she blinked several times as Tripp came over and clapped Sam on the back. Tripp and Sadie had been dinner guests on their nights off and they’d heard Sam and Meg’s duets several times.
“Wonderful, you two.” He held his arm out toward the dining room proper. “And it was well-received, judging by the standing ovation.”
Sam shook his head as he looked out at the many customers, most familiar to Meg, as well.
“Your mother’s generous gift came with an idea she had, and I think it’s wonderful. Mrs. Allen?”
Mrs. Allen took one of each of their hands. “I must admit, I had a plan in mind with my gift. You can see as well as I can the response people have to the two of you together. It’s not something to hide under a bushel.”
“No, it isn’t,” Tripp said. “And I’d be honored if the two of you would be willing to perform here at the Occidental several nights a week. I believe the patrons would love it, and Sadie and I would, too.”
“Absolutely,” Sadie said with a sigh. “Although I hate to share you. It’s just not fair.” She winked at Meg and squeezed her hand.
Meg turned to Sam and looked up at him. “What do you think, Sam? It’s what you’ve always wanted.”
Sam smiled at his mother and turned back to Meg. “Yes, it’s what I’ve always wanted, but better than I could have imagined because I get to do it with you.”
Epilogue
Meg kept an eye on Suzanne’s twins Lucy and Lily as Sam offered to get them all ice cream—after all, it was an ice cream social to raise money for the school, and what would it be without ice cream?
The twins were starting school this year, and Suzanne had taken an active role, helping the school as much as she could. At the moment, she was walking around the grass area outside the school where they were holding the event, selling raffle tickets to raise money for school supplies.
Meg remembered that there was never enough money for supplies even when she’d attended the same schoolhouse many years ago. She and Sam had been happy to help as they hoped to have children attend one day themselves, so they might as well take an interest early.
“Well, don’t you look happy,” Sadie said as she carried bowls of ice cream behind Sam and he set the two he’d held for the wiggling twins.
“Thank you, Sam. Say thank you to Sam, Lily,” Lucy said to her twin sister.
“You can’t tell me what to do,” Lily replied. “Thank you, Sam.”
Her Aunt Sadie ruffled the girls’ hair as she patted her belly and looked at Meg, her eyebrows raised. “Just eat your ice cream, girls, before it melts.”
Lucy and Lily gave each other sidelong glances as they gave up the fight and started on their ice cream. “Is this what I have to look forward to?”
Meg laughed as Sam sat down beside her. “I’m not sure about two, but you’ll definitely have one.”
“I’m looking forward to that, too.” Sam took Meg’s hand in his, and although she blushed, she had caught herself thinking the same thing. A family with the man she loved? What could be better?
Suzanne walked up, pulling a tall, handsome man by the elbow. “Ladies, I know you’ve met Mr. Michael Tate, the new headmaster of the school.”
Mr. Tate tipped his hat at the group, smiling at Lucy and Lily. Meg noticed that his green eyes and brown hair—and spectacles—looked quite becoming, and was surprised as she’d never met a male schoolteacher before.
“Good day,” he said, replacing his bowler hat.
Suzanne’s brows furrowed as she said, “Mr. Tate has just shared with me a little difficulty he’s having. Mr. Tate, why don’t you tell everyone what your trouble i
s?”
Mr. Tate cleared his throat as he folded his arms across his chest and looked down at his feet for a moment before beginning. “As you know, I was hired as headmaster for the school, and when I came in the beginning of the summer to prepare for the school year, I met the school committee members. They seemed very happy with me, so I signed a contract for a minimum of three years here in Tombstone.”
“And we’re glad of it, Mr. Tate,” Sam said. “Stability is important to children, and we’re glad to have you.”
Mr. Tate pulled at his collar. “That’s kind of you to say so, Mr. Allen. But I’m afraid the new school committee has several members who do not agree with you.”
Meg turned to Clara as her sister-in-law and her brother joined the group.
“Go on, Mr. Tate. Go ahead and tell them the rest.” Suzanne patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
“Well, apparently the majority of the new school committee feels that it would be untoward to have a single gentleman as headmaster of the school. I hardly know what to do. I’ve never heard of such a thing. How could I possibly find a wife before school starts? It’s less than two weeks away. I’m afraid I’ll have to resign.” Mr. Tate took off his hat and fiddled with the brim. “It’s a shame, really. I’ve really enjoyed it here so far.”
Sadie cleared her throat. “Mr. Tate, we may just be able to help you,” she said as she glanced at Tripp across the grass.
Mr. Tate frowned and pulled at his collar again. “Help me? How?”
Sadie and Suzanne exchanged glances and shared a nod. “Have you ever heard of mail order brides, Mr. Tate?”
He crossed his arms and tapped his chin. “I believe so. I think I’ve seen a publication regarding that topic. But I can’t imagine it really works. I’ve never met any such unions and can’t imagine they could be successful.”
Meg’s eyes twinkled as she looked from Mr. Tate to her husband. Sam smiled and reached for her hand.
“Mr. Tate, why don’t you poll this group as to the success of such matches?”
Mr. Tate’s eyes grew wide. “All right. Have any of you personally known a mail order bride?”
Sadie laughed and said, “You’re looking at one, Mr. Tate. I was a mail order bride.” She nodded at Tripp as he joined the group and reached for his wife’s hand.
“I was one, too,” Clara chimed in as she sat down next to Lily and Lucy.
“So was I,” Meg added as Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulder.”
“I…I had no idea.” Mr. Tate removed his spectacles and pinched his nose.
“Don’t you worry, Mr. Tate. We can help you find a bride, too,” Suzanne said.
Sadie and Suzanne laughed and each took one of Mr. Tate’s arms. His ears turned red as they walked away, filling him in about their mail order history. Meg turned to Sam and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Do you think that might be an option for Mr. Tate? He seems like a very nice man and likely an excellent teacher.”
Sam lifted Meg’s chin toward him, his eyes twinkling as they searched hers. “Why not? If it worked for us with everything we went through, it can work for anybody.”
Meg sighed and rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. As she looked out at her friends and family and thought of her new life, she marveled at how her daydreams had actually come true. All of them.
The End
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Thanks for spending time in the world of Tombstone’s Archer family and their friends!
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Rosemary Archer finds love in the next book in the series:
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The Teacher’s Mail Order Bride
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Reading order:
Wild West Frontier Brides Series
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The Chef’s Mail Order Bride
The Wrangler’s Mail Order Bride
The Bartender’s Mail Order Bride
The Teacher’s Mail Order Bride
Saffron
Carol
The Blacksmith’s Mail Order Bride
Christmas at Archer Ranch
Cindy Caldwell books in the American Mail Order Bride series - 45 authors, 50 states, 50 brides
Josephine, Bride of Louisiana
Michelle, Bride of Mississippi
If you like sweet contemporary romance, Cindy Caldwell writes a series with a group of amazing authors and friends about River’s End Ranch, a destination resort in Idaho.
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By Cindy Caldwell:
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Honest Horseman
Gallant Golfer
Mischievous Maid
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River’s End Ranch
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This series is a work of fiction. Characters and events in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
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