A Mail Order Bride for the Fur Trader: Joy & Henry (Love by Mail 3)

by Christina Ward

  “And about to be married, too.” Cole paused over the beaver skin and shot Henry a wide grin.

  “Land sakes, Cole.” Henry grimaced. “Don’t remind me! Still can’t believe I let you and my brother talk me into that whole mail order bride scheme.”

  Cole chuckled. “You won’t regret it, buddy.”

  “I dunno the first thing about being a husband!”

  “Well, neither did I. Neither did Hank! But I’d like to think we did just fine.”

  Just then, Mercy Beckett’s voice rang loud outside the shop. “Cole! Henry!”

  “Speaking of which,” Cole said with a grin. “My wife is convinced you’ll make a great husband for some lucky girl.”

  Cole moved to the front room and Henry followed to greet his matchmaker. Mercy stood by the door with another woman beside her. They both had dark hair, Mercy’s was long and wavy, but the latter wore a white bonnet that covered most of her dark curls.

  Cole placed a hand around Mercy’s shoulder. “What brings you and Hannah here?”

  Mercy took out an envelope from her petticoat. “Guess what I have here?”

  “A piece of paper?” Cole teased.

  “Not just any piece of paper,” Hannah said. She turned to Henry. “I’m Hannah by the way.”

  Henry shook her hand. “Nice to meet you ma’am.”

  “It’s from the papers.” Mercy waved the envelope. “Someone answered your ad.”

  “Well, congratulations!” Cole laughed. “You’ll be married in no time!”

  Henry sighed. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I haven’t even opened it yet.”

  He took the letter from Mercy and tore open the envelope. A hint of perfume hit his nostrils as he pulled out the letter. There was a photo too. An elegant girl with a fan in her hand stared back at him. He put the photo back in and focused on the letter.

  “It’s from a Joy Fletcher of Michigan.” He squinted at the elegant cursive.

  “How lovely!” Mercy clapped her hands.

  “She’s interested and…” Henry choked as his eyes skimmed the next paragraph. “She’s… she’s coming to Angel Creek!”

  “Well of course she is.” Mercy said. They all stared at Henry.

  “Yes, I know, but she’s already on a stage coach and will be here…” He glanced down again. “Tomorrow!”

  “She must be so excited!” Mercy giggled.

  Cole scratched his head. “But that’s the first letter you got isn’t it?”

  “Yep.” Henry shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. He suddenly felt cornered.

  “I - There must be some mistake.” He looked at Mercy. “Is this how things usually happen?”

  “Not exactly,” Mercy admitted.

  Hannah cleared her throat. “But it’s not uncommon. My arrival was just as quick. She could have perfectly valid reasons.”

  “She’s brave to risk everything,” Mercy smiled at Henry. “So you have that in common.”

  “Is there any way we can get a telegram to her?” Henry asked trying desperately to calm his nerves down.

  Mercy wrung her hands. “I’m afraid not. Usually, the groom pays for the bride’s transportation fare, wired through the agency. But looks like Miss Fletcher took matters into her own hands. And if she’s arriving tomorrow, no message would reach her any way.”

  “We’ll just have to see how this plays out,” Hannah said.

  “It’s all part of God’s plan.” Mercy patted Henry on the back.

  “He works in mysterious ways.” Hannah nodded.

  Henry looked at the letter one more time, before folding it in his pocket. “I guess I don’t have a choice. I’ll just have to wait for Miss Fletcher’s arrival.”

  Chapter 2

  Joy stepped off the coach and coughed and coughed. She fanned herself and looked around. Beads of sweat rolled down her face. Her dark blue dress, a present from a friend now living in Germany, itched with heat.

  This was nothing like the stories of the West she had read.

  An old couple passing by gave her a toothy grin. The coach drove away leaving a trail of dust. Joy coughed again. The other passengers scattered leaving her alone in the middle of the road. Unlike them, she wasn’t sure where to go next.

  Joy dragged her luggage towards the nearest store and approached an older man who stood outside.

  “Excuse me, sir, I’m Joy Fletcher.” Hopefully, her name would ring a bell.

  The man turned to her and smiled. “Hello, I’m Nell Dubson. New in town?”

  “You could say that.” She fanned herself and waited for a more specific response like Oh, your fiancé, Henry Briggs, is coming, don’t you worry. Why don’t I offer you some refreshments while we’re waiting?

  But Nell Dubson just smiled. “Would you like to buy some vegetables? We’ve got fresh ones today.”

  “Oh, uh, no thank you. Is it always this hot?”

  Nell shrugged. “Well, it is summer time.”

  Joy’s lips stretched into a thin, dry, line and she cleared her throat. “Um, has anyone been asking after me?”

  Mr. Dubson’s brows furrowed. “Not that I remember.”

  This was embarrassing. Well, it really wasn’t her fault the stagecoach arrived a day late.

  “I’d like to get a message to a Henry Briggs.”

  Mr. Dubson scratched his bearded chin.

  “Oh, Henry Briggs.” He looked over Joy’s shoulder and hollered. “Tim!”

  Joy nearly jumped, he had a powerful voice for an old man.

  “Tim! Come over here, lad!”

  A young sandy haired boy with scuffed knees approached Mr. Dubson. “Uncle?”

  “Go and tell Henry Briggs that, uh, Miss…”

  “Fletcher. Joy Fletcher. His fiancée,” Joy repeated.

  “-his fiancée is here.”

  The young boy nodded and dashed off. “Now, how about some vegetables?” The old man obviously didn’t give up easily.

  “Uhm, I’m good, thank you. I think I’ll just wait here.” She sat on the bench outside the shop and pulled her luggage closer.

  Thankfully the man let her be and she had time to once more go over the conversation she would have with her husband once they meet. She practiced that in her head a lot on the way. She had so much to ask him about. If he was going to show up, that is.

  Joy leaned back and closed her eyes enjoying the sun on her face. She raised the fan ready to make her own breeze when she heard voices nearby.

  “Do you have the picture?” A man asked. “Let me see what Joy looks like again.”

  Her head swiveled at the sound of her name. Sure, she might not be the only Joy in town, but still...

  Two men and two women were huddled around a photo. One of the men, with greyish brown hair placed a hand around the smaller of the two women.

  The other man had dirty blonde hair and light blue eyes that rivalled the morning sky, eyes that were looking wide and shocked at Joy.

  She gasped. “Henry!”

  The rest of the group turned around to face her.

  “Joy?” Henry asked.

  “The one and only.” She rose from the bench, fanned herself and patted her hair. Did she look all right? She sniffed. Her perfume’s chamomile scent was still there.

  They approached her, eyes wide but smiling. She must have made a good first impression.

  “Hello, Joy, welcome to Angel Creek!” the taller of the women said. “I’m Claire Shepard.”

  “And I’m Mercy Beckett. This is my husband, Cole.” Mercy extended her arms around Joy and gave her a hug. “I run the agency that put up Henry’s ad.”

  “Oh, thank you, Mercy.” Joy smiled and hugged the woman back, but quickly turned her attention to the silent man who could only be Henry Briggs. She raised a brow and hid a smile behind her fan.

  “I’m -” Henry cleared his throat. “I’m Henry Briggs.”

  Joy extended her arm. Henry blushed and pressed her hand to his lips. A gentleman! What
a catch in the West!

  “Aww,” Claire said, “that’s so sweet, but you’ll have plenty of time for long glances later. We need to go see my brother now. He still needs to pack for tomorrow and he’s eager to see you before he travels.”

  “Your brother? Why?” Joy closed her fan.

  “Her brother is Reverend Nathan Shepard,” Mercy said.

  “Oh!” Joy dusted her dress. “Who else will be attending the wedding? Has everything been prepared?”

  Cole raised a brow and turned to Henry, who furrowed both of his. Had she misunderstood how this mail order bride thing works? She’s the bride, he’s the groom, they get married and live happily ever after with a wardrobe full of fur coats and fashionable dresses… But they all just stared at her.

  Joy batted her eyes at her intended. “We’re getting married now, right?”

  Mercy’s jaw dropped and Claire cleared her throat.

  “What gave you that idea, Joy?” Claire said raising a brow at Mercy, who just silently shook her head. “You and Henry need to get to know each other first. Normally you’d have exchanged a few letters, but even then it’s good to see how you feel about each other’s company. You’re gonna stay with my brother and me for at least two weeks -”

  “Two weeks!” Joy gasped.

  “Then if you both want to proceed, you and Henry will get married and live together as man and wife,” Claire finished with a stiff smile.

  Joy turned to Henry and pouted. “But two weeks is far too long! I’m ready now.”

  “Not really,” Mercy muttered. She looked up at Joy. “It’ll fly by, you’ll see. Anyway, you can spend time with Henry, and you’ll get to know each other well. I mean, marriage is a lifelong commitment after all...”

  “But I wouldn’t have answered Henry’s ad if I didn’t like his character,” Joy said, chuckling. “I mean, I’m - I - I can do household chores. I’m very supportive and caring...”

  Cole and Mercy exchanged a look.

  “I’m sorry, Joy,” Claire said, her smile hardening. “But it’s two weeks.”

  But two weeks was too long. Her parents and Earnest would surely find her by then. There was only so much she could do to cover her tracks. And Margaret was bound to talk eventually. Joy opened her mouth, then closed it. She took a deep breath and smiled. She turned watery eyes at Henry. “You don’t want to get married?”

  “No,” he replied in a cold voice. Time stopped for Joy, but then he opened his mouth again. “I mean yes, yes I do want to get married. It’s just all so quick.”

  Joy took a deep breath. Right, she needed to change tactics. Like Virginia said, don’t be too eager, make them come to you.

  “Well, I’ve had plenty of suitors back home. If you don’t want to get married,” Joy looked away and fanned herself, “then I guess I’ll just take the next coach back.”

  “Fine,” Henry said and Joy was glad she had her fan open to cover her surely bright red cheeks.

  Her plan was falling apart fast. She couldn’t believe someone would reject her. Oh, the shame! Then she noticed Mercy’s face reddened too.

  “No need to be rash.” Mercy glanced from Henry to Joy and back. “And there’s no coach back for another few days…”

  Joy sighed loud making sure everyone heard. “Alright, I could give it a week.”

  Henry opened his mouth, then closed it and raised a brow at Cole.

  Joy bit her lip waiting for an answer.

  “Fine,” Henry said.

  Wow, he’s a talker. She wasn’t going to let this go. Joy cast her eyes down.

  “Well, if you don’t think I’m good enough for you.” She paused. “I shouldn’t have expected you to express the same - interest...”

  “No!” Henry blurted out. “I was just surprised is all.”

  Now we’re getting somewhere, Joy thought.

  Claire sighed. “I’ll tell my brother. Well, c’mon, he won’t wait forever.”

  “Do you have any luggage?” Henry asked Joy.

  Joy tilted her head towards the bags outside the shop. “Of course. Over there at Mr. Dubson’s store.”

  Mercy gasped. “All three of those?”

  Joy shrugged. “I told you I was ready to start a new life here.”

  “I’ll help,” Cole said to Henry, who nodded.

  The men walked up to the store. Joy watched the strong arm muscles work as Henry lifted two bags. Joy shielded her face with the fan, it felt hot. When she answered his ad, Joy thought more about furs and dresses, than her future groom’s looks. But now… seeing this handsome man fluster at her sight made her want him even more. She was determined to win his heart in the week she had.

  * * *

  The pastor’s house was a small and simple place, but she did have to admit there was a certain coziness to it. As she followed the group inside Joy wondered what Henry’s house was like. Surely, with a fur trading business, he would have a wide estate with many rooms filled with stylish furniture. Or even better, since he was a single man, maybe not much furniture and she could spend time making everything fashionable and nice.

  A high-pitched giggle erupted inside a room, and a young girl rushed towards Mercy and Cole.

  “Papa! Mama!”

  “How’s our li’l girl?” Cole asked, as he hefted the girl up into the air.

  “Grace and I were playing.” She giggled and placed her tiny arms around her father’s neck as he brought her to his chest.

  Oh, what a precious little thing, Joy thought. She could see herself with a few children of her own. Especially if they have Henry’s eyes.

  “Did Grace get some sleep?” Mercy pecked the girl on the cheek.

  The girl nodded. “She slept a lot.” Then, she saw Joy. “Who’s that, Mama?”

  “That’s Joy. We’ll be seeing a lot of her in town, Amy.”

  “Oh.”

  Joy smiled and waved at the young girl. Then, she turned to Mercy. “Is Grace your daughter, too?”

  “Yes, she’s the newest member of our family. Do you wanna see her?”

  “Oh, would I? Of course!”

  Mercy led her into the room, where an older couple conversed with a younger, simply dressed man. The woman held a baby in her arms.

  “Elias, Leanna.” Mercy greeted the couple.

  The baby cooed and the older woman looked up at them. “Oh, Mercy! Your little darling is adorable. I remember the time when I had my first young’un in my arms like it was just yesterday.”

  “And who’s this?” the older man asked, looking at Joy.

  “This, brother,” Henry said, appearing beside Joy, “is Joy Fletcher.”

  “Well, of course it is,” the older man said with a smile. He stood up and pumped her hand. “I’m Elias Briggs, your future brother-in-law. Glad to meet ya, we almost thought you weren’t coming with the coach being late and all.”

  Finally, someone excited to see me.

  Joy chuckled. “The stagecoach run into some trouble on the way.”

  “Well, anyway, lassie, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Mrs. Briggs said.

  “And this,” Claire said, laying a hand on the other man’s shoulder, “is my brother, Reverend Nathan Shepard.”

  “You can just call me Reverend,” he said. His smile was definitely brighter than his sister’s. And he was certainly younger than Joy’s preacher back in Redemption.

  “Anyway, I think we should get you settled into your room first.” Claire shuffled back into the hallway and Joy followed.

  They climbed the stairs and walked down to a room at the end of the corridor. Joy couldn’t help but notice two photos hanging on the wall in the guest room. Two smiling couples – Mercy and Cole in one frame, and two people she didn’t recognize in the other.

  “That’s our happy matches record.” Claire must have noticed Joy staring at the photographs. “I like to think the Lord smiles upon the brides who stay with us.”

  “Mercy and Cole have such lovely daughters.” Joy eyed the rest
of the room.

  A small flower pot stood on the window with a view over the farmland nearby. A single bed took most of the space, with a small cabinet almost hidden in the corner. A bit sparse for Joy’s taste, but this was the pastor’s house after all.

  “How long have they been married?” Joy asked.

  “Oh, let me see. Time flies so fast. It’ll be two years now.”

  Joy gasped. “Two years? But Amy looks almost seven? Eight?”

  “Eight.” Claire grinned. “They adopted her. She’s from the same orphanage Mercy grew up in.” She fluffed up the lonely pillow on the bed.

  “Oh.”

  “Mercy’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met,” Claire said. “Brave, too. I mean, imagine traveling so far to meet someone you’ve only known through letters, knowing that you don’t have a family to support you if things don’t work out.”

  Joy nodded, she could very much imagine that. She looked down the street. Despite the distant fields looking quiet and peaceful, the road itself was quite busy. She counted several families. It made her think about her parents. Joy imagined her mother crying, enraged, or both. Her father even when worried would likely stay stoic and comfort his wife. She swallowed hard at those thoughts. But she couldn’t marry Earnest. Even if that meant running away from Redemption and hurting her family’s feelings. She’d write to them after the wedding. Surely then they’d understand.

  Claire cleared her throat. “You all right, Joy?”

  She turned away from the scene below. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

  “Oh, of course. You can rest here for a while. I think the others are still cooing over baby Grace.”

  Joy nodded as Claire left the room. She went to her bags and took out a framed photo of her parents. Would they ever forgive her for what she did? For what she was planning to do? She hoped so. She couldn’t imagine having their anger and disappointment over her head forever. “Honor thy father and mother,” she muttered, and closed her eyes. “I will, Lord, I will.”

  Chapter 3

  The shop was bare, drab, and boring. A simple sign hung outside that read Henry’s Fur & Leather. Joy stilled her tongue. Henry looked so proud when he led her down the street to his trading post. He unlocked the door, smiled and waved his arm signaling for her to come in.