by Jill Maguire
“Well you just come and see me if you need any help with selling or managing the legal side of things.”
“Thank you, I will.”
Cassie’s heart was lighter as she headed across the street to the bank. Once she closed out Granny’s account, she would be done with the business part of things and could get on with deciding what she would do with her life.
The bank was quiet this time of day and it only took Cassie a few minutes to finish her task. She wasn’t familiar with the girl who waited on her, but she was pleasant and polite. In a few minutes Cassie walked back out of the building with a small satchel containing the small sum that represented Granny’s life savings. It wasn’t much, to be sure, but Cassie wondered how Granny had managed to save anything at all from the small amounts she had sent her.
She knew Granny had always been a frugal woman, but Cassie suspected she also probably did without some things in an effort to tuck some money away for her granddaughter. A fresh wave of tears threatened, but Cassie swallowed hard and held them at bay. She was thankful for the funds, however small, for they would help tide her over during this difficult time. Maybe they would be enough to let her move out of the Gordon’s and be on her own at last.
As she was walking out of the bank, she noticed a brightly colored poster nailed to the wall. It was calling on all local unmarried men who were lonely and looking for a companion to apply to her mail order bride service.
Harriet Johnson who ran the post office was listed as the person to contact. Cassie smiled at the idea of single, lonely men finding a wife through such a means. She wondered if a marriage based on such a shaky beginning could even survive, let alone flourish. On the other hand, she supposed the decision was ultimately made by two consenting adults, so it should be quite a plausible solution.
At any rate, it wasn’t anything she would concern herself about at this point. She had other decisions to make, like whether or not she would return to the Gordon’s while she finished out the school year, or if in fact she wanted to return at all to Blakeford.
All of these thoughts whirled round in her mind as she headed back to the farm. And floating around with them were thoughts of mail order brides and happy husbands and in the middle of all of it, Ethan Bradshaw’s handsome face.
Chapter Seven
Ethan paced back and forth across his small sitting room, glancing at the old mantel clock every few seconds. How could the hands move around so slowly? The afternoon stage should be arriving soon, hopefully carrying some new letters to Mrs. Johnson. Would there be one who might represent his future bride? And what if there were none? What if this whole crazy plan turned out to be nothing more than a dream? What would he do then?
Deciding he needed a diversion, he plunked himself down at his old wooden desk and tried to work on this weeks’ sermon. When it became apparent that that was not going to work, he closed his books and began to pace once again. The sound of hoof beats had him rushing to the window just in time to see the stage go by his house on its way to town. He wanted to rush right in to the post office, but he knew that Harriet would need time to sort through the incoming mail.
She would also want to read the all the letters as well, in order to weed out those that seemed questionable or dishonest. There were always some crafty women who would take advantage of this new idea, taking funds sent by hopeful men for transport and expenses of their future bride and putting them in their pocket. Harriet did her very best to ensure that letters she passed on to her friends were honest and true. It could be hours before she had any news for him. He needed to find something to do.
Thoughts of the conversation he’d had with Cassie Edwards that morning popped into his head. She said she was heading back out to the farm. Maybe he would drop by and see if she needed help around the place. He had noticed on one of his visits to her Granny that the place was in need of some repair. He wasn’t a totally useless handyman, although he hadn’t put his skills to use in quite a while. Surely he could hammer a nail or two if need be. Yes, that’s what he would do.
He found Cassie sitting on the verandah with a cup of tea. She rose to greet him as he dismounted and tied Pete to the old oak tree beside Blue who was still hitched to his wagon.
“Reverend Bradshaw, this is an unexpected surprise.”
“I hope I’m not intruding. I was restless at the church and needed to busy myself. I thought perhaps you might have a chore or two around the place to occupy my hands for a bit. Writing sermons and preparing Sunday school lessons is great for my head but sometimes a man needs a little physical labor to keep him sharp.” He neglected to mention what it was that was really making him so nervous.
“You’re not intruding one bit,” Cassie replied with a smile. “And I do have a chore that is quite high on my list for getting done. The door to the barn is off its hinges and I’m afraid old Blue might wander off. But would you join me for some refreshment before you get to work?”
Ethan shook his head as he peeled off his jacket and loosened his collar. “If it’s alright with you, I think I would prefer to get right onto business and earn my refreshment.” Cassie laughed.
“That is fine too. I like a man with a strong work ethic.” As she said the words, she couldn’t help but think there were probably a lot of things she could come to like about Ethan Bradshaw.
Cassie led him to the barn and showed him where Granny kept her supply of tools. Surprisingly enough, there was a plentiful assortment and they were in very good shape.
“Your Granny must have been quite handy,” Ethan joked. Cassie shrugged.
“I doubt if Granny did much for the last few years. But she would have wanted her hired help to have good tools.” She watched as Ethan scrounged around in the workbench for some nails to fix the hinges. It was an awkward task, holding the door in its proper position while nailing the hinges, and Cassie was quick to help.
Ethan marveled at her willingness to jump right into the work. The thought flew through his mind that she would make some lucky farmer or rancher a wonderful wife. He had no doubt she would be quite capable of handling the demands of farm life, while being intelligent and nurturing at the same time. Yes, Cassie Edwards would make someone a fine wife one day.
Inevitably, those thoughts turned his focus once again to the letters that might be waiting at the post office. When he suddenly became quiet, Cassie questioned him.
“Something on your mind, Reverend? I hope I’m not keeping you from something pressing.” For a long moment Ethan looked at her and wondered if it would be comforting to confide in her. It would be nice to talk to someone about it and see what they thought, someone besides his friends who were doing the same thing. As he looked into her eyes he saw the genuine care and concern there, and he decided to go ahead.
“You’re not keeping me from anything other than pacing around my parlor trying to be patient. You see, I’ve written a letter for Harriet Johnson’s Mail Order Bride business and I am anxiously awaiting some replies. Have you heard of her endeavors?”
Cassie’s eyes grew wide as she listened, and for a moment Ethan wondered if he had made a mistake by confiding in her.
“I just saw the poster this morning. I think it’s a marvelous idea. There are certainly plenty of men here that need help finding partners. The shortage of good womenfolk is quite apparent in their appearance and their manners, not to mention their homesteads.” Ethan laughed and relaxed at her positive response.
“Yes, certainly many of them could use some tendering, and their homes could most definitely use a woman’s touch. So you don’t think it’s a crazy idea?”
“ Not at all,” Cassie assured him. “Do you hope to hear something soon?”
“I’m really hoping there are some letters on the stage that just came in. I am trying to give Harriet sometime to go through them before I pounce on her.”
Cassie laughed at his impatience. “Well, I wish you luck. And I’m sure there is a perfect match for you out there s
omewhere. Let’s just hope Harriet can find her.”
“Thank you. But let’s get back to you now. Are you planning to stay on for a while or are you heading back to Blakeford soon?”
Cassie stirred her tea absently even though the sugar she had added was well dissolved. “I’ve decided to head back at the end of the week. I’ll finish out the school year and then decide about my future. A part of me would love to come back here and live at the farm, but if there are no work prospects, that might be nothing more than a dream.”
“Will you sell the farm if you decide to remain in Blakeford?”
Cassie shrugged and Ethan saw a lot of sadness in that single movement of her slender shoulders.
“I wouldn’t want to ever sell the farm. It means a lot to me, but without work here, I wouldn’t be able to afford its upkeep.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Ethan replied. “I think it would be best to give yourself some time though before deciding on any action.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Cassie said, shaking off the glumness of the conversation and turning a bright smile on him. “And now it’s time I let you get back to your pursuits. Your future is waiting to be decided as well. Thank you so much for your help today. And your counsel. It means a lot to talk to a friend.”
Ethan stood and took her hands in both of his. “Have faith, Cassie. Things will turn out for the best. You’ll see.”
Cassie watched as he rode away, thinking that somewhere very soon, some lucky lady was going to be getting a very important letter from Ethan Bradshaw.
Chapter Eight
Cassie didn’t see Ethan again during her remaining time in Bent River. She spent most of her days at the farm doing what she could to leave it in good shape. She had decided to return to Blakeford to finish the school year and then come back here for the summer.
In the meantime she would write some letters to the school board and inquire what positions might be coming available in the future. She also intended to consider other employment opportunities as well. As much as she loved teaching, there could be other jobs that she could do that would be just as rewarding but allow her to remain in this town that was home.
On her final day at the farm all Cassie could think about was other kinds of work that she could do. Maybe the person who could tell her more about those job possibilities was someone who had their finger on the pulse of the community. Someone who knew everyone an d everything that was going on. Cassie knew exactly who that person was. Harriet Johnson. Once she had everything done at the farm, she headed into town to speak with Harriet.
The afternoon stage had brought a lot of mail, and as much as Harriet just wanted to sort through the responses to her ads, she was obligated to sort the community’s mail first. As she placed letters to the townsfolk in their allotted slots, all Harriet could think about was the men who might find themselves some happiness today. She was just finishing with the last of the business mail when the little bell over the post office door jingled.
“Be there in a second,” Harriet called out from the back room. Her face exploded in a huge grin when she emerged and saw Cassie standing there.
“Cassie! How good to see you. How are things out at the farm?”
Cassie grinned in return. Like Ethan, Harriet was an old friend. She had never left Bent River, but had taken on the job as post mistress when she was just sixteen. She had married her closest neighbor, Jeremiah Findley at the ripe old age of eighteen and was widowed by the time she was twenty. Jeremiah had headed to California looking for gold, with plans to send for Harriet as soon as he settled a claim. An unfortunate mining accident took him from her and she had lived single and alone, running the post office in Bent River ever since. Now he she was trying to help the men in town find loving wives.
“I think I have it in pretty good shape.” Cassie replied. “Ethan was out and did a few things, and the rest I’ve managed on my own. Some of the bigger repairs will have to wait until I get back at the end of June.”
“You’re coming back for the summer?”
“That’s my plan for now. Beyond that, I’m still not sure.” Harriet nodded and glanced at the clock on the wall.
“It’s almost closing time. What do you say we head on over to the café for a bit of supper? My treat, “ she interjected when she saw a look of worry creep into Cassie’s eyes. Before she could answer, the bell over the door jingled again and both women turned to see Reverend Bradshaw enter the room.
He was surprised to see Cassie there, and wasn’t quite sure what to do. Harriet, always the social butterfly, knew exactly what to say. She had no way of knowing that Cassie already knew why Ethan was there, so she addressed him with complete discretion.
“Good afternoon, Reverend. I don’t have those letters you were waiting for sorted out just yet and I was just about to close up for the day. Perhaps you could check back in the morning? I promise I’ll have them ready by then.”
Ethan looked sheepishly at Cassie and then back at Harriet. “It’s alright, Harriet. Cassie knows what I’m here for.” Harriet grinned, looking from one to the other of them thinking that perhaps the match she needed to make was right here under her nose. But she also knew there were several replies to Ethan’s letter waiting for him, and that Cassie was returning to Blakeford the next day.
“Well, in that case, I must tell you there are several letters awaiting my perusal, but I haven’t had a chance to get to them yet. If you could come back in the morning, we could discuss them then.”
Cassie’s heart went out to Ethan at his obvious distress. She knew how hard it had been for him to wait. In an effort to ease his discomfort she chimed in. “My Granny used to say that whatever is worth having, is worth waiting for.” Harriet and Ethan both laughed, and Cassie joined in.
“Far be it from me to ignore one of Granny’s platitudes. I will let you ladies get on with your visit. But make no mistake Harriet, I may be here as soon as the sun is up.”
Harriet laughed. “And I’ll be waiting, Reverend.”
As she locked up the post office and gathered her personal belongings, Harriet grinned. “So you know about Ethan’s participation in my business?”
Cassie nodded. “I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but having given it more thought, I think it’s a marvelous idea.”
Harriet grinned even wider. “What?” Cassie asked. “What is that look all about?”
“Have you considered answering my ad yourself? I think I have an eligible bachelor in mind to match you up with.”
“Me? But I already live here. Don’t you look for applicants from other places around the country?”
“That is true, but there’s nothing says you couldn’t write a letter that I could then give to a certain preacher that we both know very well.”
“But Harriet! That just seems wrong somehow!”
“Oh nonsense! You know what they say. ‘All’s fair in love and war.’ And besides, you can’t exactly go up to him and ask him to start courting you, now can you? This would be a way to get the ball rolling so to speak.”
Cassie just looked at her old friend, uncertain how to respond. Then she slowly shook her head. “No, I have to return to Blakeford, and I don’t know what I will do after that. The timing just isn’t right for me. And besides, Ethan is so anxious to find someone that I don’t think there is any way he would want to wait. But I will give it some more thought once the school year is over.” The two old friends chatted a while longer and then went their separate ways, making a promise to keep in touch.
Back at the farm, Cassie unhitched Blue and led her through the newly fixed barn door that opened and closed with ease thanks to Ethan. As far as other repairs, most of them could wait until she returned. Tomorrow she would return Blue to the livery and take the morning stage back to Blakeford.
She hadn’t sent word to the Gordon’s that she would be returning. The substitute teacher that had come to take her place was staying there and would remain
there until Cassie was back at work. What Cassie hadn’t told the Gordon’s was that she really didn’t intend to return to their house at all. The cash that Granny had saved would allow her to stay in town at the boarding house until the school year finished.
Packing her few belongings back into her satchel, Cassie realized how much she was dreading leaving the farm. In just the few short days that she had been here, she had started to feel like she was home again. She missed Granny horribly of course, but her presence was here all around her. This was where she belonged.
Chapter Nine
Just as he had promised, Ethan was at the post office early the next morning, and Harriet was there waiting for him. The morning stage had not yet arrived, so she was free to sit and chat with him.
“I have three letters that I think might interest you. They are all from women out east who are looking to make a new life for themselves. Each is of a somewhat different background, but they sound to be about your age and meet your requirements.”
“So what do I do now?”
Harriet laughed. The normally very confident Reverend Bradshaw all of a sudden looked like a schoolboy about to ask a girl to the county fair for the first time.
“The first thing you do is take these letters home and read them. If one or even all of the women appeal to you, I suggest you write them a second letter of a bit more personal nature. Chances are, from those replies, you will be able to select the one that intrigues you the most.”
Nodding slowly, Ethan took the letters from her. “Thank you Harriet. So it’s all up to me from here?”
“Yes Reverend. It’s all up to you from here. From now on the letters will come here addressed directly to you. Good luck.”
Before he was all the way out of the building, she called out as an afterthought. “And if none of those three women seem right to you, just let me know and I’ll put you back on the list.”