by Nathan Adams
"A Morgan?!" she exclaimed with deafening anger.
"Yes, about that," he began. "I never quite understood your hatred of the family, they are, after all, quite lovely," he smiled down at Cora.
"Because —" Mrs. Carmichael began, then broke off.
"Yes?" all three voices turned to her in unison, searching for the answer.
Mrs. Carmichael paused, as if she was searching for the answer herself. "I –" she began then broke off, "think Mrs. Morgan broke a dinner plate," she said sheepishly. She no longer looked so intimidating and foreboding.
Cora was stunned. This age long feud was because of a dinner plate? It was all ridiculous and strange — but not as strange as Matthew referring to her as his fiancée.
Matthew stepped in first and said exactly what was on everyone's mind. "How ridiculous. Are you saying we shunned the Morgan’s — who were longtime family friends I might add — over a dinner plate?"
Mrs. Carmichael sniffed hotly. "It was a very nice dinner plate," she added.
Cora snorted, she couldn’t help it, and she just found the whole thing so funny. Hard as she tried, she couldn't hold back the laughter. She laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes and she struggled to catch her breath.
Her snorts of laughter had everyone cackling at the ridiculousness of the situation. Even Mrs. Carmichael's stiff upper lip curled in a bit at the corners as she fought to resist the waves of laughter that rolled over the small group.
Through heaving breaths, Cora finally spoke. "Well Matthew Carmichael, you might as well tell her about the ranch."
"Might as well," he shrugged. "Mother, I do not own a ranch, but I do manage one part time, at least when I am not bartending at the saloon."
Mrs. Carmichael's eyes flared and the smile vanished from her lips.
"But seeing that you initiated a decade long feud over a dinner plate," he reminded her, "I think you can let me off the hook."
"I see that I have been a complete failure in raising you," she said disdainfully.
"Quite the contrary, if it wasn't for you, I would never have become acquainted with Cora," he turned to her and smiled.
Cora beamed back up at him. "Well, Mr. Carmichael, but what is this business about me being your fiancée?" she asked. "Last time I checked, you hadn't asked."
Matthew reached into his front coat pocket — the one opposite the sleeping Bartholomew who hadn't awoken despite the loud chaos — and produced Cora's acceptance letter. "It says right here that I asked you," he waved it in the air.
"Yes, but from my understanding, I have to meet you and then agree to the marriage before it is valid," she added.
"Exactly," he said. And with a gleam in his eye he spoke, "And do you? Agree that is? I may not be the great ranch owner you thought, but I have access to one," he teased.
She whacked him lightly on the shoulder. "I need more than just a ranch Matthew," she said.
"How about a man that has fallen hopelessly in love with you?" he asked as his face suddenly became serious.
Cora gasped. "You have?" she asked. Their little audience melted away in Cora's mind, as she focused only on the man before her, the declaration of his love ringing in her ears.
"You're feisty, beautiful, daring, kind, and adventurous," he said. "I am sorry for my initial deception, but I don't regret that it brought you to me. I can't imagine spending another day without you," he added.
Cora looked up at him from under her lashes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had dreamt about this day for most of her life, and although it was different than her fantasy, she couldn't have imagined it any better. "Yes," she breathed.
Matthew broke out into a wide smile and swept her up in his arms. "I promise to always make you happy Cora." He leaned in to kiss her.
"And create the opportunity for adventures?" she asked.
He smiled, "Yes, as long as I have you, life already is the greatest adventure."
He brought his lips down to meet hers in a passionate kiss. Cora felt her toes curl with delight as his strong arms came around her small waist in a lovers' embrace.
"Me too," Cora sighed as Matthew deepened the kiss and swept her off her feet.
The End
Return to the TOC for Bonus Content
Will’s Bride
Chapter One
Will sighed as he stepped out of his house and into the dry, vast landscape of Montana. This was God’s land, and it was untouched by modern machinery and still fertile. This was going to be America’s heartland, and he was proud to be a part of it, even if it was unplanned.
A neighbor rode by on a horse, swaying back and forth with the horse’s movements. Will raised his arm, offering a wave to the elderly man who waved right back, pulling at his horse’s reins.
“Good morning, Fred,” Will called down to the old man.
“Morning, Will. How are you settling into ranching life?”
“Better than I expected,” he admitted with a laugh.
Will was truly surprised that he was managing so well in this harsh land. He was born in Chicago and lived his entire life in the city. He was the son of a lawyer and a well-to-do heiress. He was raised to go into the family business and eventually went to law school, proving himself to be a prodigy. He would have liked to take credit for his genius, but the truth was he wouldn’t have gotten far without God.
He was always raised to put his faith in God, and that’s exactly what he did. It was the same reason he’d ventured all the way out here to Montana. Will worked in his father’s law firm for a little more than five years, but the itch to do something more was constantly gnawing at the back of his mind. He didn’t want to sit in an office for the rest of his life. He felt like he was made for greater things, so he did what he always did: He prayed on it.
The answer did not come immediately, of course, but shortly after Will began to feel hopeless, a letter arrived in the mail. It was from his uncle’s estate. Will’s great uncle was an explorer and a man that seemed to have no limits. He was a bit of an eccentric, but seeing as he was one of the country’s wealthiest men, no one questioned his odd behavior.
It was sad to know that his beloved uncle passed away, but Will knew that he’d moved on to greener pastures. His uncle was a good man, and there was no doubt in Will’s mind that he would see the man again when it was his time to leave this earth.
The affection Will felt for his uncle was clearly shared, seeing as the man left him the deed to a vast ranch in Montana. He was shocked at the generous gift that was left for him, but he knew it was the answer to his prayers. He’d never considered being a rancher or going West, but he knew he couldn’t ignore his calling. If that was what God had in mind for him, then that’s what he would do.
His father was a bit upset by his son’s decision to leave but understood none the less. He wished Will luck, and after a few tearful goodbyes from his mother, he set off into the unexplored land. There was a small settlement in the capital of Billings, but other than that, the land was full of ranches and farms that were spaced far apart. Even Fred, Will’s closest neighbor, was a good seven miles up the road.
The distance and solitude didn’t really bother Will. He’d spent his entire life in big cities, constantly surrounded by others with little to no privacy. It was nice to be allowed to breathe the open air for the first time in his life. The air was fresh and clean, and Will knew that this was his destiny.
“Has the train come into town yet?” Will asked, assuming that Fred was coming from town.
Fred glanced over his shoulder back toward the direction of town. “It wasn’t in the station when I was there, but the ticket woman said that it would be in before sundown. Do you have family coming to visit?”
“Not family, though I am expecting someone,” Will said, a soft smile coming to his lips.
Like all matters in his life, he left his choice of a wife in God’s hands. There were few women in the West, and those who made their way across the country were either alr
eady married or engaged to be wed. The West was an unforgiving place, not meant for young, single women. The only way to survive this harsh landscape was to find a husband.
Because women in the West were so scarce, many of the men put out ads for mail-order brides. They often came from the bigger cities for the same reasons the men did. There was more opportunity and more wholesomeness out here. It was rare that men like Will came out West. Men who were seen as professionals normally stayed in the city where they ran their successful businesses. They weren’t the ones who were normally interested in taming the wild land. The men in Montana were often failed business men and construction workers looking for a brand new start or young men looking for adventure. The women who traveled West and answered the ads were often in similar positions. It was always a risk to put out an ad for a bride, but Will knew that God would send him a wife that was right for him.
“Who are you expecting, then?” Fred asked, cocking a bushy eyebrow.
“Her name is Rebekah. She’s going to be my wife.”
Fred whistled, impressed with the answer. “We’ll see her at church then?” he asked, urging the horse forward, though the great beast took slow, careful steps.
“If all goes as planned and she arrives today,” Will said, tipping his hat to Fred.
The old man offered one last wave and then disappeared down the dry, dusty road. It was the dead of summer, and nearly all of the plants that were once pleasantly green were now a brown color, thirsty from the lack of rain that normally came with summer. At least the evergreens were still standing tall, offering some relief from the otherwise brown foliage.
Knowing that the sun would be setting shortly, Will stepped off the porch and wandered into the stable where his beloved horse was waiting for him. Will never would have realized his love of horses if it wasn’t for the ranch. Yet as much as he loved his new home, he was struggling to keep the large piece of land in working order. He quickly realized that it was impossible to keep a ranch in working order on your own. It was why so many of the men in town turned to mail-order brides.
The land in Montana was cheap and sometimes free, so many people came out to these rural areas and bought large patches land they couldn’t manage on their own. The women were expected to work just as hard as the men out here, so a wife was not only a good companion, but she was also a valuable asset when it came to farming and caring for the animals.
Will knew that he could make the ranch a thriving business, but he needed a wife to help him. He hoped that by the time he reached the train station, she would be arriving, and they could live out this dream together.
Chapter Two
The ride into town seemed a lot longer than normal, though Will attributed that to his excitement. He was still a fairly young man at just 27, and the prospect of marriage was an exciting one. Once he and his wife were married, they could start a family. Will wanted children more than anything else.
Love was not something that was expected from a marriage. Most people hoped for it but understood that a marriage was a business agreement. It was especially true of marriages like the one Will was preparing to enter.
When he finally made it to Billings, he let his horse rest in the public stables and walked over toward the train station. People were piling out of the simple log structure, many of them lost women dressed in their best clothes and carrying suitcases. Any of these women could have been Will's future wife, and the possibility seemed overwhelming. The only thing he knew about the woman he was supposed to marry was that her name was Rebekah Larson.
Just as he stepped forward to begin asking their names, a gust of wind blew through the main street of the small town, kicking up dust and causing the women's skirts to rustle. Many of them gasped and held their skirts down to remain modest and, in doing so, lost their hats.
A fairly plain navy blue sun hat tumbled by Will's feet, and he leaned down to pick it up. As the dust cloud cleared, a pale redheaded woman came running over toward Will, her emerald eyes wide.
"Oh, thank you, Sir. That's my hat. I lost it in the storm," she said, her voice soft and melodic.
Will’s own honey eyes met hers, and he offered her a soft smile, handing the hat over. His calloused fingers brushed her smooth, milky white skin, and a soft pink blush came to her freckled cheeks.
“It’s always my pleasure to help a beautiful woman like yourself.”
She smiled behind her hand, trying to cover up the pinkness in her cheeks. Women often blushed around Will. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and intense golden-colored eyes that seemed to see straight through a person. He had a strong build but a gentle touch and a boyish smile that was accentuated by his fairly long, sandy blonde hair. He could have any woman he wanted in Chicago, but Will wanted a Godly woman with strong faith. A pure soul meant more than a pretty face.
The woman smiled and tucked some hair behind her ear. “You shouldn’t flirt with an engaged woman,” she chastised gently, still smiling.
“I didn’t see a ring. I didn’t know you were engaged. You should give your fiancé a good tongue lashing when you see him for letting you out here on your own,” he said with a chuckle.
“I will as soon as I find him.”
Will paused and glanced at her. “What’s his name? Maybe I can help you find him.”
“Do you know a lot of people in this town?”
“It’s a small town,” he pointed out.
She nodded, looking around for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “His name is William Farr.”
Will fell silent, stunned by his luck. This was just the woman he’d prayed for. A slow grin spread across his face. He stepped forward, offering his arm to the woman.
“I suppose it was all right for me to flirt with you, then.”
Her eyes widened, and she let out a nervous little laugh as she took his arm. “You’re William?”
Will offered her a tilt of his hat and smiled. “Just call me Will.”
“Will. I like it. It’s a very strong name.”
“Will and Rebekah. It has a nice sound to it, doesn’t it?”
She chewed her lip and nodded. “It does.”
Just because marriage was an agreement and more business than anything didn’t mean that they were inclined to hate each other. Will was lucky enough to be blessed with a gorgeous wife. Who’s to say she wasn’t also kind?
He smiled and patted her hand gently. “Would you like to see your new home?”
“I’d love to. The train ride was so long. I must admit I am rather exhausted,” she said, fanning herself with a delicate hand.
Will looked her up and down, taking in her delicate frame and smooth skin. She probably wasn’t going to be able to help him much on the ranch, but that was all right as long as she could manage the garden and the house.
He led her past the train station and to the public stables where his horse was happily eating from a trough. Rebekah seemed a little uneasy around the horse, and Will couldn’t help his laugh.
“Do horses make you nervous?”
“A bit,” she admitted with a small smile. “We never really rode them in New York. Sometimes we would take carriages during the winter, but we mostly walked. I used to ride a bike, but mother told me it was unladylike and made me stop.”
He smiled a little and took her hand. “The definition of a lady is very different out here, Rebekah. Women work like men and ride horses, too, though I’ve never seen anyone on a bicycle,” he said, pointing to the stirrup. “Put your foot there.”
She did as he said and gripped the reins with the other hand. “Now what?”
“On the count of three, throw your other leg over the horse. Ready? One. Two.Three.” He grunted but managed to get her over the other side of the horse when she was seated and ready to ride she wore a bright grin.
“It’s so tall,” she gasped.
Will smiled and nodded, throwing himself up onto the horse as well. He’d replaced his usual saddle with a blanket to
day, knowing that they would both have to ride the horse back to the ranch. Will nudge the horse, and the black stallion trotted out of the stable and out onto the dirt road that would eventually lead them home. Rebekah seemed a bit unsteady at first but eventually got comfortable with the movements of the horse.
As they rocked from side to side with each trot, Will found himself grinning and thanking God for delivering such a perfect wife. It finally seemed like he was on his way to getting the family he’d always wanted. A small nagging thought came to Will’s mind, however. He couldn’t figure out why such a seemingly perfect woman would come all the way out to Montana. Was she running from something? He pushed that thought from his mind, knowing that he should have been grateful, no suspicious, for this blessing.
Chapter Three
A few weeks passed, and Will was more than pleased with his soon-to-be wife. She was a good woman with a pleasant demeanor and a love for the church. Her eyes lit up the first Sunday morning service they'd went to. By the time that first service came around, they were wed. Rebekah insisted in a quiet ceremony, and Will was pleased with her modesty. Moving to Montana and investing in the ranch ate into most of Will’s savings, and he didn’t have much money for an extravagant wedding.
Everyone in their little town seemed just as impressed by Rebekah as Will was. The children loved her, and the men all congratulated him on finding such a fine wife. She was quick to make friends with most of the other wives, many of whom were also mail-order brides.
Rebekah seemed relieved that there were women just like her. She'd admitted that she was afraid she would be an outcast among the wives because of the fact that she was a mail-order bride.
Many women in the cities saw being a mail-order bride something to be ashamed of. It often meant that you weren't able to find a husband in your own town. In the West, however, the business of mail-order brides was a necessary one and easily understood by the town folk. None of the women who'd traveled to Montana from other cities were seen as less pure or unworthy of a husband.