Mail Order Bride: Montana Bride (A Clean Inspirational Historical New Adult Romance)

by Nathan Adams

  That was silly, Eliza thought to herself. Maybe I was supposed to call her by her real name? Maybe she forgot that she had introduced herself to me under a pseudonym?

  “Alice?” A slight stir. Did she hear her?

  “Alice, it’s me, Eliza. Remember?” Alice moved her head a little toward Eliza, but she still wasn’t looking at her.

  “We met on the train. Remember?” She spoke softly, afraid to speak up.

  “Train?” Alice finally spoke up.

  “Yes! Yes, in the train. I’m Eliza,” Eliza repeated.

  “Eliza?” Alice turned to her. Her eyes didn’t show any signs of recognition but rather of curiosity. “Eliza.”

  “Yes, Eliza. Do you remember me, Alice?”

  Alice shook her head.

  “We were attacked on the train, remember?” Eliza hoped that drawing specific images in Alice’s mind would trigger her memory.

  “Attacked?” Alice echoed.

  “Yes, by a cowboy gang. You were taken as a hostage.”

  “Taken?” Alice was simply echoing. It didn’t seem like the two were having an actual conversation at all.

  No, this isn’t working, Eliza thought to herself. She turned around to Ambrose and gestured him to bring the little one. Taking her from him, Eliza tried to place the baby gently in Alice’s arms.

  At first, Alice seemed shocked. She didn’t move, she simply allowed her arms and hands to be positioned in the best way possible to receive a sleeping baby. Her eyes revealed shock and confusion.

  “It’s your baby, Alice. Do you remember?” Eliza was hoping that this would be it. Otherwise, there would be nothing else left to try. They would have to give up and return home.

  Alice was quiet, even with a baby in her arms. She was motionless, her eyes frantically traveling from the baby to Eliza and then back to the baby.

  Then, in an effort to return the slumbering little bundle to Eliza, Alice moved too quickly, and the baby started crying. Suddenly, Eliza noticed what she had come all this way to see: a spark of recognition. It wasn’t the sight of her child that triggered Alice’s memory but rather her cry, the baby letting her know how much she was missed and how much she needed her back.

  “Oh, my little one!” Alice finally spoke up and hugged her baby tight. She rocked her gently, and in a matter of seconds, the baby was happy and calm once again, as if nothing bad had ever happened to any of them.

  When she lifted her gaze back up, Alice recognized Eliza as well.

  “Eliza!” Her eyes teared up with joy upon seeing her unlikely friend. “Eliza, you came to find me!”

  “Of course I did, Alice,” Eliza smiled, purposefully accentuating the name.

  “Oh, that.” Alice seemed slightly embarrassed by the fact that she was caught in a lie. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you my real name. It’s just … ”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Eliza placed her hand gently on Alice’s. “And besides, I like Alice much better than Ruth.” She winked at her.

  “I don’t know how to repay you,” Alice started but was interrupted by Ambrose.

  “Well, you could honor us with your presence at our upcoming wedding.” He kissed Eliza’s head lovingly.

  “Really?” She looked at both of them, earnestly happy. “That is wonderful news. Of course I’ll be there, —with bells on!” All three laughed merrily.

  The following arrangement was achieved: Alice was to stay with Ambrose and Eliza until she could get back on her feet and continue her journey. In the meantime, her husband to-be was informed of everything and was expected to come for her any day.

  Ambrose and Eliza’s wedding was one to be remembered, not simply because it was a big deal for everyone in their little town or for the fact that Eliza looked like an angel sent from the heavens themselves. It was actually because this was the holy union of two truly magnificent people who laid their lives not only for God but also for their fellow man. In return, they received a truly just reward: the return of that same life, only improved.

  Yes, God is sometimes mute, but he is always watching and pondering. The harmony of his ways teaches His children to be gentle with one another, just like Ambrose and Eliza. Because blessed is the person who has love in his or her heart, for true love has the power to affect the lives of ordinary men and women and send them on a righteous path to their eternal destiny.

  THE END

  Return to the TOC for Bonus Content

  Blessed this Child

  CHAPTER 1

  It was a time of change - that much was obvious to Ivey Alwood. The economic crisis of the late 1800s had led to the shrinking of the Wild West and the general crashing of US economy, causing bankruptcy all over the land. Unfortunately, it didn’t exclude the once prosperous Alwood family. Ivey’s father dealt with silver, and shortly before this point, it was believed that the worth of silver would strengthen. Instead, panic started to spread all over the land, leading the fearful to exchange their silver for gold bars because they were all terrified of the possible decline of silver prices. The economic downturn even got itself an appropriate name: “The Panic of 1893.” Needless to say, many business owners declared bankruptcy and the number of unemployed was at an all-time high.

  The results of all of this chaos were more than palpable in the Alwood household. Having kept only four servants for the entire land, when there were used to be more than a dozen, it was obvious that if something wasn’t done immediately, the family wouldn’t be able to go on like this for much longer. Who knew what could happen then?

  That morning, Ivey woke up with a slight headache. She wasn’t prone to having migraines, not since she was a child and that horrible episode with the mumps. She took a big gulp of water from the glass that was resting at an arm’s length on her night stand. It was still early in the morning, but she knew that everyone in the house was already up, trying to figure out what to do with their day. She expected to find her father ravenously reading the newspapers, desperate for any positive news regarding the worth of silver. Unfortunately it was obvious to Ivey that there was no good news on the horizon. Her mother on the other hand, would be her usual cheerful self. Mother was one of those people who always managed to find a silver lining in any cloud, and this was why Ivey loved her so much. Ivey inherited her mother’s good cheer and a positive outlook on life. It had proven to be an invaluable social mannerism, especially when it came to dealing with severe repercussions stemming from her childhood.

  Ivey got dressed quickly. She was still trying to be fashionable and uphold the tradition of the “Mauve Decade”. Yes, it was true that comfort wasn’t really the primary concern of many fashionable women of the day, but Ivey tried to make a compromise between beautiful and comfortable, at least as much as the fabric and circumstances allowed. She combed her beautiful blond hair into a sleek bun, and tied it up with a purple ribbon to compliment the dress. She was satisfied with the reflection staring back at her from inside the mirror. Ivey was used to people telling her that she was extremely beautiful, though she was determined not to get through life on mere looks alone. She knew the effect her blue eyes had on the opposite sex, and she also knew that the smattering of freckles across her face, and her naturally innocent smile would get her anything she wanted.

  But there was more to Ivey Alwood than met the eye. Few people knew of her exquisite sewing skills, and even less of her riding capabilities that could match those of a man on any given day of the year. She read profusely and was well versed in many philosophic terms of the day, able to cite important writers and elaborate on social topics if necessary. All this, she got from her mother, who was of the belief that a woman could be both beautiful and intelligent.

  “How else do you think I managed to keep your father interested in me all this time?” her mother would laugh, as the two sat in their parlor discussing philosophy.

  When Ivey went downstairs that morning, the family was already gathered around the breakfast table, which was piled high with delicacie
s and smelled heavenly.

  “I see Lily has outdone herself with the pancakes this morning,” Ivey smiled at their servant Lily, a beloved member of their household for the past several years. Ivey pulled her chair out and sat down at the table eagerly, like a child waiting for a treat. She glanced around and noticed her father was immersed in the newspapers, just as she expected him to be, while her mother sipped her tea from a delicate little cup that Ivey knew had belonged to Ivey’s grandmother.

  Ivey also inherited from her mother the idea that even delicate and precious things kept in isolation served no purpose. Ivey knew several families who were afraid to put their cherished family heirlooms to good use, locking them away to gather dust in a cupboard; visible but useless. This was exactly why Ivey loved seeing her mother drink her morning tea out of this particular cup. She liked to join her, though her preferred beverage was coffee, with just a bit of milk and sugar.

  “Lily, could I have a cup of coffee, please,” she smiled at Lily.

  “I’ll go get it, Miss,” Lily replied and quickly disappeared into the kitchen.

  “Any news on silver, father?” Ivey inquired hopefully, though something told her that nothing had changed. The question had become part of their morning ritual, and Ivey didn’t feel like breaking this tradition.

  Her father paused before replying. “Nothin’ yet, pumpkin. We’re still in a pickle.”

  Her father always tried to tone down the severity of the whole situation though he wasn’t a child anymore. Ivey was and she could perhaps help somehow, or at least participate in the serious conversations that took place in this house. It seemed, however, that her parents still wanted to shelter her from the unpleasant things that sometimes happened in life.

  “But, there is somethin’ we,” he glanced at his wife, “wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Oh?” Ivey replied, with a mouthful of Lily’s delicious blueberry pancakes. She quickly chewed and swallowed, wiping her lips carefully with a napkin. “Is everything alright?” she asked and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her left ear, something she did regularly when caught off guard. Her mother looked at her intently as her father continued..

  “You know that these past couple of months have been real hard on us.” finally put the newspaper down, and Ivey knew that something very serious was coming her way. “God knows we tried to keep you out of it, and make you feel like nothin’ changed, but it has. Change is inevitable,” he paused and cleared his throat. “I don’t want to frighten you, but we may eventually have to sell the land and the house.”

  Ivey was shocked and could feel her heart racing in her chest. Sell the land and the house!?

  “But, where’ll we go?” Ivey’s voice was shaking and she was on the verge of tears.

  “There, there dear. We’ll get through it somehow.” He placed his heavy hand over Ivey’s in a fruitless attempt to comfort her. “But, we don’t want you to have to go through such hardships. You need to be taken care of. Once we know you’re safe, we can begin to sort out this mess we’re in.” Her mother nodded in silent agreement.

  “So, what are you saying father?” Ivey puzzled. Her entire body was stiff, bracing for the impact of her father’s coming words.

  “Now, I need you to look at this with an open mind, somethin’ your ma and I have always been teaching you to do,” he cleared his throat again. “The only way for you to be safe from this mess is to move to another household,” he stated matter-of-factly. “And the only way for you to do that is… to marry someone.”

  “Marry who?” Ivey jumped from her chair as if stung by a bee.

  Her father reached inside his coat pocket, took out a crumpled up letter, and held it out to her.

  “What’s this?” Ivey eyed the letter in his hand, not wanting to accept it.

  “Ivey, dear… take the letter and read it,” her mother plead.

  Without a word, Ivey approached her father and took the letter. With shaking fingers, she extracted the faded paper and glanced at the lines. There wasn’t much to it, only a few words about a man named Gabe Riddell, his ranch deep in the West, his requirements and wishes, and a desire to hear from her, should she wish to reply.

  “Who is…” Ivey had to check the letter again, “Gabe Riddell?”

  “He is someone interested in marrying you, dear,” her mother replied.

  Just, Lily entered the dining room with Ivey’s coffee, not realizing what a serious discussion she was interrupting.

  “I beg your pardon, Miss, the coffee woulda been done sooner but…” Ivey stopped her before she finish her sentence.

  “Take it back, Lily. I don’t want any coffee,” Ivey gestured for Lily to leave. Her throat had gone bone dry, and the last thing on her mind right now was coffee. Lily obediently left the room.

  “Father,” Ivey looked at him sternly in the eyes. “What are you saying? That you want to marry me off to a stranger? Someone I’ve never met? ” she could feel her nostrils flaring, and on top of it all, that dull pain in her temples from this morning was returning.

  “Now, honey…” her father rose from his chair and took her gently by the shoulders with both hands. “I know this seems a little extreme, but trust me when I say this is the only way for us to make sure you’re well taken care of.” His voice implored her to see reason and her mother looked on desperately.

  “But, I’m not a little girl, father!” she protested, feeling the urge to stomp her feet. “I am capable of handling reality. I know that we’ve been doing poorly, but I can handle it…” now, she was the one who was pleading.

  “But, can’t you see, darlin’, I don’t want you to handle it?” he wrapped her trembling body in his powerful embrace. Ivey finally released her pent up tears and sobbed against her father’s chest, his thick vest absorbing her tears. smelled of tobacco, something she always found soothing. It always made her feel that no matter what, daddy would always make things okay. Now, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

  CHAPTER 2

  That afternoon, Ivey was sitting in the parlor by herself. Her parents were out on a social call and, not being in the mood to join them, Ivey had decided to stay home. Thankfully her parents hadn’t insisted. They were actually hoping that if left alone for a while, Ivey would come to her senses and realize that marrying was the only logical thing to do under the circumstances.

  The house was quiet and even her headache allowed her a few moments of peace, as she sat comfortably on the sofa with her feet up. She eyed the letter was on the table in front of her suspiciously. She half expected it to jump into her hands and make her do things she wasn’t sure she wanted to do. Her mind buzzed as she closed her eyes and tried to make sense of it all but it was no use.

  What should I do with you? She looked at the letter, still on the table. I don’t trust you. I don’t know you.

  The letter was silent, its voice a thousand miles away.

  In one fell swoop, she lifted herself off of the sofa and grabbed the letter. Might as well get it over with, she thought to herself.

  She read the letter more carefully this time thought it still revealed little about this man, Gabe Riddell. There was little detail, good or bad, about him in the letter. Without much thought, Ivey headed towards the l bureau that held her writing paraphernalia. She took out a yellow piece of paper and her ink pot. Dipping the pen gently in the ink, Ivey paused, trying to formulate her thoughts. A small droplet of ink stained the paper but she didn’t mind. She would start from there and perhaps, it would lead her somewhere good.

  Her reply letter was brief. She explained her situation, though she suspected that he was well aware of everything that was going on. She revealed a little about herself, but not too much. At this point, she hadn’t really made up her mind whether or not she wanted him to like her. She hoped that wasn’t felt in the letter.

  Opting against embellishing it with any ribbons, silk threads or other baubles, she sealed it as it was, simple and from the heart, and sent Lily i
nto town to mail it.

  “Well, at least that’s over,” she said out loud. The rest of the afternoon, Ivey spent lounging in the parlor with her favorite book. She managed to get lost in her favorite heroine’s adventures and erase the memory of the letter from her mind.. Ivey dozed off on the sofa, and was woken up a few hours later by the arrival of her parents.

  Mr. Alwood seemed particularly pleased about something, though he wasn’t willing to divulge what that something was. Ivey attributed it to a possible change in the state of silver. She had no idea that her parents had met Lily while in town, who told them the reason for her visit to the post office. This piece of news seemed to settle affairs in their household, at least for the time being.

  Days passed without much excitement, , until Gabe’s reply letter arrived, this time addressed to Ivey . Ivey tried to act nonchalant, but truth be told, her heart jumped a little when she saw her name on the envelope. Things had been a bit dull lately, and so she welcomed any kind of entertainment, and this exchange of letters came to be just that. Ivey6 wasn’t the least bit convinced that Gabe Riddell was potential marriage material, but like any good girl, she obeyed her father’s wishes and decided to give him a chance. What was there to lose?

  Ivey went to her room to read the letter, which revealed so much more this time. Gabe’s words told of his every day habits, annoyances, wishes, hopes, and even dreams for the future and what it might hold for him and his family. His words were warm and welcoming. He was obviously very happy that she decided to write back and to give this strange affair a go.

  When she finished reading his letter, Ivey lifted her gaze and caught her reflection in the small mirror hanging on her vanity table. She was surprised to find a smile on her face. Why am I smiling? She thought to herself. What could this mean?

  She put the letter down and set out to write an immediate response. She reciprocated with an equally detailed account of her daily life, her hobbies, skills, abilities, and dreams. She wanted him to know her. And now she was sure that she wanted him to like her too.