Mail Order Bride - Westward Fortune: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 5)

by Linda Bridey

  “How are you gonna do that?” Luke asked. “It better be something real good.”

  “Oh, it is. I’m gonna go to Walhalla,” he said. “Can you guys help Lacey if she needs it?”

  “Yeah, sure. You’re going to go to our home town? Why?” Jamie asked.

  Joe smiled. “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Don’t do anything stupid,” Luke said.

  “Who? Me?” Joe said, and jumped up. He hugged Jamie, clapped Luke on the back, and was gone.

  *****

  Lacey heard Joe come in the house and shut the door to her room. He went past her room and she thought maybe he went in his. She tried to concentrate on the book she’d been reading, but it was hard when she knew that Joe was right down the hall. Lacey fought her desire to go to him. Calling upon her anger and grief, she warded off the memories of all the good times they’d had together.

  Soon she heard Joe approach her door and stop.

  “Lacey, I know you’re in there. Randy told me where you were. I’m going to stay in town for a while. It hurts too much to stay here in this house with you right now knowing that you hate me. I hope someday you can forgive me. I love you and I miss you.”

  Lacey’s lower lip began to tremble and she couldn’t answer him. She didn’t want him to know how much she cared.

  “All right,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”

  His footsteps faded away. Lacey lay down on her bed and wept.

  *****

  Joe caught Beth just as she was ready to pull out from the depot.

  “Hey, good-lookin’,” he said. “You got room for one more?”

  Beth looked at his bag and said, “Where are you goin’?”

  “Walhalla, North Dakota. Take me as far as you’re goin’ right now and I’ll get there the rest of the way,” Joe said.

  “Sure. Hop in,” Beth said.

  Joe stowed his bag and got in the carriage. He could have taken one of his horses, but he was weary from everything and preferred to be driven at the moment. Joe had visited the bank and taken out quite a bit of money, which he carried in his wallet. It was stuffed in a secret pocket in the lining of his suit jacket.

  There was only one other person in the carriage. The elderly gentleman smiled at Joe and introduced himself as Gavin James. They struck up a conversation for a while and then both fell silent. Joe stretched out on his seat and leaned his head back. Soon he was asleep.

  *****

  Joe was disoriented when Beth woke him up. It was dark.

  “Get up, sleepyhead,” she teased. “This is the end of the line for me.”

  “Where are we?” Joe asked.

  “Williston, North Dakota,” Beth replied.

  “Damn. How long was I asleep?”

  “Long enough,” Beth said with a laugh. “C’mon. I checked and the next coach will be along in a couple of hours.”

  Joe disembarked from the coach and stretched his cramped muscles. Beth retrieved his bag and Joe gave her above and beyond her fee. “Don’t argue, Beth. Just take it. It’s well worth it to me.”

  “You’re sure?” Beth said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Joe said.

  Beth nodded. “All right. See ya when ya come back around.”

  “You bet,” Joe said. He went into the depot and paid his fare for the coach that would be coming. He was itching to get to his destination and hoped that the next driver would be as punctual as Beth. Joe bought a cup of coffee and a newspaper and settled down to wait.

  *****

  While Joe was on his way to Walhalla, there were big doings back in Dawson. Tucker, husband to Dean’s daughter Sadie, had dispatched his brother Will to go to the Samuels ranch. Will came riding up their lane the night that Joe left. He knocked on their door.

  Tessa opened it and said, “Hello, Will. How are you?” she asked.

  “I’m fine, ma’am. I came to let you know that Sadie’s having the baby. She’s askin’ for you,” Will said as he smiled at her.

  Tessa clapped her hands together and laughed. “I’m going to be a grandmother! Dean! Dean!” she called excitedly.

  “What is it?” Dean said as he came out of the parlor.

  “Sadie’s having the baby! We have to go right now. I’m going over to ask Jamie to stay with the children,” Tessa said, and ran out the door past Will.

  Dean said, “Thanks for coming to tell us, Will. How’s she doing so far?”

  Will nodded. “Good. She’s happy because she’s ready to hold their baby and she’s tired of being pregnant.” The young man smiled.

  Dean laughed. “Yeah. She’s a little overdue and was getting really uncomfortable. Is Doc Turner there?”

  “Yeah. He’s happy with how things are going, so that’s good.”

  Tessa came back with Jamie in tow.

  “Dean! Stop just standing here! We have to get the buggy hitched up! There’s no time to waste!” Tessa snapped and ran towards the barn.

  Dean laughed and said, “I guess I’d better get moving. She’ll try to hitch that thing up herself if I don’t.”

  Jamie gave him a hug. “Good luck. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  “Thanks,” Dean said. He ran after his wife.

  *****

  Upon reaching Tucker and Sadie’s little house in town, Tessa hopped out of the buggy as soon as it stopped and flew to the door. She didn’t bother knocking. She went in and hurried to Sadie and Tucker’s bedroom.

  Sadie looked up and saw her step-mother. She held out her arms to Tessa and said, “Mama!”

  Tessa went to her and took her in her arms. A contraction hit Sadie and she hung on to Tessa until it passed. Tessa drew back and took Sadie’s face in her hands. “It’s going to be all right, sweetie. I’m here and so is your Pa.”

  Sadie nodded and brushed the tears from her eyes.

  Doc said, “Everything is coming along just fine.”

  “Excellent,” Tessa said. Tucker sat on a chair on the other side of the bed. Terror was etched into his young face. “Tucker, I know this can be scary, but you know that Sadie and the baby are in the best possible hands with Dr. Turner. Everything will fine.”

  Tucker nodded and tried to smile. Dean came in the room and Sadie started crying all over again. Tessa moved off the bed so Dean could sit down.

  “Pa, I’m so scared,” she said as she gripped her father in a fierce hug.

  Dean rocked her and said, “I know, honey, but it’s going to be fine. You’re strong and Tucker is right here with you. Soon you’re going to be holding a beautiful little baby and you’ll forget all about this part.”

  “I hope so. I’m afraid what happened to Ma will happen to me,” Sadie said.

  Dean’s eyes filled up but he made Sadie look at him. “Sadie, that won’t happen. What happened with your ma has nothing to do with you. Do you trust me?”

  “Of course, Pa,” Sadie said.

  “Then believe me when I tell you that that won’t happen to you,” Dean said. “Now, I want you to stop scaring yourself and concentrate on bringing my first grandchild into this world. You’re stubborn just like me. That’s why we sometimes butt heads. When you want something you go after it and I know you want this baby, so I know you can do this. You got your way with Tucker, didn’t you?” He brushed some strands of her light brown hair from her face.

  Sadie laughed and said, “Yeah, I did.”

  “See? I’m gonna be right outside if you need me. I love you,” Dean said as he kissed his girl and hugged her.

  “I love you, too, Pa. Thank you,” Sadie said as he released her.

  Dean stood up and gave her hand a last squeeze. Tessa sat down on the bed with Sadie again and Dean motioned for Tucker to follow him out of the room.

  “I’ll be right back, honey,” Tucker told Sadie.

  “Ok.”

  When Tucker joined him, Dean shut the door to their room and had Tucker sit on a chair.

  He looked the young man in the eye. “Now, look, son, I
know you’re really scared. I’ve been there several times, but no matter what you’re feeling inside, you’ve got to stay strong for Sadie’s sake. Remember, she’s doing all the hard work. You’ve got to do your part, Tucker. Hold her hand and encourage her when she’s tired. Make her laugh a little and do whatever Doc tells you to do. Understand?” Dean said.

  Tucker nodded. “Yes, sir. I can do that. I won’t let her down. I am scared, though. I don’t want anything to happen to either of them. We’re so happy about the baby. I know we’re young, but we’re happy.”

  “I know. I’m proud to have you as a son-in-law. Sadie chose a good man to marry. If I didn’t think so, there’s no way in hell I’d have let you marry her,” Dean said with a smile.

  Tucker said. “Thank you.”

  Dean nodded. “Ok. Get back to your wife and help her.”

  “Yes, sir,” Tucker said, and entered their bedroom again.

  *****

  Dean and Tessa became grandparents for the first time a little over four hours later to a little boy. Tucker’s parents had arrived and the four parents had kept each other company and helped distract each other from the stress of waiting and worrying. Sadie and Tucker named him Ethan Edward Foster and everyone thought that they’d chosen well. They’d given Ethan the middle name of Edward because it was Tucker’s father’s name.

  Betty, Tucker’s mother, and Tessa helped Doc tend to Sadie and the baby and then the grandfathers got to see Ethan. Dean let Edward hold Ethan first.

  “Sadie, you did a great job,” Edward said as he gazed at Ethan. “He’s a handsome little fella.”

  “That’s because he looks like me,” Dean teased.

  Everyone laughed. Edward held Ethan for a little longer and then passed him over to Dean. “Hi, Ethan, I’m your Grandpa. It’s nice to meet you,” Dean said as he gently shook Ethan’s tiny hand with a finger.

  Betty said, “It must be a funny feeling having a grandchild that’s not quite a year younger than your twins.”

  Dean laughed. “Yeah. It’s gonna be interesting watching them grow up together. It’ll be weird for Ethan to call Katie and D.J. ‘aunt’ and ‘uncle’.”

  Tessa agreed. “But it will also be wonderful.”

  They gave the baby back to Tucker and Sadie and departed after promising to come visit the next day.

  Chapter Twenty

  Joe arrived in Walhalla late the next afternoon after travelling all night. He’d paid the coach driver extra to get him to keep going. Joe hefted his bag and started out along the main street. Looking around the town, Joe tried to imagine Lacey growing up there. He would have liked to have seen her as a little girl, he thought with a smile.

  There was a sign up ahead for a restaurant named Erikson’s Eatery. Joe went in and sat at the counter. An older waitress came to take his order. She noticed his expensive suit and looked at his handsome face and smiled.

  “Hello, stranger,” she said in a friendly manner. “Haven’t seen you around here before.”

  Joe returned her smile and said, “No, ma’am. Just passing through and this looked like a place where delicious food would be served. Judging by all the good smells, I’d say I picked the right place.”

  “You’d be right,” she said as she handed him a menu. “I’m Roxie.”

  Joe held out his hand. “Well, Roxie, I’m Joe. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you, too, Joe,” Roxie said as she shook his hand. “I’ll give you a couple of minutes to look at that.”

  “No need, darlin’. I’ll have the steak dinner and a piece of that apple pie over there,” Joe said.

  Roxie took back his menu. “Comin’ right up.”

  Joe looked around at the restaurant and admired its cleanliness and nice décor. It was obvious that the owner took pride in the place. He gave a friendly nod to a couple of the people looking at him. Joe was used to people watching him and didn’t mind.

  As he sat there, a man sat down beside him. He turned to the man and said, “Howdy.”

  When the man turned towards him, Joe realized that it was in fact a woman. He looked into her ice-blue eyes and saw her strawberry blonde hair and knew who it was because she was dressed in trousers and a western shirt. She wore a long overcoat and a cowboy hat.

  He smiled at her and turned in her direction a little more. Quietly he said, “Are you Sammi?”

  Sammi stared at him and said, “How do you know me? I’ve never seen you before.”

  Joe laughed. “Well, you look just how Jamie and Lacey described you.”

  Her eyes widened. “How do you know them?”

  “I’m Joe Dwyer, Lacey’s husband,” he said and held out his hand to her.

  Sammi was flabbergasted and shook his hand absently.

  Joe noted that her handshake was as firm as any man’s. He looked down and saw that she wore a gun, too.

  “Is Lacey here, too?” Sammi said and looked around the restaurant.

  “Nope. She’s back in Dawson,” Joe said. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

  “Why are you here?” Sammi said as her blonde brows knitted together in puzzlement.

  Joe leaned towards her and said conspiratorially, “I’m here to buy a horse. Maybe you can help me out.”

  “Me? What do you want me to do?” Sammi said.

  “Well, first you can join me for dinner, my treat,” Joe responded.

  Sammi smiled. “You’re on. Who am I to turn down a free meal?”

  Roxie came back with Joe’s dinner and greeted Sammi. Sammi ordered her meal.

  Joe said, “I’m sorry to eat in front of you, but I’m starving. I’ve been travelling for twenty-four hours straight.”

  “You go right ahead, Joe.” Sammi said. “My, but you are a handsome man. And to think I passed you up.”

  Joe laughed. “No offense, but I think it worked out the way it was supposed to.”

  “None taken,” Sammi said. “If you weren’t married to one of my best friends, you and I could have some fun.”

  Joe looked her over from head to toe and said, “Yes, we could, but I’m in love with my wife and off the market.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that. Otherwise, I’d have to shoot you,” she said with a deadpan expression.

  As Joe looked into her eyes, he knew she meant it. “Yeah, Jamie said you like guns and I see that you have one on you.”

  “That’s right. Everyone in these parts knows not to mess with me,” Sammi said.

  “So I hear,” Joe said and took another bite of steak. “Roxie, darlin’, this is one fine steak. Give my compliments to the chef.”

  “I’ll do that,” Roxie said.

  Sammi said, “So you said you’re here to buy a horse. What horse?”

  “Lacey’s horse, Polly. She misses her and I’d love to take her home with me for her as a surprise. Do you think her daddy will sell her to me?” Joe said with a glance at Sammi.

  “He might for the right price. I keep hoping that bastard will fall over dead,” Sammi said.

  Joe’s expression grew grim. “I’m gonna have a hard time not beating him to death, but I don’t want to be arrested, so I guess I’d better behave myself. I also don’t want him to know who I am. He can’t know where Lacey lives. I don’t want him coming after her, because if he does, I will kill him and go to jail. Agreed? You are the only person in town who will know who I am.”

  Sammi nodded. “You got it. When we’re done here, I’ll take you to her pa’s store. He should still be there.”

  “Good,” Joe said as Roxie sat Sammi’s food in front of her.

  *****

  When they’d finished their meal, Joe paid their bill and gave Roxie a nice tip. The waitress had looked at the twenty dollar bill in disbelief as Joe and Sammi left. Sammi took Joe to the Reagan family store. Joe thought it was a rather plain building. He noticed a horse tied to a hitching post around the side.

  As he got closer to it, Joe thought this little Standardbred mare mus
t be Polly.

  “This is her, huh?” he said to Sammi.

  “Yep. She’s a good horse,” Sammi said.

  Joe didn’t respond. He was busy making friends with Polly.

  “Hey, Polly. I’m Joe. Your Lacey misses you, girl. How’d you like to go home with me to be with her?”

  When Polly didn’t object to him petting her, he began to run his hands over her. She had a very nice composition and was in excellent shape. He could see from her firm muscles and shiny coat that Lacey had taken care of her very well. Polly also had excellent manners.

  “What do you think you’re doing,” a rough voice said from behind them.

  Joe put on his friendliest smile and turned around. “Howdy. Is this your horse, sir?”

  “Yes, it is. What do you want with her?” Amos Reagan asked suspiciously.

  Joe took in Amos’ thick build and cruel face and concluded that Lacey must look like her mother. He was a big man and the fact that he’d beat on Lacey, who was nowhere close to Amos’ size, made him a coward and an animal in Joe’s book. Joe’s rage threatened to ruin his plan and it was with supreme effort that he brought it under control.

  “Well, sir, I’m Sammi’s cousin from Texas, August McAllister,” Joe said. He didn’t offer a hand to shake. “I buy horses and I noticed that you have a very fine mare here. I was wondering if you’d be interested in selling her.”

  Amos laughed. “You’re kidding. She’s almost eleven years old. What would you want her for?”

  “I breed Standardbreds and she has nice lines and a good disposition. I’d like to breed her with one of my stallions,” Joe said.

  “She’s the only horse I got,” Amos said.

  “Look, sir, I’ll make it worth your while and you can buy a younger horse that’ll last you longer. Now, I’m prepared to pay you eight hundred dollars and that’s more than a fair price for…what’s her name?” Joe said.

  “Polly. Her name is Polly,” Amos said.

  “All right. Polly. So do we have a deal?” Joe said.

  “I don’t know,” Amos hedged.

  Joe held up nine one hundred dollar bills. “Nine is as high as I go. Take it or leave it.”

  Amos looked at the money. He knew Joe was serious and wasn’t going to budge on the price.