by Cyndi Raye
Table of Contents
A Bride For Luke - Sons of Nora White
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Reading Order of Cyndi's Books
A Bride for Luke
by
Cyndi Raye
Sons Of Nora White
Book #1
Copyright © 2018 www.CyndiRaye.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.
A special thank you to one of my readers, Crystal Urchin, for naming the small rural town of River’s Edge.
Chapter 1
Prologue 1870’s
Nora White stood in front of the boarding house on Main Street in Wichita Falls ready to make a deal with the devil. Well, perhaps not the devil. She heard many great things about the matchmaker Miss Addie. She wouldn’t be here if she had heard any different. It didn’t help her nerves were all over the place.
“Only the best for my sons,” she whispered. Her voice caught the wind as a man walked by, tipping the rim of his hat in greeting. “Good day to you, ma’am.”
Nora tucked back strands of dark lustrous hair peppered with gray. If there was one thing her husband always said it was she had a great head of hair. A slight smile curved her lips at the nostalgic thought. She still missed Robert so much. He had always taken the time after a long day to place a hand over her cheek and tell her how beautiful she was. He had done it every single day no matter how exhausted he was after a hard day’s work on the ranch they owned.
Enough day dreaming, it never got her anywhere. Squaring her shoulders, she stood in front of the big door and lifted a hand to knock.
Before she made contact, the door swung open. A beautiful woman stood there, one of advancing age but well groomed with dark hair and wearing a lovely, expensive gown. “Welcome to Wichita Falls, Mrs. White. Please, do come in.”
She held the door open while Nora contemplated spinning around and walking away.
It wouldn’t get her sons a good wife if she did so.
Miss Addie led her to the dining room table, offering her a seat while picking up a tray from the side board. “Let’s have some tea,” she offered, setting a cup in front of Nora.
“Thank you, Miss Addie. I’ll get straight to the point. I hear you are the best match-maker in the whole of Texas and beyond. Is this true? I want only the best for my boys.”
Miss Addie smiled. “I suppose you are referring to my one hundred percent success rate? You’ve come to the right place, my dear. Now, what is it you want me to do for you?”
Nora sighed. This Miss Addie was certainly sure of herself. When the decision came upon her to find her sons good Christian women, the others in church told her of Miss Addie’s success. She had immediately sent a letter not expecting a reply so fast. Within two weeks, the woman had replied with an appointment to come see her. Two hours later, she found herself smack dab in the middle of the Main Street of Wichita Falls. “I’ve heard this town is mostly filled with mail-order brides that you are responsible for?”
“You heard correctly. I’ve chosen the best grooms for the lovely ladies and the most suitable women. This is my life, Miss White. I don’t mess around or truffle with tender feelings. You may expect the best, top-notch service from me.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, tell me about you?”
“Me? Why me? I have no interest in a man? I want this for my three sons.”
Miss Addie leaned forward, setting her tea cup on the saucer with a delicate hand. “Miss White, in order for me to find your sons a good, Christian wife, which is what I believe you said, I’ll need to know all about the woman who raised them. Fair enough?”
Nora nodded. “I suppose.” She didn’t like to get personal with others but this was for a good reason. Her sons were her world, her life.
“Tell me about you, Miss White.”
“First of all, please, call me Nora. I’ve been a widow for ten long years now. The boys lost their father and I lost a good, hard-working husband when rustlers tried to steal some of our cattle. He was wounded by one of them and never recovered.”
Miss Addie steepled her hands. “I’m sorry for your loss. What is it that brought you to me, Nora?”
“I’m getting older. From the day my husband died, the boys have taken over the ranch. When I tell one of them to go find a nice, sweet Christian woman, they shrug it off, determined to be there for me. I’m not going to be here forever, Miss Addie. I want them each to have a full life with a wonderful woman and not take care of an old lady, but they won’t try to find their own happy life.”
“You are hardly old, Nora. Why, there are plenty of eligible men who would agree with me.”
A blush spread across her cheeks. It had been a long, long time since someone said such a nice thing. “I’m obliged to your kindness, but it’s my sons I’m concerned about. Can you help them?”
The noise of a teacup being set on its plate was the only sound in the room right before Miss Addie pushed her chair back. “Of course, I can help. Now, let’s take a walk to the porch out front while you tell me who is going to be the first to marry.”
Standing on the porch, Nora felt so relieved. Instinct told her she must trust Miss Addie to find the best wife for her oldest son. He was the one she worried about the most. “May as well start with Luke, my oldest. He’s been taking care of everyone and everything since Robert’s death. Luke is quiet, yet dignified and he is angry.”
“Angry? Will this be a potential problem for a bride?”
Nora shook her head. “No, I don’t mean he is mean or would hurt anyone. He is so serious all the time. In my heart I’m sure he is angry at his father for leaving us and yet Robert had no control of fate. But he will take care of his bride like he has taken care of the ranch and his brothers. He gives his heart and soul to those he loves. He has a fierce loyalty to all of us.”
Miss Addie nodded. “Perhaps he needs a bride who will be willing to show him some kindness. Let me think on this. I’ll be in touch.”
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A week and a half later a letter arrived. Nora slipped off to her bedroom to read what Miss Addie sent:
Dear Nora,
I do believe I’ve found the perfect bride for your son, Luke. She has a situation and needs to leave her home town immediately, thus, this letter of urgency sent to you today. It isn’t drastic but a choice of hers where she does not wish to marry an ageing friend of the family. I have further investigated and am reassured Miss Abigail Wheatland is all she claims to be.
I’ve sent her the details and a ticket to arrive in two weeks time. Therefore, you will have the same amount of time to inform your son of his impending marriage. Enclosed, please find a photo of Miss Abigail Wheatland and some other facts about the nuptials. I would have liked to meet your son and spend time with him, which is what I normally do in cases like this. However, since you and I have already met, I’ve determined you are an honest and upstanding citizen so the need to meet with your son will not take place.
Please inform him of the details of our conversation. Miss Wheatland will arrive expecting to be married immediately. I will expect him to be at the Wichita Falls train station on the sixth of September to fetch her and bring her to the church for the official ceremony.
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Yours truly,
Miss Addie
Nora stared at the letter. She thought there would be more time to prepare her son of the upcoming ceremony. Now, she’d have to do it and soon.
Yet, a week and a half later, she was still contemplating what to do. Nora saddled one of the horses. She needed to think. Riding was always her way to explore the vast land her husband had purchased so long ago. The green hills, valleys and pastures where their cattle grazed made her feel so alive, as if there were no cares in the world. Nora may be ageing but with years in the saddle, she could ride like nobody’s business.
Hours later, after refreshing herself with a long jaunt, she slid from the mare, walked her and brushed Fancy Lady down. She smiled at the name for the honey-colored horse. Whenever the mare left the barn, she’d walk as if she was the fanciest girl in town, lifting her tail up in the air along with perking her ears and raising her front feet higher than normal. It always made Nora laugh.
“Glad to see you’re smiling,” her oldest remarked. He came around the side of the large barn, his tall form intimidating to many except for his mama.
She gave him a look of consternation. “What’s that supposed to mean, young man?”
Luke sighed. “Young man? I’m barely young, Mama. Twenty-seven is not young.”
Nora grinned. “You are still the most handsome of the boys, you know that, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, and the most fun, the most original, the best at wrangling cattle and your favorite. You say it to each one of us. At any time any one of us can suddenly become the favorite.”
Nora laughed out loud. “You boys are on to me!”
He actually smiled, showing a set of white teeth. “We’ve known all along.”
Nora’s way was teasing all three of her boys so they always thought they were the most important. Yet, each one knew how much they were loved in their own right. Her boys were her life but she didn’t want them to make her theirs.
They all needed a bride.
It was now or never.
She led Fancy Lady to the coral to graze. After returning to the barn where Luke was brushing down his own horse, she placed a hand over his. “We must talk.”
Luke raised an eyebrow, but immediately stopped what he was doing. “What is it? Is something wrong?” Luke stood, throwing the brush on a bale of hay then thrusting his hands deep in the pockets of his pants.
“Maybe we should sit down to talk,” Nora warned.
Luke leaned back on his heels. “Let’s get this over with right here, Ma. You are looking too serious to waste time finding a seat.”
“You are a smart man.”
“I’m my mother’s son if it is any reassurance.” He smiled again, the love for his mother shining in dark eyes.
Nora noticed how handsome he was, how much he looked like her Robert and told him so. “You have your father’s smile.”
Luke’s eyes darkened. He grinded his teeth and frowned. Nora never understood why he seemed to be angry whenever she spoke of Robert. But now was not the time to find out, she had more important things to deal with.
Nora walked to him, taking his hand in her own. She cocked her head and looked at her oldest son, proud of the man he had become. “I know you don’t like when I talk of your father and I’m not sure why. Perhaps you are still angry at him for leaving us. It’s been ten long years, Luke. It’s time to move on. It’s time to take the bull by its horns and start new lives.”
His eyes widened. “What? Are you trying to tell me you are marrying someone else? I didn’t even know you were courting anyone. How did I miss this? Ma, what is this about?”
“There will be a marriage.”
“What!”
“But it won’t be me.”
“What do you mean? What in tar-nation are you trying to tell me then?”
Nora sighed. Her eldest son was so dramatic. He was an angry man, filled with discontentment and yet was the most loyal and trusting one out of all her sons. She imagined Robert would have been so proud of his oldest son. “I’ve determined none of my boys will ever leave here to try to find a life outside of this ranch. Or,” she held up her hand, seeing his mouth start to open wide, “bring a bride here to make a life as I have.”
Luke stared. He shook his head. “I don’t care about making any other life. I’m perfectly happy right where I am.”
“Let me finish. Ranching is a hard, lonely life. When the day is finally over and all the work is done, what do you do?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, either take up with Sam or Adam and play cards with the other hands on the ranch. What does it matter?”
“Luke, you haven’t experienced true love. Sitting on the porch, having a glass of lemonade with the person that means the most to you will bring out the best in you. Imagine a walk at night watching the stars, working hard all day to be able to give your wife a kiss when you get home. There’s so much more to this life than you are experiencing.”
“I don’t care about those things.”
“You don’t because you haven’t experienced them. Luke, I’ve taken matters in to my own hands.”
He turned. “Ma, what did you do?”
She nodded, determined to make him understand. “I’ve sent for a mail-order bride for you, Luke. Please, before you refuse, just please give it a chance.”
“No.”
“It’s too late, she is already on her way here.”
He shoved his fists deeper in his pockets. She almost smiled at the way some things never changed. He’d been doing that since he was five years old and found out he had pockets in the britches he wore.
“What? You can’t order a mail-order bride and not even ask me! Besides, what kind of woman would do such a thing as come out to the West not knowing what she was getting?”
He pulled his hands out and then they went back in his pockets. Soon, he’d balance himself on his heels.
“A woman who is forced to marry an old man three times her age by parents who only want the money the marriage promises, that’s who. There are even worse stories I’m told.”
She actually noticed a worried look cross his face. Her son actually had some emotion when it came to other people besides his own family. What a nice surprise to realize. She’d have to play on that, even though it wasn’t nice to do so. But he wasn’t giving her much choice. His refusal was expected but this was harder than she had thought.
Was she doing the exact same thing his bride’s family was doing? Forcing a marriage on two people who didn’t want to be married? Biting the side of her bottom lip, Nora was determined to see her sons happy and they would never do this on their own. She had to help them. It was a whole different situation than the brides.
“The contract from the match-making agency is clear. You must marry immediately upon meeting, however, if, after three months, you both wish to part ways, there will be an annulment granted as long as the marriage bed is still pure.”
“No.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“The answer is still no.”
She wasn’t going to drag him to the alter. He had to at least want a small part of this. What was she able to dangle in front of him to convince him to give it a try?
“I’ll give your father’s pistol to you if you agree to try this for three months.”
“Agree.”
“I know it’s not exactly what you, what did you say?”
“Agree. I’ve wanted that pistol every since Samuel said he was going to claim it last year.”
Nora blinked. “You would marry this bride so you can get one up on your brother?”
Luke nodded. “Kind of looks that way, huh?”
Nora threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! If that’s all I had to do, well, then when it comes time to have the talk with your brothers, tell me what they want?”
Luke backed up, his hands out in front of him. “Now, Ma, do not make me tell my brother�
�s secrets.”
Nora smiled. She knew Luke would tell her. If he had to get married, he’d make darn sure it was going to happen to his brothers as well. “It’s a yes, then?”
“Of course.”
She placed her hands on her hips, a smile from ear to ear. “Well then, be ready to pick up your new bride at eight-thirty Saturday morning at the train station in Wichita Falls.”
“So soon?”
“I’m afraid so. Now, what is it the other boys want most of all?”
Luke shook his head. “I’ll tell you when the time is right.” He straightened up, a serious look on his face. “Ma, even though I’m getting married, you will always be my favorite girl.”
A tear slipped down Nora’s cheek. Her first born would always be special, too. Instead of telling him that, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big old hug. “I love you, son. You know I’m doing this for you. All I want is for you to be happy.”
“I know, Ma.”
Chapter 2
Luke held the reins in his left hand as he pulled the buggy to a stop near the Wichita Falls rail road station. At twenty-seven all he ever knew was the family ranch. Ever since his Pa died ten years ago, Luke found himself in charge. He was determined his Ma would never find out their father’s secret and so far the three brothers had been able to hide it well. It was one of the reasons bringing a wife into the mix will cause complications, let alone three wives in all. He wasn’t about to let it happen.
Luke left the buggy sitting along the street and walked to the train depot. It gave him time to think. The September breeze rustled the small bushes and trees along the path. Main Street in Wichita Falls was pretty quiet for this time of day.
Maybe because it was Saturday. Most families were at home enjoying their breakfast while he already had his and was about to get married. Eight-thirty in the morning was too darn early to get hitched.