Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set

by Jenny Creek Tanner

  One thing that could be held against Rachel, in certain circumstances, was that she couldn’t sit still for more than a few minutes. She liked to be kept busy and to always be on the go. In her mind, it made the day worthwhile. Even when she was reading Rachel couldn’t sit still; she wriggled around into various positions that looked comical to her brothers and appalled her mother.

  The men in New York City were sparse and far outnumbered by the women. Those she came across seemed to have picked up on her other quirks and her reluctance to follow society’s rules and they avoided her. Nobody wanted a woman who couldn’t toe the line. It upset Rachel – she had been told this to her face many times – but she wasn’t about to tell her mother the truth.

  Charlotte patted her arm.

  “Someone will come along eventually.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “They could.” Charlotte paused.

  That was the sort of pause that Rachel knew very well. It meant she was about to reveal something good. “I was talking to Jasmine the other day, the girl who works upstairs in my house. We were talking about husbands and marriage. She mentioned her sister, Rose, has gone to Arizona to marry someone who she found in a matrimonial ad. You know one of those where they put an advert in the newspaper looking for a wife. Then the ladies write back to whichever advert they like the look of.”

  “You mean mail order brides?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “I’ve heard about them. But Mother speaks about them like their doing the devil’s work.”

  Rachel had heard stories about girls who had gone to Arizona, Nevada, Texas and various other western states to marry a man they only knew via letters and lengthy correspondences. It was known that there weren’t many women out in the Wild West so this way the men managed to get wives and start families once they settled down in places that could be prosperous in their eyes.

  But Judith didn’t like them. She complained they were fools for leaving the safety of the city for the wide, dangerous space of the desert. Rachel didn’t think the same way, but she wasn’t able to overcome her mother’s objections on the matter. Judith could be a sweet, loving woman, but when it came to Rachel, she was stricter, almost authoritarian. Rachel’s opinions didn’t often mean anything to her and even when they did, Judith always blamed them for something.

  Rachel loved her mother, but Judith McCann was a rude, opinionated woman who just didn’t listen. She loved to gossip and moan about anything and everything.

  “Well, according to Jasmine, Rose is enjoying herself.” Charlotte grinned. “She’s found herself a lovely man and she’s a stepmother to his two children as well as being a nanny for someone else.”

  “Sounds like she’s busy.”

  Rachel liked busy. She could do busy. Charlotte nudged her cousin.

  “There will always be something there. It’s not as crowded, so you won’t be living on top of everyone like we do here. Maybe you should give it a shot.”

  “What?” Rachel squeaked.

  “Well, you should. You’re always talking about moving away and starting up your own life away from your family.”

  That was true enough. Rachel loved her family, but at times it felt as if she was living their lives and not her own. With her mother treating her almost like a slave, her father barely acknowledging her existence on top of his exhaustion and her brothers taking her for granted, the idea was becoming more tempting the more she thought about it.

  Could she do it? Would it be possible? Rachel wasn’t sure. But it couldn’t hurt to look, surely?

  Rachel made a mental note to head into the store on her lunch break. Maybe she could find someone worthwhile. Someone who wouldn’t treat her like a slave.

  Chapter 3

  3 months later

  Justin found himself itching to pace up and down the station platform but managed to stop himself from doing so. There were quite a few people waiting for the train and he would have looked like a fool if he let his anxiety show.

  A big grin crossed his face. He couldn’t believe he had a bride coming... coming all this way just for him. When he first put the advert in the paper with Maeve’s help, he didn’t think anyone would answer. Only, Rachel McCann wrote back within a week of the advert being placed. She sounded a little reserved, as if she didn’t know what to say or how to go about the situation, but Justin liked what he read. She sounded like a genuine little gem and something in her letter called out to him.

  Wanting to hear that again, Justin had written back almost immediately. Their conversations had been about anything and everything. He found he was soon sending several pages at a time. As the weeks went on Justin was always looking forward to Rachel’s next letter, eager to know what was going on in her life. She began to relax in her writing, showing a fun, sweet side that Justin liked.

  It wasn’t long before Justin decided to propose. It wasn’t the way he wanted to propose – or how he ever saw himself finding a woman – but it stopped him from falling over his own words and making a mess of things once more. He decided he wasn’t going to let this young woman escape, that he wouldn’t risk the chance of someone snatching her away from him. Now that Justin had found the woman he wanted to marry he was going to make sure that he kept her.

  Thankfully, Rachel had said yes, that she was happy to become his wife. Preparations were made very quickly, and for a moment Justin thought she wouldn’t come. But then Rachel sent a telegram saying she was on the train and would be in Arizona soon.

  So now Justin was on the platform, trying to stop himself from thinking the worst. He kept thinking Rachel had never got on the train, or she had got onto the train, but the train was in trouble. Finally, Justin had to force these thoughts away. His head ached, his stomach churned, and his shoulder felt as solid as rocks. These thoughts weren’t helping his situation or him.

  The train eventually pulled in and people began to disembark. Justin saw Rachel immediately. She had sent him a photograph of herself with her letter saying she was going to get the next train and would notify him of her impending arrival. The photograph didn’t do her justice.

  She was of medium height, with long dark hair held up by a number of pins in a neat, tight chignon. She was curvy and had a sweet, if nervous smile. Her midnight-blue dress looked a little worn, but it suited her well. She looked good in blue.

  Justin had a feeling Rachel would look good in anything.

  Bracing himself, he made his way across the platform towards her as she struggled with her two suitcases off the train.

  “Rachel?”

  Rachel looked up. And Justin couldn’t stop staring. She had the most stunning green eyes he had ever seen. Justin could feel himself falling into them; they were mesmerizing.

  Rachel smiled and straightened up.

  “That’s me.” She held out a hand. “Nice to meet you finally, Justin.”

  This was not how Justin expected to greet her. But he shook her hand, raising her palm to his mouth and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. From the sharp intake of breath and the widening of her eyes, Rachel had not been expecting that.

  Leaving her with that stunned impression, Justin lowered her hand and picked up the suitcases.

  “I have my wagon ready.” He hoisted the cases, trying to hide his surprise at how heavy they were. “We’re going to be a while before we get to my home.”

  Rachel fell into step beside him. She had long legs and kept up with him easily. Justin had a feeling he wouldn’t need to worry about whether his bride-to-be could keep up with him in their daily lives. She would be able to match him and, quite possibly, overtake him.

  “It’s not far to your place, is it?” Rachel asked, adjusting the hat on her head as the wind threatened to whip it away.

  “It’s a little under a mile.” Justin felt rather than saw the change in Rachel. He glanced at her and saw the look of terror on her face. He slowed up. “Are you all right? Is there something wrong?”

  Rachel blinked up at hi
m like a lost deer. Then the startled expression cleared, and she gave an embarrassed laugh.

  “Sorry. I guess that was a bit of a shock. I’m so used to being in compact spaces with people. Being out alone in a wide-open space might be a little… overwhelming to me.”

  Justin understood that and relaxed. From what Rachel had said, everyone was tightly packed into the city and she was used to the hustle and bustle of life all around her. It was where she thrived. Justin was the complete opposite and preferred the quiet life.

  This was probably the only area of their relationship where they would struggle. Justin hoped he could live up to what she wanted. Anything to make his bride happy.

  His wagon was outside the station. Justin loaded the suitcases onto the back of the wagon and then helped Rachel up onto the seat at the front before clambering up beside her. He took the reins, but he didn’t make a move. He turned to Rachel, who was huddled on the seat and shivering a little. Justin made a mental note to leave a blanket on the wagon for future use.

  “I apologize in advance, Rachel,” he said solemnly. “Things aren’t quite what you’re used to back in New York, but I’ll do my best for you.”

  Christmas was coming up in two months and, according to Rachel, Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She loved the dinners, the gifts and meeting everyone in her family. Rachel made the most of it, and Justin admired her for that. He loved Christmas, but his was preferably a lot quieter and less interesting.

  They were going to have a difference of opinion about Christmas, but Justin was determined to give Rachel whatever she wanted.

  Rachel brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes and blinked up at him in slight confusion. Then she smiled and shrugged.

  “We’ll manage,” she said brightly. A little too brightly. “It’s going to take a while for us to get the hang of each other, never mind anything else. Let’s just take things one step at a time, yes?”

  Justin was a little-taken aback by her response. She wasn’t having second thoughts about their marriage, was she? That didn’t make him feel any better. But she was, at least, understanding of the situation. Justin wanted to keep her as his wife, and he would do whatever he could to make her happy.

  “All right.” He urged the horse into motion. “I can do that.”

  One step at a time. Justin drove the horses, but he was frozen inside. Right now, he should be pointing the team to the small church where the pastor was waiting, but he did not know what to do.

  As if she read his thoughts Rachel spoke up, there was a slight tremor to her words. “Where are we going first? I... I... well...” She swallowed. “I don’t feel comfortable going to your place until we are wed!”

  Justin could not stop the smile from appearing on his face, and his hands felt slippery on the leather of the reins. “I have the pastor waiting...” He heard her take a sharp intake of breath. “If you want, you can stay at the saloon a day or two, just let me know.” Justin held his breath knowing that he had very little cash. Most of the time he bartered for his goods, and that worked out fine. He did have a little in savings but didn’t want to spend it all right now. As he had that thought, he nearly laughed. What better investment could he make than this? Than on making the woman he knew he would love, feel comfortable on her first day. She was amazing, and he felt something every time he glanced at her. No, if she wanted time he would gladly pay for it.

  The seconds ticked by in time to the gentle sound of the team’s hooves on the sandy ground.

  “I’m ready if you are,” she said in a breathless whisper.

  Justin nearly let out a whoop. Instead, he just smiled and turned the team down the next street. “We can still take things easy. Get to know each other a little, so don’t you worry about me.”

  Rachel let out another sigh, and he knew this one was of relief.

  They were married in the little chapel, with just the pastor and his housekeeper as a witness.

  Chapter 4

  The wedding had been over quickly, and Rachel did not feel any different. There was a catch in her throat and an ache in her shoulders, but all she felt was alone. Justin was as good as his word and gave her his bedroom while he slept on a cot in the barn. His place was small and messy, but she soon got it whipped into shape and started feeling antsy. What was there to do around here? Looking out the window one day she found the silence deafening. How would she cope without people?

  That night, when Justin came back, she intended to talk to him about it. Only he was so excited about his day, just like he was every night. Soon they were talking, and her loneliness and fears were forgotten.

  Justin read to her for a while and for the first time, Rachel made them both a hot chocolate and she took hers and sat on the sofa next to him. For a moment, they were both quiet. Rachel could feel the heat of his thigh through her dress, and she found she wanted to lean on him.

  Soon they were talking again, and as the night turned darker, he put an arm around her shoulder. So, they sat there most of the night talking while she leaned on his shoulder and felt the strength of him. It was magical, and she knew she had made the right decision coming here.

  The days continued. All day she would get more and more lonely, and antsy, and then he would come home, and it was wonderful. Each evening they would cuddle on the sofa until on the third night he kissed her. It was sweet and felt like a dream. Slowly, tentatively, she kissed him back.

  That was the first night he didn’t sleep in the barn, and he hadn’t been back there since.

  Rachel loved her time with Justin but the days dragged by and she could feel herself getting more and more down. The nights were long, dark, and cold and she felt as if she had come to the end of the world. Sometimes she would look out of the window and imagine that there was no one else left alive. That it was just her, and she would start to panic. She knew she should talk to Justin about it but then there was an answer to her prayers.

  Charlotte was coming to marry Justin’s friend, Nate.

  Rachel looked over and saw how the man haphazardly tucked in the sheets on his side of the bed. She couldn’t help but laugh and moved around to join him.

  “Honestly, Nate. Have you never made a bed before?”

  The saloon owner looked a little sheepish as Rachel took over.

  “Not really,” he admitted.

  “Who makes your bed, then?”

  “The maids. They make all the beds. Mine included.”

  Rachel chuckled and straightened up to adjust the top sheets.

  “Then you need to sort that out yourself. I’m sure you don’t want them waltzing in on you and your wife, do you?”

  That made the big man go bright red. It was endearing to watch. Big and gruff he may have been, but Nathan was a pussycat. He wouldn’t hurt a fly unless the fly decided to bite. Rachel liked him; she thought he was a steady, level-headed man.

  He would be perfect for Charlotte.

  She patted his arm as she moved back to her side to finish tucking in the sheets.

  “Don’t get so flustered. I’m sure Charlotte can sort that out.”

  She couldn’t believe Charlotte was coming. After two months living in Canyon, Rachel was eager for fresh company. If she was honest, there wasn’t anything wrong with Canyon. It was a very nice place, and the people were friendly enough. But it was boring. It was so quiet, and there was barely anything for her to do. Since she hadn’t figured out how to drive the horse and wagon, Rachel was severely limited on where she could go.

  Justin, however, did do his best. The poor man worked hard to accommodate her, be it from various activities or spending time with her when he needed to be at work. He let her help him out on the ranch and tried to give her various tasks to keep her busy, but Rachel was a fast worker and got her tasks done quickly.

  It was nothing to do with Justin. While she was bored and needed something to keep herself occupied, she did enjoy her time with Justin. They were very similar in some of their ways
and interests. Rachel found herself becoming interested in the working of the farm, and Justin was only happy to oblige, to let her help.

  What irked Rachel about her new husband, however, was that he wasn’t interested in going to meet people and having an evening out. He preferred to stay at home with a good book. They did have a couple of his friends over for dinner on occasion, or they went to their friends’ houses for dinner, but they were small, intimate gatherings. They were nice, but Rachel wanted more. It didn’t have the same lure that being in a big city had. If she was honest, she was terribly lonely.

  Maybe her mother was right. Partially. She was right that things were different, and that it would be hard... but she was wrong in so many ways about the people and the marriage. As far as Rachel was concerned, her marriage to Justin was strong. She had fallen for him from his letters and when she saw him it had been wonderful, more than she could hope for. The man was tall, with dark curly hair, smooth, chiseled features, a shy smile and deep brown eyes that twinkled when he smiled.

  Nathan watched her with some amusement as Rachel bustled about the master bedroom, adjusting things and then moving them back again.

  “You’re excited to see her, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” Rachel nearly danced around the room. “It’s been two months, and I miss her something awful. We’ve been close since we were children. It’s been hard living thousands of miles away from her.”

  “You’ll see her soon,” Nathan assured her.

  “Providing you don’t work her too hard.” Rachel winked. “She likes working hard already so don’t go over the top.”