Mail Order Bride: JUMBO Mail Order Bride 20 Book Box Set

by Hope Sinclair

  ONE

  Hopes and Dreams

  Amelia Lancaster gathered her pails and with a lot of effort lugged them inside the apartment building and up the stairs. Her friend Mercy, now married to a wonderful man out in the West was never far off from her mind. Amelia missed her every day. The one year since Mercy had left, had been a long one for her. Amelia missed their conversations and how the two of them had shared their chores, as well as their deepest secrets.

  Ever since Mercy had left, her yearnings for marriage had increased. Every night she had prayed for the Lord to grant her wish. She believed wholeheartedly in the scriptures from the book of Jeremiah, verse twenty-nine: For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

  Mercy had scars that covered most of her body. The first and only time she had shown them to Amelia, she was ashamed to admit, she had balked at how gruesome they had looked.

  Despite her scars, Mercy had become a mail-order bride and gone on to marry her love, a Godly man by the name of Emil Duval. If Mercy could find love, why shouldn’t Amelia find the same? Nothing was impossible to the Lord. Although some days, like now, when her faith was low, she had to say the verse out loud to keep her spirit high.

  It was now three months since she had written to Joanna Hunter, the woman who ran the mail order agency through which Mercy had gotten herself a husband. Other than the letter, acknowledging receipt of her own, Joanne Hunter had not written to her again.

  Amelia had expected that the agency would require her to visit their office, so in her letter she had explained that she was unable to travel and sent a likeness of herself instead - from the neck up. She hadn’t misrepresented herself, although she hadn’t been completely honest either.

  She pushed open the door to their four-roomed apartment and found her mother in her usual chair by the window sewing. Her mama took in piecework from the factory, and her father was employed in the butcher’s shop, a street away.

  Her mother looked up from her work when Amelia walked in. Her face was free from the usual lines of worry that creased her forehead, which Amelia knew herself to be the cause of. Instead she was smiling, her freckled face alight with news.

  “There is a letter for you Amelia, from that agency lady I believe,” her mother said, and pointed to an envelope on the table.

  Amelia’s first reaction was to close her eyes and mutter a prayer of thanks. She hastily placed the pails by the side of the door, wiped her hands on her dress and took the letter. She cleared her throat and read it aloud.

  Dear Miss Lancaster,

  I hope you and your family are well. I had promised to write to you as soon as we found a suitable gentleman for you and I believe that we have. You spoke of your strong Christian faith and a desire to have a suitor who shares your beliefs. The gentleman’s name is Philip Gibson. He is thirty years old and is a preacher in Oakland, California. I imagine that would please you as the gentleman is known to your friend Mercy Duval and her husband Emil Duval. Pastor Philip told me in his letter that his land is adjacent to theirs. You will receive a letter shortly from the gentleman himself. However, based on your initial correspondence and the image of your likeness, he is eager to enter into this arrangement very soon.

  We wish you all the best and hope that the union with Pastor Philip is suitable for the both of you.

  Sincerely,

  Joanne Hunter

  Amelia clapped her short hands and did a little dance all over the room. After making herself dizzy from spinning around in joy, she stopped breathlessly. Internally she admonished herself for ever doubting this moment would come. Excited she turned to her mother, and was promptly taken aback by her mama’s expression. Rather than share Amelia’s joy, her worry lines had returned.

  “Is it not good news mother? This is what I have been praying for all my life—a chance to get married and have a family of my own,” Amelia said.

  “I understand all that Amelia. This lady Joanne Hunter, does she know of your height?”

  Amelia crossed her hands over her chest. “No mother, and I see no reason to mention it. After all, haven’t you always told me that I’m not different from anyone else?”

  Her mother sighed. “That may be so but it seems sinful to enter into an agreement with a gentleman without being honest about everything. Amelia, he cannot help but be shocked if you surprise him with the fact that you’re a dwarf.”

  Amelia’s heart stopped beating and her body stiffened. That word held so many sad memories. The word hurt like nothing ever had, especially coming from her mother.

  “You have never referred to me in that manner before,” Amelia replied in a soft voice.

  Her mother’s face fell. “I know Amelia. I just want you to understand that people may not see you as we do. To us you are our special angel. You’re a kind hearted soul but people first judge you from how you look.” The pain of uttering such harsh truths was etched all over her mother’s face. “It cannot be denied that you are very short. How will this Pastor Phillip take to you when he sees you? Is it not better right to be honest with him?”

  Amelia knew that her mother spoke the truth no matter how much it hurt. However, now that her dream was at her fingertips, she could not risk telling her prospective beau anything of the sort.

  It was a failing on her part— lack of sufficient faith. Amelia shoved the unwanted thought to the back of her mind. No she did have faith. She had faith that could move mountains. But the Almighty never said you could not give yourself a helping hand while you waited.

  “He’s a man of God—a man of the cloth,” Amelia insisted.

  “Even so, he’s a human being first,” her mother pointed out firmly. “I have never held you back from anything Amelia and I will not do so now. But you know my thoughts on the matter. Honesty is always the best way to go. If this is the Lord’s plan for you, then it shall come to be. Nothing can halt His will.”

  The next few days were filled with distress for Amelia. A voice at the back of her mind kept repeating her mother’s words. She found herself on more than one occasion talking back out loud and explaining herself. She knew deep down that it was fear which held her back from speaking the truth. What if Phillip Gibson replied that he was no longer interested? And if she told Joanne Hunter, would she really be able to find her a gentleman willing to marry a dwarf?

  Besides, Amelia could just not bring herself to forget about Phillip. There was no better calling than becoming a preacher’s wife. She could help him with bringing people to the kingdom of the Lord. If the Almighty did not want this arrangement to go-ahead, her ruse would be discovered and that would be the end of that. His will be done.

  Her distress disappeared a week later when she received a letter from Phillip himself. Amelia was beside herself with joy, and this time her mother shared in her excitement.

  Dear Amelia,

  I write to you from the wilderness of the West, in Oakland California where I am based. My life is not my own, as I share myself with the flock of God and people in the community who need me. I travel to far off places to preach the gospel. It is a hard life to those who are not called to serve the Lord but for myself I see it as an honor. I cannot promise you wealth or an easy life, however, I do promise a husbands devotion to you and any family the Lord might bless us with. I have put a little nest egg away just for an occurrence such as this one. I firmly believe that the Lord has started good work in us and He shall carry it on until it is finished. I shall wait to hear from you and until then, may the Lord God keep blessing you and watching over you.

  I enclose my likeness in return.

  God’s blessings,

  Phillip Gibson

  The letter was short and sweet, and it had Amelia completely enthralled. The minute she laid her eyes on the black and white photograph of him, she knew.

  He was the one. The photo was grainy, but she could still tell he was ruggedly handsome. He ha
d seen her likeness and thought she was pretty enough. Otherwise why would he be entering into correspondence?

  Eagerly she sat down and wrote him a response. By the fourth letter exchange, he had proposed and sent tickets.

  Amelia was over the moon. Phillip Gibson was everything she had prayed that he would be. She held the proposal letter closely to her chest. She was so happy she could barely contain it. She couldn’t wait for the moment when she would leave New York to meet her groom in California.

  TWO

  A Fearful Groom

  “Jesus Christ came to this world to die for all of us. However, His salvation is our choice to make. You may stand on a riverbed, watching the water flow a few steps from where you sit. To quench your thirst, you must scoop the water in your hands and drink it. It is the same with our Lord and savior. We must accept Jesus Christ as our savior to behold the kingdom of God.” Pastor Phillip Gibson stopped to catch his breath and to wipe the sweat running on his forehead.

  He tried to catch the eye of as many members of his congregation as he could.

  “Do you want to quench your thirst?” Phillip boomed.

  A few members of the congregation nodded while others just stared at him in fright.

  “The good book says in the book of Isaiah: Fear not, for I am with you. Be not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Shun fear and erase it from your mind.”

  Phillip preached on for a few more minutes while keeping an eye on the time. He was a staunch believer that a sermon longer than forty-five minutes was the easiest way to lose the attention of the flock.

  “Dear Father, I pray for these souls gathered here in your house searching for salvation. I denounce the spirit of fear on their lives. May your blessings surround them each day as they go about their daily toils. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit, Amen.”

  Phillip wiped his sweaty brow and came down from the wooden pulpit. He sat down in his chair at the front and bowed his head. Like the rest of his flock, he hummed along to the hymn; I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. Although he said the words, his thoughts had already moved away from his sermon. His mind was unusually focused on the future, instead of the here and now.

  The Lord had guided him on the day’s word on fear. His own spirit wrestled with the same fear, worry over the change that awaited him. His bride, Amelia was due to arrive in two weeks’ time and every time he thought about it, his body broke out into a sweat. It was what he had craved for years —a wife to be his companion in the life that the Lord had called him to. Now that it was about to become reality, fear and elation warred within him. There were so many conflicting thoughts running through his mind.

  “Thank you Preacher, the sermon was wonderful as always,” Mrs. Dobson, a widow said to him.

  Phillip smiled in response and stood up to greet the members as they left the church. He was a bit embarrassed that he had become so distracted with his own pre-occupations in the house of the Lord. He needed to tend to his flock first. Forgive me Father.

  With a forced smile on his face, he shook each church member’s hand, as they walk out to enjoy the Lord’s day. Phillip smiled broadly when his friend Emil and his wife Mercy, came to shake his hands.

  “Great message as always but something tells me you needed it more than we did,” Emil said, contemplating him thoughtfully.

  Phillip’s smile wavered. His friend knew him too well. Their friendship had begun fifteen years ago when both had been in training to be servants of God. Emil had wrestled with his calling and Phillip had been a friend to him at that tumultuous time of his life. Finally, he had decided that ministering to people was not the Lord’s plan for him and he had left.

  Since then, their friendship had soared and they were as close as two brothers.

  “Would you like a cup of tea?” Phillip replied, instead of answering Emil’s question.

  “Oh no, Pastor Phillip, we don’t want to impose on you,” Mercy exclaimed.

  Phillip smiled at her. “It is no imposition at all, I would enjoy it. Besides, I have news to share with the both of you.”

  He led them out of the church to the back, into a small house adjacent to the church. It contained a tiny front room with three chairs, a table, a writing desk, a small kitchen and Phillip’s sleeping quarters.

  “Excuse me for a moment while I change my attire,” Phillip said.

  He returned a few minutes later to find his friend alone and he assumed that Mercy was preparing their tea. He never ceased to admire his friend’s spouse. She was everything that a man could desired in a wife. She was kind, thoughtful and kept a good home for Emil. He looked at his friend now; Emil’s expression bore a hint of sadness.

  “Something the matter old friend, you seem burdened.” Phillip asked as he sat down in the opposite chair.

  He removed his spectacles and wiped them using his handkerchief. Emil sighed in response, and then he glanced at the door to the kitchen.

  “I’m worried about Mercy. We haven’t been blessed with a child yet and despite my assurances that it will happen in the Lord’s time, the matter is eating at her soul,” Emil said in a low voice.

  “It has only been a year, has it not?”

  “Yes and every day that goes by without a sign of a child, she sinks further into a shell.”

  “Perhaps the news that I have will cheer her up and –” Phillip halted when Mercy walked in carrying three cups of tea and a kettle.

  Looking at her closely, he now noticed the shadows under her eyes. He felt a rush of sympathy for her knowing how the issue of children brought a woman’s spirits down. He had ministered to many women and prayed with them about the matter. Some unfortunately were not blessed with children. The Lord worked in mysterious ways. However, everyone had a calling, it might not be to raise children, but the world was full of people and children that needed tending.

  Seeing the sadness that surrounded his friends, he decided his news would most surely uplift their spirits. He waited for the tea to be served and when Mercy sat down, he told them his news.

  “You recall my asking you for the address of the mail-order bride agency you met through?” Phillip began.

  “Well, I wrote to them and we began a correspondence. A month or so ago, they wrote and informed me that they had found a bride for me. A lady, by the name, Amelia Lancaster.”

  He paused and waited for the name to register in Mercy’s brain. Her eyes widened and she shook her head in confusion.

  “Amelia?”

  “She’s coming to Oakland in two weeks to be my bride,” Phillip confirmed.

  “Amelia’s coming to Oakland?” Mercy said, her voice filled with wonder.

  Her face creased into a bright smile, and she gave a little shriek. Then her expression changed and she grew solemn.

  “You have seen a likeness of her?” she asked.

  “Yes I have. In fact, I have it on me now. It is a grainy black and white picture, but I cherish it,” replied Phillip, as he reached into his pocket coat and withdrew the picture. He smiled contently, as he continued to explain, “I did not need her likeness. I trust that the Lord has chosen her for me. But I must confess it is a huge relief to know she is so pretty.”

  Mercy reach for the picture. As she examined it, her joy seemed to dissipate. Phillip was good at reading people’s faces. It had been part of his ministerial training. He felt the shift in her mood immediately.

  “Is something the matter, Mercy?”

  Mercy smiled, “Nothing at all. Amelia is a wonderful friend to me and she has the kindest heart.”

  Phillip beamed. “I’m happy to hear that.”

  “One must always dig the surface of the earth to find treasure,” Mercy said, her eyes on her husband.

  The look they exchanged spelt of a love that had grown beyond their imaginations. Phillip prayed for the same between him and Amelia.

  �
�You have spoken a great truth my wife,” Emil said.

  THREE

  The Deception

  “How do I look?” Phillip asked, turning to face Emil.

  “You look dashing. I must say that I’ve never seen you give so much attention to your clothes,” Emil replied with a laugh.

  “Amelia is blessed to have you as her husband,” Mercy added quietly.

  Phillip, his mind on the arrival of his bride barely noticed the shadow of worry on Mercy’s face. The station was crowded with people, most of whom he had exchanged greetings with. He had told no one apart from Emil and Mercy of his bride’s arrival. His plan was to introduce her in the service tomorrow as his wife.

  He went over all the arrangements. After her arrival, they would proceed to the church, a walking distance away, where his fellow preacher, Preacher Joseph, would perform the marriage ceremony. Emil and Mercy would be their witnesses. Afterwards, they would go to the local hotel and share a meal, and then he and his new wife would go home.

  His body was taut with nerves. He glanced at the milling people on the platform to distract himself.

  “The train is running late,” Phillip remarked, shoving his hands into the pocket of his black trousers.

  “Not quite,” Emil laughed. “Keep calm, she’ll be here soon enough. I don’t envy you my friend, I remember being in the same position you’re in, waiting for Mercy to arrive,” Emil said.

  “It was not easy for me too, you know,” Mercy quipped.

  “I know. You were very brave and so is Amelia.”

  “What does she look like – beyond black and white?” Phillip asked, a question borne out of a need to keep himself occupied rather than a genuine need to know.

  Like most men, Phillip was not averse to a pretty lady. Now that he had seen Amelia’s likeness he was only left to imagine her coloring and how true to reality it was.