Maude’s Trials
Widows of Virginia
Copyright ©2015 Christina Ward
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by Christina Ward
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All product names, trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks or registered service marks, mentioned throughout any part of the book belong to their respective owners. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Disclaimer: Any person depicted on the cover is a model and is being used for illustrative purposes only.
Maude’s Trials
Maude Lafayette still grieves for her husband even though he’s been dead for five years. But as a single mom of two, this simple seamstress struggles to put food on the table. With no suitable suitors around, it seems becoming a mail order bride is the only way to find a responsible father for her children.
After exchanging letters with Raymond Garett, a rancher on the other side of the country, she moves to the West to meet her future husband. But while Raymond turns out better than she had hoped, not everyone seems to approve of their union. She gets a cold reception from Raymond's sister and a mysterious woman claiming to be Raymond's intended shows up uninvited.
Maude struggles to decide if she should stay or go. But as she tries to put Raymond's happiness first and save his ranch, things go from bad to worse.
Join this brave mail order bride as she puts faith in the Lord to get her through all the trouble life throws at her in the tough world of 1800s Wild West.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Thank You!
Contact
Further Reading
A Mail Order Bride for the Undertaker
Chapter 1
July 1875 Lamb’s Mill, Virginia
Maude placed down the flowers with a heavy heart and looked up at the tombstone.
John Lafayette, a husband, brother and father…
She stopped reading and turned away as her eyes teared up. Even after all this time, after five years had gone by in the blink of an eye, even when she was about to… Maude shook her head. She needed to stay strong.
She brushed off the dust and pressed the front of her skirt. “Goodbye John,” Maude whispered and rushed home. The detour to the small cemetery at the edge of town made her late for dinner – her mother and children would surely be worried if she didn’t hurry back.
Half an hour later she finally reached the town house where her family lived. Maude climbed up the narrow staircase up to the first floor flat. Hungry and worn-out she dragged herself to the door step. For a moment she struggled with the handle before finally opening the squeaky door. But as she made her way in an unusual silence greeted her. Her children looked up at her from their seats at the dinner table, but did not rush towards her to ask about her day or query whether she brought them anything from town.
Maude turned her head to her mother sat at the head of the table. The older woman stared at her blankly.
“Did I do something wrong?” Maude broke the silence.
“Do you ever do anything right of late?” Her mother sighed and Maude sensed the disappointment in her mother’s voice.
What could be the problem now? She was late, but not that late…
Maude’s mother nodded and as if to answer her unspoken questions Alexander, her seven year old son, grabbed something off the table and run up to her. The boy handed her a letter with Maude’s name and address written on it. The seal was broken.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Maude didn’t have to open the letter to know what made everyone angry and sad.
“I was planning to tell you…”
“…but?”
“I’m so sorry mother.” Maude wrung her hands and hang her head down. “I was scared you would not approve.”
Silence.
Maude ushered the boy back to the table and took the last remaining seat. Adella, Maude’s youngest, said grace and they all ate the soup leftover from the day before in silence. Once the kids were tucked into bed Maude met her mother back in the kitchen.
She stood by the tiny window covered in soot from the outside and cracked it open for a breath of fresh air.
“I don’t have much choice, mother.” Maude sighed. “I have to provide for my children, I am all they have now.”
She couldn’t look straight into her mother’s eyes. Guilt wrapped her stomach in knots.
“I know,” Her mother finally replied. “But if you can’t talk to your mother about such things, who will you talk to? I might be growing old, but that doesn’t make me useless.”
Maude carelessly ran her fingers through her thick, dark hair. She never knew how to answer statements like that from her mother. Of course, her Ma wasn’t useless, but Maude struggled to put food on the table with her seamstress work for all four of them.
Being a single mother was not an easy task. Each day felt like a bitter pill, and that hot, mid-July day was not different. Why was it wrong for her to look for an easy way out? She was only trying to find a better life for them all.
“I don’t like the idea of you being a mail order bride,” her mother whispered.
“We’ve exchanged several letters. He does not sound like a bad person. Unlike some of the men making their advances here…” Maude paused. “It will be alright, mother.”
“You cannot be so sure, my dear Maude. Don’t just throw yourself at someone assuming they will prevent you from falling.”
“I will be careful. It’s been long enough since John… I can’t live in the past. I have to try…” Maude held back the tears. “Please don’t stop me mother. Please.”
“I can’t convince you otherwise, my dear daughter. I know how you feel and I see the troubles you face.” She extended her arms and hugged Maude. “It seems like you already made up your mind already any way.”
Maude returned the warm hug.
“Just one thing,” her mother continued. “You’ll have to leave the kids here.”
“Why?” Maude pulled back. “He agreed to that. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“I know, child. And I saw the three tickets in that envelope. But apart from what he tells you, what else do you know about that man, that place? It’s miles away from home. What if you change your mind? What if he changes his mind? No, they’ll join you if and when you settle down.”
Maude bent her head and made her hands busy with her rugged clothing. She knew what her mother was thinking, she felt stupid for not considering that.
“Mommy, will you leave
us?” Out of nowhere Adella appeared at her feet.
Maude looked into her baby’s face, caressed her soft hair and lifted the girl into her arms. She didn’t know how to make her children understand. She glanced at the teary eyes of her boy hiding behind the kitchen door. Ma is right, Maude thought. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to them.
Chapter 2
Sacramento, California
The train rocked back and forth as it rushed ahead towards its destination. Maude clung to her measly luggage as she stared outside the window at the unfamiliar landscapes passing by. She could barely hear her own thoughts over the thundering noise of the train.
I should have brought my children with me. Maude shook her head and once again reminded herself why she didn’t. She had never been so torn by her own decisions before. Everything seemed to have happened so fast.
It had been three days since she left Virginia, the fact that the journey was about to come to an end scared her.
What have I done? Help me dear Lord. She clasped her hands together. I hope this is not a mistake.
She couldn’t wipe away the sad faces of her children and her mother from her mind. And whenever she turned her thoughts home her babies’ cry still rung in her ears tearing her heart open.
Forgive me dear Lord. I had to try. Please keep them safe and wipe away their sorrow. Silent prayers always worked for her.
Maude looked around the silent passengers sat with her in the train carriage. The lady who had kept her occupied with conversation throughout most of the journey had fallen asleep on her husband’s shoulder and the gentlemen were busy with their papers. She bowed her head and continued her prayers. She barely noticed as they rolled into a small station and the train finally creaked and hissed to a halt.
“Good luck, Maude.” Theresa, pecked her on the cheek and squeezed her hand.
“Thank you. Have a safe journey,” she said to all of her travel companions and moved through the corridor to the exit.
What next? She wondered as she stepped out of the train carrying her two bags. The sun had already set and the unfamiliar station scared her in the looming darkness. Where do I go from here?
She had never felt so clueless.
Maude stepped closer towards the building hoping there was someone there to guide her to her destination. But the crowd quickly dispersed and she was left aimlessly moving through the new arrivals eager to board the train. No one seemed to be looking for her.
Sacramento. She double checked the station name written out on the sign with the town on her ticket, and in the letter. It definitely was the right place.
Exhausted she leaned against a post leaving her bags at her feet. Has he changed his mind already? Should I ask around for him?
She let her eyes survey the place, anticipating seeing a familiar face. After a while she had to pull out her petticoat to stave off the cold. Maude sat herself down on a little bench near the door, to collect her thoughts and stay in the light of a lonely lantern. Panic started to cloud her mind.
“Hello,” A husky crispy voice brought her back to reality. He extended his hand for a greeting.
“Hi…” Maude took some time to examine the man before returning his greeting. She found herself quickly enthralled by the tall, well-built stranger with hair tied back in a tight ponytail. The stern, astringent dark blue eyes gave him a bold appearance.
“I’m Raymond Garrett,” he said with a warm smile. “And this here is my sister Rael.”
“Rachel Garett,” the small woman beside him that Maude barely noticed at first gave her a polite smile.
Raymond glanced at the bags on the ground. “Are you Maude…?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I’m Maude. Maude Lafayette. It’s nice to finally meet you, Raymond Garret.”
She took a breath and smiled to ease the tension that had been building up as she waited. Give me courage, dear Lord.
“I’m so sorry to keeping you waiting, Maude. Rael here couldn’t find her scarf, and she’s been sick recently so Ma, wouldn’t let us out of the house…”
“It’s quite alright.” Maude said between breaths. “I didn’t have to wait too long.”
There was a moment of silence between them. She couldn’t take her eyes though off the handsome man in front of her. Why would he opt for a mail order bride? A multitude of unanswered questions rattled inside her mind. But she stilled her tongue. They had just met, he was a total stranger to her except for what he mentioned in the letters. They would have plenty of time to talk soon.
“Where are the kids?” Raymond asked and turned his head left and right with a slight frown.
“Oh, sorry I didn’t have time to let you know. It that was a last minute change. Adella got sick…” She lied unable to confess the truth in case her distrust upset him.
“But they will be joining me soon,” she said in a low voice, almost a whisper since even the thought of her kids threatened to bring her to tears. Stay strong Maude. They will do just fine.
“Right. We should go home now. It’s getting late, please, come with me.” Their heads almost collided as they both reached for Maude’s bags. “I’m so sorry, I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s… it’s alright,” she said.
Maude let him take the bags as his sister led her to the horse drawn carriage. I hope this ends well. She was still uncertain if she had made the right choice. But there was a train back the next day. Maude gathered her strength, her hope and her courage. For the kids, for all their sake, she reminded herself why she had chosen to come all this way and with that Maude boarded the wagon.
Chapter 3
Someone knocked on her bedroom door. A bedroom that was larger than their biggest room back home.
“Excuse me ma’am, you have a visitor,” the servant, Fidelis, they had assigned to her the day before announced through the door.
Maude turned away from the dressing table mirror one earing still in her hand. She was almost ready for breakfast. Or at least ready to be called for breakfast. Everything is so official here. She wasn’t even sure she was meant to be up this early, but you can’t erase a lifelong habit in a day. So she had already made her prayers and made her bed.
But apparently she wasn’t the only one up early. A visitor?
“Come in, please,” she said.
Nobody had told her she would be receiving visitors.
Fidelis opened the door and let a young lady through, before bowing and leaving them alone. The woman marched into the room and looked Maude up and down.
“I’m sorry for coming unannounced, Maude Lafayette.” With her head up, the stranger walked up to the dressing table, her silk and lace black gown sweeping the floor.
She posed in front of the mirror, almost ignoring Maude, and fixed her make up with her fingers before closing her fan. She smiled in a somewhat cruel way and finally turned to Maude.
“Hello.” Maude stood up lost for words. Who was this strange woman?
They stared at each other for a brief moment in silence.
“Oh, how inconsiderate of me, I should have started with an introduction.” The woman opened the fan again and swayed it gently near her pretty face. “Everyone here knows my name, even two towns over. But where are my manners?” She giggled.
Exactly, where? Maude thought.
“I’m Claire Ashton. You should feel honored by my visit. I don’t take invites from just anyone.” She cleared her throat, and then fanned her face. “Anyway, I will not take long.”
She rolled her eyes, and her smile instantly faded. Maude sensed something bad was about to happen, but she determined to stay polite.
“It’s nice to meet you, Claire. How can I help you?”
“I heard that Raymond got himself a mail order bride. I couldn’t believe that, I had to come and see you with my own eyes.”
Was it wrong to be a mail order bride? Maude didn’t know how to react to that. Sure, some people objected, but they had kept everything prop
er. She wrote no indiscretions in the letters and she had her own room at the ranch until they married…
She folded her hands and stayed quiet.
“How does it feel to be a mail order bride? I mean... why would someone rich and handsome like Raymond take a poor spinster woman for a wife?”
The handsome part was evident, but rich, was something Maude was surprised by when she arrived. In the letters Raymond only said he was able to support her and her children. He didn’t mention the vast ranch, servants and a lavishly decorated house. It was as if Claire had voiced her own concerns. Why would a successful man like Raymond want a mail order bride, and a widow with children at that?
“That’s a very good question, ma’am, but don’t you think you are asking the wrong person?” Maude finally got her words. She spoke calmly, but with a firmness in her voice.
“Nobody makes fun of me, woman!” Claire raised her voice.
“I would not dare such a thing… but did you come here just to see what a mail order bride looks like?” Maude maintained her tone.
Claire adjusted her hair, cleared her throat and perched at the edge of the nearby armchair.
“You’re right and there’s no point wasting time on small talk. I came here to let you know that you are most unfortunate. It’s not really your fault.” Claire looked Maude up and down again as if to say the opposite, but then continued in a sweeter voice. “You see, you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Maude took a step back.
“Oh, you’ll see soon enough.” Claire snickered and snapped her fingers. A tall black gentleman entered the room.
Maude stared at the servant who must have been stood just outside her door. He carried a brown leather bag, which he handed over to Claire. Being careful with her delicate fingers and long, painted fingernails, Claire pulled out a file.
“I don’t have to waste my breath.” She opened the stack of papers on a bookmarked page and handed it over to Maude. “I assume you can read?”
Maude's Trials (Widows of Virginia 1) Page 1