The Thanksgiving Day Bride: Mail Order Bride Novels

by Sandee Keegan

  Rose watched has her breath came out in white puffs. Even though her cheeks were red and very cold, she felt warm standing next to Steven. It was the first day of the New Year and life was wonderful. “It's very lovely, here,” she replied holding Steven's hand and watching a gentle snowfall. Wearing a white coat over a thick blue dress, she felt very pretty. Yet, Rose knew in the eyes of the man who loved her, it was her heart that was beautiful and not her outward appearance.

  “You'll be going back to St. Louis soon?” Steven asked.

  “I sent my mother a telegram,” Rose admitted. And then, she giggled. “My mother has agreed to travel to Snow Valley. I expect she might throw a few plates at my daddy.”

  “Does that mean you're not leaving?” Steven asked confused.

  Rose began to walk through the snow. Drawing in a breath of cold air, she exhaled slowly as a cold wind grabbed at her long black hair. “I have prayed about this, Steven. I feel that God is telling me to stay with you.”

  Steven's heart almost stopped. Filled with a joy he never felt before, he stopped walking and looked at Rose. “Do you mean that?”

  Before Rose could answer, she saw her daddy appear beside a tall barn in the distance. “Daddy is waving at us.”

  “We better go see what he wants,” Steven sighed.

  Walking with Rose to the barn, Steven held onto Rose's hand with hope and faith. If God did take her away from him, then he would just have to manage. But if God allowed the woman to become his entire life, he would gratefully accept the joy with an open heart. “Pack your bags,” Simon told Steven in a gruff voice and then looked at Rose. “That stubborn mother of yours just sent me a telegram and told me to bring you back to St. Louis.”

  Rose stared at her daddy. Simon was wearing his thick coat that made him look like a grizzly bear. His eyes were watery from the cold and his face nearly frozen. “But daddy, mother said she would travel to Snow Valley and speak with you. And Steven and I, we need more time together.”

  “You two will have all the time you need,” Simon assured Rose attempting to keep a stern face as he examined the snowy backfield. “Steven, I said go pack a bag. Do I need to repeat myself?”

  Simon winked at Rose and finally lost his strength to remain serious. Reaching out his right hand, he patted Steven on the shoulder. “Son, this land is no place for my daughter. Rose belongs in St. Louis with her mother. Now, Rose, before you get upset, we both know that's true.”

  “But daddy--”

  “And I'm getting old,” Simon continued. Drawing in a deep breath, Simon sighed as he looked around the land. “I love this land, but it's very hard on me. I want to be near my daughter. So I've decided to sell my ranch and move to St. Louis... I want us to be a family.”

  “Oh daddy,” Rose said and squeezed Steven's hand. “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes,” Simon smiled and then studied Steven's cold face. “Son, what do you say?”

  “I don't know?” Steven said feeling his heart reach out for the land he loved. “This land means a great deal to me.” Then he looked into Rose's beautiful, warm eyes. “What would I do in a city? I can barely read and write, remember?”

  Rose took her right hand and gently touched Steven's face. She knew. “Daddy, you don't want to leave this land, either,” she said. “You’re selling your ranch for my sake, aren't you?”

  Simon remained silent. His silence answered Rose's question.

  “Rose, I-” Steven began to speak.

  “Daddy, you send mother back a telegram and tell her that I refuse to go back to St. Louis. My life is here in Snow Valley, now. I want to raise my family here and grow old with the snow. There's nothing waiting for me in St. Louis except cold money and lonely nights sitting in front of fireplace wondering what it might be like to truly be happy. God has given me the happiness I need right here in Snow Valley.”

  Simon smiled. “Are you sure, Rose?”

  Rose looked into her daddy's eyes. “Daddy, I've missed you so much. And now that I know why you had to leave, your reason makes me love you so much more. But we have had many years torn away from us and I want those years back. Mother will manage.” Rose turned to Steven. “Please, go into the house and prepare our picnic, Steven. Today is so beautiful and I don’t want to waste it.”

  Steven pulled Rose into his arms and hugged her. “Happy New Year, Rose. And you better bet I'm going to grow old with you throughout the years.”

  “You better keep your promise,” Rose whispered into Steven's ear and laid her head down on his shoulder. For a couple of minutes, she stood very still, listening to the snow fall, the winds howl, and the land sleep. But in the midst of the sounds, she heard two heartbeats become one in the snow. “I love you. You're my hero.”

  “I love you, too,” Steven said back. “You're my miracle.”

  Simon smiled. He turned and walked away. Someday soon, he began to whistle, he would walk his grandchildren through the snow. In the meantime, he had to get the ranch ready for a wedding.

  THE END

  Belinda’s Sweet Escape

  Chapter 1 – A Haunted Past

  “I want to see my baby! Just let me see my baby!” Belinda laid in the hospital bed, surrounded by sheets hanging from the ceiling. They were thin, white sheets, but they blocked everything else from her view. She couldn’t see any of the nurses, but she could hear a lot of commotion going on through the curtains.

  Brookside Hospital was one of the largest hospitals in the state, but Belinda still felt as though she was alone inside the curtain. Nurses had been swarming her a few minutes before; now she was alone, surrounded by white sheets.

  “Hello! Is anyone listening to me?” She shouted, trying to get out of bed, but a nurse suddenly appeared.

  “Just lie still, you shall see your baby in a minute.” She put her hands on Belinda’s shoulders, and Belinda relaxed.

  “What’s going on? Why not now?” Belinda felt tears stinging her eyes. She tried to lie still as the nurse had said, but her thoughts were running through her mind so fast she could hardly keep up with them.

  She didn’t know where her newborn child was; all she could see were these sheets around her, and no one was listening.

  Suddenly, the curtain opened, but Belinda didn’t see what she expected to see. She had hoped the nurse would appear holding her child, but instead, it was another nurse standing with a dish full of water and a washcloth.

  “Let’s get you taken care of, honey, and you’ll be up and out of here in no time.” She smiled warmly, but Belinda shook her head.

  “I just want to see my baby.” She said as she looked the other way, and the nurse paused, halfway through wringing out the cloth she had placed in the water.

  “Oh honey, I thought you knew… the new parents have come and gone. It’s easier that way. Your parents are waiting for you out in the other room; we’ll have you cleaned up and ready to go in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.” The nurse smiled, but Belinda felt her chest heave.

  She felt as though all the air was squeezed out of her lungs as she tried to gasp for breath. She shook her head, trying to keep the emotion in, but suddenly, it was too hard to bear.

  She turned away from the nurse, holding her hand over her mouth, and screamed.

  Belinda sat straight up in bed, her chest heaving and feeling out of breath. She looked around, the familiar sight of her room bringing her back to reality. She took a deep breath and put her hand to her forehead.

  She was covered in sweat, but it had only been a dream.

  It was the same dream she always had.

  Belinda had been young. Very young. She was only nineteen when she found out she was expecting, but since she had no husband, her pregnancy was nothing but shame to her parents… especially her mother.

  She had been betrothed to the young Mr. Buckley, the son of a wealthy plantation owner whom she despised. The couple had only met each other on a few occasions, but they hated each other every time they did.


  Belinda had then met another young man who had treated her as though he cared for her, and Belinda fell in love. Little did she know he only wanted to take advantage of her, and as a result, she found out she was pregnant. Her mother, horrified by her actions and determined to rid the family of Belinda’s child, gave the baby to a couple who was heading west.

  Belinda hadn’t wanted to give up her child, but her parents were respected in the town and had enough money to keep the entire situation under wraps. Belinda never forgave her mother for what she had done, and ran away soon after.

  She had traveled up the coast to New York, where she worked odd jobs and spent much of her life on the streets. A few months later, she received word that her parents and Mr. Buckley had perished on a trip to England when their boat was lost at sea, but she had no interest in going back to her little Georgia town.

  Life in New York, though hard, was enough to keep her going, and though she was plagued with dreams of the night her child was born, Belinda had done everything she could to forget all about the situation.

  Now, she groaned as she pulled herself out of bed. She put her feet on the cold ground and sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, thinking about her baby. Belinda had had a little girl, but that was all she knew.

  The couple who had adopted her left town that same day, and with Belinda’s other problems, she hadn’t been able to pursue them or even ask what they had named her daughter. She sighed now, rising from her perch on the edge of the bed and slipping out of her gown.

  She worked at the local baker’s shop and would have to be to work soon. Tying her hair back, Belinda looked at herself in the mirror. She noted how tired she looked, then rolled her eyes.

  She always looked tired. Of course she did. She never slept well. Belinda finished the bun on top of her head, then pulled on her coat.

  It was bitterly cold walking in the dark this late in the year, but she would have to get down to the shop soon or she wouldn’t have enough time to start the fires for the ovens. Christmas was coming, and there were still many things to do.

  Chapter 2 – The Fire in the Night

  “I really must insist that you get this looked at before we try a batch that big.” Belinda ducked down at looked at the crack in the oven. The fire licked at the bottom of the rack, but Belinda could see that smoke was building up inside and knew it would taint the flavor of the cookies.

  Her boss, Mr. Jordon, wasn’t at all worried about the oven, but continued to hand her orders needing to be filled. Belinda sighed and pulled another sheet of paper off the rack in front of her, scanning the order.

  It amazed her how many people wanted to purchase baked goods this time of year. The bakery wasn’t nearly so busy in the summer, and she assumed people were still enjoying baked goods then, so what was it about Christmas that made them wish to purchase their cookies rather than bake them at home?

  “Belinda! If you stand there any longer, we won’t fill these orders until next year!” Mr. Jordon barked at her, and Belinda turned her focus back on what she was doing. She threw more flour into the bowl, then began whisking the ingredients together, but became caught up in shaping cookies to go into the oven next.

  Her small timer chimed, and she pulled a batch of cookies out of the oven, cringing at the faint scent of smoke on them. She tried once again to point the problem out to Mr. Jordon, but he was too worried about filling more orders to pay any mind to her.

  Pushing her sleeves up higher on her arms, Belinda sighed when she saw she was covered in flour.

  Belinda decided to do her best keeping up with the orders and address the issue at the end of the day, but she prayed silently that no one would complain about the cookies or bring any of the other baked goods back to the little shop.

  “That was a beautiful day! My dear, you should be pleased. This is for you.” Mr. Jordon walked out of the back room, handing Belinda a small amount of cash as he did. She paused at the doorway, thanked him, and once again tried to point out the issue with the oven.

  Mr. Jordon glanced behind him, then shook his head.

  “That has been in this bakery since the day I opened the doors nearly thirty years ago. The oven is older than you are, Belinda. I think it’s going to have its quirks.” He winked at her, but Belinda tried to convince him to take a look at the piece.

  “I’ll tell you what, we’ll take it apart after the holiday madness is over, and you can help me take a look at it. What do you say?” He put his hand on her shoulder, pointing her toward the door. Belinda opened her mouth to argue, but he bid her good night and closed the door behind her before she could say anything.

  Belinda stood for a moment outside, letting the snowflakes fall gently down on her shoulders. She put her hand out, watching them melt as they fell. With a sigh, she turned and walked up the street. It was no use arguing with Mr. Jordon. All he cared about right now was how much money the bakery was making with the holiday sales and wondered how he might be able to increase their profits.

  He said we’ll take a look at it after the holidays. I don’t know if it’s going to last that long, but I’ll try.

  Belinda shot up in bed, looking around frantically. Her heart was thudding in her chest, but she hadn’t had that terrible dream; she had heard something. It was a ruckus coming from outside, but it was hard to hear what was going on in her stuffy little room above the livery stable.

  Throwing on her shawl, Belinda hurried down the stairs, stopping a boy who was running past her on the street.

  “What’s all this then?” She asked as she held his arm. He pulled away from her, but pointed behind him as he continued backing in the direction everyone was running.

  “There’s something wrong with the bakery. I hear there’s a fire!” He shouted, then turned and ran. Belinda’s heart skipped a beat.

  A fire at the bakery!

  She ran back up the stairs and threw on her jacket, then flew down the stairs and back onto the street. It was difficult to run on the boardwalk with the snow. Everything was dreadfully slippery, and she was unable to find her footing, so she ducked onto the street and hurried as quickly as she could, trying to stay out of the way of the other men and women running toward the bakery.

  She rounded the corner, scared of what she may see. Her heart sank as she saw what everyone was talking about.

  The bakery was indeed on fire, but there was no way they would be able to save it. Flames belched out of the window, and the roof was also engulfed. Mr. Jordon stood in front of the bakery, yelling at people and barking orders to anyone who would listen.

  She stood for a moment in the middle of the street, trying to decide what to do, when suddenly more shouts from behind her caused her to run off to the side. Firemen with their wagon loaded with pumps came rushing by, and she narrowly escaped being run over.

  Belinda brushed off her dress, looking around for more danger, then straightened her jacket. She looked back at the bakery once more, then turned to walk back up the street.

  She told Mr. Jordon that it was important, and he hadn’t listened to her. She decided that she would stop by in the morning and see if there was anything they could save, but she wasn’t feeling too hopeful about it.

  If it continued to burn at that rate, there would be nothing left by morning.

  Chapter 3 – Choices

  “It doesn’t matter what you thought, quite frankly. The fact of the matter is my bakery is gone. My business? Gone. My livelihood? Gone!” Mr. Jordon buried his face in his hands and swayed back and forth on his desk. Belinda sat opposite of him, fighting to maintain control of her tongue.

  He had asked her to join him for coffee in his new “office” to discuss what their next decision would be, though Belinda had suspected from the beginning it wasn’t going to be in her favor. She looked around his parlor, wondering how he planned to make an office out of his own home, then sighed.

  “I lost everything in that fire, too, Mr. Jordon. I have worked here-” But Mr. Jordo
n cut her off.

  “You have worked for me for a few years, yes, but you can simply go out and get another job. I can’t simply get another bakery!” He glared at her, and Belinda let her eyes drop to the desk. She wanted to argue with him, but she could sense it would be pointless.

  “I wish I could give you something for a parting gift or to show my appreciation for your hard work, but as I said, I lost everything. Good day.” He rose and walked over to the door, opened it, and motioned her outside. Belinda walked over to the door and hesitated, wanting to say something else.

  She couldn’t think of anything that would get her anywhere, so she simply thanked him for his time and the opportunity, then left.

  Once outside, Belinda heard the door close quickly behind her and shook her head with a slight smile. She had dutifully shown up to the bakery every day since she had been hired, on many days she arrived before Mr. Jordon did. It had been her job to tend to the first fire, and she had done her job well, rain or shine.

  Now, she stood out in the cold without any idea of where to go or what to do next. He had given her some money the night before, but not nearly enough to pay for her room and board for another month. New York had been the perfect escape from her old life in Georgia, but it was an unforgiving city when she needed something done.

  After a few moments of standing with her eyes closed and breathing in the cold air, Belinda decided to try her luck downtown. Perhaps the general store would be hiring with Christmas just weeks away.

  She hurried as quickly as she could, trudging through the snow and bracing herself against the cold bite of the wind. She held on to both sides of her jacket, pulling it closer around her frail body.

  People ignored her as they passed by, but she was okay with that. Belinda had never been one for conversation, and ever since that fateful day in the hospital, she enjoyed company even less.

  Pushing onward, she finally saw the general store on the corner of the street. She was relieved to see that it looked busy, and with a surge of hope running through her, she picked up the pace and hurried up the stairs.