by Terri Grace
The Overcoming Overweight Bride for a Repentant Cowboy
Romance Short Story
Terri Grace
Contents
1. A Personal Word from Terri
2. The Overcoming Overweight Bride for a Repentant Cowboy
Also by Terri Grace
Thank You for Reading
Chapter 1
A Personal Word from Terri
Thank you so much for picking up one of my books. Without you, the reader, not one of these stories would ever come alive. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing! Also, make sure you sign up for new releases and pick up a copy of my free short story collection if you have not already done so. It would be great to keep in touch.
Much love,
Terri Grace (Author)
Thank you for choosing a PureRead Romance. As a way to thank you we would also like to give you a beautiful short story collection by Terri Grace.
Cry Of The Heart Short Story Collection
Chapter 2
The Overcoming Overweight Bride for a Repentant Cowboy
“Hannah,” Grace Harper wailed, holding out a hand to her best friend of many years, “my heart is in despair. What am I going to do?”
Hannah Morgan looked at her friend with a lot of compassion in her eyes. Both women were in their early fifties and spent a lot of time together. They had both come to Winnemucca as young brides years ago, rejoiced over the births of their first children and mourned the deaths of their husbands. Hannah Morgan had remarried and gone on to have five more children, while Grace Harper had only one son, Gerald. His father had died when he was only three years old and she had singlehandedly brought him up while running the farm she had inherited and keeping it ready for her son. Even though she was still a beautiful woman, Grace had never married again and once in a while she asked her friend whether she had made a mistake.
“Gerald is going to drive me to the grave,” Grace moaned. “My son is thirty-three years old, never married, never been interested in any woman and I am in deep despair. I won’t live forever, and who knows what will happen to my son once I’m gone? Did I make a mistake by not getting married again and having more children? Maybe I wouldn’t be feeling like this.”
“Grace, you’re fretting needlessly. Have faith that God is in control and has Gerald’s life all mapped out. He will marry one of these days and you will be happy.”
“If I don’t do something to push things along, I might as well resign myself to the fact that my boy will remain a bachelor for the rest of his life. It grieves me deeply, when I had such high hopes of him giving me so many grandchildren. Remember how we talked about our children getting married one day and giving us grandchildren?”
Hannah smiled, “Yes, my dear friend. It’s just unfortunate that I got six boys. Had I a daughter, she and Gerald might have been married and we would then be relatives.”
“Oh, Hannah, what am I going to do?”
Hannah shook her head. “I ‘m praying for you and for Gerald. In God’s own time, He will make all things beautiful.”
“I know that, but….”
Deborah Mason pulled the mail towards her and smiled as she went through the few letters that were not marked ‘confidential.’ More satisfied clients, she thought, as she folded yet another letter extolling the virtues of True Virtuous Gems, the bridal agency that Deborah worked for as a junior clerk.
It was her work to collect all the mail sort it out. The agency consisted of the proprietor, Mrs Salome Prune, and two senior placement officers. These were two middle-aged women who often travelled around the country to ensure that the brides they sent to the west were doing all right and weren’t being mistreated in any way. Deborah was happy to work for a conscientious woman such as Salome, for she never sent a bride out to any man unless she was sure the girl would be loved and would be happy.
Deborah sighed, wishing she would get the opportunity of going to the west and becoming a bride. At twenty-four she already felt like an old maid and sometimes when she saw the young women who came to the agency in search of new lives, she wished she could be one of them. Well, it would never happen, at least not with the kind of men who sent in requests for brides.
Almost all the men emphasized the fact that their wives had to be slender because of riding horses and performing other duties on the farms and ranches, and one had even said he had no use for plump or overweight women.
Well, that ruled her out, because Deborah was overweight, and much as she dieted, she never seemed to lose any weight. Salome know of her insecurities and often told her that one day, the right man would come along and then she would be one of the blushing brides headed out to the west.
“Not today,” she said as she put all the appreciation letters in a file that Salome would go through later, and the new applications into a different file. Very few men complained about the girls who were sent by Salome’s agency, and whenever a complaint came in, one of the two matrons would make the journey to find out what was going on. In most cases it was usually a case of misunderstanding and after counseling and advice the two were soon smiling and happy with each other again.
Gerald fixed his eyes on the distant hills, a deep frown marring his otherwise perfect brow. He knew that he was a handsome and very attractive man and he was also aware that his mother hoped he would marry soon. She had been dropping heavy hints in the past few weeks, especially since they had come back from Hunter Morgan’s wedding.
Since he had no siblings and his mother and Hunter’s mother were best friends, he had spent most of his time at the Morgans’. He and Hunter were the same age but now that he was married, they would not be spending so much time together. Hunter’s five younger brothers were all married and Hunter had held out for as long as he could.
The two of them had often talked about their single status and been comfortable about not having wives to nag them. Then Hunter fell, as Gerald termed it. Well, he was determined he wouldn’t go down that road and shuddered even as he thought about it. His mother would have to accept that he was never going to marry and she should be content with the fact that he had turned their ranch into a very productive spread. Three times a year they sent hundreds of cattle back east and he had built his mother what Hunter called a mansion.
He loved his freedom – having to answer to no-one but himself – and occasionally his mother. He used his spurs gently on Chester, his large black stallion. “Well, Chester, you and I are confirmed bachelors.” The horse snorted and he threw his head back and Gerald laughed. “Even you want to go Hunter’s way? Well, dear friend, I will see what I can do about finding you a lovely mare so you can sire strong offspring.”
Gerald was not smiling a few hours later when he reached home and found the doctor emerging from his mother’s bedroom. For as long as he knew, his mother had never had a sick day in her life and for the doctor to be here meant things were very wrong.
“Dr Mannington, what’s wrong with my mother?”
Albert Mannington merely shook his hoary head, muttering to himself. He wasn’t that old but the worry lines on his face made Gerald very anxious. He practically ran Marie, their maid, down in his haste to check on his mother. She was lying on her bed, her face as white as the sheets which covered her, and her eyes were closed.
“Mama,” Gerald whispered, fear gripping him. He had taken it for granted that his mother would always be strong and healthy, and seeing her lying helpless on her bed made him want to cry. Hannah Morgan, Hunter’s mother, was seated at her bedside holdi
ng her hand. Hannah looked like she had been crying. “Mrs Morgan, what’s wrong with my mother?” he whispered hoarsely and she motioned for him to follow her out of the room.
“Your mother took ill this morning, and by the time Marie sent one of the men for me, I found her lying unconscious on the floor.”
“What does Dr Mannington say is the matter? I left Mama looking fine this morning.”
“Are you sure Grace wasn’t just putting on a brave face for you? She seems to have been in a lot of pain for a while now.”
Gerald thought for a while, then realized that for a few days now he had seen a strained look on his mother’s face. He had ignored it, especially when he asked and was snapped at. “Mama never shows any signs of weakness, so you might be right. What am I going to do, Mrs Morgan?”
“I don’t know, son, but Albert says it’s not good. Your mama needs all the rest and peace she can get before….” The woman choked on her own words.
“Before what?” Gerald wanted to shake her. “Mrs Morgan, is my mother dying?”
“I’m sorry, Gerald.” Hannah shook her head, twisting her plump hands together. “I’m so sorry.”
The postman delivered one letter that day and Deborah looked at the scrawling writing on the envelope. The person seemed to have been in a hurry. She tore it open and read through the contents. Since Salome was in her office, Deborah immediately took the letter to her.
“This one seems very urgent, Mrs Prune. The man says he needs a response by telegram within three days, or else he will go to another agency.”
Salome Prune held out a hand and her keen eyes narrowed. “Here, let me see that.” Deborah handed the letter over and left her perusing its contents as she returned to carry on with her filing.
“Deborah,” Salome called out.
“Yes, Mrs Prune?”
“I need you here urgently.”
Deborah dropped everything and hastened to answer the summons. “Sit down, please.” Salome waited while the young girl sat across the table from her. “I take it you’ve read this letter and noted its contents.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What do you think? Can you go out to Winnemucca and be a bride to this Gerald Harper?”
“Me?” Deborah was so surprised at the request.
“Yes, you, Deborah. Why is it so surprising that I would ask you to go to Nevada?”
“Because many of the men want thin or slender wives.” She shook her head. “I am none of those, Mrs Prune.”
“Well, this man sounds very desperate and has himself said he would take any kind of a bride. You never know, this might just be the chance you have been praying for. Maybe your destiny lies in Winnemucca with Gerald Harper.”
“What if I get there and he takes one look at me and rejects me?”
“It’s always better to try than never to try at all. This will also be a chance for you to see something of the west. If Gerald rejects you, have no fear. We are expanding, and since you’re doing a good job, I’m thinking of promoting you to the position of counselor, like Naomi and Mary. No matter what happens, this will be an educational trip for you. So, will you go?”
“Yes, Mrs Prune. Put like that, it makes a lot of sense.”
Gerald waited impatiently for the train to arrive. According to the station master, it was less than half an hour away. He couldn’t believe that he’d actually written to True Virtuous Gems, the same bridal agency that had sent Hunter his wife, Constance. She was a wonderful woman – that, he had to admit – which was the reason he’d written to Mrs Salome Prune to find him a bride urgently.
He was really worried about his mother. She seemed to be getting weaker and weaker and the only time she’d spoken to him since she took ill, she had expressed regrets that she wouldn’t live long enough to see him married. She’d said that it would be her joy to die after seeing him wed. That decided matters for him. Now that he was faced with the threat of losing his mother, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make her last moments on earth pleasant ones.
Which was why he was standing on the platform this early morning, waiting for a woman he had never met nor communicated with. He’d received a telegram just the day before, telling him that Miss Deborah Mason was on her way in response to the urgency of his letter.
He heard the whistle in the distance and got ready to receive his bride. He really didn’t care what she looked like. All he needed was a wife to make his mother happy before she died.
Deborah was nervous as she stepped off the train and looked around her. She had no idea what her prospective “husband” looked like and she couldn’t presume. The one thing she would do, however, was wait until everyone left the station. The last man standing would be the one she would approach and ask if he was Gerald Harper.
Matters were taken out of her hands when a tall and striking-looking man strode over to her. “Miss Deborah Mason?” He barely glanced at her.
“Yes, sir,” she answered breathlessly. “Be still my heart,” she added silently.
“I’m Gerald Harper. Let’s go.” He picked up her small trunk and turned, leaving Deborah to hurry after him.
The ride out to Gerald’s ranch was made in silence as both coach occupants were lost in their own thoughts. Deborah couldn’t believe that Gerald Harper hadn’t put her on the first train back to Dover. He must really be desperate if he was willing to overlook her physical features. Maybe Mrs Salome had been right – she’d been sure Gerald wouldn’t reject Deborah.
“Who knows, Deborah?” she’d said. “Your kindness and virtue might win the man’s heart and make him fall deeply and truly in love with you. Just remember to name your first daughter after me.”
Looking at Gerald’s foreboding expression made Deborah somehow feel that there would be no children with him. She was very sure that he was merely going to present her to his mother as his fiancée because, according to the letter, she was holding on, even though she was in great pain, just to see him married. Deborah was certain that once Mrs Harper passed on, her duties here in Winnemucca would be done and she’d be sent away. Well, Salome Prune had told her to take this as a tour of duty, and she’d return to Dover having seen something of the west.
Gerald was worried about whether he would find his mother alive or not. She’d seemed very weak that morning, when he had looked in on her. That Hannah Morgan had not left her side for three days meant the end was near and he wished he could hurry the horse home. Reverend Matthew was waiting to perform the wedding ceremony, and he wanted to see his mother smiling one last time before she left this world.
He was glad that Deborah Mason was not a chatty female, or else he might have been forced to take her back to the station. If she remained this quiet until after the ceremony, things would be all right for them. Marie had prepared a room for her near his mother’s and he didn’t want to think of what would happen once his mother was gone. Unaware that he was under observation, he blinked rapidly. A man was not supposed to cry, or so many of the men he knew said. But he was hurting and his reaction was to act gruff and unfriendly, or else he would break down.
Deborah’s heart went out to the man, who seemed to be lost in a world of grief. It was painful to watch as a loved one suffered. One almost wished for the end to come so they could finally rest. She felt like she should say something, but her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.
She was surprised to find a number of people in the house, and without ceremony she was practically dragged to Grace Harper’s room.
“Mama, this is Deborah Mason. We’re getting married. Reverend Matthew is waiting to perform the ceremony.”
“Oh, my son!”
Grace’s voice was weak and frail and Deborah looked at the woman with a lot of compassion. Tears welled up in her eyes but she rapidly blinked them away. It never paid to cry in front of a sick person, even if they knew they were dying. Grace Harper’s last moments on earth should be happy ones.
“Come closer, my dear.”
Deborah approached the bed and took the slender hand that was held out to her.
“I’m so happy that you’ve come,” Grace whispered. “Thank you, my child.”
“I’m honored to be here, Mrs Harper.”
The ceremony went off without a hitch, and Grace even managed to clap with a huge smile on her face.
When it was all over and his mother was once again resting, Gerald turned to Deborah. “I’m sorry – you were probably expecting a better wedding, but given the circumstances, this was the best I could do.” He would miss her terribly, but he was glad that she’d go with a smile on her face. His heart felt lighter, knowing that he had made his mother happy in her final moments.
“It’s all right. I understand,” said Deborah. She was merely waiting for the end to come, when she would probably be sent packing.
Gerald stared at his mother in amazement when two days later she stepped out of her bedroom, looking as healthy as a horse. He had been played. That was confirmed by the twinkle he saw in her eyes.
“Mama, shouldn’t you be…?”
“Dead? Is that what you want to say, Gerry?” Grace shook her head and laughed softly. “Sorry to disappoint you, my son, but you’re stuck with me for a long, long time.”
“You tricked me.” He was enraged, rising up from the dining room table and confronting the woman, who steeled herself against his onslaught. “Mother, you tricked me.”
“Of course I did. What else was I supposed to have done when my only son refuses to marry and give me grandchildren? A desperate mother isn’t someone you can joke with. I had to use every means necessary to get you to finally marry.”