Love And Hearts Ride West: Mail Order Bride: 16 Novella's Bundle

by Indiana Wake

  Forrest and Edson shared a look and the sight of it gave Amanda chills. She had spent many an hour discussing the situation for Edson knew Jesse Sanders well. They had talked about paying him off and finding another man for Sabrina and right now she wished they had done so. The problem was they needed time. There were plenty of good men in town, but things had gone so fast that they had reluctantly agreed for Sabrina to meet Jesse. The only stipulation had been that both Forrest and Edson would be there when the meeting took place.

  “I just hope she doesn’t fall for his good looks,” Cassandra said. “I hear he is quite handsome.”

  Forrest cleared his throat.

  “Not as handsome as you, my love,” Cassandra said quickly and then she leaned against the man she loved. The man she had caused so many heartaches. “Why can’t she be more like me?” Cassandra asked.

  Groans went around the room followed by laughter. They all remembered the merry dance that Cassandra had given Forrest before she finally fell in love with him.

  “I have a plan,” Forrest said. “I do not think it will work, but it will be a start.”

  They all crowded around his chair and listened intently.

  The following morning they all sat down to breakfast. Prayers were said and then they started on the food. Amanda and Edson’s children were eating with them and the table hummed with the happy conversation. Jenny was the oldest and had been a real tomboy when they arrived. Now she dressed like Amanda as often as she could and doted on her every move.

  “Can we go riding today?” Jake asked. “I wanna get better than Ted Miller. So I can whup him in the horse race next month.”

  Amanda and Edson smiled, Jake was the middle child and the one to watch. He was always up to something and yet he could brighten the mood of any room instantly.

  “I don’t think you’re ready for a horse race,” Edson said.

  “But Pa, I can ride real good.”

  Amanda was trying to hide her giggles. “Well, I think you need a few more English lessons before you can practice on Bullet.”

  “Sorry Ma,” Jake said his eyes downcast.

  “But if you work really hard and are careful maybe you can go in the race.”

  Jake exploded from the table and ran around to hug Amanda tight. “I’ll be real… I will be very good, Ma,” he corrected.

  Through all of this Jeremiah, the youngest of the three ate quietly, as did Sabrina. She looked at him and felt her heart melt. How she wanted children of her own. To hold and to love and to raise to be as wonderful as the three that Amanda had. “Will it be today?” She asked.

  The room went quiet. Nobody needed to ask what, for it was all Sabrina talked about. Glances rippled around the table, but Sabrina did not notice the worried undercurrent that went with them.

  “If you are sure you are ready we can arrange a visit sometime this week,” Amanda said.

  Sabrina squealed with joy and got up and hugged her sister. “Thank you so much,” she said. “I must go look at my dresses again.”

  “I have a better idea,” Forrest said, his deep voice bringing Sabrina to a halt. “Why don’t you come into town with your sister and me and we will get you a new dress and some pretty ribbon for your hair?”

  Sabrina let out another squeal and ran around and hugged Forrest. “You are the best brother-in-law in the world,” she said.

  Edson cleared his throat.

  “Equal best,” Sabrina said, “and soon I will be as lucky as my sisters.”

  Soon the carriage was ready and they set off to Redemption. Throughout the journey, Sabrina talked about how wonderful Jesse would be. How kind and how handsome he was and that he would surely love her.

  Cassie sat all quiet for once. That in itself should have been a warning to Sabrina, but she was so excited that Forrest did not know if they would be able to prevent the disaster. He knew he had to. Somehow he had to stop this wedding. Had to save this lovely innocent girl from the monster of a man she had been promised to. He just hoped that his plan would work.

  Soon they arrived at the mercantile and Forrest smiled when he saw that the shop was full. Many of the ladies had turned out to help him with his plan. He just prayed that it would work.

  “I have some business to attend to,” Forrest said. “I will leave you, ladies here and anything you want, put it on my tab. I will sort it out when I get back.”

  Sabrina squealed again as Forrest helped her down. “Thank you so much brother,” she said.

  Forrest and Cassandra shared a look and then he kissed his new bride's hand before he climbed back into the carriage and set off. Not to work, but simply to wait and hope that his plan would be successful.

  Chapter 3

  The girls walked into the mercantile, expecting to find lots of materials but nothing special. “You have the best husband ever,” Sabrina said. “But I know my Mr. Sanders will be just as good. And younger, or at least I hope he’s younger.”

  Cassie wanted to say something, but the sisters had agreed that Sabrina would not hear it from them. She always saw the best in everyone, and she had already decided that he would be wonderful. If they paid him off, they feared she would find him, believing that a promise had to be kept. Her mind was made up and now they had to change it for her.

  As they walked in, Sabrina’s eyes lighted on a cowboy. He was tall and dusty with a chiseled jaw and thick black hair. “Is that him?” she whispered.

  “I do not know,” Cassie said, “but I don’t think so. We should go through to the back.”

  The shop was filling up as all the women started to come in and put their plan into action.

  “No medicine at all?” The cowboy asked. “You know where I’m from?”

  “Yeah, I do and maybe you should just go on back there,” Levi the store owner said from beneath a handkerchief as he kept as far away from the man as he could get.

  The cowboy sighed with resignation and with his hat in his hands he turned to see all the women. Confusion crossed his face and then his eyes lighted on the prettiest girl he had ever seen. She was tall and full-bodied, with soft blonde curls that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. For a second his heart stopped, was this an angel sent to save them? Then she looked at him, with green eyes that shone like emeralds and a blush rose on her sweet cheeks.

  Sabrina watched as the cowboy turned, he was so handsome. Just like she imagined Jesse would be. Was it him, could it be? Well, maybe he was not just like she imagined, in fact, he was even more handsome. He was staring at her like she was lemon cake. All scrumptious and soft. Heat hit her cheeks and she dropped her head, peeking back at him through lowered lashes. It seemed as if the world shut down and all she could see was his gray eyes. They pulled her like steel to a magnet and a delicious feeling started in her stomach and seemed to spread out towards him. Maybe she was glowing, maybe it was love. Her breath caught in her throat and for a second she went dizzy. Would she swoon and end up in his strong arms?

  “I said git’ outta’ here, Christen,” Levi barked.

  A flood of disappointment went through Sabrina. This was not her man. Before her, the cowboy nodded and shrugging on his hat he turned and walked out. As he left, there was an air of despair about him that squeezed her heart until she felt it would pop.

  “You should keep away from that one, ladies,” Levi said.

  Sabrina wanted to ask why, and as the door closed behind the man, she felt a sense of loss.

  “Come on, let’s find you some nice material,” Cassie said and she led her sister through the store, passed the dry goods and cans and into a back room.

  Several women were already there, chatting and leafing through a stand full of dresses. Sabrina let out another squeal “I didn’t know they sold dresses,” she said, but then a frown crossed her face.

  “What is it, sister?”

  “They will all be too small for us.”

  Cassie laughed. “You may be surprised. After all it is much easier to take a dress in tha
n it is to make one bigger. Let us look and see.” She did not mention that Forrest had made sure the dresses were shipped here when they got married.

  As Cassandra led her sister over to the rail, she shared a glance with some of the ladies. She spotted Jinty, with her red hair and sharp features, the woman was kind beyond measure. There were others she also knew and many faces that would become friends, or at least she hoped so. Doing a quick head count, it looked as if all the women in town were here. That made her realize just how much danger Sabrina was in. They could not let her marry this monster for it would crush her delicate soul and destroy her forever.

  “Good day ladies,” Cassandra said.

  “Good day,” came a dozen replies.

  “Come look at the dresses,” Jinty said. “They are very pretty and would suit such lovely girls as you.”

  Soon Sabrina was leafing through the dresses. One after the other. As she swung the dresses along the rail, they would hear an ‘oh my’ and then lots of delighted sighs. Cassandra watched her younger sisters eyes open wide each time she found a dress she loved. So far it had happened many times but there were three she could see were Sabrina’s favorites. Then a frown marred her pretty features.

  “What is it?” Cassie asked.

  “I like these three,” Sabrina said. “The gold is so luxurious and opulent. The lemon looks so sweet.” A blush rose to her cheeks as she thought of the cowboy and the look he had given her. What was wrong with her? She was soon to meet her betrothed. “And this blue is just so… so beautiful,” she continued fighting down her feelings and hoping that Cassandra would not notice.

  Why is that a problem?” Cassie asked.

  “Because I do not know if I can afford it.”

  Cassie scooped up the dresses. “Forrest said to get whatever you want,” she said and then she gave a stare to the ladies. So far they had said nothing and that was not the plan.

  “Aren’t you Jesse Sanders betrothed?” Jinty asked at last.

  Cassie breathed a sigh of relief and Sabrina beamed.

  “Yes,” Sabrina said as color hit her cheeks and a smile so bright it lit up the room came over her face.

  “Then you best get these,” Jinty said pulling out two plain, dark, cotton work dresses.

  “What do you mean?” Sabrina said looking down at the dresses and not noticing that most of the women wore something similar.

  “Well, Jessie is looking for a housekeeper and a… a… Well, you know. Why don’t we all get a coffee and talk about the man you are forced to marry?”

  “I am not forced,” Sabrina said. “I know he will be wonderful.”

  Jinty led them outside, where she ordered coffee’s for all the ladies and put it on Forrest’s tab. Then they sat down and told Sabrina everything. How he beat his staff. How he beat his horses. How the sheriff had threatened to run him out of town for the way he treated certain women who worked in the saloon. At this, Cassandra felt the blood rush from her face. She did not know that such women existed in this town, but even so, no man should mistreat them. As the women talked, she watched Sabrina; her sister went from confident to a quiet little mouse as white as a sheet. It was working.

  “I remember the time he hit the Miller’s boy,” Jinty said. “Just seven years old he was and Jessie knocked him clean out. If we’d had a sheriff, then he would be gone.”

  “Stop it, stop it now,” Sabrina said standing up so quickly that her chair tumbled back behind her. “You are all jealous and I will hear no more about it.”

  With that she strode off across the street, her head held high.

  “I’m so sorry Jinty,” Cassie said. “She is young and never sees wrong in anyone.”

  “Don’t you fret Miss Cassie,” Jinty said. “Your sister is a peach and I would hate to see her with that evil man. I just hope that we did a bit of good.”

  It took Cassie a while to calm Sabrina down and then they headed for home. Cassie shook her head as Forrest asked the question with his eyes. Had it worked? What were they to do now? All Cassie could think about was their original plan. Pay Jessie off or ban Sabrina from seeing him. The problem was both would break poor Sabrina’s heart and if she never saw him for what he was… Cassie knew her sister and if Sabrina did not make the decision herself she would forever worry about it. Would forever think that she had been duped, and just maybe she would go looking for him. To Sabrina, a promise was for keeping.

  “Those women are so jealous, they just want Jessie for themselves,” Sabrina said. “Especially that redhead.”

  Cassandra took a deep breath. “That redhead is Jinty, the doctor’s wife. She is trained as his assistant, and has been happily married for seven years.”

  “Oh,” was all Sabrina could manage.

  “Listen to the voice of experience,” Forrest said. “I too have heard terrible things about this man and all we ask is that you are safe.”

  Cassie noticed Sabrina drop her shoulders a little. At least Forrest had unruffled her feathers and maybe now she would think on it and see reason.

  “What exactly have you seen him do?” Sabrina asked.

  Cassie watched the tick in Forrest’s jaw; it meant he was wondering whether to tell an untruth. His next words filled her with love.

  “I haven’t seen anything, but I have heard plenty and from people I trust. “

  “Then it could all be hearsay,” she said.

  “Yes it could,” Forrest kept his voice low and calming, “but why risk it. There are many men I can introduce you to. Let them court you, and then you marry the one who steals your heart.”

  Sabrina leaned back against the coach and was quite for a moment. The gentle rocking of the carriage seemed to relax her. “All I ask is that you let me meet him,” she said at last. “Maybe if we fell in love and married he would turn into a good man?”

  “A leopard don’t change its spots,” Forrest said but then he smiled. “We will let you meet him, but there will be no marriage for at least six months. and you will be chaperoned during that time.”

  At Sabrina’s pout, he held up his finger. “That way you get to know him, the real him, before you take a decision that can’t be undone. Is that a deal?”

  Sabrina mulled over the proposal and then she nodded. “That is a deal.”

  Cassie let out a big breath of air and smiled at her amazing husband.

  Chapter 4

  Sabrina sat in the family room thinking. Why did everyone want to keep her and Jessie apart? It made no sense. Her two sisters, Amanda, and Cassandra, had been given the same arranged marriages and had found the perfect partner, Edson, and Forrest. Cassandra and Forrest had just gotten married a few days ago and now they were making plans to go off to their home. It wasn't that far from Edson's ranch so they would be able to visit often. Sabrina was sure they were only staying here to keep an eye on her and it made her angry. Did they not trust her? Even though she was the baby, she knew her heart and every fiber in her body told her that Jesse would be right for her. He had to be… because the other two arranged marriages had been so perfect.

  Sabrina looked at both her sisters with a sigh of contentment. To think that only a year ago they had been back in the East, living with their aunt. She was a wretched thing and never treated them right. All they did was work for her while their aunt frittered away their father’s money. When it was gone, she had arranged for them to come West as mail order brides. If it were not for Amanda, they would all be married now. But her sister had insisted that she was married first and that the other two sisters would only marry if they loved their husbands. If not, Edson had agreed to keep them all as his family.

  Sabrina thought back to their initial journey West, and how they all thought it would be their doom. But it had turned out to be the best thing in the world for them.

  Both of her elder sisters were now happily married and madly in love with their spouses. Seeing her two sisters finally settled down, made Sabrina extremely happy and now she looked forward to mee
ting the man she had been promised to by her aunt. But what about the nasty things those women had said. Could they be true? Did it matter; her place was to be a good wife? No, even she did not believe that one. There Pa always said that marriage was a partnership, and if her husband did not treat her right… What should she do?

  Amanda watched her sister. She could see the conflicting emotions as they rolled across her face, like clouds across the sky. Sabrina was a kind, caring girl in her early twenties. She had hair as yellow as the sunflowers in full bloom and eyes as green and light as a clear stream. Though she was a bit heavy, as were all the sisters, it had never hindered her. So like her sisters Sabrina had never given her weight any thought. She had a mild, gentle nature and never got cross or said a bad word about anyone. But despite the harsh treatment from their aunt, Sabrina had never really known true hardship. The two elder sisters had sheltered her from that, but they could not do that if she married this man. Amanda felt the tension in her shoulders and a sickness in her stomach. What was she to do? The thought of her sister with that horrible man made her stomach turn and her knees shake. Today was the day they would meet and somehow they had to make sure that she did not marry him.

  Chapter 5

  Sabrina was thinking about her man. One moment she was dreaming of walking by the creek hand in hand with her Jessie. The next she imagined what it would be like if he would really hit her. Surely it could not be true? The town women were simply jealous because they could not have him. Yet she knew that made no sense. Nearly all the town women were married. There was an old widow and two girls not yet old enough to marry, the rest were all married. The other thing that confused her was her sisters and their husbands. Why would they lie to her? Perhaps they did not want to lose her yet? Oh, it was so confusing.

  Sabrina heard her name being called out, and she came back to the present.