Mail Order Brides Western Romance Collection ~ 3-Book Bundle (Brides of Virtue Series 1)

by Jill Maguire

  “My friends live a little ways out of town on a big farm. I’m excited for you to meet them, I think you’ll like them,” Hayes smiled at Faith reassuringly.

  Faith tried to concentrate on his words, but inside she was struggling. The last time she had been on a wagon like this, heading out into the wild countryside, was on the wagon train where John had died. Faith gripped the bench beneath her and breathed in deeply, trying to steady the pounding of her heart. The images of that day threatened her calm demeanor and Hayes sensed her tension.

  “Faith, are you alright?” The question came out in a soft, low tone. Faith shook her head to clear the threatening flashbacks.

  “Yes, I’m alright. I’m fine.” Faith gained self-control and looked straight ahead, not willing to meet Hayes’s intense gaze. This was not the long journey west, there were no Indians out here, as far as Faith knew, and Hayes was not John. Hayes was practically a stranger. Naming these differences helped to slow her heart beat and clear her mind.

  “If you feel overwhelmed about meeting my friends tonight, please just say so and I’ll turn this wagon around right now.”

  Embarrassed by her own panicked behavior and the thoughtfulness and concern in Hayes’ voice, Faith was nearly brought to a mess of tears. But she valiantly held them at bay and cleared the lump in her throat.

  “Thank you, I’m sure this evening will be lovely.” And Faith sincerely hoped that it would be. She desperately needed something promising in her life, something to rid her of the loneliness she had felt for so long. She could only hope and plead with the Lord that Hayes’ friends would welcome her and be forthcoming with their friendship.

  “How do you know these friends?” Faith asked in an attempt to keep her mind distracted from the dark and uneven ride.

  “They came in with a wagon train and decided to settle here. My friend’s wife was promised to another man as a mail-order bride, but on the journey they fell in love with each other and got married when they reached town,” Hayes smiled in delight. He obviously loved the story. Faith had to admit, it was a happy love story, with a better ending than her attempt at becoming a mail-order bride. “They started going to the church in town and that’s how we met. We became friends very quickly and the rest, as they say, is history.”

  As they approached the quaint farmstead on the outskirts of town, Faith’s stomach twisted into knots and she jumped when Hayes’ arm gently brushed against hers.

  “Hey, it will be alright,” he said soothingly. “My friends are great people and they’re going to make you feel right at home. My buddy may even play the fiddle tonight,” Hayes chuckled, his sense of humor winning out over Faith’s obvious unease. “You look like a cat staring down a giant dog,” Hayes teased, nudging Faith with his elbow. Faith couldn’t help but smile as he brought the horse to a halt under a large tree in the front yard. As Hayes dismounted a child came running out of the house.

  “Uncle Hay! Uncle Hay!” The child yelled out as he ran. When the toddler reached the knees of the towering Hayes Morgan, he was scooped up and tossed into the air, letting out a joyful squeal. Caught up in Hayes’ strong arms, the boy was covered in kisses and then lowered to the ground.

  Faith was strangely moved by the endearing display of love between Hayes and the young fair-haired child. She smiled at Hayes as he motioned her toward the cabin.

  Seeing movement on the porch, Faith looked past Hayes and the boy, and noticed a woman standing at the front door, watching, smiling and waving. Faith couldn’t believe what she saw and felt her heart almost stop at the sight.

  Chapter 9

  Without realizing what was happening around her, Faith climbed down from the wagon. Hayes reached out to assist her, but she paid him no mind. Her heart didn’t dare to hope. Maybe the woman only looked like Patience, or maybe her mind was playing tricks on her. Everything else had faded away as Faith walked with unsteady strides to the porch.

  “Faith?!” Patience exclaimed. There was no mistaking it then, her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her at all.

  “It IS you, Patience!” Faith let the tears fall then, and they streamed down her cheeks in a joyful parade. Faith fell gratefully into her friend’s arms as Patience pulled away slightly to look into Faith’s face.

  “I can’t believe it’s you! What are you doing here?” Patience looked at Hayes who had joined the women on the porch, the little boy latched on to one leg. “Oh my!” Patience exclaimed as realization dawned on her. “You’re the woman Hayes took in for the night! Warren told me the story just before you got here. Oh Faith, it’s been so long! I never thought I would see you again!” Patience’s light tears joined with Faith’s as the two friends shared a long-awaited hug.

  “I just can’t believe it,” Faith gushed. “And you’re expecting again?” Faith pulled away, smoothing her hand over the bump that pushed itself between them.

  “Yes, we are blessed,” Patience wiped at her eyes, her face shining with joy. Then, her joy quickly turned to concern for her friend. “And you? You were with child on the wagon train.”

  Faith did not respond, but her face showed the story.

  “Oh Faith, I’m so sorry,” Patience said.

  Faith’s chest tightened with the familiar ache of loss and she felt anxiety creep over her in the presence of another expectant woman. Suddenly Faith was afraid to touch Patience, worried that contact would bring about a curse as it had for Grace Knowles and her baby.

  “Oh, please come in,” Patience urged, wrapping her shawl a little tighter around her shoulders. “Warren will be so surprised!”

  Patience guided Faith inside with a hand on the small of her back. Faith could barely control her emotions as they overflowed with feelings of disbelief, gratitude and unspeakable relief at being in the presence of an old friend.

  “Warren, look, it’s Faith!” Patience presented Faith as if she were an honored guest when they entered the small dining room. Warren was laying out plates and silverware on the wooden table and stared in shock between Faith and Hayes.

  “This is the woman you told me about Hayes?” he asked in disbelief.

  “Yes,” Hayes laughed. “I had no idea that bringing her here would create such a raucous.” Hayes placed the basket of biscuits on the table. “I believe Faith made these today.”

  “Oh, thank you Faith,” Patience smiled. “And this is Clay.” Patience picked up the boy who had been tugging at her skirt. “Named after his father.”

  “Patience, he looks just like you.” Faith admired the beautiful child, but would not reach out to him, even though his dimpled cheeks screamed to be pinched.

  “Yes, but with his father’s eyes,” Patience responded, studying her son. She kissed him on the cheek and lowered him to the floor.

  A pang of regret ripped through Faith. If her baby had lived, he would have been just a little bit younger than Clay. The thought brought tears to the brim of Faith’s eyes.

  “Patience, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you,” Faith rejoiced, focusing on her friend again. “You look well, how have you been feeling?”

  “Yes, things have been going well this time around,” Patience smiled and rested a hand contentedly on her belly. “What has your life been like for the past three years?”

  Faith followed Patience to the kitchen and helped her prepare the supper feast, reluctant to tell Patience anything about her pain-streaked past. She wanted a fresh start and now, standing in Patience’s kitchen, Faith felt hope bloom for the first time. She was fearful though, and did not yet want to trust this hope.

  “Well, after John’s death I slowly began a midwifery practice and gained a good reputation. I’ve been able to support myself,” Faith explained in a jumbled rush.

  “Oh Faith, I’m so sorry about your husband. I assumed something must have happened. I’m just so sorry,” Patience laid a hand on Faith’s arm.

  “It’s been a painful journey.”

  “Is that when you lost the baby too?”
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br />   Faith nodded and turned back to her task of dishing green beans into a serving bowl. Patience stood still for a moment and decided more positive chatter was best.

  “Warren and Clay and the farm have kept me plenty busy these last three years,” Patience laughed warmly. “And we’re grateful to have a friend like Hayes. He really is a good man, Faith. He can be trusted. Of all the people for you to stumble upon in town, he was probably the best one, aside from Warren of course,” Patience grinned and a sparkle of love twinkled in her eye. “But God knew that. God chose the right man for you that day.”

  Patience smiled again and threw Faith a teasing wink before turning back to the dining room, arms laden with food.

  Faith was slow to follow behind her. Did God really play a part in her meeting Hayes that fateful day? Did He have a plan in mind? Faith almost tripped on one of Clay’s tiny wooden cars on her way to the table. Maybe, just maybe…...

  Chapter 10

  Hayes studied Faith throughout supper in disbelief. It was simply incredible that of all the people in town for Faith to know, she would know Hayes’ two closest friends. Hayes knew better than to give credit to irony though. This was clearly a gift of God, a gift to Faith. Hayes marveled in how Faith was a completely changed woman in the presence of Patience. All the tension and unease that Hayes had seen in her face, in her every movement, melted away under the friendly attention of her old acquaintance. She bloomed beautifully right before his eyes.

  Hayes sat silently throughout the meal watching Faith as if he had never seen her before, as if he had never seen a woman before. She was captivating. She laughed and reminisced with Patience and Warren over the journey on their wagon train west and throughout the evening, Hayes was able to learn plenty about Faith. She was a midwife in her old town and had a pleasant sense of humor. She had also been married before, although she spoke very little of her husband.

  Over dessert and coffee, after Patience had put Clay to bed, Warren recounted an Indian attack they had withstood on the trail. Faith’s face noticeably clouded over with sorrow.

  “They came out of nowhere,” Warren said, a part of the adrenaline of the moment coming back to him. “We couldn’t do anything but just keep riding on. Some men on horses pulled out of the line to defend the wagon train, and of course Clive yelled at the Indians in their own language. That called them off, but not before we heard horrible screams.”

  As Warren told his story, Hayes kept his eyes on Faith. She became more and more uncomfortable as Warren went on. When the woman’s scream was mentioned Faith laid her head in her hands, shaking.

  “Stop,” Patience said quietly, placing a hand on her husband’s arm. She was looking at Faith who had tears tracing down her cheeks. “That was you, Faith,” Patience whispered into the silence. “I prayed to God it wasn’t.”

  Faith raised her head with an astounding calmness mastering her features.

  “Yes, it was me. The arrow struck John in the chest, right there in front of me,” Faith looked at a spot on the table, but Hayes guessed that she was seeing the events unfold before her again. His heart broke for her loss.

  “I’m so sorry to mention it, Faith. I had no idea,” Warren said humbly. He gave his wife a pained, apologetic look and she smiled tenderly at him.

  “Hayes, do you want to help me clear the dishes?” Warren stood and began to collect dirty plates. Hayes followed his friend to the kitchen with his own arms full.

  “Well, I feel like the world’s biggest fool,” Warren commented dryly as they stood in the kitchen together.

  “Hey, there was no way you could know. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Hayes reassured, but he was distracted by his own thoughts of Faith. The more he learned about her, the fonder he grew toward her. After hearing what she had been through, Hayes wanted nothing more than to care for Faith. Perhaps forever. Hayes stood still as the weight of this unexpected thought settled in on him.

  “What is it?” Warren asked.

  “Nothing, it’s nothing,” Hayes said. Then, knowing that Warren would see right through him, and that his friend deserved nothing short of the truth, Hayes corrected himself. “Warren, I don’t even know this woman. How could I be feeling so strongly about someone I hardly know?”

  “God works in mysterious ways,” Warren said cryptically.

  “You think God is behind all this?”

  “You don’t? Think about it Hayes. This woman was wandering the streets of Whistle Stop, lost and alone, and you’re the first person she meets. She was going to marry a man she had never met anyway, and I know that you are probably ten times the man that guy was. Now, you’re starting to feel things for her so it’s only natural. Hayes, I think you should ask her to marry you.”

  At Warren’s suggestion Hayes almost dropped the plate in his hands. He looked at his friend incredulously.

  “I should ask her to marry me? Don’t you think that will just scare her off?”

  “Listen, Hayes, I encouraged Patience to sing your praises to Faith tonight whenever she got the chance, which she can do in all honesty because Patience thinks the world of you. With a little help, and with me keeping my mouth shut from now on, Faith will see that marrying you and staying in Whistle Stop is a pretty good option. Hayes, you could have everything you’ve ever wished for. You could have a family.”

  Hayes stared at Warren with his mouth agape. A wife and family? It was the only thing in the world that Hayes wanted, but marrying a woman he had only just met seemed ridiculous.

  The men left the kitchen to rejoin Patience and Faith who were seated around the glowing fire. Hayes stole a glance at Faith upon entering the room and noticed she did seem more relaxed and at peace now that Patience had bestowed some graceful comfort that she was only too good at.

  When Hayes entered the sitting room with Warren, Faith was ready to converse once again and leave the awkwardness and sorrow at the table. But what she wasn’t prepared for was the look on Hayes’s face. He regarded her with such intensity that it made her cheeks burn and her stomach twist in a way that was not unpleasant.

  Chapter 11

  Faith and Hayes were encouraged to stay the night instead of driving back in the dark and the cold. After enjoying a simple, early breakfast with their friends in the morning, they set out toward town again. Faith was tired but her heart felt fuller than it had for some time after enjoying the rich of fellowship of friends. Hayes, on the other hand, had much on his mind and felt confused and agitated. Could he really be considering proposing to this beautiful woman? Was he a fool for listening to Warren’s absurd suggestion?

  Finally, Hayes couldn’t stand the thoughts crowding his mind and broke the silence as the horse plodded along.

  “I know you must feel unsure about what to do next, but I hope you will think about staying in Whistle Stop.”

  “I - I don’t know,” Faith replied, her full heart beginning to plummet. “There is nothing keeping me here, I have no prospects. I guess I’ll have to go back from where I came.” Faith’s voice trailed off as the thought brought intense anxiety to her. Just considering returning to the town that exiled her, and being within reach of Rex Knowles again, left a hopeless feeling in the pit of her stomach and the joy she had felt only moments before slowly evaporated.

  Hayes cleared his throat and Faith became aware of how nervous he was, watching him out of the corner of her eye as he fidgeted with the reins.

  “Well, you could marry another. You know, if you wanted to, it’s an option.” Hayes floundered over his words and let them die away awkwardly. Faith looked at him in surprise. He didn’t turn to meet her eye, only cleared his throat again and slapped the reins, urging the horses to move at a faster pace.

  Faith lifted an eyebrow. She hadn’t even considered the option of actively seeking out another man, a man interested in taking a mail order bride as his wife. But the benefits seemed worthy. She would be able to stay near Patience and she wouldn’t have to go back to her bleak and fear-filled
existence. Faith grasped on to the life-line.

  “I suppose that might be a suitable situation for me,” Faith agreed. “But without knowing any other men here in Whistle Stop, I’m not sure how I would arrange such a thing.”

  Hayes saw an opportunity and clumsily stuttered his way through a proposal. “Well, I’m not really sure what you might say, or think of me for asking, but, I – I’d be happy to call you my wife, Faith.”

  Faith lowered her eyes to her lap and tried to hold back a smile at Hayes’ sweet offer. “Are you asking me to marry you Hayes Morgan?” Faith hoped she didn’t seem imprudent for asking, but she wanted to be sure she didn’t misinterpret what Hayes had just said.

  “I know it’s not what you had planned when you came to Wyoming, but I’ve become quite fond of you Faith Decker and if you see fit, I’d like to take your hand.”

  Faith contemplated for only a moment before accepting Hayes’ proposal. “I will marry you, Mr. Morgan.”

  The remainder of the trip home was thick with silence. Faith stared ahead most of the way, pulling her shawl tightly around her shoulders to protect from the crisp autumn air. When they reached the public stalls, Hayes stowed his wagon and made sure his horse was taken care of before walking Faith back to the blacksmith shop.

  “So, when do you think we should be married?” Hayes asked when they had reached the shop. “I suppose there is no reason to postpone it. You would have a secure place to stay.”

  Faith nodded. “I suppose we could do it tomorrow, unless that’s too soon.” Faith hoped she wasn’t being too forward.

  “Tomorrow would be fine. I’ll go speak with the reverend and tend to the arrangements.” With that Hayes walked through the house, out the front door, and made his way to the church.

  Feeling overwhelmed, Faith sat down at the kitchen table and put her head in her hands. Hayes was such a kind and tender-hearted man and she knew marrying him meant she would never have to go back, but still her heart felt tormented. Was this the life God had intended for her? She felt as though she was forcing her fate.