Mail Order Hannah (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies, #12)

by Wright, Cheryl

  Mail Order

  Hannah

  Book 8

  Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies

  Cheryl Wright

  MAIL ORDER HANNAH

  (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies – Book Eight)

  Copyright ©2020 by Cheryl Wright

  Cover Artist: Black Widow Books

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, 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 of this book

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Thanks

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  From the Author

  About the Author

  Thanks

  THANKS TO MY VERY DEAR friends (and authors), Margaret Tanner and Susan Horsnell for their enduring encouragement and friendship.

  THANKS ALSO TO ALAN, my husband of over 45 years, who has been a relentless supporter of my writing for many years.

  AND LAST, BUT BY NO means least, thank you to all my wonderful readers who encourage me to continue writing these stories. It is such a joy to me knowing so many of you enjoy reading my stories. I love writing them as much as you love reading them.

  Chapter One

  Idaho Falls, Idaho – 1880

  Hannah Wilson stared down into the crib.

  Five-month-old Rosemary lay sleeping soundly. Hannah put a gentle hand to her back and felt the steady breathing of the baby.

  Happy in the knowledge Rosie was alive and well, she went to the small desk tucked into the corner of the nursery.

  The baby’s mother had died in childbirth, and Hannah had been employed by Arthur Richardson to care for his daughter once the wet nurse had left. His business took him away from home more than he cared, and without a mother for his daughter, he was at his wit’s end.

  The man was often abrupt, and always in a hurry, but he did the best he could for his daughter, his only child.

  Rosie stirred and Hannah returned to the crib. “It’s okay, Rosie,” she said quietly, laying a gentle hand on the baby’s back once more.

  She soon settled and Hannah went back to the desk again. She must reply to the letter in front of her. She’d already put it off for a few days, hoping her situation would change, but it wasn’t to be.

  Her position as Governess to young Rosie was only temporary, until Mr Richardson’s cousin Melody arrived, so Hannah had put a contingency plan into effect.

  Dear Mr Delbert, she wrote in her neatest copperplate handwriting.

  Thank you for your latest correspondence. I feel we are quite compatible going by the several letters we’ve had back and forth. Since you are still willing, I would be more than pleased to enter into a marriage with you.

  My employer, Mr Richardson, is about to leave to fetch his cousin after her long trip from London. She’s the one who will provide permanent care for Rosie. He is due back in about three weeks, at which time I will be free to travel to Grand Falls.

  Thank you for the train ticket and the notes to pay for my expenses along the way. You have been more than generous.

  By my reckoning, I should arrive at Grand Falls on the twenty-first of next month.

  Kindest regards,

  Miss Hannah Wilson

  She read over the letter again, ensuring it made sense. Convinced it did, she stood and stretched. She’d agonized over this decision – never in her wildest dreams did Hannah believe she would ever become a mail order bride.

  Having limited employment options, she had little choice. The worst of it all being she would miss little Rosie as she’d grown very attached to her. But Hannah knew having family care for the child was the best option for her.

  Hannah had only secured the position due to knowing Mr Richardson through their mutual church. When Ethel Richardson had died giving little Rosemary life, it was a great tragedy, but it left her father in a bind.

  How could he run his business with a newborn to care for? The short answer was he couldn’t.

  At first he was able to secure a wet nurse, but she was only available for two months, then would again leave Rosie without anyone to care for her.

  Because she was the only unattached female available at the time, Mr Richardson approached Hannah to care for the child.

  Of course there was the question of improprieties. Hannah could not stay in his house without a chaperone, so Mr Richardson had secured his elderly cousin to live with them until cousin Melody arrived, and Hannah left to be married.

  Despite the success of his business, Mr Richardson didn’t pay well – far from it. She received free room and board, plus a small stipend. For that she was expected to provide around the clock care for Rosie.

  Not that she needed a lot of money – her main expense was clothing; she had no time for socializing and therefore had no friends.

  She shrugged. She’d had no other options or opportunities at the time, so she’d decided to take up his less than generous offer. With their arrangement ending soon, she had to prepare for the inevitable.

  There was a time when Hannah had hoped Mr Richardson would change his mind and keep her on. But it wasn’t to be. His cousin had written a few months ago and confirmed her passage from England. She had even stated a time to be collected from the port which was a good six days ride away by carriage.

  Hannah pulled the curtains aside and stared at the scene before her. Rolling hills and green pastures – she would miss this place. She’d been brought up here in Idaho Falls after her parents had been killed in an accident many years ago.

  Her grandparents had taken her in, but they were long gone and now she was completely alone. She had little in the way of employable skills, but she was certainly good at looking after children. It was her main attribute and what had kept her employed, albeit periodic.

  The door suddenly flew open and Mr Richardson stood in the doorway, motioning for her to come out.

  She gently closed the door behind her, not wanting to wake the baby.

  “I’m leaving now,” he said in a whisper. “I’ll be gone for about three weeks.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money. “Take this, and buy any supplies you need.”

  Hannah’s eyes opened wide. It was more money than she’d ever seen before. “That’s far too much, Mr Richardson,” she said, reluctant to take such a large sum despite him being such a miser in the past.

  He shook his head. “You will need to buy food and milk for the baby, as well as anything else you require while I’m gone.” He pushed the notes into her hands. “I’ll feel more comfortable knowing you can deal with any situation that might occur in my absence.”

  In that case... “Thank you, Mr Richardson.” She glanced over the landing and saw his suitcases sitting at the front door. “Oh, I’ve told Mr Delbert I shall arrive at my destination on the twenty-first. Does that sound feasible to you?”

  The last thing she wanted to do was let him down, even if he did pay her a pittance. Besides, Rosie was her priority.

  He seemed thoughtful for long moments. Probably working out dates in his head Hannah decided. “Yes. Yes, the twenty-first is very doable.”
He opened the door and strolled over to the crib where he stared down at his sleeping daughter. He blew a kiss so as not to wake her. “I love you Rosemary,” he whispered, then left the room again.

  “I will see you in a few weeks,” he told Hannah, then disappeared down the stairs.

  GRAND FALLS

  “Put my purchases on my account, will you?” Mrs Thompson said as she placed her shopping on the counter.

  Cecil Delbert nodded. “Of course. What do you have planned for today,” he asked, although he wasn’t really interested. He wrote each item in the account book, then added the purchases to a large brown bag.

  “Thank you, Mrs Thompson,” he said, carrying her shopping and holding the door open for her. “I’ll see you next time.” He handed the large bag over, then closed the door behind her.

  When he first opened the store, he could easily manage on his own. But now it had become far too large for one person to run alone. The Mercantile was always busy, being the only large store for many miles around. It was the main reason he’d decided to send for a mail order bride.

  He reached into his apron pocket and retrieved the latest letter Miss Wilson had sent. She had the most beautiful handwriting, and that would bode well when she filled out the account book.

  On the one occasion he’d employed someone to help out in the store, their writing was appalling. He couldn’t read a word, and as it turned out, neither could they.

  It had cost him dearly.

  Since he couldn’t interpret the entries, he couldn’t charge the customers. It was a huge blow to his profits. He vowed never to employ a clerk again.

  But a mail order bride? That was different. She would benefit from the correct entry of all purchases, with their profits helping both herself and him.

  They had sent several letters back and forth, and Miss Wilson had sent him a photograph. While he may not call her stunningly beautiful, she certainly wasn’t hard to look at.

  He stared at the writing on the envelope. He could stand here all day and not open it. Cecil knew he was acting childishly. This letter would either be an acceptance, or a rejection of his offer of marriage.

  He’d purchased tickets for her in the hope she accepted, and added what he believed would be enough money and then some, to ensure she was well-fed and accommodated on the trip here.

  She would travel by train, then change lines for another far shorter leg on another train. It would be rather arduous, but he hoped it was well worth it for his potential bride.

  That was if she didn’t turn him down. He’d heard of mail order brides who took the pre-purchased tickets and cashed them in, as well as pocketing the money.

  He didn’t have any inkling Miss Wilson was like that.

  Chapter Two

  Hannah’s suitcase was packed. She didn’t possess a lot of belongings – a few changes of clothes, a nightgown and undergarments, and an extra pair of shoes.

  She had placed a complete change of clothes in her carpetbag, since there was to be an overnight stay before she boarded the train on the second train line. It would be a blessed relief too.

  Not that she’d ever ridden a train herself, but she’d heard horror stories of how unpleasant it could be. A night in a hotel in a comfortable bed would bode well for the remainder of her trip.

  Little Rosie began to cry, and Hannah removed the baby from her crib. She gave her a warm bath, then changed her into a dry diaper and dressed her in clean clothes. Finally, she wrapped her in a clean blanket.

  Once she was finished, Rosie was well ready to be fed. She stretched her tiny arms and legs and let out a yawn. Then her pink tongue darted out of her mouth like it always did when she was hungry.

  Hannah placed her back in the crib while she prepared her bottle.

  Lifting Rosie out of the crib to feed her, she lamented the impending loss of the small child in her arms. She had become very fond of this little human, more than she ever imagined she could.

  Mr Richardson was due back in two days, and then she would leave Rosie in the care of cousin Melody who was to become the second Mrs Richardson.

  Hannah could only assume the baby would be in safe hands. The child’s father surely wouldn’t bring someone all the way across the world without checking her credentials, even if they were related.

  Despite being cold and distant toward her, he was always warm and happy around his daughter. She was all he had – she knew this because he’d told her often enough. She’d wondered if it was his way of justifying the diminutive wage he paid her.

  Melody was a distant cousin and even then, he’d had trouble locating her. She just hoped Mr Richardson knew what he was doing – after all, his daughter’s life would be in this woman’s hands.

  She had just begun to feed the baby when there was urgent pounding on the door. Not just knocking, but pounding and yelling.

  Hannah heard the front door open, then the noise ceased. She breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Miss Wilson,” she heard the shouting as Mr Richardson’s elderly cousin twice removed partially climbed the stairs to the nursery. “Miss Wilson, Hannah,” she said again, only far more breathless this time. “It’s the police!”

  She turned to see the elderly widow white as a ghost, and more than a little worried.

  Not wishing to disturb the content baby, she carried her down the stairs in her arms to greet their odd visitor.

  “Good afternoon, Ma’am,” the officer greeted her.

  “Good afternoon, Officer,” she said warily. “I am Miss Hannah Wilson – Rosemary’s Governess.”

  His brow furrowed and he looked even more worried than previously. “Is there somewhere we can sit down and talk?” He looked down at Rosie and his face softened.

  They moved into the sitting room, Hannah even more concerned than before. As she sat, she put a cloth to her shoulder and began to pat the child’s back. Not a word had been spoken.

  Her heart pounded in her chest. The longer he sat silently, the more concerned she became. “Is everything okay?” she finally blurted out, almost at the same time the baby burped.

  “Can you hand the baby to the housekeeper?” he asked. “I really need to speak to you uninterrupted.

  The widow harrumphed. “I am no housekeeper,” she said gruffly. “I am here because of the improprieties of Miss Wilson and Mr Richardson being alone in this house.”

  Hannah did her best to contain her mirth. The old lady hated being here, and was anxiously awaiting Hannah’s departure so she could return home.

  The officer glanced at Hannah.

  “Well get on with it,” he was told gruffly. “I don’t have all day.”

  That’s exactly what the old lady did have. Hannah did everything around the house, as well as taking care of the baby. She even cooked the meals.

  Hannah’s heart-rate quickened. Whatever could be wrong? “Please get this over with. I am feeling quite concerned by your visit. Besides, I need to attend to the baby.”

  “Very well. There’s been an accident. Mr Richardson and his companion are both dead.”

  “Dead?” She suddenly felt light-headed. She had heard wrong. They couldn’t be dead – what was to happen to Rosie? She couldn’t bear the thought the child would end up in an orphanage.

  Tears welled in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Miss Wilson.” He stood and headed toward the front door.

  “Dead?” the old lady screeched. “That’s it, I’m out of here. Finally, I can go home.” She was up and headed toward her room, presumably to pack. She stopped momentarily and addressed the officer. “I ain’t taking no kid either. I’m too old.” She scurried out of the room before another word could be said.

  Hannah’s brain was in a fog, and she continued to sit, trying to take it all in. “Wait!” she finally called after him, his hand on the door handle. The officer turned back. “What am I meant to do about the baby?” She stood then, confused and unsure about her immediate future. “I, I�
�m leaving here in two days to get married. There is no family to take Rosie. Please don’t make me take her to an orphanage.”

  “Baby?” he said with a wink. “I don’t see any baby.” He moved closer and whispered conspiratorially. “Take her with you, or that’s exactly where she’ll end up. I have children, Miss Wilson, I’d hate to see that child in one of those hell-holes.”

  Take her?

  “Mr Richardson obviously trusted you with his daughter, or he would not have left her with you.”

  He was right – Mr Richardson did trust her. He’d left Rosie with her for the past almost three weeks. But what was she to do now? In only two days she was to leave here and travel to Grand Falls to be married.

  STILL IN SHOCK, HANNAH scribbled off a quick letter to Mr Delbert the next morning.

  Dear Mr Delbert,

  The situation has suddenly changed, and I must bring my young charge with me. Mr Richardson and his cousin were killed in a tragic accident, and Rosemary has no-one to care for her.

  Therefore she will accompany me to Grand Falls. I hope this change of plans meets with your approval. If not, please advise at your earliest convenience.

  Kindest regards,

  Miss Hannah Wilson

  She wrote the address and placed Rosie in her carriage. They would take a stroll down to the post office and post the letter.

  Surely Mr Delbert wouldn’t refuse a small orphan child?

  She shook herself. He seemed like such a caring man, not the kind to turn a baby away. What she would do if that possibility did occur, Hannah had no idea.

  At the very least, she would find a boarding house to stay in until more firm arrangements could be made. At the worst, she would return home where she would have the support of her church family.

  The weather was fine, and the fresh air would do them both good. Hannah had to admit it was the one thing she didn’t do often enough, and that was take the young girl for regular walks.