Wayward Mail Order Bride 2: Wayward Mail Order Bride Series (Christian Mail Order Brides), #2

WAYWARD MAIL ORDER BRIDE 2

MONTANA WEST

Published by Global Grafx Press, LLC. © 2015

All Biblical quotations used in this manuscript are taken from the King James Bible or the English Standard Version of the Bible.

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Copyright © 2015 by Montana West

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MAIL ORDER WIFE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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First, of course I have to give thanks to God for giving me the gift of writing and the opportunity to share my work with others. Second, I want to thank my family who has been a true rock to me as I’ve started this indie publishing endeavor. Third, I have to thank the ladies at Global Grafx Press (familychrisitanbookstore.net) who have really worked with me in all aspects of getting these books from my hard drive to your hands. Lastly, and most importantly, I have to thank you, my readers, for taking the time to read my work. I hope it touches you as much as it does me.

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CHAPTER ONE

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Everybody in Franklin, Ohio came to the wedding of their pastor, Gideon Wallace, and his Irish lass Katherine Wallace.  Gideon couldn’t officiate over his own wedding, of course, so Rev. Horton Ballard came in from Shelby.  The ceremony was brief but Biblical, drawing on the works of St. Peter.

Afterward, the city spilled out onto the property around the church, where there was a feast of roasted goose, stuffing, steaks, creamed potatoes, and much more.

Ida danced with Horatio, play-acting at the romance they hoped would carry them through the rest of their lives.  They’d almost lost each other, and it was a relief just to be together, young hearts beating without worry, unburdened.

Gideon watched them from the table near the side of the yard, the autumn chill not ready to surrender to winter.  Katherine slipped up next to him, her curly red hair piled on her head, ringlets dangling down over her ears.

Reverend Gideon, Katherine said coyly.

He smiled gently as they kissed.  Good day, Mrs. Wallace.

Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves, Katherine said as the two of them watched Ida dancing with Horatio.  It's quite a festive season, and we haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet!  And people think New York is exciting!

We've much to celebrate, Gideon said.

Indeed we do.

Congratulations!  They turned to see Balthazar and Selma Brooks, Hortatio’s parents.  Selma’s stern expression was bent into a smile while her husband Bal, much more comfortable with happy expressions, was grinning from ear to ear.  Selma went on, Blessings on a long and happy life together.

That's so kind of you, Selma, Katherine said.  And thank you again for all your help, I couldn't have done it without you.

Bal said, It was a blessing to be able to help.

We're grateful for the opportunity to undo some of the damage we did.

Katherine didn’t have to think too hard or too long that Selma was referring to a series of rude meetings and a general air of judgement on her part.  But Katherine had won Selma’s respect, and Selma had come to understand that she was blaming Katherine for problems she was having with Ida and her own boy.  Selma had been afraid that Ida’s dreams of a singing career would lure Horatio away from the farm, away from Franklin, and away from her.

But Katherine had managed to keep the family together, and that had helped keep Horatio and Ida together and in Franklin, for the time being at least.

We’ll be dancing at their wedding soon enough, said Gideon.

I hope so, Selma replied.

Katherine said, I hear that theater troop has finally arrived.  I wonder when they'll have it open.

Such a thing, Selma said, shaking her head.  A theater!

Bal said, A theater needn’t be a blight on the town.  Shakespeare is considered classic.

Shakespeare? Selma said in a shocked and offended voice.  Incest, rape, murder: classic, indeed.  It may as well be pornography.

Wife, Bal said, language!

Selma turned to watch Ida dancing with Horatio.  I’d hate to think of our little Ida in such company.

Katherine tried to hide her smile.  Ida is a headstrong girl, and a gifted singer whose talent won’t be silenced, Selma.  Better that she stay here and sing then go off somewhere else, like New York City with your Horatio in tow.

I suppose, Selma said.

Excuse me, a familiar voice said from their left.  Katherine and the others turned to see Sheriff Silas Vance approaching with his deputy, big bald Bruno Bauer.  Didn't mean to intrude, Reverend.

Not at all, Gideon said.  I only wish you’d accepted our invitation.

Had to be on duty, Sheriff Vance said.  But we did want to come in, let you both know we’re happy for you.  Katherine looked closer at the sheriff and his deputy.  By their hardened expression, rugged and dust-worn, it was hard for her to imagine them ever being happy about anything.

Daisy Farrina and her husband Ralph approached, Daisy leaning back slightly to support her growing pregnancy. 

Katherine asked, You two having fun?

Very much, Daisy said, straining to smile.  I should probably sit down.  Ralph attended to his wife, his red hair combed back.  And Katherine, thanks again for taking over at the school house.

More than a pleasure, Katherine said, her Irish brogue subtle but unmistakable.  The children are a joy.

Some that aren't so little can be a real handful, Daisy said.  But be strong with them and you’ll do fine.

Katherine smiled.  As long as I have you to go to for advice, I shan't worry about a thing.  But looking back at the two dancing youngsters, Ida and Horatio, Katherine knew there would probably be much to worry about.

Above everyone’s heads gray clouds rolled over Franklin, and a distant rumbling was heard, suggesting a storm to come.

***

On Francis James’ Fayetteville tobacco farm in Lincoln County, Tennessee, the master of the house gazed out over his two hundred acres.  A light rain was falling over the slaves in the field.

But Francis’ thoughts were back in Franklin, where he’d left the Irish jilter Katherine and her new friends.  But the sting of being swindled and refused and then shamed that way was still fresh.

Manuel de Loredo approached the porch from the side of the house.  Horses are in the stables, Mr. James.

Thank you, Manuel, Francis said as he looked out over the fields.  Good crop this year.

Yes, sir.

A moment passed, Francis lit a cigar.  They’re getting married today, Francis went on, did you know that?

I had heard so sir, yes.

Francis offered up a disgusted little huff, shaking his head as he surveyed his kingdom.  You think I liked having to walk away like that, ride out of town with our heads bowed?

No, sir, Manuel said.

I didn’t get all this by being made a fool of.  Manuel nodded but said nothing, letting Francis continue.  But I’m going to settle the score with them, Manuel. With all of them. That whole cursed town!

Do you want me to hire some men?  Francis knew what Manuel meant, and to what violent purposes those hired men would be put.  Images of Franklin in flames splashed across his imagination, a band of masked gunmen riding through the streets on horseback, making good on all those effigies he’d planted in the trees weeks before.

No, Manuel, Francis said calmly.  No, not yet.  He took a few puffs from his cigar, smoke pouring out of his nostrils as he contemplated his options.

***

The Caldwell Theater Troop arrived with plenty of work for the locals.  The theater had to be built from scratch, and there were many skilled and able hands among Franklin’s male population.  The question of an introduction had been a tricky one for Gideon.  As he shook the reins, their mare pulling the carriage down Central Avenue on the way back from the schoolhouse, Gideon still wasn’t sure he'd made the right choice.

He’d wanted to come alone.  There was no telling what kind of people this theater troop consisted of, and he wanted to protect both Ida and Katherine from prying and perhaps dangerous eyes.  But Katherine was the reverend’s wife and she wanted to demonstrate leadership by taking her place by her husband’s side, in a position of some responsibility in the town.  Ida would never have forgiven Gideon if he’d left her out of the introductions.  And since he also knew there'd be no keeping her away, Gideon and Katherine agreed that she could and should be there with them.  This way the theater people would know Ida had a family who were concerned and protective, and Ida knew she had a family that was loving and supportive.

The wooden frame was already up on the corner lot of Saxon and Weaverly.  The stage was being built by laborers carrying beams from a massive stockpile of cut lumber in a corner of the yard.

Ida looked on excitedly, her bright eyes flashing, mouth set in a pretty grin, as they rode up to the site.  Katherine looked at her, a little worried, feeling that Ida might have been looking a little too pretty.  Maybe her father was right, Katherine had to wonder.  And I’d been the one to suggest she come with us!

But as Katherine had pointed out earlier, there were good reasons to bring Ida along and a lot of risks to leaving her behind.  Katherine had more on her mind than the mere logic of her position.  She and Ida had struck up a friendship; it was one Katherine had earned and one which she valued for a number of reasons.

Ida was now her stepdaughter, and that meant they’d be in each other's lives for a very long time.  Katherine wanted their lives to be happy ones, which meant that a friendship was vital.  The stronger their bond, Katherine realized, the happier their family.  Ida had been Gideon’s daughter for fifteen years, but Katherine had only been his wife for a week; in total she’d only been in their lives for a few months.  Keeping Gideon happy, meant keeping Ida happy, Katherine realized.

She also wanted to be Ida’s advocate.  She liked the idea of standing up for Ida and helping her out.  At just nineteen, Katherine had never been a stepmother, but she knew what it was like to be a girl without an ally − and it wasn't something Katherine wanted Ida to have to endure.

But she knew that if anything went wrong with the visit, she’d be held at least partially responsible.  Not that Gideon was an irrational or accusing person; Katherine knew he’d take full responsibility as Ida’s father.  But she also knew she’d played her part and that any reasonable person would hold her accountable, and she would even if nobody else did.

The mare stopped and Gideon stepped down to help Katherine and Ida from the carriage.  They crossed the street and approached the construction site. The women wary of the debris as men were walking by with long beams of wood and other hazards.

It’s going up fast, Katherine said.

It’d better, Gideon said. This time of year the rains’ll turn the whole thing to mud if they don’t get that roof on soon.  Even then, a light mist hung in the foggy air, a drizzle coming and going.

And this wasn’t lost on the laborers, nor their foreman, a beefy man with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail who was barking orders and pointing to various corners of the yard.  Get those two-by-tens in, put that roofing in order, where are those shingles we ordered?

Garrett! another man shouted at the foreman, and he turned to find its source as Gideon, Katherine and Ida did the same.  It came to them all in the shape of a tall man with red muttonchops and bushy eyebrows, his barrel chest built for life in the rugged plains.  Garrett, did you see that sheriff snooping around here earlier?

No, sir, the foreman Garrett said in an accent Katherine could place immediately as Cornish, from Cornwall in England.