A Christmas Bride for the Teacher Read online

  A Christmas Bride for the Teacher

  Hands and Hearts Mail Order Bride Agency

  Indiana Wake

  Belle Fiffer

  Fair Havens Books

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Preview 31 Sweet Christmas Brides

  Also by Indiana Wake

  About the Author

  ©Copyright 2018 Indiana Wake

  Introduction

  A Christmas Bride for the Teacher

  Hearts and Hands Mail Order Bride Agency

  The tradition of mail order bride’s dates back to 1620 but most of us are more familiar with the 1800s.

  The first mail order bride adverts appeared following the gold rush. Men went West and became prosperous but without the possibility of family they soon became morose. They drank too much and so the first matrimonial adverts began.

  At first men write to their churches, in the hope of finding moral ladies who would take on such an adventure and travel West to become their wives.

  Often the men would offer their hand in marriage in return for the lady coming West. Offers of petticoats, shoes, and caps were also made.

  In time women began to place their own adverts hoping to attract a prosperous man.

  That is where the idea of this series began. Each of the books is a complete tail and they can be read in any order.

  In the first book a young woman is offered a man’s Heart and Hand and from this an idea emerges in her mind.

  Just like the brave pioneers she begins a new life and a hope to bring order and civilization to a land that needed love and family to make it complete

  I hope you will enjoy these books as much as we have writing them.

  Blessings.

  Each of these books can be read alone but if you wish to read them all find them here:

  The First Bride

  The Bride who Stole his Heart

  A Bride for the Faithful Groom

  The Pregnant Brides Trouble

  The Bride who Ran Away

  A Bride for Christmas

  The Coyote and the Christmas Bride

  Chapter 1

  This job never got old. Even though Mary had several girls to talk to that day. Seven young women had come on the train from the East Coast and she had a few matched in her mind already. It didn’t matter, she could still feel the excitement in her belly, the anticipation of a potential match.

  It was surprising at how easy it was for her to match women up with a prospective husband. Mary hadn’t expected it to be so much fun, or how fulfilling it would be to her life. At least the family she loved and married into didn’t call her eccentric. Her father would have and he would have called her silly for even attempting something so ridiculous. But her in-laws, especially her loving husband, supported what she was doing and helped her whenever he could.

  Mary thanked the Lord that she had found a partner as perfect and loving as Gareth.

  This day, however, was still going to be a long day. Mary had already spoken to Harriet, and she had been sent to stay with the Maffi siblings. Even from Harriett’s letter Mary had felt she would be right for Christian. When she met her she was sure. Christian didn’t even know he needed someone but Mary intended to heal his heart. Harriett had a temperament that could easily work with Cristian. The man needed a saint and Harriett was perfect, and though she wouldn’t realize it at first, Christian was perfect for her.

  Gareth was taking Lorna up to Matthew’s horse breeding ranch to work as one of his servants. Matthew knew he wanted Lorna as his wife, but Lorna needed to find that out for herself. And working for her future husband would ease her in to the idea of being in his company frequently. Once again Mary had a feeling about the two of them. That they were meant to be, she just hoped that they would figure it out too.

  Now, it was time for the next girl. And Mary had a pretty good idea who would be the perfect match for her.

  She was rearranging the letters from the girl in question on the table when the door opened and a petite young woman with flame-colored hair and a curvy frame came into the room. The green dress and hat she wore went perfectly with her hair, and brought out the smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

  She was certainly a beautiful woman. Mary stood and smiled at her as she approached.

  “Good afternoon. It’s Lynne, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” The girl held out a hand and shook Mary’s with a firm grip. “Lynne Varty. And you’re Mary Stanier?”

  “I certainly am. It’s nice to finally put a face to the name.” Mary gestured for Lynne to follow her. “Come on over. I don’t bite.”

  Lynne laughed. She had a very healthy laugh. As she took a seat, rearranging her skirts about her, Mary found herself surveying Lynne with curiosity. From what she had gathered from the letters the two of them had passed, Lynne was a shy, passive, and unhappy young woman. She had been held very firmly under her parents’ thumb but desperately wanted to get out. Shy and passive were certainly neither of those words that Lynne was displaying now. She looked and sounded confident, carefree. Happy.

  Just getting away from her domineering parents seemed to have done her the world of good.

  Mary sat back down, brushing her hair behind her ear as Lynne took the pin out and took off her hat, sticking the pin back into the fabric.

  “How are you finding San Francisco so far?”

  “It’s stunning,” Lynne gushed. “It’s better than I thought it would be. I mean…”A a red flush crept up her cheeks, “I wasn’t expecting anything bad. I just…”

  Mary held up a hand and laughed.

  “Calm yourself. It’s fine. I went through the same thing when I first came here. It’s easy to have that kind of reaction.”

  “Oh.” Lynne looked a little relieved. “How long have you been here?”

  “Nearly a year. I came here with my new husband for a new life.”

  “It seems to have turned out well for you.”

  Then Mary realized Lynne was giving her dress a pointed look. She looked down and saw the remains of slobber from Elijah on her shoulder and chest. Mary laughed.

  “Sorry about that. My son likes to think he’s a slug. He wipes his face across me and leaves a trail behind. I have been so rushed I forgot to change.”

  “I guess life certainly changes when children come into the picture?”

  “It definitely does.” Mary beamed. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Lynne smiled back. There was a small dimple in her cheek when she smiled.

  “My sister keeps saying the same thing. Her twins are nearly two.”

  “Your sister’s Greta Cornell, didn’t you say?”

  “Yes.” Lynne sighed. “She and Wayne, my brother-in-law, ran out here to get married. And Greta kept going on about how beautiful it was in San Francisco, how much better the life was. I just…” She shrugged. “I guess I wanted something like that. Something resembling idyllic. Is that selfish of me?”

  “Not at all. It’s perfectly normal to want something better.” Mary sat back, tapping her pencil on her pad. “Did your sister and her husband know each other before they came out to San Francisco?”

  “Yes. They wanted to marry back east, but…” Lynne bit her lip. “My parents were against it. They don’t like Wayne at all. So, the two of them ran away.”

  That had Mary sitting up. While she did
n’t have the perfect parental examples to go from in her own life, she was aware that parents often disliked potential in-laws for good reason. They had a gut instinct that wasn’t often wrong.

  “Is there anything I should be concerned about, Lynne?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Because if you’re going to live with your sister and her family, I want to know that you’re going to be safe.”

  “You think Wayne might hurt me?” Lynne laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about Wayne. He’s a gentle giant. An absolute sweetheart. He had a bad upbringing and practically all his family are in jail, which was why my parents didn’t like him. Then again,” she added as she made a face. “My parents wouldn’t like any man of our choosing.”

  “Ah.” Mary knew these type of people all too well. “They would rather have you and Greta marry someone who was of their choice. Someone they knew could keep you in line.”

  “Precisely. They were trying to arrange a marriage for me, which is why I wanted to come out when I did. I detest the man they had picked out. He was about to become a grandfather!” Lynne scowled. “I’m twenty-two. I may not be the freshest daisy in the field, but I’m not out of the field completely.”

  Mary burst out laughing.

  “That is the best analogy I’ve ever heard.” She scribbled down on her notepad. “Well, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a husband here, if you want one. Plenty of men have written in asking for a wife, and you fit the criteria for many of them.”

  “Hmm.” Lynne arched an eyebrow. “So, I’m spoilt for choice, am I?”

  “Not necessarily. I may have a general idea of who would be perfect for you, but you need to find out for yourself.”

  “I thought you were the matchmaker.”

  “I am. But while I can push people in the right general direction, I can’t force them to marry. That’s up to the parties concerned.”

  Lynne sighed.

  “You’re basically saying I shouldn’t get my hopes up.”

  “No, not exactly, I’m saying I’m not like your parents. You and the man involved will decide if this is right for you. If not we try again.” Mary looked at the clock. “My husband will take you over to Greta’s once he’s got back. While you wait, perhaps you would like some lunch? My mother-in-law is making soup and some bread. It’s delicious, so you should make the most of it.”

  Lynne smiled.

  “Thank you. I am rather famished.” She stood, pausing as she reached for her hat. “Do you think I’ll be able to find a husband out here, Mary?”

  Even with her newfound confidence, the girl was still unsure of herself. Mary knew exactly how she felt. She patted her arm.

  “I know you will,” she said warmly. “Whether through me or on your own, you will. Trust me.”

  Chapter 2

  Not for the first time, Lynne wondered what she had got herself into.

  Being told that she was to marry a man as old as her father because he had a lot of money had pushed her into making this rash decision. Half of the time she was delighted at her choice, the rest she was terrified. Now she was in San Francisco, Lynne couldn’t escape the worry.

  The train journey had been exciting and terrifying. They had been stopped and robbed several times, but her group had been lucky not to lose anything. They didn’t really have a lot to lose. The journey had been hair-raising, to say the least.

  The women Lynne had come over with were a nice bunch. Lynne liked them. They were nervous about the journey, but all of them were warm and friendly. It hadn’t taken much for Lynne to relax and start smiling again. She couldn’t remember the last time when she had smiled and laughed, and it hadn’t been forced. When things went wrong they all stood together and that had helped Lynne with her confidence. If they could get through this they could get through anything. They were genuine, friendly, and caring.

  There had been a lot of falsehood in Lynne’s family life. She hated it.

  Even though she was now here, soon to be reunited with her older sister, Lynne could still feel a sense of unease. She had seen Mary’s advert for brides wanted in San Francisco by chance, but the thought of marrying after running away from marriage in the first place… Lynne didn’t know what to think about it.

  Had she jumped from the frying pan into the fire?

  It didn’t matter she was here. She would have to grit her teeth and get on with it, or maybe she could simply live her own life without a husband.

  That second option felt very gray and gloomy, how would she survive?

  It was mid-afternoon when Gareth Stanier came back from his errand to take Lynne over to her sister and brother-in-law’s home on the other side of the church. The schoolhouse was attached to the church land, and Greta lived just on the other side of the fence, backing onto a stretch of prairie that seemed to go on for miles.

  Lynne couldn’t stop staring at it in wonder as Gareth drove the wagon along the track by the church fence. Greta had certainly done well for herself. She and Wayne were living very comfortably, considering Wayne’s salary.

  Her sister was waiting on the porch for her. Lynne could hardly believe it was the same woman who had left four years before. Greta’s figure was a little fuller and her red hair was a little more rustic-colored, but her eyes were shining, her skin was a golden brown and there was a permanent smile on her face. She practically flew off the porch as Lynne jumped off the wagon and the sisters reunited with hugs and tears.

  Letters didn’t compare to seeing her sister in the flesh.

  Gareth put Lynne’s bags by the door and left, giving them a wave as he drove away.

  Greta barely noticed, dragging Lynne inside. They set Lynne up in the spare room, and then Greta proudly showed Lynne her twins, John and Ronnie. The little boys squawked and laughed when they saw Lynne, Ronnie coming over to give her a hug as soon as he saw her.

  Lynne’s heart melted when she saw them; they were adorable.

  There was one thing Lynne had forgotten about Greta, and that was Greta could talk for the country. She kept on talking, barely letting Lynne get a word in edgeways. Lynne was happy with that; she could feel the tiredness set in, and her focus was on Ronnie once he climbed into her lap and kept wriggling. It wasn’t until Greta gasped loudly that Lynne realized it had got dark outside.

  “Goodness, I completely forgot about the time. Come on, you two, it’s bed time.”

  She held up a hand as both children started whining.

  “You know the rule, once it gets dark, you go to bed. You’ve had your dinner and you’ve had playtime. Now it’s bedtime.”

  She scooped each child up in both arms.

  “Come on, say goodnight to Auntie Lynne.”

  Lynne settled back as Greta left the room, both wriggling boys in tow. Now she was aware it was dark, she could feel the tiredness setting in. Her eyes fluttered closed even as she shivered. The room had suddenly got a lot colder.

  When she opened her eyes again, Greta had finished building the fire. It burned brightly, and it warmed up the room. Greta picked up a blanket and laid it over her sister’s lap, giving her a soft smile.

  “There you go. That will keep you warm.”

  “Thank you.” Lynne covered a yawn and sat up. “I’m sorry, I had no idea I was that tired.”

  “I’m not surprised. It is a long journey. And you have to keep one eye open the whole time.”

  “Was it like that with you?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Greta sat beside her, tugging the pins out of her hair. Her long curls bounced about her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry about the weather. I had no idea it was going to be this cold. It’s not normally as cold as this.”

  “I shouldn’t be surprised. Christmas is only weeks away.”

  Greta shuddered.

  “Oh, don’t remind me.”

  “Why? You used to love Christmas.”

  “Well, now I’m a mother. And now I know why Mother kept complaining abou
t Christmas Day and fixing the dinner. It’s hard work.”

  Lynne burst out laughing.

  “I don’t know what Mother was complaining about. She never made Christmas dinner. That was Isabel and Mavis. They always put on a fantastic spread.”

  “Mother would constantly hover over them, telling them what to do.” Greta giggled. “And they ignored her anyway. But I know how they feel when you’ve got other things to do as well as concentrate on the dinner. I just about managed it last Christmas, and the one before that. This year, I might make Wayne do it. He’s a very good cook.”

  Lynne hadn’t heard of a man who could cook. It was unheard of back home.

  “You expect him to cook after working all day?”

  “He won’t be teaching on Christmas Day.”

  Greta dropped her collection of pins on the table at her elbow and fluffed out her hair.

  Lynne took a closer look at her sister. She was looking older, more world-weary, but Greta was looking better than she had done before. Happier, certainly.

  “How are you two doing?” Lynne asked. “Two children and four years out here, you look like San Francisco has done you good.”

  “It has.” Greta beamed and stretched her arms above her head with a happy sigh. “It feels perfect not to have my parents looking over my shoulder every second of every day. I feel… I don’t know, lighter.”

  “That I can tell. You used to look so stressed, so worn out.” Lynne grinned. “Now, you still look tired…”

  “Charming.”

  “But you look better than I’ve ever seen you.”

  Greta laughed.

  “Thank you. Hopefully, the same will happen to you.” She chucked Lynne’s chin. “You look exactly the same as I did when I first came out here. In a few weeks, that frown will be completely wiped away and you’ll be glowing.”