Mail Order Miller (Brides of Beckham Book 24) Read online

  Mail Order Miller

  Brides of Beckham

  Kirsten Osbourne

  Unlimited Dreams

  Copyright © 2018 by Kirsten Osbourne

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Untitled

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About the Author

  Also by Kirsten Osbourne

  Chapter 1

  August 1896 – Salmon, Oregon

  Harvey Butler tried not to make eye contact with the old harridan walking toward him. Mrs. Emily Johnson was always trying to stick her nose into his business—always trying to tell him how to raise his kids now that his wife was gone, God bless her soul.

  “Mr. Butler, I want you to know that I saw your boys outside causing a ruckus this morning! When are you going to do the right thing by your children and get them a new mother?” She crossed her arms over her voluminous bosom, glaring at him over the top of her spectacles.

  He sighed. “I’m not sure if you’ve looked around town lately, Mrs. Johnson, but there aren’t exactly a lot of ladies who want to take on four…delightful children.” He’d almost called them wild monsters, but he was afraid Mrs. Johnson would agree with his assessment of his spawn. The girls were fine…sweet even. It was the boys who people took exception with.

  Mrs. Johnson tilted her head to one side. “If I find you a wife who is capable of taking on those children of yours—you’ll marry her?”

  “I thought all your daughters were married, Mrs. Johnson.” Harvey winked at her in a way that he knew she’d find terribly offensive. Some days offending the old biddy was his only form of enjoyment.

  “As if I’d allow one of my daughters to live with those hellions you call children!” She shook her head. “No, I aim to send for a mail order bride. Surely someone is desperate enough to take on that brood.”

  Harvey shrugged. “Whatever. Just don’t lie to her. Make sure she knows she’s getting four children—two boys and two girls—who have never behaved a day in their lives. If she comes, I’ll marry her.” He turned away from the woman he’d just assigned an impossible task and got back to work. He was the only person working at the sawmill he owned, and he was determined not to get behind.

  August 1896 Beckham, Massachusetts

  Doris Miller sat in a corner of the living room, staring straight ahead at the wall. She was the oldest female child left at home, which meant it was her job to care for her eight younger siblings. Eight. How many people had eight younger siblings? Especially when they were one of the middle children! She was glad her parents seemed to have stopped having babies every year or so. Any more, and she’d have to rip her hair out.

  Normally, Doris was a quiet, unassuming girl. Sure, she’d been involved in some of the pranks the demon horde had perpetuated, but not all of them. Many were done before she was old enough. And really, she hadn’t ever been the one to carry out the tricks on people. No…but many had been her idea. She would sometimes get a dreamy look on her face and say, “What if?” And all of her siblings would stop what they were doing and listen. If Doris had an idea for a prank, it was worth carrying out!

  She’d been in trouble as much as her siblings, but those days were behind her. Now only the youngest seven were in school. She and her twin brother, Darryl, were finished with school, so Darryl was helping their father on the farm, and Doris was watching the children. God help me. Their mother had taken a job in town for a little while to help with the ever-mounting pile of bills that came with raising such a large family.

  Doris yawned. She was nineteen. She’d never had a suitor. No one wanted a girl who had once been the brains behind the demon horde. It didn’t matter that she’d changed, that she now worked constantly. She was still notorious in her area, and there was no hope.

  She’d thought a young man at church would court her for a little while, but once he realized that she was part of the Miller family…well, it was all over. He’d married Mary Lou Jensen just last week.

  Doris quickly brushed a tear from her eye. If the horde saw her crying, they’d know they’d gotten to her, and she would never let herself admit defeat.

  “Doris?” her mother called from the next room. “Where are you? Is supper ready?”

  Doris jumped to her feet, hurrying into the kitchen. “Yes, soup is on the stove. There’s a roast in the oven. Mashed potatoes on the stove. I’m going to run into town.”

  Her mother frowned. “Now? But it’s late…”

  “It’s Saturday. I’ll stay at Lizard Breath’s and come home sometime tomorrow. I need a change of scenery, Ma.”

  “All right.” Her mother gave her a quick hug. “Say hello to your sister and Bernard for me. Are you going to eat first?”

  Doris shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m going to run up to my room and pack something to wear tomorrow. I’ll see you sometime.”

  The look her mother gave her told her she completely understood. How could she not? Everyone in the entire county knew the Miller children as the demon horde. No one wanted to be around them. Even her.

  Thirty minutes later, Doris was knocking on Elizabeth’s door. When it opened, it was her brother-in-law, Bernard, with her nephew, Benjamin, held against his shoulder. “Doris. Come in. Elizabeth is in her office.”

  Doris nodded, hurrying around Bernard and to her sister’s office. Her sister’s husband was a former Pinkerton man, and though Elizabeth loved him, he made Doris very uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure why.

  She didn’t knock on the door of Elizabeth’s office, instead hurrying inside and plopping down on her sofa. “I can’t take another day taking care of the demon horde. Do you hear me, Elizabeth? I’m going to snap! May I spend the night?”

  Elizabeth laughed. “My home is your home. What did they do now?”

  “What didn’t they do? The pranks were so much more creative when I was the one thinking them up. Today, they were all fighting amongst themselves. Eggs were thrown. Apples were thrown. I believe it was a rock that broke the kitchen window, but I’m really not certain. I just know I can’t do it anymore!”

  Elizabeth turned to her desk for a moment, riffling through the letters that were always covering it. Elizabeth was a matchmaker, sending mail order brides West to marry unattached men. She turned and handed Doris a letter without saying a word.

  Doris frowned, but read the letter. Her sister obviously thought she’d find it interesting.

  Dear hopeful bride,

  I’m writing on behalf of Mr. Harvey Butler, a thirty-year-old widower with four children. It’s my opinion that his wife died from utter disgust when she realized what hellions her children were. But never mind that.

  Mr. Butler is in desperate need of a wife. In fact, this entire town is in desperate need of him finding a wife, someone who has experience with evil children preferably. The good women of this town take food to their family every afternoon so the man can keep working.

  Let me tell you a bit about Mr. Butler. He’s tall, has dark hair, and cold, unfeeling eyes. His wife once told me he was the most handsome man in all of Oregon, but I’m sure she was near-sighted.

  He’s a man who works hard and cares for his famil
y, although disciplining his children seems to be beyond his abilities. He’s not exactly wealthy, but he’s not poor either, so you would live a comfortable life married to him. If you didn’t mind sitting on pinecones and finding frogs in your pots and pans.

  I beg you to take mercy on all the people of Salmon, Oregon, and marry this man. Tame his children. Put us out of our misery!

  Mrs. Emily Johnson

  Doris read through the letter once more before finally meeting her sister’s eyes. “This is a joke, right? She doesn’t think anyone will actually marry the man with this kind of letter!”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “I’m of the opinion it’s a very real letter. And I think you should answer it.” When Doris began shaking her head adamantly, she continued. “Think about it. You’d have your own house. You could discipline the children as you see fit, and they wouldn’t be expecting someone who knew how to deal with brats—err…spirited children.”

  Doris shook her head. “I can’t imagine being that desperate.”

  Elizabeth leaned forward, her forearms against her thighs. “You are that desperate. You just walked two miles in the dark so you wouldn’t have to spend the night in our parents’ house. You can do something about these kids. You can’t about our siblings.”

  “But…”

  “It’s up to you. I’m not going to force you to be a mail order bride. I do think you’ll soon regret it if you don’t take the opportunity, though. This family needs you in a way no other would.”

  “You really think this is where I need to be, don’t you?”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “When I read a letter from a groom, or some random woman writing for a groom, I sometimes know immediately who should go. I was planning to have Bernard drive me out to the house tomorrow to talk to you. This man and his family need you and no one else.”

  “I’ll think about it. May I give you my answer in the morning?”

  “Of course! Do you want the room you used last time?”

  “Yes, I’d love that room. Maybe I’ll just move in for a while.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “You know Ma needs you. I’m here if you need me, though. I’ll help you get what you need put together to go if that’s what you decide to do.”

  “What if I decide that’s not the man I want, but I do want to be a mail order bride?”

  “Then I’ll find another groom for you. I think you’d be making a mistake though…”

  “How do you know he’s the one?” Doris finally asked. “You’re so adamant.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “I’ve been in this business for eleven years. I have an instinct that’s never been wrong.”

  “I hope this is the first time.”

  “I don’t think you’ll be saying that in the morning.”

  Doris tossed and turned most of the night. When she finally slept, she dreamed of a faceless man who had four children taunting him.

  When she woke, she sat in bed for a few minutes—a luxury she never had at home—and thought about the letter. It pulled at her.

  She dressed slowly, in no hurry to go home. She’d spend as much of the day with her sister as she could, and then make the long walk home to her own private inferno.

  When she descended the stairs, she went straight to Elizabeth’s office, knowing her sister would be working even though it was Saturday. She loved what she did so much, she had a hard time keeping ‘office hours’ and frequently took the baby into her office to nurse him, rather than taking time off.

  Elizabeth looked up from her paperwork, smiling at Doris. “You’ve made a decision. I can see it on your face.”

  Doris sat down on the sofa and crossed her hands in her lap. “I’m going to do it. I’m answering his letter.”

  “You feel the pull, don’t you?”

  “The pull?”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I’m not sure I can describe it. Most of the women who I’ve matched with a man in the West have said they felt pulled in by the letter. You’re feeling the pull.”

  “I am…but I don’t understand why. It’s not like Harvey even wrote the letter!” Doris didn’t understand her own reasoning for it, but she’d go. It was what she needed to do. She could feel it.

  “It doesn’t seem to matter. I’m sure you’re nervous about the prospect of leaving everything and everyone you know, but it’s right for you, Doris. You need to do this.”

  Doris nodded slowly. “I do. So what’s the next step?” As long as her sister had been a matchmaker, she’d never really talked to her about her work.

  “You write a letter to Harvey. He’ll send a letter back within about a month, telling you if he wants you to come.”

  Doris frowned, her brows drawn together. “I don’t want to be here that long. Can I just go? Take him my letter myself?”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I’m not sure. I haven’t had a lot of time to investigate him yet. Bernard has sent a few telegrams, but I haven’t received responses.”

  “So we wait a week. Surely, you’ll know if the man is bad by then!”

  “I guess…let me talk to Bernard about it while you write a letter to him. He deserves to at least know you’re coming!”

  Doris shrugged. “Sure, I’ll write to him.” She accepted a sheet of paper and a pen from her sister and quickly began writing, not noticing when Elizabeth slipped out of her office.

  Dear Harvey,

  It sounds to me like your children are a handful. It just so happens that I’m an expert in difficult children. Not only was I once a difficult child myself, but my younger brothers and sisters are referred to as the “demon horde.”

  My name is Doris Miller, and I would be pleased if you would accept me as your wife. I’m nineteen years old, and I have a twin brother named Darryl. I am intelligent, soft-spoken, and many have said I’m pretty.

  Instead of waiting for a response, I’m going to send this letter, and I’m going to wait one week. After that week is up, if I have heard nothing to the contrary, I will make my way to Oregon. I will see you soon.

  Sincerely,

  Doris

  When Elizabeth came back ten minutes later, Doris handed her the letter she’d written and turned her attention to Bernard, who was studying her with a concerned look in his eyes. “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”

  Doris grinned. Her brother-in-law was a blond giant of a man who had always intimidated her a bit. Suddenly, she was no longer nervous around him. “No, you’re not. I’ll wait a week, but no longer. I have got to escape Massachusetts and the demon horde.”

  “I’ll go and send a few more telegrams then. Would you like me to mail your letter?”

  Doris nodded. “That would be lovely.” After he’d gone, Doris turned to Elizabeth with a frown. “I forgot about my fare. He’d have paid for my train ticket, and I can’t afford to buy my own.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll see to your ticket. Would you like me to walk home with you so I can help you tell Ma what you’ve decided to do?”

  “Nah. I’m not her first child who has answered the call to be a mail order bride…or groom, for that matter! Ma will be just fine with my decision. She may not like how quickly I plan to leave because she’s counting on me to watch the little demons…I guess she can have Sally step in and take her turn.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Sally’s still an active member of the horde! Do you think she can handle it?”

  A slow smile crossed Doris’s face. “Nope. Not at all. But it will sure make Ma appreciate me, won’t it?”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I’d feel bad for our mother, but…I’ve been in your position. Are you going to spend the day with me?”

  Doris nodded emphatically. “I have just enough money saved to make a couple of new dresses. I wouldn’t want Harvey to be embarrassed when he met me now, would I?”

  Chapter 2

  A little over two weeks later, Doris found herself getting more and more nervous the closer she got to Salmon, Oregon. The place where she
would find her future husband and his four out of control children.

  Before she was ready, the conductor was calling out, “Salmon, Oregon!”

  She took a deep breath, grabbed her carpet bag—which held the only belongings she’d brought with her—and walked up the aisle to exit the train. There was a small platform there, and she stood for a moment, inhaling the sea air. She hadn’t realized she’d be right on the coast, but she could see the expanse of the ocean going on forever.

  A man approached her, his hat held over his chest. “Are you Miss Miller?”

  She nodded. “I’m Doris Miller. Are you Harvey Butler?”

  He nodded. “I’m not sure you were given the information you should have been given, or you’d never have agreed to come here and marry me. My children are…well, they’re little beasts most of the time. At least the boys are. I see the girls following in their footsteps, too. No one in town wants to be around them, so I can’t imagine why you’d take a train two-thousand miles to marry a man, sight unseen, who had those children. I’ll pay your way home, if you’d like.”

  Doris grinned. “I did get the correct information. I promise you there’s no one in this world more equipped to handle wild children than I am, Mr. Butler. If you’ll give me a free hand with them, I’ll have them in shape in no time.”

  “I won’t have you hitting my children, Miss Miller. I know that many people think that if you spare the rod, you’ll spoil the child, but I’m of a mind that if you beat the personality out of the child, you have nothing left.”

  “I have no problem with that. My parents didn’t believe in corporal punishment either, and I believe I grew up to be a strong, confident woman. I can handle them. I promise you that.”