Mail Order Miscreant Read online

  Mail Order Miscreant

  A Brides of Beckham Story

  Kirsten Osbourne

  Copyright © 2019 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

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Kirsten Osbourne

  One

  1893, Montana

  Charlotte Miller, known as Charlie to friends and family, was having a hard time. She lived with her closest friend in the world, Merry Bellman, and Charlie served as a helper for her with her children. In the two years since she and Merry had moved to Montana with Merry’s niece and nephew, Merry had a child and was expecting her second.

  Charlie loved Merry with everything inside her, and she was thrilled to be able to help her and her family, but she was ready to have a family of her own as well. She was twenty-two now, and she felt that she should have been married long ago.

  She thought about writing a letter to her sister, Elizabeth, back in Beckham, Massachusetts, but Elizabeth usually matched women of the east with men of the west. It would be strange for a woman with fifty single men right there in her town to have to resort to being a mail-order bride. But she was worried that’s exactly what would happen.

  The children were down for a nap, all except Addie, who was quietly playing with her dolls in the parlor. Charlie went up the stairs to talk to Merry, who was in her workshop, her favorite place to spend the afternoons. Merry had a business carving and selling Christmas ornaments, and even though Christmas had just passed, she was working on her inventory for next Christmas. It was strange to Charlie that someone who despised Christmas the way Merry did made their living by making Christmas ornaments.

  When she walked into the workshop, Merry looked up. “Is everything all right?”

  Charlie nodded. “I’m just feeling restless. I’m going to go walk in the snow.”

  Merry nodded. “Stay close to home. Clyde thinks there’s a big storm coming.”

  “Clyde always thinks there’s a big storm coming!”

  “He’s always right, too.”

  Charlie sighed. “I know he is. I’ll stay close.” She wanted to just start walking and see where she ended up, but Merry was right. It just wasn’t safe. Not at this time of year when a storm could blow out of nowhere at any minute. January in Montana was not known for mild weather.

  Charlie closed Merry’s door and went downstairs, getting her mittens, coat, scarf, and hat on, and she left the house. She knew she should stay inside and not brave the weather, but the cabin fever was growing strong. Her first two winters in Montana had been fine, and she’d done everything she could to help Merry. She still helped Merry, but this year was different. She needed to be out doing something—anything—that didn’t include being inside the house all the time.

  As she walked, Charlie’s eyes stayed on the horizon, partially because she was worried about a storm coming, but more because she wanted to go there and beyond. Somewhere out there something was waiting for her, waiting to change her life, and she was ready for it to happen.

  As she walked, she saw the storm rolling toward them. She stopped for a moment, trying to judge how far away it was. She decided she could walk a little farther, and she kept going toward the road that led into town.

  A man in a wagon stopped near her, and she backed up a couple of steps. It was too isolated to not be as careful as she should. “Can I help you?” The wind was blowing hard, and she had to shield her eyes from its harshness. What she could see of the man made her feel more than she had felt for all of the cowboys in Mistletoe combined.

  “Do you live near here? I’m trying to find Mrs. Merry Bellman.” His voice was deep and sent a shiver through her that had absolutely nothing to do with the chill in the air.

  “Merry is my friend. That’s her house right over there!” As she pointed at the house, she realized that the snow was blowing enough that you couldn’t see it from where she stood. “Come with me. I’ll show you.” She wanted to spend more time with this man. She’d never had that desire before, and she’d had more than ten marriage proposals in the two years she’d been in Mistletoe. But she wasn’t willing to settle for just any cowboy. The man she married needed to be the man to light a spark within her. Like Clyde did to Merry.

  She turned and walked toward the house, walking against the wind. It was blowing so hard, she felt as if she was going to fall over. She hoped Clyde had made it back to Merry, because she knew her friend would be worried until he arrived.

  “Do you think it’s a problem for me to put my horses in the barn?” he asked. “I don’t want to leave them out in this.”

  “I’m sure it’s not!” she yelled above the wind that had quickly risen in volume since she’d started her walk. “Hurry!” She went inside and removed her winter wear, pulling a shawl over her shoulders and going into the parlor to add another log to the fire. Quickly running upstairs, she told Merry there was a stranger there to meet her, and then she rushed back down.

  Little Addie was still playing in the parlor, and she looked at Charlie oddly. “Is something wrong with you, Charlie?”

  “There’s a bad storm coming in. I’m afraid your uncle Clyde is going to get stuck out in it.”

  “Oh!” Addie frowned. “Carole and I don’t want him to get snowed on.” Carole was Addie’s favorite doll. Charlie could see that Baby Big Nose and Baby Ugly Hair were playing with them as well.

  “Well, it’s too late for that. He will get snowed on, but we really don’t want him to get stuck out in the storm.” Charlie looked toward the front door again. “There’s a stranger here looking for your aunt Merry. I don’t know who he is, but we’re all about to find out. All right?”

  Addie nodded. “I like to meet new people sometimes.”

  “I know you do. So do I.” Charlie kept watching the door, waiting for the man to knock or just walk in. She didn’t know which he’d do.

  Finally, there was a knock on the door, and Charlie ran over to open it. It was much too cold to discuss anything outside, so she threw the door open. “Come in. I let Merry know you were here to see her.”

  The man stomped the snow off his feet and pants as best he could before he stepped into the house. Charlie felt Addie walk over beside her, clinging to her leg. “I’m Charlie, and this is Merry’s niece, Addie.”

  “Do you live with Merry?” he asked, seeming surprised.

  “Yes, I came west with her two years ago to help out with her niece and nephew. I’ve stayed on since.” Charlie didn’t add that she’d come hoping to find a man to marry, because that was none of the stranger’s business.

  “And you stayed here all that time?”

  “Well, she’s had another baby since, and she’s expecting again. She needs the help if she’s going to keep up her work.”

  “Ahh. Her work. Exactly what I was thinking to talk to her about. Does she have a workshop for her carvings?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “No, sir. She has a room upstairs she uses as a work room, and she stores the ornaments there.”

  Merry came down the stairs then, her eyes on the stranger. “I’m Merry Bellman. How can I help you today?”

  The man’s face lit up. “Mrs. Bellm
an, I’m Abel Burton. I’m a merchant, and I have a small store in Missoula, but it’s just for artists, like yourself. I sell hand-carved ornaments and statues and many different paintings. I was wondering if I could make some sort of deal with you to carry your works.”

  Merry smiled. “That depends. Are you looking for ornaments or more like the little animals I carve?”

  “I’m not looking for more ornaments,” the man said. “I’m hoping you’d be willing to concentrate some of your creative energy on some of the animals that I’ve seen floating around that you carved.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a grizzly bear standing on its back legs, its paws held up on either side of its head. “Something like this one.”

  Merry smiled as she looked at the small animal figure in his hand. “That’s definitely one of mine. I remember making it. Where did you get it?”

  “A friend bought it from the mercantile here in Mistletoe and brought it to me as a gift. I’ve meant to ride out here to find you many times, but I’m busy. So I closed the store for a few days and came to find the artist who makes these beauties. I don’t suppose you have any in stock?”

  “I have a few. I usually just keep my ornaments stocked, but the larger carvings are where my heart is, and I find myself doing them when I probably shouldn’t.”

  “I’d love to see anything you have on hand. I could sell several of this size every day.”

  “Oh, my! That would be lovely. I don’t enjoy making the ornaments nearly as much, and I would love to be able to concentrate all my time on the animals.” Merry frowned. “I wish my husband were here and we could sit and talk business.”

  Charlie glanced out the window at the blowing storm. She just hoped Clyde managed to make it in out of the blizzard. Looking closer, she saw a flash of blue. “He’s out there!”

  Charlie opened the door and yelled. “Clyde!”

  A moment later, Clyde was inside with her. “Glad you yelled at me, Charlie. I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to find my way inside.” He looked around and spotted the other man there in his dining room. “Hello, I’m Clyde Bellman.”

  “I’m Abel Burton. I’m here to talk to your wife about her beautiful wood carvings.” Abel held out his hand for the other man to shake.

  Clyde smiled. “My wife is an amazing artist, isn’t she?”

  “She is.”

  “I have a feeling you’re going to be staying a little longer than what you had planned. The storm is worse than I was thinking it would be.” Clyde glanced out the window, shuddering at the cold. As he talked, he pulled off his heavy coat, gloves, and boots. “I think we should sit down and discuss this.”

  Abel nodded. “I would love to.”

  Charlie smiled at them. “I’ll put some coffee on. You’ll all feel more like talking business when you’re not quite so cold.” She glanced at Clyde. “Do you need food as well? I started a huge pot of stew this morning, and I’m sure it’s ready to be tasted.”

  Clyde nodded. “Thank you, Charlie. That would be wonderful.”

  “Merry? Mr. Burton?”

  Merry shook her head. “Not at the moment. I’ll wait until supper.”

  Abel nodded. “Some stew sounds wonderful. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  Charlie hurried off to get coffee for everyone and two bowls of stew. She wasn’t sure if she should join them at the table or go elsewhere. She wanted to spend more time with Mr. Burton and get to know him, but she wasn’t sure if that would even be appropriate. The others were going to be talking about business.

  She carried the bowls of stew in, and then poured four cups of coffee, carrying two at a time into the dining room. She set hers on the side not in use and sat down with it. She was interested in what was said, and there was no reason for her not to be part of it.

  Merry had a shocked look on her face. “So you want me to commit to making an animal per day for your store? Well, twenty per month, but that’s a lot. And I’ll be taking time off soon.” She put her hand on her belly, showing off the baby that was due in a couple of months.

  “Why don’t you make whatever you can for me, but starting in September, you commit to the twenty per month? I think you’d have to stop making the Christmas ornaments, though.”

  “I would actually like to stop making the Christmas ornaments. I prefer the animals.” Merry looked at Clyde. “What do you think? This would be steady income in a way what I do currently isn’t, but I would have to stop doing my catalogue sales altogether. I never dreamed I’d be able to stop that.” Charlie could see the excitement on her face. She knew Merry hated Christmas, and the ornaments made her feel like a hypocrite.

  Clyde shook his head. “We don’t need your income, Merry. We never have. You can keep working like you have been, start selling only to Mr. Burton, or quit out right. It really doesn’t matter.”

  Merry made a face. “I like to think it does matter.”

  “I’m sorry. What you do makes a lot of people happy, and you bring in extra money for things I wouldn’t be able to buy otherwise. I don’t mean that what you do is unimportant.”

  Charlie hid a smile. She had heard this discussion more times than she could count. Merry had twice been in a situation where she needed to rely on others for help, and she never wanted to be there again. If anything happened to Clyde, Merry could support herself and the children with her business.

  Merry bit her lip. “I’ll do it, Mr. Burton. Do you have a contract? Or are we just doing a handshake deal?”

  “Just a handshake deal for now. I’ll have a contract sent to you.” He took his first bite of stew and smiled. “This is delicious.”

  “Thank you,” Charlie said softly. She couldn’t believe her attraction to this man. With all of the single men in Mistletoe, not one of them had struck her as this man did. It was ridiculous.

  Merry looked over at Abel. “I think you’re going to have to spend the night. I hope you don’t mind bedding down on the sofa in the parlor. It’s the best we can offer you. Will your wife be worried, Mr. Burton?”

  Abel shook his head. “I’m not married, ma’am.”

  “I see.” Merry’s eyes met Charlie’s, and Charlie kicked her softly under the table, letting her friend know to back off.

  “I plan to serve supper at six,” Charlie said, glancing at the clock on the wall that said it was half past two. “I’ll have fresh bread to go with it.”

  “That sounds delicious. I don’t often get the opportunity for a home-cooked meal. That’s the hard part of moving out west. There just aren’t as many women as there are men in these parts.” Abel looked over at Charlie, letting her know silently that he was thinking about her in those ways.

  Clyde nodded. “I ended up sending back east for my Merry. She was a mail-order bride. She brought Charlie with her to help with the kids during travel, and Charlie just sort of stayed on with us. I don’t know what we’d do without her now.”

  Abel looked over at Charlie. “I’m surprised no cowboy has tried to ride off into the sunset with you.”

  Charlie laughed. “Oh, a few have tried. There were tussles over me when we first arrived, but none of the men in town really drew me.” Not like you do.

  “Well, that’s too bad. I’m sure you’ll find the right man soon enough.” Abel yawned. “Riding out today was downright stupid, but I have more people visiting the store in the summer, so I thought I’d be fine. I guess not.” He shook his head. “I should have been thinking about the weather and not just my bottom line.”

  Clyde shook his head. “You’re not going to get back to Missoula for some time, I think.”

  “I have a feeling you’re right. Are you sure you don’t mind me sleeping on your sofa?”

  “I can’t imagine kicking you out in a storm like we’re having. Stay until the storm passes, and by then we’ll have a better idea of who we’re doing business with.” Clyde stood up and stretched before sitting down again. “I hate when the weather forces me inside, but I sure do like
the extra time to play with the children.”

  Addie walked over then, handed Clyde a doll, and climbed on his lap. “Uncle Clyde, I think Carole is getting lonely and needs a nice new friend.”

  “What about Baby Big Nose and Baby Ugly Hair? They’re her friends?”

  Addie tilted her head to one side. She was a beautiful little girl with bright red hair. “Well, because they are so ugly, they aren’t really her equals. She needs a doll who can be a true equal, don’t you think?”

  Clyde sighed. “I didn’t think the dolls were ugly when I bought them for you.”

  “Then you might need to wear spectacles, Uncle Clyde.” Addie climbed back down, her doll tucked under her arm as she walked back to the parlor.

  There was a shout from upstairs, and Charlie jumped to her feet. “I’ll go get Joey. You need to stop running up and down the stairs all the time.” She worried about Merry and her constant need to be active as she hurried up the stairs and picked up Joey, hugging him close. “We have a visitor today, so you have to be on your best behavior.”

  Joey nodded, his big brown eyes huge in his face. “I be good.”

  “Let’s go.” Charlie set Joey on the floor and let him run toward the stairs on his own. He was up and down them constantly, he just hadn’t figured how to get out of his room yet.

  Then she went over to check on little Isabelle. The baby was awake and standing in her crib, sucking on her thumb. She efficiently changed the child’s diaper and carried her down the stairs with her. Holding a baby felt like a kind of a shield when it came to men.

  As soon as they were downstairs, Merry held her arms out for Isabelle. “There’s my baby.”

  Charlie saw that Joey had already climbed onto his uncle Clyde’s lap. Joey loved Clyde more than anyone.

  “Now you’ve met the whole household,” Merry said to Abel. “We’re not outnumbered by children yet, but give us another couple of months.”