Mail Order Madness Read online

  “Do your boys visit often?”

  “Oh, they’re all right here in Fort Worth. My oldest is a banker. He keeps trying to get me to close the house and move in with him, but I like my independence. He has two teenage sons. Then the middle one owns a saloon.” She shook her head. “I hate it that he works in The Acre, and I tell him every time I see him. He never married.”

  “And the youngest?”

  “He’s a preacher. Married to the sweetest girl I’ve ever met, and they have four little ones. The oldest is twelve and the youngest is two. I love having my grandchildren near me.” She paused as she stuck another pin in Susan’s hair. “They come over for Sunday dinner every single week.”

  “That must be nice for you. Do the older boys come for dinner?”

  “Of course, just not so often. I find I’m closer to my youngest. Maybe because he never knew his father at all.”

  “I wish I was staying here long enough to meet them all. It sounds like you have a lovely family.”

  Mrs. Duckworth stepped back and nodded. “I wish you were too. I’d love for you to meet them.” She made a slow circle around Susan checking her work. “It’s perfect.” She picked up a hand mirror she’d brought in and handed it to Susan. “What do you think?”

  Susan moved the mirror around looking at her hair from different angles. “It’s wonderful. I love it.” She jumped to her feet and hugged the older woman. “Thank you so much!”

  Mrs. Duckworth smiled. “I’m happy to help. Your mother can’t be here for your special day, so someone has to stand in for her.” She turned to the bed where she’d laid Susan’s dress. “Let’s get this dress on you. You did a beautiful job on it.”

  “Thank you. My mother and I decided it made more sense to make a practical dress for the wedding so I could wear it to church on Sunday as well.”

  “Very smart. I never saw the need of making a special dress you’d only wear once in your life. This will be a very serviceable church dress.” Mrs. Duckworth helped Susan put the dress on so it wouldn’t disturb her hair. She walked around behind her and buttoned her up to the top button. “You look very beautiful. The green really brings out the color of your eyes.”

  Susan wished there was a way to see her entire body in a mirror, but she had no way to do that. “Does it fit okay?”

  “Absolutely. It shows off your figure to its best advantage as well. Your waist looks tiny in that dress.”

  Susan sighed. She hated how tiny her waist looked in comparison to the rest of her body. Her waist was supposed to be small, but her breasts were so large, they made her waist look like it wasn’t real. “What time is it?”

  “You have about fifteen minutes before he gets here. I guess we need to pack up the last of your things.”

  At ten, she was waiting in the parlor with Mrs. Duckworth. She tried not to stare out the window, but it was hard. Her new family would be there any minute to pick her up.

  When they pulled up, she stood and smoothed her dress down nervously. She picked up her bag and smiled at Mrs. Duckworth. “Thanks for everything. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother to help me get ready.”

  Mrs. Duckworth laughed. “It was my pleasure.”

  “Are you sure you won’t come for the wedding?”

  “I really can’t. I have to get lunch ready. If I’d had more notice, I’d have called in a friend to fix it for me, but twelve hours just wasn’t enough.”

  “I understand.” She went to the door and opened it. “I’ll come visit you soon.”

  “I look forward to it!”

  David was on the front porch waiting and took her bag from her. “I’ll put this in the back of the buggy.”

  She followed him down the steps and to the buggy. The boys were sitting in the back with Mrs. Hackenshleimer who had both twins on her lap. David handed her up and they made the short drive to the courthouse in silence.

  Once he had parked the buggy, he came around and helped her down. “You look beautiful today.”

  Susan blushed. “Thank you.” She turned and took the twins one at a time from Mrs. Hackenshleimer and set them on the ground. As soon as Mrs. Hackenshleimer was down, she took each of the twins by the hand and walked with them toward the courthouse.

  Susan walked behind her with David, the older boys on either side of the couple. “Are you nervous?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’ve never been married before.”

  “Well, I have, and it’s nothing to be afraid of. The ceremony will be simple, and then we’ll head out to the ranch.” He just hoped the boys could behave for long enough to have her legally tied to him before she realized they were hellions. Mrs. Hackenshleimer had a firm grip on the twins’ hands and she’d watch over the older two during the ceremony. He was almost there.

  They entered the courthouse and went to the judge who was waiting for them. David had sent a messenger in that morning that he’d be there at ten and needed a few minutes of the judge’s time. The ceremony was short and simple, and Susan was surprised when the judge pronounced them husband and wife. It was so short, it didn’t seem like it could possibly be legal.

  After he’d kissed her briefly, they all trooped back out onto the street. Susan looked at David. “That was so fast. It doesn’t feel like it could possibly be real.”

  David smiled and stroked her cheek. “It’s absolutely real. You are now Mrs. David Dailey.”

  She once again found herself mesmerized by his brown eyes. What was it about this man that brought out strange urgings inside her? She didn’t know, but she was glad she had feelings for him. It would make marriage so much easier.

  Susan heard the howl of a cat, and turned to see one of the twins had a cat by the tail. The cat broke away and ran down the street. Both twins tore free of Mrs. Hackenshleimer and ran after the cat. The older boys took off after the twins.

  Within moments Susan watched the twins fall off the boardwalk and into a puddle of mud created by a store owner dumping a bucket of mop water. They stood up dripping mud. Their Sunday clothes were covered and they were howling with anger because the cat had gotten away.

  The older boys were still running after the cat and dove toward it, bonking heads on the way down. The cat streaked away, but Albert and Lewis shouted at one another.

  “I can’t believe you let her get away!” Albert yelled.

  “It’s all your fault! I had her!” Lewis pushed his brother.

  Not ten minutes after her wedding, Susan watched her two youngest step-sons howling in the street dripping mud while her older boys fought with their fists not twenty feet away.

  One of the shopkeepers came out of his store to see what the commotion was. He sighed. “Oh, it’s just those rotten Dailey boys again.” He shook his head as he went back into the store.

  Again? Susan’s heart sank. She’d married a man who came with hellions. She glared at David. “Again?”

  David met her eyes and shrugged innocently. “This may have happened once or twice before.”

  Susan marched to the buggy and climbed up with no help. He could deal with his own children. She refused to deal with monsters within an hour of her wedding. When they arrived home would be soon enough.

  Chapter Four

  Susan was silent while David and Mrs. Hackenshleimer rounded up the boys and for the trip back to the ranch. She couldn’t believe David had deceived her, but really, what had she expected from a stranger? Sure, he was a stranger she enjoyed kissing whom she was now married to, but he was still a stranger.

  She watched the scenery pass by wondering what to expect from her wedding lunch. She was not looking forward to having to appear happy and hosting a large group of people with the mood she was in. Her wedding day was ruined, and she was in the same situation she’d been in back home, except now she was expected to be the parent. How could she have misread the family so badly?

  When they pulled up in front of the ranch, David helped Susan down from the buggy and led her into the house. He
turned to Mrs. Hackenshleimer. “Will you see to the boys, please? I think I need to spend a minute or two talking to my wife before our guests arrive in thirty minutes.” He put his hand under her elbow and led her up the stairs to his bedroom, putting her bag on the bed.

  She glared at him. “I’m not sleeping in here with you.” She honestly couldn’t believe he’d expect her to with the way he’d deceived her. What was his problem?

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you really think I’m going to sleep with you after you deceived me? I don’t want more children who will behave like the ones you’ve already got.” She folded her arms across her chest, letting him know she wasn’t backing down.

  “You’re their mother now. Discipline them and turn them into good kids. They were better behaved when their mother was alive.” He moved toward her, standing over her and glaring down at her. “And you’re sleeping with me. You’re my wife.”

  She refused to back up, even though he was doing his best to intimidate her. “You’re okay with me disciplining those boys as I see fit?” She poked him in his chest. “And I’m not sleeping with you. I’ll sleep in one of the spare bedrooms.”

  “I don’t believe in hitting children, but short of that, discipline them however you want.” He caught her hand and held it behind her back. “And you are sleeping with me. You’re my wife and you belong in my bed. If you don’t want to consummate the marriage, fine. But you’re sleeping in my bed.”

  “That’s just stupid! Those boys need to be beaten with a switch!” She kicked at him. “And there’s no reason for me to sleep with you when there are two empty rooms right across the hall.”

  “What is wrong with you? You think you need to beat my boys and kick me? Violence will get you nowhere in this house!” He bent down and crushed his lips to hers, forcing a response from her. When he raised his head, his brown eyes stared into hers. “You will be sleeping with me whether you think it’s stupid or not. I won’t have Sadie knowing my wife is sleeping in another room.”

  “Fine! You can sleep on the floor.” She tore herself from his arms, and turned her back to him, pressing her fingers against her lips. Why did she like it so much when he kissed her, even when he was rough about it?

  “I’ll sleep beside you in the bed.” He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry if you feel like I deceived you into marrying me. I haven’t been able to find a wife thanks to the boys, and I saw you as my only chance.”

  She turned to face him. “Why didn’t you send off for a mail order bride yourself? A lot of women wouldn’t mind being saddled with an instant family.”

  He shrugged. “I was going to, but after Jesse died, the situation seemed too good to pass up.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I need a wife and my boys need a mother. And you needed to find a job or a husband. You have a husband now.”

  She sighed and shook her head. “Fine, but I’ll be your wife in name only. Nothing is going to happen between us that could possibly create a child. I’m already going to have my hands full with the hellions you already have.” She wasn’t about to mince words with regard to his son’s behavior. If he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t have hidden their true nature from her before they married.

  He winced when she called the boys hellions, but he knew she was right. They were awful. “That’s fine. Just don’t shame me by sleeping in another room, please.”

  “I won’t.” She hated to give in to him, but she could understand a man’s pride and need to save face.

  He glanced at the clock sitting on the dresser. “It’s time to go down and greet our guests.”

  She shrugged. “I guess we need to go then.” She looked at him. “I hope you realize I’m furious with you.”

  He nodded. “I know. And I am sorry.”

  She followed him out of the room and down the stairs to where their guests were already starting to assemble. The boys were all freshly scrubbed and dressed in clean clothes. The clothes weren’t as nice as the ones they’d worn to the wedding, but they would have to do. Albert had a fat lip and Lewis’s eye was starting to swell. She took the boys by the hands, and said, “Excuse me,” before she was even introduced to any of the guests. She didn’t much care if David thought she was rude. She needed to handle her new sons.

  She took the boys back to the family parlor at the back of the house and glared at them. “Do you two really think fighting is appropriate? On my wedding day?” Her emphasis on the last two words was meant to fill them with guilt, and by the looks on their faces, it worked. They both shook their heads looking up at her with wide eyes. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”

  They both hung their heads, not saying a word. It was obvious they didn’t know how she’d react and were doing their best to act contrite. She’d seen the same looks on her brothers’ faces over and over. “The first part of your punishment for fighting on my wedding day will be holding hands until every guest is gone. That means at the table, while you’re playing, and whatever you do, you will hold hands. Do you understand?”

  Albert looked up at her to protest. “No way! I’m not going to hold his hand!” He poked his brother in the arm to emphasize his words.

  Susan shook her head and stepped forward to intimidate the boy. “You will, and you’ll do it with a smile. For every time I see you drop hands during the party, you’ll write twenty times during play time tomorrow, ‘I love my brother.’”

  “You can’t make me do that!”

  “Oh, yes I can. You will behave, and you will start now!” Susan knew that if she let them get away with fighting on her wedding day, they’d always think they could run all over her. It wasn’t going to work that way. She was their mother now, whether deception had been used or not, and she would see to their discipline if it killed her. “Do you both understand me?” The boys nodded, and she watched as they joined hands. “Let’s go join the others.”

  She made the boys lead the way so she could watch and see if they dropped hands. She walked back to the front of the house and joined David who was talking to a man and his wife. David saw her slip up beside him and raised an eyebrow at her in question of what she’d done. She simply shrugged and smiled at the woman across from her. “Hi. I’m Susan.”

  The woman smiled as she noted the boys holding hands and looking miserable. “I’m Beverly Smith. We have the ranch that shares your south border.” Beverly was a petite red head with a pretty smile.

  “It’s very nice to meet you. Do you have children?” Susan engaged Beverly in conversation, asking her questions about herself and watching the boys out of the corner of her eye.

  “I have three girls. They’re six, four and two.”

  Susan noticed the boys drop hands. “Excuse me for just a moment,” she muttered and strode over to the boys. “That’s your first twenty sentences each. How long do you think it will take you to reach one hundred?”

  The boys quickly joined hands again, and she walked back to Beverly and her husband. “Sorry. I need to let them know who’s in charge.”

  Beverly laughed softly. “Those boys have needed someone to let them know who’s in charge for a long time.” She squeezed Susan’s arm. “You’re going to be very good for them.”

  Susan smiled. “Either that or I’ll kill us all trying to turn them into well-behaved boys. They can behave. I’ve seen it. So they will.” The look in Susan’s eye left Beverly in no doubt that she would have the boys behaving like little gentlemen within a month.

  “I really think I’m going to like you. Would you like to come over for coffee and cookies one afternoon next week? After you’ve had a chance to settle in? Maybe Wednesday?”

  “I’d like that a lot. It’ll be nice to have a friend in Texas. Maybe it’ll help me not be so homesick.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Susan realized she really was homesick. She missed her parents and Elizabeth a lot. She needed to sit down and write them a letter as sh
e’d promised.

  “Where are you from?”

  “I was raised on a small farm outside of Beckham, Massachusetts. It’s different here.”

  “I was raised in Pennsylvania, so I know what you mean.”

  “How long did it take you to get used to the scorching heat?” Susan asked as she rubbed her hand along the back of her neck to wipe away the sweat that was pooling there.

  Beverly shook her head. “I don’t think you ever get used to it. You learn to bear it, but that’s all you can expect of yourself.”

  “How did you end up in Texas?”

  “My husband was travelling and he came into a restaurant I worked in as a waitress. He sat at my table and I served him lunch. He was lonely, and asked if I’d show him around town. When he left town I left with him as his wife.”

  Susan smiled. “I like that story. How long did you know one another before you married?” Beverly’s story was certainly more romantic than her own. She’d shown up ready to marry and her bridegroom was dead so she’d settled for his brother. No, there wasn’t much romance in her story.

  “Three weeks. My mother was not happy with me.”

  Susan laughed. “Imagine how my mother felt when I said I was moving across the country to marry a total stranger.”

  “I’m surprised they let you go.”

  Susan shrugged. “I’m the oldest of twelve. I’ve always been very independent, and I think they knew if they tried to stop me, I’d leave anyway.” She realized then the men had stopped talking and were listening to them. She looked at David.

  He took her hand and smiled down at her as if there were nothing wrong between them. “Charles, this is my wife, Susan. Susan, my closest friend and our closest neighbor, Charles Smith.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Susan replied. She noted that Charles was tall, although not as tall as David. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a cowboy hat with his suit. She wondered if all men did that here, because David had worn the same thing for their wedding. They both wore cowboy boots as well.