Mail Order Alice (Western Mail Order Brides)

By Kate Whitsby

A historical western cowboy romance novel about a mail order bride.

Ever since her father became too ill to work, Alice Abrams knows he can’t support her anymore on his Army pension. So Alice decides to sign up for Mrs. Emily Bronwick’s Mail Order Bride Service. As well as starting a new life for herself, she wants to ensure her father’s financial security. She is delighted when the Service matches her with Mr. Arthur Emerson, of Bend, Oregon. But her closest friend, her childhood playmate, and confidante, Jesse McDowell, objects bitterly to the plan. He doesn’t want to let Alice out of his life so easily. Imagine Alice’s surprise when she boards the train to leave her home town of Greensborough, North Carolina! Jesse appears at the train station and announces, “I’m going with you.”
Although initially reluctant to accept Jesse’s help and support through the trials and hazards of the journey, Alice quickly recognizes her good fortune at having someone with whom to face her uncertain future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gold Crown
• Release date: Apr 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310311796

Kate Whitsby

Kate Whitsby is a historical romance author who has found a love for writing western mail order bride romance. Kate writes from her home in Virginia and loves spending time with her two children when she's not busy writing.

Book preview

Mail Order Alice

Western Mail Order Brides

Kate Whitsby

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Kate Whitsby

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

To YOU, The reader.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your emails.

Thank you for your reviews.

Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

Contents

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

Other Books by Kate Whitsby

Connect with Kate Whitsby

Chapter One

I’m going out West! Alice Abrams waved a white envelope in her hand. She hoped her smile conveyed more excitement and delight than she felt.

Jesse McDowell’s eyes flew open. What do you mean? He stopped walking at the corner, where the park ended and the picket fences of the neighborhood houses began.

The hand in which Alice clutched her envelope fell to her side, her happiness deflated. I thought I told you! I signed up for Emily Bronwick’s Mail-Order Bride service. She found me a prospective husband, and I’m traveling out West to meet him and to marry him.

By turning back toward their homeward route, Alice tried to induce Jesse to keep walking, but he remained rooted to the spot.

Jesse knit his brows. You told me you wanted to sign up for the service, but I didn’t think you’d actually go through with it!

Of course I planned to go through with it! Alice returned. I wouldn’t have signed up for the service if I hadn’t!

Jesse’s voice escalated to a shrill cry. But you can’t seriously be thinking of leaving to marry a man you’ve never even laid eyes on! You don’t know anything about him! He could be a convicted killer, for all you know!

The envelope slipped imperceptibly behind her leg, as Alice endeavored to pacify her friend and confidante. Mrs. Bronwick screens all the potential husbands and wives very carefully. I’m sure I can rely on her discretion to match me up with someone suitable.

Jesse waved his hands wildly. But you don’t even know what he looks like!

Alice maintained her composure as best she could but Jesse’s reaction frightened her so much, she almost burst into tears. I thought you’d be happy for me! she wailed. I told you I couldn’t stay on here in Greensborough. Dad can hardly afford to pay for a room and board for himself, much less for both of us. He only has his old Army pension, and that doesn’t pay much. I’m just too much of a burden on him. This is my chance to do something helpful for Dad and make a new start in my own life at the same time.

Jesse took a deep breath and tried to apply reason to the problem. But you have your wages from the millinery work you do for Mrs. Tindal. Doesn’t that cover your room and board?

It’s not enough, Alice insisted.

And even if it isn’t enough, Jesse continued. there are other seamstresses in town who would give you more work. You don’t have to leave town!

Alice fought back the tears springing up in her eyes. But I don’t want to stay in Greensborough! This is the best chance I’ll ever have to make a fresh start somewhere else!

Jesse blinked in confusion. You want to leave? But why?

I don’t want to be a seamstress for the rest of my life, Alice declared.

Jesse bristled What’s wrong with being a seamstress? I’m apprenticed to a tailor. There’s nothing wrong with that!

That’s not what I meant! Alice laid a reassuring hand on his arm. Of course there’s nothing wrong with being a tailor or a seamstress. It’s just that I don’t want to keep taking orders from Mrs. Tindal forever. I might do better making a good marriage. That’s all I’m saying. I want to break free of this rut I’m in and move up in the world. This man Mrs. Bronwick found for me—Mr. Arthur Emerson—he’s successful. He has a big house, and he runs the General Store in the town where he lives.

And which town is that? Jesse grumbled.

Alice glanced excitedly back at her envelope. Bend, Oregon. Doesn’t that sound marvelous? Even the sound of it conjures up images of the Wild West! Bend, Oregon! I could repeat those words over and over again and never tire of them!

Jesse refused to look at the envelope. He turned his face away, pretending it didn’t exist. I’m glad you’re happy about it.

I thought I could count on you, of all people, to support me and be happy for me, Alice complained.

I just don’t like the idea of you leaving. That’s all, Jesse explained. I wish you didn’t have to go.

Alice folded the envelope and tucked it away inside the wrist of her glove. I wish there was a way I could help Dad without leaving, but I can’t think of any other way. I need to take myself off his hands, one way or the other. He can’t support me, and my living with him is costing him too much. He’ll be out of house and home if I stick around any longer.

Alice made another step along the street toward their destination, sending Jesse a wordless message to continue walking. The long shadows and pale pastel colors of dusk spread over the neighborhood. By the time they reached their home at Mrs. McDowell’s boarding house, she would have supper on the table. If they arrived after suppertime, both Alice and Jesse would go to bed hungry. Mrs. McDowell didn’t tolerate tardiness for any reason, especially not for the meals she served.

Jesse understood her signal, and the two of them began walking again, shoulder to shoulder, with their voices low and familiar. My mother wouldn’t throw your Dad out, Jesse maintained.

Your mother has been very generous to Dad, Alice acknowledged. He and I have boarded at her house for ten years now, ever since I was a little girl, and we’ve been very happy there.

So what’s the problem? Jesse demanded. Why can’t you just keep doing what you’re doing now?

Alice continued. Ever since Dad’s health turned bad and he stopped working, he can’t support both of us on his pension alone. Your mother’s been giving Dad a discount on the cost of room and board for both of us, but she can’t go on doing that forever. My wages only barely make up the difference at the bargain rate. Sooner or later, your mother will have to raise the price of Dad’s board, just to cover her own costs. When that happens, Dad’ll either have to come up with the additional money, or he’ll have to find another place to live. I don’t want that to happen.

My mother wouldn’t do that, Jesse repeated. She wouldn’t turn a man out of her house, especially one she knew and liked as well as your Dad.

You know as well as I do that she would have no choice, Alice told him. She’s not in the charity business. She runs a boarding house. She’s been charitable enough to Dad this last year since he stopped working. She won’t keep it up forever, and there’s no reason why she should. Without me, Dad’s pension will keep him housed at your mother’s until he dies. He just can’t support me any more, and I can do better marrying out West. You know it’s true.

Jesse scowled at the fronts of the houses along the street. He knew every family in every house in the neighborhood. He knew every child and every old maid as well as if they were his own family, but none of it held a candle to his affection for Alice. Without her, none of it meant a thing to him. I don’t like it, he grumbled

She drew him back with her hand on his arm. Don’t you want me to be happy in life?

Jesse halted abruptly, gasping in astonishment at her question. Of course I do! How can you even ask that? He immediately spun away, marching up the street.

She hurried after him and took his arm. But you know this is the best thing for me and Dad. You could at least show me that you’re happy for me.

Jesse whirled back, tearing his arm away. But I’m not happy! Don’t you understand? I’m not happy about you leaving Greensborough, and I won’t say I am. There’s nothing you can do to me to make me say I’m happy about it.

She frowned at his outburst. Why not?

Because, he asserted. you’re my closest friend here. You’re the person I’m closest to here in Greensborough—except my mother, of course. I just don’t want you to leave. I wouldn’t be happy here, if you did.

She regarded him with a new calm in her face. You’re my closest friend here, too. That’s why I hoped you would support me in this decision.

He remained aloof from her. Well, I just can’t do that. There must be some other way for you to support yourself here.

But I’ve already written to this Mr. Emerson, Alice confessed. I’ve promised him I’ll travel out to Bend and marry him.

Jesse glowered menacingly at Alice. Then there’s nothing more for us to talk about. He carried on up the street away from her.

Alice gaped at the back of his head in shock. Then she flew after him, seized him by the elbow, and spun him around to face her again. Jesse, wait! she cried.

Jesse clenched teeth in anger. There’s nothing more to discuss. You’ve promised to marry him. You’re leaving Greensborough, and your Dad, and me, and Mrs. Tindal, and everything else behind, to start a new life. You want me to say I’m happy for you. Okay, I will. I’m happy for you. I hope you have a nice trip, and that Mr. Emerson is a good husband to you, and that you have a very happy life as a storekeeper’s wife. There, I said it. Are you happy now? Can I go? I’m late for supper. He yanked his arm from her grasp a second time and stalked away.

Alice watched him stomp away from her, unable to move from the spot. She almost let him walk away, but the thought of the conversation ending on such a disastrous note made her hurry after him and restrain him by the arm again. Jesse, wait a minute! she ordered. When she facing his stormy expression, she quailed inwardly, but their long acquaintance bolstered her resolve to make amends with him. Look, Jesse, I’m not happy about leaving you, either. I don’t want our friendship to end this way. I care about you too much to let you throw away all the years we’ve known each other without at least trying to come to some understanding with you. Don’t walk away like this! Let’s talk to each other until we understand each other. Let’s not leave one another when you’re angry at me.

Jesse