A Bride In Spring (The Brides Of Courage, Kansas, Book 3)

By Lenny Davis

A Bride in Spring: A Western Mail Order Bride Romance * The Brides of Courage, Kansas, Book Three

Kansas 1871: Sheriff Theophilus MacRaven is waiting by the station for his mail order bride to arrive — when things get complicated. Because the first lady he has to deal with upon the train's arrival may very well not be his bride.
Fleeing her shady brother, Caroline Baker left New York for Courage, Kansas, in the hope to find country simplicity and the strong arms of a lawman out west. Instead, she finds another woman aiming at the heart of her groom. Is she part of a bigger scheme to keep them apart? Because the past has a way of catching up with this mail order bride...
Come in and watch how Caroline and Theo face tremendous obstacles, but arrive at the bliss they both deserve.

The Brides of Courage, Kansas, Series of Western Mail Order Bride Romances:
"Once Upon the Prairie," Book 1
"She Came One Winter," Book 2
"A Bride In Spring," Book 3
"Heart of Summer," Book 4

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharaya Lee
• Release date: Jul 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311911339

Book preview

Lenny Davis

A Bride In Spring

The Brides of Courage, Kansas, Book Three

A

Wild West

Mail Order Bride Romance

Copyright 2014 by Lenny Davis

All rights reserved!

Smashwords Edition

No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This story is a work of historical fiction.

Any resemblance to actual locales, incidents or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The Brides of Courage, Kansas, Series:

Once Upon The Prairie, Book 1

She Came One Winter, Book 2

A Bride In Spring, Book 3

***

Chapter 1

April 1871:

Help!

The young woman's voice came from the far end of the train that had just arrived.

Help me, somebody!

When her cry reached the ear of Theophilus MacRaven, it made his heart to sink. Here he stood on the platform of the station, a bouquet of spring flowers in his hand, waiting for his mail order bride to arrive, and now somebody was ruining their first meeting by shouting for help. Being the sheriff of Courage, Kansas, it was only natural that he felt called upon.

The locomotive hissed and blew steam.

Who might be making a woman shout for help in broad daylight and on a public train? What fool…

Suddenly, the realization that the screaming woman might be his bride hit him like the hoof of a kicking mule.

Help me...!

If this was her calling out, she at least had a pleasant voice, Theophilus felt. She sounded young, too. Younger than twenty-nine, which was the age of his new bride. Theo himself was thirty-six. But he felt stronger today and more in command of his senses than even ten years ago, when he'd been a horseman in Johnny Reb's gray cavalry.

Whoever she was, he had to help her.

Firm on his feet, an air of authority around him, Theo was already on his way to the closest door near the back end of the train. His silver star gleamed in the sun.

Before he entered the car, he stopped and looked at the flowers in his hand. He sighed. Pretty as they were, they were certainly in the way right now. He might have to ask somebody to hold them for him while he was taking care of business. Surely there'd be an upstanding citizen who wouldn't mind holding flowers for the sheriff.

Once inside, Theo walked from rail car to rail car down the remaining length of the train. Up ahead, the young woman was still crying. Theo didn't know if she sounded fearful or merely annoyed. He'd find out how she was doing in a minute. Most passengers cast a dismayed glance in the direction of her wails before they hurried off the train and out into the April day, where the warm sun met them.

When he had reached the last car, Theo's clear gray eyes stared at a wall of backs. The backs of men. They belonged to blue-clad railroad workers, to spur-jingling cowboys, to stout Irishmen with bowler hats, tall Germans with big hands and rolled-up sleeves. He even saw the long black hair of an Indian in the crowd. All seemed mesmerized and stared in one direction.

Theo tugged on his walrus mustache. He needed to break this up. His mail order bride from New York was probably way more beautiful than she'd let on in her letter and the men on the train had figured that out. Now she was trying to get off and they were giving her a hard time of it, not wanting to let her go.

Time to rescue her.

He looked left and right, and then at the flowers in his hands. A tall lady with chestnut-colored hair, wearing a beautiful yellow dress with at least three skirts stood to his right, a heavy valise by her side. Unfazed by the noise right next to her, she stood erect. Probably waiting for a porter, Theo figured.

Pardon me, ma'am, he said to her. Would you mind holding on to these flowers for me for just a second?

Her gaze was on his star before it settled on his broad-jowled face. When he looked into her brown eyes, they gave Theo a tight throat.

Oh boy.

Lots of pretty ladies on this train. He swallowed.

Not at all, she said with an inscrutable smile.

Thank you, ma'am. Much obliged. He handed his bouquet to her and immediately returned his attention to the men in front of him.

All right! Guys, knock it off! Theo's strong voice easily overcame the din in the wagon. Everybody heard him. Heads were turning. When the men noticed the silver star on his lapel, they made a way for him. His hand casually resting on the handle of his six-shooter, the sheriff walked down the aisle that was opening up before him. The men stepped out of his way until he stood broad-legged in front of the bench at the end of the rail car.

The woman he saw sitting there made his heart to skip. She was young, all right. Not a day older than twenty by his estimation. Her glossy black curls were slightly disheveled. This was how she had to look when she got out of bed in the morning, Theo figured. Right now it was afternoon. Not that it mattered.

The girl wore a dress that seemed to be made of expensive velvet the color of ox blood. That was odd. Judging by her poise and overall appearance, and the way she used her voice, she wasn't of the rich or noble kind. Perhaps it wasn't velvet, but a cheaper substitute. Theo didn't know fabric or materials, so his thoughts were pure conjecture. He knew what kind of woman she was, though.

The disheveled hair, the red dress, her outstanding good looks: this was the type of woman that drew the eyes of men everywhere. Her sort spelled constant excitement. If this was his bride, he was in for a heap of trouble.

Theo sorely hoped to be mistaken.

Oh sheriff, so glad to see you, the girl gasped, sounding as if he'd just saved her from drowning. Save me, sir! She groaned and stretched out her arms to him.

Theo stared into her face for fully three seconds before he noticed that the Cleaver boys had her boxed in between the two of them.

Their presence filled the sheriff with hot anger.

Oren and Phinehas Cleaver! Theo roared. I thought they had you locked up in Wichita. What are you doing, rolling into town on the train from Kansas City? Did you break out? Did you run away? What do you think you're doing here?

Theophilus MacRaven was on a roll now.

How dare you show your faces in Courage after what you've done to Genie Folsom? Huh? Tell me? I'll whip your hides and send you on your way if you step off this train! And Johnny Folsom is going to rope you. He'll tie you to his saddle horn and drag you up the trail all the way to Santa Fe and down again for good measure!

Towheaded and freckle-faced, the Cleaver boys scooted away from the girl and got up. A still-closed door was right next to them. Oren, the taller one of the two, reached over and unlatched it while his eyes never left the sheriff.

I wouldn't get off if I were you, Theo MacRaven growled when he saw Oren was doing.

Tension rippled through the crowd. The Cleaver boys were not yet twenty years old, but they'd been raised on hard farm labor and were as lean and mean as any of the troublemakers in Courage. But both knew from experience that Theophilus was a force to be reckoned with.

The blue eyes of the menaced girl in the red dress darted to and fro between the two parties in the standoff. She was utterly enthralled. Men were fighting over her—once again—and this attractive sheriff seemed to be winning.

What a hero.

He was tall and had broad shoulders, and a cute dimple in his chin. He radiated power as his gray eyes were spitting fire. Next to him those boys were just that: boys. This was a man! It was nice to have somebody like that fight for her for a change.

How are we going to get home? Phinehas asked after a long moment in which he and Oren stood motionless. Our old mother is expecting us. It'll break her heart if she don't see us tonight.

It's more likely that seeing you will break it, Theo said. That poor old heart of hers.

A tense moment went by.

So what are we supposed to do? Phinehas said.

You travel on and when the farm comes up, you jump, Theo suggested. The Cleaver farm sat a good ways outside of Courage, surrounded by fertile fields. The train would pass it by at a distance of about a mile and half. The boys could jump out of the running train and walk home. Speed was not an issue as the train usually only crept along. Sometimes when riding the train, Theo felt he could lean out and pick flowers, the thing was so slow.

Father is waiting for us by the station, Oren said.

I'll tell him you're not coming, Theo said. But right now I want you to step over here into that corner. The sheriff pointed at it. You stand there and don't move, and let this lady pass. He swung his dimpled chin towards the girl in the red dress.

Blank-faced, Cleaver boys obeyed. Flexing their muscles, they did as told, went and stood in the corner.

Theo turned around to the rest of the men. All right! Time for you to clear out! He shooed them away. There's nothing to see here!

After a moment's hesitation the men went forward and washed around him, moving towards the doors. When several of them kept milling around the girl, talking to her suggestively, she began to draw short breaths and her voice acquired a high pitch.

Oh boy, Theo thought, afraid she might pass out.

Guys, give it a rest, he said gruffly. When the men finally shoved off, he turned towards the girl. Are you Caroline Baker? He said it as gently as he knew how.

Her eyes widened at his remark. Why no, sir. That's a right pretty name, but it's not mine.

His shoulders sagged. A moment later he wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or sad. This lady was a looker, very easy on the eyes. But she'd require constant guarding, like right now.

Anyway.

The point was moot. She was not his future wife.

Which meant, his bride was still around here somewhere. Theo craned his neck and quickly looked around, but didn't see any waiting ladies on the train. Even the lady he'd asked to hold his flowers was nowhere to be seen. Theo wondered whether she was still around. He needed those flowers back. But she'd seemed nice enough. She was probably waiting outside.

As was his future wife.

Theo hoped there wouldn't be an embarrassing moment in which he took the flowers away from one lady to hand them to another, possibly standing right next to the first one. What would his bride think of him, passing flowers around like that?

So what's your name? Oren Cleaver said to the girl, cocking his head.

His brother took a step forward and glared at her. Phinehas pushed out his lower lip until he looked truly menacing, which he probably didn't even mean to do. He was waiting for her to say her name, too.

Oh sheriff, don't go away! the girl squeaked when she saw Phinehas come up to her.

When Theo turned around, she slung her arms around his neck, seeking refuge from the Cleavers. Surprised, Theo inadvertently hugged her lithe and shivering frame before he gently pushed her away. But she barely released her hold on him.

Oren Cleaver shrugged. All I asked for was her name. Just like you done.

The girl right in front of Theo turned hyper. Nervous, she began to jump up and down and said, Sheriff, don't go away! These men are evil. They've been pestering me since we left Kansas City. Do something. I beg you, do something! Save me, sir.

Shaking, breathing more and more rapidly, she finally rolled her eyes up into her head until Theo saw only the white in them. Then she threw her arms up and passed out. Theo caught her, saving her from crashing onto the floor.

Great, he thought.

She was light as a feather. Her dress probably weighed more than she did. But what was he going to do with this feather now? He knew nothing about her, not where she came from, not her destination, not even her name. The train would move on in a little bit and he could hardly leave her on it, aswoon in the presence of the Cleaver boys. The gentleman in him wouldn't allow this. He also couldn't allow the Cleavers to get off the train, now that he'd told them to stay on it. Theophilus MacRaven never went back on his word.

A thousand thoughts careened through Sheriff Theo's head. What about his bride?

Where were his flowers?

What about this nameless girl?

You better take her to Dr. Dickerson, Oren Cleaver said.

That was the best idea the kid ever had. Theo almost thanked him for the suggestion, but then thought the better of it.

What if she dies while you stand here holding her? Phinehas Cleaver said.

Poppycock. Theo had a remark on his lips but kept quiet about it. Without another word he staggered towards the door of the rail car, the girl in his arms. Dr. Dickerson's little hospital was not far away from the station. Situated right on Main Street, it looked like any other store on the outside.

Burdened with the girl, Theo left the train and stalked across the platform in the general direction of the boardwalk. Pushing through the crowd, he did his best to spot his bride, but the throng was still too dense. He passed several ladies that stood by themselves below the awning outside the station's waiting room, seeking shelter from the sun. They even looked in his direction, as did most everybody else. But none waved or gave any sign that she was waiting for the sheriff, even though his bride knew about his occupation and his silver star was prominently on display. He'd have to come back and find her.

But first he had to get rid of this girl.

Theo left the station.

When he walked up the stairs of the boardwalk, the girl's eyes fluttered open and she said, My name is Drusilla. Drusilla Vermeer. But my friends call me Drew.

Theo glanced down at her. She had the longest eyelashes he'd ever seen on a woman.

Please call me Drew, the girl said, her voice husky. When Theo didn't react right away, she rolled her eyes up into her head. Her face sank back onto his chest and she went limp again.

Poor thing, Theo thought.

Who are you carrying, sheriff?

MacRaven looked up. Mr. McIntosh had come out of his mercantile as he'd passed it. Walking beside the sheriff, the gaunt man studied the girl in his arms.

Wish I knew, Theo said.

Where did you…?

Found her on the train.

I see, Mr. McIntosh said. So she's not your…