The Mountain Man: A Pair of Historical Romances

By Doreen Milstead

Life & Death In The Old West: In this classic western suitable for late teens or adults, a young family heads west and builds their ranch, their family, and their horse breeding business. All is idyllic, until chaos ensues.

Bridges & The Mail Order Bride, is the story of two sisters and two men. Bridges, the owner of a ranch and his hired hand Bane, have no idea what will happen when Bridges decides he needs a mail order bride from New York. He corresponds with a woman and falls in love with her but when Victoria arrives in town, the spark is simply not there. Instead, Victoria falls in love with another man and because Bridges is an honorable man, and even though he does not love Victoria, he plans on making good on his promise to marry her. Victoria asks for God’s guidance to help sort everything out, but doesn’t know if her revelations to her sister and the two men, will heal all past wounds, omissions, and misconceptions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Jan 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311569998

Book preview

The Mountain Man: A Pair of Historical Romances

By

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2016 The Sweet Romance Network Presents…

Life & Death In The Old West

Bridges And The Mail Order Bride

Life & Death In The Old West

Synopsis: Life & Death In The Old West: In this classic western suitable for late teens or adults, a young family heads west and builds their ranch, their family, and their horse breeding business. All is idyllic, until chaos ensues.

Wiley Rogers watched his kids playing in the dusty corral that used to contain a small herd of palomino horses bred for sale by him. It had, for several years, been a profitable business for Wiley and his wife. They had done very well.

However, that was when she was alive and life was good. For the past two years, his world had dwindled down to loneliness, depression and a struggle. Nothing more. As he sat there watching his offspring, Wiley finally admitted to himself that he had two choices: Get on with living or give up. Giving up would be the hardest, he also admitted, so changing his situation would be his only choice, really, and his responsibility.

C’mon in, kids, he yelled. It’s about to get dark and we have to be up early in the morning.

All four of them, two boys and two girls, slowly walked over to their father. Ben, the oldest at seven years, and always the speaker for his siblings, was frowning.

Pop, it ain’t ‘bout dark neither. Can’t we play some more? We did our chores like you said.

Wiley rose from the front steps of the three room cabin and brushed off the dirt from his youngest daughter. Nope. We have things to do tomorrow, so we’ll need our sleep. Now into the house to wash up before bed.

Shit! Ben said, kicking the dirt.

Wiley took a swipe at the boy’s behind and missed as Ben ran up the steps too quickly, the rest of the kids following suit. You missed, he turned to his father and said, laughing, the gap in his front teeth shining from the loss of his first baby tooth.

All the kids laughed at their daring older brother, but they did as they were told. Ben had become daring and hard to handle at times, but Wiley didn’t blame him. In many ways, he had taken on the responsibility of compensating for his dead mother.

What are we doing tomorrow? Sarah, the oldest girl and second child asked. It was a good question, because most days, they did the same things all over again…get up, listen to a book lesson from their father’s meager attempt at teaching them to read, and then help him with the garden, feeding the pigs and cow or the two horses they still had.

We’re going somewhere, Wiley answered, patting her head.

To grandma’s? the youngest girl, Lila asked, clapping her hands. The kids loved to go to Wiley’s mother’s house where they would be cleaned up, fed and allowed to play on her grassy lawns. There was nothing like grandma’s house to relieve them from their boring and routine lives on the ranch, if it could be called such.

Yep, Wiley answered, herding them all into the one bedroom they shared. That’s where we’re going, all right!

Now, the whole bunch was excited, which pleased Wiley. He didn’t get to make the trip often, and they all enjoyed the diversion immensely.

In addition, to Wiley, this was a purposeful trip. One in which he would finally agree to his mother’s suggestion of the year before. It was time to find himself another wife, and he knew his mother would be anxious to lead the search. She had said so many times.

As he fell asleep that night, Wiley spoke quietly to his wife’s image. I don’t know anything else to do, Honey. I need help with the kids and with myself. I am afraid of what I’ll do if there isn’t someone to keep me sane. I hope you’ll forgive me and know that you are always going to be the only woman I truly love.

It was as if she put his hand on his shoulder; a calming sense of peace instantly surrounded him. Wiley saw it as her permission, her blessing, for him to get on with his life and find happiness.

Turning on his side and finally relaxing, Wiley felt that the next day would be a new beginning for all of them. Moreover, it was.

Wiley was only eighteen when the fever to move West engulfed him. The only holdback to loading his meager belongings on one of the many covered wagons heading from South Carolina to Nevada was a young and beautiful blonde named Elizabeth. Lizzy, as he called her.

She was only sixteen with an overbearing, protective father. She wanted to go with Wiley to the new and adventurous world in the West. However, it seemed to be a wish that would never come true.

One day, as Wiley and Lizzy’s father sat on the porch of her modest but nice house, the subject came up.

When you going to Nevada? her father had asked quite suddenly and out of the blue.

Wiley had to collect his thoughts quickly. "Ah, Sir, I don’t know if I will go. As much as I want to, I won’t leave Lizzy behind. That’s a long way from here, and once I get there, it is where I’m going to stay. Nevada will become my home.

The older man had rocked on in his chair for some moments, puffing slowly on his pipe. You know she wants to go with you, he began, and that we don’t want her to.

Yes, Sir, Wiley had answered. I’d have to be dumb as a rock not to know both those things.

The old man had cleared his throat. Well, I’ve been thinking.

He hushed for quite awhile, during which Wiley also sat silent, afraid to ask or say anything, because he knew the older man would speak when he was ready. It was his habit.

Finally, Wiley broke the silence. "I’ve heard that land is free for the taking. Thought I would claim a few acres and start a ranch. Raise palominos and sell them to the Calvary. They always need horses. What with all the silver mines popping up, prospectors need horses, too. I could make a decent living there; probably enough to support a wife and family, too. That’s my dream, anyway.

Sounds possible, the older man replied.

Lizzy joined them on the porch, bringing out a pitcher of lemonade and glasses. I figured you two were getting a little thirsty, she said, smiling at Wiley. What y’all talking about?

Going West, her father said. Wiley was just telling me about his plan to get some land in Nevada and raise horses.

Horses? she asked, looking at Wiley with a puzzled look. Why not join in the silver rush? That seems to be where the money is.

It is also temporary, Wiley observed. If I go, I’m not coming back. Just was telling your daddy that I want to make Nevada my home. That’s too far to go and not stay.

I see, Lizzy said, sitting down on the wooden swing. Guess that makes a lot of sense.

It does make sense, her father said. I think it is ambitious, but it is a good way of planning for the future, Wiley. Gonna take a lot of grit and grime to make it, but if a man sets his mind to it, yep, it can be done.

I’m setting my mind to it, Wiley said with confidence. Just gotta work out some details and make a commitment. About all that’s left for me to do.

The three of them sat in silence for a while, each to their own thoughts.

Think you’d want to live in the West, Lizzy? he asked, again out of the blue.

Her face flushed bright red, but the girl thought before speaking. I’d imagine I would like it, she offered. Course I don’t know much about what is out there, just what I’ve heard people say. It’s dusty and the living conditions are pretty rough, but I might like it.

If you had the right circumstances, her father added.

Yes, Sir; if I had the right circumstances, she agreed.

Again, a silence settled between them. Finally, she kicked Wiley’s foot and nodded toward her father. Wiley raised his eyebrows, and then his face registered understanding. He cleared his throat.

Sir, he began with a shaky voice. If Lizzy agrees, and you agree, can I marry her and take my bride to Nevada?

For a second the air was still. Her father turned to face Wiley directly in the face.

What the hell took you so long to ask? he said, a smile sneaking across his face. I’ve done everything but ask for you and so has she! If you’re that damn dense about everything, Son, you’re never gonna make a horse rancher!

Wiley could have hugged the older man. Lizzy jumped out of the swing and hugged her father tightly. Oh, Daddy! You have just made me the happiest girl in the world! She turned to Wiley. We can get married and move to Nevada!

Wiley shook his head in agreement, but his legs were too weak for him to have stood immediately and properly shook the older man’s hand, sealing the deal. After a few minutes, though, he rose to his feet and offered his hand, which the father took.

I’ll do right by her, he began. "You don’t ever have to worry about Lizzy. She will always have everything she needs and most of what she wants. In addition, she will be safe. That I guarantee with my life.

I know, the father said. It is the only thing I want from you; her safety in that rugged land of wild cowboys and restless Indians. I have to trust you, Wiley.

You can. I promise.

Wiley Rogers didn’t come from a family with money. In fact, they were of very meager means. Peanut farmers would be a more accurate description, and not very prosperous ones at time. Nonetheless, it was a close-knit happy family of two parents and four boys, all of whom were hard workers and goal-oriented.

His oldest two brothers had already ventured west in search of silver and had managed to send some of their earnings back home. Their success prompted Wiley’s dream and his ultimate move. Nevertheless, lives always take different courses.

When he told his father, John, of the conversation with Lizzy’s father, the expected congratulations didn’t come immediately. John just raised his eyebrows in surprise and walked away without saying anything. The reaction puzzled Wiley, but he knew his father well enough to know that the words would come later after the issue had been hashed and rehashed in the old man’s mind. When he did speak, Wiley knew it would be with wisdom and contemplation.

I been thinking, John said to Wiley as the walked the plow mules back to the barn from the freshly turned field. about you going to Nevada with Lizzy.

Okay, Wiley said, both anxious and dreading the outcome of what his father thought.

I don’t think it is a bad idea, John began, but I don’t think you should do it all at once. There’s too much at stake, Wiley. Suppose your wagon train is attacked by Injuns; it happens you know. It would be a whole lot easier to save yourself than to save both of you. In addition, suppose you die during an attack? What do you think those Injuns are going to do with a pretty girl like her?

Wiley could only shrug his shoulders, because what his father said was true. Finally, he answered the lingering questions. I’d die for Lizzy, he quietly said. I’d kill her myself before I let them take her, if I couldn’t save both of us.

That’s admirable, John replied. But it is also not what is likely to happen. We both know that. Those Injun renegades always kill the men first, mostly from a distance; or so I hear. They can shoot their arrows much faster and probably farther than you could shoot them with a musket. And, they are fearless.

I know those things, Pa, Wiley responded. Guess I can’t guarantee much, can I?

They walked along in silence for a few minutes. Son, John said, I think you should go out there alone at first. Make the trip; figure out what you’re up against. Find yourself some land and get set up, so to speak. Then, come back and get Lizzy. Do it all in steps, not all at once.

I’ll think about it, Wiley said. However, deep inside him, he knew there was no way he was heading west without her. In addition, there was no way she would let him. She’d follow behind on a horse if she had to, but Lizzy would not stand for them to be separated. Obviously, her father had come to realize the same thing.

Two days later, John asked Wiley what he planned to do.

She’s coming with me, Pa. It’s the only way. We decided that if we make it, all is good. However, if we don’t...Well, it’s just going to be that way. I’m sorry you don’t agree, but that is what I... we... have decided. We’re going to get married in two weeks and leave for Nevada the week after.

John kicked the dirt around his foot, thinking quietly. When he raised his face to meet that of his son’s, his mouth formed an easy smile.

Well, then, I guess I’m finally going to get that daughter your mother has always wanted! He extended his hand to Wiley. They shook, and his father patted him on the back. We’ll pray for your safety and your success, Son. It’s all we’ve ever wanted for you boys.

I know that, Pa. Thank you. The decision was made.

Against the objections of Lizzy’s mother, their marriage took place in her living room, attending by their parents, siblings and the local circuit preacher. It was a simple ceremony followed by a small feast in the back yard of Lizzy’s house, prepared and served by the family’s slaves.

Wiley’s family didn’t own any slaves, so it was a new experience for all of them, and not one his mother enjoyed in the least. She wouldn’t stay out of the kitchen room, anxious to help cook the meal, which she did over Lizzy’s protests. His mother didn’t join the rest of them at the dinner table until Wiley went to the kitchen and physically led her to the table. "Enough,