Traveling From East to West In The Name of Love: A Boxed Set of Four Mail Order Bride Romances

By Beth Overton

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Missouri Woman Who Can’t Cook Heads To The Texas Cowboy Rancher Who Loves To Eat - A woman from Missouri loses her mother to a stagecoach accident and reads a letter about mail order brides that her mom had left for her before leaving on her trip. She explores the option further and finally decides on a man -- a cowboy rancher living in Texas. There is only one problem – he loves food and she doesn’t know how to cook.

Mail Order Bride: The One-Handed New York Orphan & The Widower Cowboy In Texas - An orphan from New York discovers a mail order bride poster and decides to correspond with a cowboy rancher in Texas. He replies immediately, with a ticket enclosed, and she has no chance to tell him she lost one of her hands to a childhood accident. He is abrupt with her when he sees it, but takes her out to his ranch to meet his son. She feels it will be an uphill battle to prove herself with both.

Mail Order Bride: The Poor & Pregnant Woman From Boston & Her Mysterious Cowboy Rancher In Texas - A pregnant woman leaves her job at a seedy garment factory in Boston to strike out and become a mail order bride to a rancher in Texas -- or at least, that’s what she thinks until she becomes aware of just how inexperienced he is and what he does on his mysterious out of town trips.

Mail Order Bride: The Little Family Caretaker In Colorado - A young woman tries her hardest to escape the clutches of a woman claiming to be their aunt, who had taken over the family ranch in Colorado when her parents died. She has always looked after her younger siblings and they all plot to escape the harsh woman. Later, she will have the task of arranging marriages for her sisters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Overton
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311999184

Beth Overton

Beth Overton lives in Northern California with her husband and three cats. Besides writing romances, she loves to read everything she can get her hands on, as well as cooking up gourmet delights for her entire family.

Book preview

Traveling From East to West In The Name of Love: A Boxed Set of Four Mail Order Bride Romances

By

Beth Overton

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Missouri Woman Who Can’t Cook Heads To The Texas Cowboy Rancher Who Loves To Eat

Mail Order Bride: The One-Handed New York Orphan & The Widower Cowboy In Texas

Mail Order Bride: The Poor & Pregnant Woman From Boston & Her Mysterious Cowboy Rancher In Texas

Mail Order Bride: The Little Family Caretaker In Colorado

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Missouri Woman Who Can’t Cook Heads To The Texas Cowboy Rancher Who Loves To Eat

Synopsis: Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Missouri Woman Who Can’t Cook Heads To The Texas Cowboy Rancher Who Loves To Eat - A woman from Missouri loses her mother to a stagecoach accident and reads a letter about mail order brides that her mom had left for her before leaving on her trip. She explores the option further and finally decides on a man -- a cowboy rancher living in Texas. There is only one problem – he loves food and she doesn’t know how to cook.

Mom must you really go on this trip? moaned 18 year old Savannah.

She was busy throwing herself around the room trying to be dramatic.

All of these chores are going to drive me crazy and no one to talk to but the dogs.

Savannah’s mom, Bettie Lou, rolled her eyes at her daughter’s antics and finished packing her bags.

Savannah, I will only be gone for a week. You have Mrs. Jean next door if you need anything and you are old enough to stay alone for one week!

Mom, Mrs. Jean cooks horribly and I will be lonely.

Savannah pouted because she knew her mom was going to the city no matter what kind of fit she threw.

"Fine, I will stay but you have to promise to bring me something nice.

Bettie Lou sighed at her daughter’s ability to drive her nuts and remind her how much she was going to miss being at home at the same time.

Savannah, after your dad died, I didn’t know what we were going to do. Now I have met a nice man in the city and before we move there I need to check things out. You will be fine, just stay close to home and do your chores. The week will be over before you know it and we will probably be moving to the city.

Savannah hugged her mom tightly because she knew that her mom was trying hard to make a life for herself and since her daddy had died things had been tough. Savannah knew they were losing the house to taxes and mom didn’t want to tell her. Savannah had read the letters that came in. She knew what her and her mom were facing if this relationship didn’t work out.

Bye Mom. I have everything covered here. Try to have some fun and remember I love you.

Savannah helped her mom to the horse wagon waiting out front that would take her to the train station. From there, the train would take her into the city.

In 1849, the city was the most exciting place Savannah had ever been. Bettie Lou knew that Savannah wanted to go along on this trip, but she was running out of options on how to take care of her daughter.

Her daughter had turned eighteen a few days before and Mrs. Jean had suggested that maybe she should send off Savannah as a mail order bride. Bettie Lou knew Savannah would never do it so she brushed her off but found herself writing the letter anyways. She gave the letter to Mrs. Jean and told her in case of an emergency to send the letter to the publishing company.

I want Savannah taken care of no matter what, Bettie Lou told her.

Then, she walked away from Mrs. Jean’s house without another word.

Bettie Lou kissed her daughter’s forehead and rode away in the carriage to the train station. She gave Savannah a short wave and a happy smile so that her daughter would not cry. Savannah was already crying though. Something felt wrong about this situation and she just couldn’t put her finger on it.

See you in one week! Savannah hollered at the back of the wagon even though she knew her mom was too far away to hear her now.

Savannah walked towards the house that her father had built for her mother. It was a beautiful home, made of logs and cypress. Her mom had decorated it over the years with homemade curtains and pretty lace covers for all of their beds. Savannah lay in her room and stared at the ceiling. She sighed loudly and felt sorry for herself.

What do I do now? Savannah asked herself out loud.

She got off the bed and went into the kitchen where the big stove was still warm from her mom’s dinner.

Her mom had cooked a large pot of soup that would last her for a couple of days in case she didn’t want to cook. Her mom knew she wasn’t that great of a cook so she tried to set her up for the week in meals. She had even baked her some bread for every day of the week.

Savannah walked outside on the porch and sat in her dad’s old rocking chair. She looked at her two dogs Nick and Lottie and sighed.

What do you two dogs want to do this afternoon? Savannah asked the lazy dogs lying on the porch.

Nick raised his head and barked at her.

My thoughts exactly, Savannah replied.

She decided it was a good time for a swim in the creek and she called the dogs to see if they wanted to come. The dogs slowly walked off the porch and followed Savannah to the small creek behind her farm house.

Savannah swam for about an hour and decided that she was cooled off enough to get some sleep. She got out of the creek and headed back to her house with Nick and Lottie in tow. She went in her house about dark and sat down for some of mama’s homemade soup and bread.

Savannah had just lain down in her bed when she heard a commotion outside.

Mama? Savannah called timidly from her bedroom.

The farmhouse was ten miles from town so she knew that mama should be getting to the train station right after dark. Savannah heard the dogs barking and that made her scared. She grabbed her dad’s old black powder rifle and headed for the front door with a lantern in hand.

Mama, Savannah called out again, but no answer came.

She heard boots on the porch and that made her hairs stand up on the back of her neck. That was not mama on the porch. She heard Nick wagging his tail and she knew that someone was petting him behind the ears and it had to be someone he knew. The sound of the wagging tail made her feel some better. Savannah hung the lantern by the front door just as she heard a knock.

Ms. Smith? she heard at the door.

Savannah recognized the voice as Sheriff Dunbar and she quickly tore the door open fearing the worst at why he would be visiting so late.

Sheriff, what’s wrong. What’s the matter with mama? Savannah cried out because she knew this visit meant the worst.

She stood in front of the sheriff in her nightgown and her long golden blonde hair was braided down one side of her head. Her big blue eyes were starting to tear up at the look on Sheriff Dunbar’s face.

The Sheriff hung his head and wrung his old cowboy hat in his hands while he broke the news to young Savannah about her Mom’s stagecoach.

Savannah, I have some bad news. Your mom’s stagecoach was found empty and turned on its side. No one was around it and all of the belongings were strewn all over the ground. I am so sorry but it appears she has been taken by outlaws.

Savannah fell to her knees and cried out in anguish.

How, Savannah screamed, at no one in particular.

She sat on the floor for about twenty minutes crying while Sheriff Dunbar reassured her over and over that he would look for her mom every day until he knew something. The sheriff helped Savannah to her feet and then he asked her if she had anywhere to go so that she was not alone. He let Savannah know that he didn’t feel safe with her being there all alone and he couldn’t come out and check on her every day. Savannah reassured the sheriff that she could stay with Mrs. Jean until her mom was found.

An hour later the sheriff had Savannah packed up and her two dogs were taken a half a mile down the road to Mrs. Jean’s house. Mrs. Jean answered the door looking confused and upset.

What’s going on Savannah? What has happened?

Mrs. Jean grabbed Savannah in her arms as the girl collapsed in tears.

Savannah, baby, what has happened?

Sheriff Dunbar filled Mrs. Jean in on what had happened to Bettie Lou’s stagecoach and Mrs. Jean started to shake.

Oh that poor dear, and what about Savannah?

Mrs. Jean went to put some coffee on the stove and turned to Sheriff Dunbar with a sad look on her face.

Sheriff, I have something to tell you. Savannah’s mom gave me a letter for the publisher of the mail order bride magazine. She told me if anything happened to her to send this to them and make sure Savannah is taken care of.

Mrs. Jean handed the letter to the sheriff.

Sheriff Dunbar opened the letter and read it, shaking his head. He felt like Savannah was his responsibility since her father had died and her mother was missing.

I will give this letter to the publisher myself Mrs. Jean. I will take responsibility for this. You just make sure Savannah stays safe until we hear a response from them.

With that, Sheriff Dunbar excused himself and left back for town.

The next week for Savannah was the longest in her life. She kept waiting for any word on her mom or from Sheriff Dunbar. Mrs. Jean was great but nothing could fill the hole this loss had left in her heart.

Mrs. Jean what is going to happen to me if Mom does not return, Savannah finally asked after two weeks of waiting patiently.

Mrs. Jean took the young girl by the hand and sat her in an old chair in the living room.

My dear, I feel like I should tell you something.

Mrs. Jean filled her in on her mom’s plan and what Sheriff Dunbar had said right before he left.

Savannah sat there in silence for a long time with a strange look on her face.

Finally, Savannah told her, I am ready. If this is what my mom felt best then I am ready to move on. I can’t stand staying here waiting any longer. My mom may never return and if she does I will leave letters for her to come to me.

Savannah abruptly stood up and went to her room. Mrs. Jean sat there wondering what the young lady must be feeling inside. The next day she would send for the sheriff and see what she needed to do. She knew the girl was right. She could not wait forever for her mom to return. Bettie Lou had been specific about what to do if she didn’t return and Mrs. Jean was going to follow her wishes.

The sheriff appeared the next day with some different brochures for Savannah to go through. They all contained men that were in search of mail order brides. Savannah, Sheriff Dunbar, and Mrs. Jean all looked at the different men and the places they lived. Some they laughed at and some were put in a pile of maybes. Savannah had a huge decision to make and she was not going to take it lightly.

After three days she had culled out all but two of the acceptable men. One owned a cattle ranch in Texas in a place called Beaumont and one was right here in St. Louis, Missouri. She was confused as to which one to choose.

Sheriff Dunbar came the next day and took a look at the two choices. He sat Savannah down and told her the hard truth.

Savannah, the guy in St. Louis was the one your mom was going to meet. I do not think that choice is right for you. Go to Texas, if I ever find your mom I will send her to you I promise.

Savannah thought about this for a few minutes and she looked at the sheriff and told him

Ok but I know nothing about being a wife on my own.

The sheriff called Mrs. Jean to the side and told her it was time to prepare the young girl for a life of being a wife.

Savannah wrote to the man who turned out to be twenty-eight and rough around the edges. He was 6 ft. 2 inches with straight black hair and dark skin. He was actually very handsome but came from a small town where everyone was already taken and he needed a wife because he was all alone on the farm and needed help.

The man named Cole wanted to meet her as soon as she was ready and was anxious to find out how they could get along. Savannah was nervous though because she could not cook at all. How was she going to make a great wife when she could not cook?

Mrs. Jean tried to give Savannah a crash course in making soups and gravies but the poor girl was just no good at it. Mrs. Jean prayed the man was forgiving and would be able to overlook this small detail because Savannah was so very beautiful, and vulnerable at the moment.

After almost a year of no word about her mom and talking to Cole, Savannah decided it was time to move to Texas. This would be a very long trip and she would have to take a