Two Orphans & Their Cowboy Farmers & Ranchers: A Pair of Mail Order Bride Romances

By Beth Overton

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Scullery Maid From London & The Red Headed Farmer In Kansas - An orphaned scullery maid from England decides to take a chance on becoming a mail order bride so she makes the arduous journey by boat, then by wagon train, to Kansas, where she is to be the mail order bride of a farmer with a substantial acreage. Things are going well when suddenly, a large and dangerous hazard tests their ability to survive.

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Overton
• Release date: Feb 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310240140

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.

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Two Orphans & Their Cowboy Farmers & Ranchers: A Pair of Mail Order Bride Romances

By

Beth Overton

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Scullery Maid From London & The Red Headed Farmer In Kansas

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

Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Scullery Maid From London & The Red Headed Farmer In Kansas

Synopsis: Mail Order Bride: Orphaned Scullery Maid From London & The Red Headed Farmer In Kansas - An orphaned scullery maid from England decides to take a chance on becoming a mail order bride so she makes the arduous journey by boat, then by wagon train, to Kansas, where she is to be the mail order bride of a farmer with a substantial acreage. Things are going well when suddenly, a large and dangerous hazard tests their ability to survive.

Alexandria picked up the pail of water that she had been using to scrub the floors with. She was a tall, thin girl of nineteen, and she worked in the SoHo district of London for Lord James Elroy. The job was filled with backbreaking cleaning from daylight until dark, and for her effort she received a few shillings each month and a bed in the attic, plus two meals a day.

She was tired and she desperately wanted to find another way of life. She did not want to be a maid all of her life. Alexandra was headstrong and wanted to live somewhere that was not cramped, dirty, and where the air was not foul smelling.

Her friend Cicely had given her a copy of the Matrimonial Times a few weeks back. Alexandria had read the advertisements that men from the frontier west in the United States had written. All of the advertisements were from men who wanted to find suitable wives. Alexandria had thought this to be a silly thing at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she thought that the idea might just work.

She knew that after the cholera outbreak in 1854 she wanted to get away from London. She had no living family left in London to keep her tied to the city and the past year had been lonely and miserable for her. She did not want to live in quarters so close that people died from dirty water. She dreamed of open expanses of land where one could stand in front of your house and not be able to see another house.

The previous Tuesday, on her afternoon off, she had taken some of her savings and sent a wire to the Matrimonial Times. She sent her own advertisement. It read single white lady, 5’10 weighing eight stone, nineteen years years old, is seeking suitable gentleman for matrimonial purposes. Would prefer gentleman younger than forty years. I am hard working, of average looks, and mild temperament."

Alexandria had been surprised at how much it had cost her to send the telegram and then surprised again that she had to pay to publish her advertisement in the Matrimonial Times. She went each day to her friend’s house to check for responses, even though she knew it would take several weeks before she heard anything.

After about three months had passed Alexandria was delighted to see that someone had answered her advertisement. Cicely was so excited the day that Alexandria received the response that she could barely contain herself. When Alexandria arrived at the little flat that Cicely shared with her parents, the girl was holding the letter in her hand.

Look what came Allie, look what came! Cicely was waving the envelope in the air and trying to hug Alexandria at the same time.

Alexandria took the envelope and carefully opened it. Inside, she found a note from Matrimonial Times and a letter that the magazine had forwarded to her. Matrimonial Times assigned all of their clients who took out ads a number so they did not have to put themselves in danger letting people know their true identities. Alexandria was number 287, and number 196 had responded to her advertisement.

Number 196 had written, "Dear 287, Let me introduce myself. I am William Arthur Stout. I have read your advertisement and I find the description of yourself compelling, and I believe I would like to meet you. I am currently residing in Kansas where I have 640 acres of prime farmland. I am thirty-three years of age, and I am 6’1 and weigh roughly 165 pounds. I work from sun up until sundown six days a week, but I do observe the Sabbath. I do not have the time or the inclination to search for a wife back east because leaving my farm would mean certain ruination.

"I would pay for passage on a ship so you could come to the port of Louisiana and from there you could join with a wagon train headed to Kansas. If you leave England in January of 1856 you should arrive in Louisiana by late February and my friend is leading a wagon train out of Louisiana departing March 3rd 1856. My friend has agreed to take you into his family wagon for the duration of the trip and protect you until you reach my farm in Kansas.

My friend’s name is Captain Bob Harvest, and he will be traveling with his wife and two young daughters. I have taken the liberty of enclosing funds for you to use to book your passage to Louisiana. I look forward to hearing from you and I pray that God keeps and protects you during your journey.

Alexandria sat down at the kitchen table and stared blankly at the wall. She had her response and someone wanted her to come be their mail order bride. She was petrified at the thought of the journey and exhilarated because she had been chosen. She was worried about what the future held, but saddened because she would be leaving her friends and the only home she had ever known. It was not like she was traveling to another township. She would be leaving the country and would not likely ever return to this part of the world again.

What does it say? Alexandria had completely forgotten that her friend Cicely was standing besides her waiting to hear what news the letter had brought.

Alexandria handed her friend the note so she could read it herself, but she said, It says that William Arthur Stout wants me to come to Kansas and be his bride and partner!

Allie, this is the grandest news I’ve ever heard in me life! You are going to travel to America and marry a wealthy farmer. No more floor scrubbing for you, my lady. Cicely stood up and bowed before her friend.

Alexandria looked at her friend. Cicely was genuinely excited for her and Alexandria let her excitement catch on. There is a big problem though, said Alexandria. "If I take William up on this offer I will have to