A Remarkable Life

By Doreen Milstead

A Well-Off Widow & Her Colorado Rancher - A destitute but formerly well-off widow decides to become a mail order bride to a rancher in Colorado – a man who is known to a neighbor and friend. With the memories of her late husband still fresh in her mind, she wonders how she can survive the daily life she is about to face, or even if she will survive and find love.

Alice’s Many Children - This is an incredibly moving story about love; love for people of another race, love for children with special needs, and love between a man and a woman--a surprise mail order bride--who can give nothing but kindness to all who surround them.

Starving For Love & Saved By The Stranger - What if you were losing your sight, had to work or starve, and the job you did was making you go blind? This dilemma faces a starving young woman in Victorian England, and when she is making her way home one evening a stranger tries to grab her purse, which holds a few meager coins. A man comes to her aid and although she cannot see his face, she thinks he is her guardian angel. He insists on looking after her and she reluctantly agrees, but she hears whispers from people as they pass in the night, and thinks they are about her. What develops is a mutual love; until one day in the park, the kind stranger vanishes.

Lonely Crippled Thomas & His Surprise Mail Order Bride - Thomas lives virtually alone in his house in Pennsylvania with only his cousin to look after him. His legs were damaged in a railway accident and the only way he can get around his house is by crawling, or by means of an awkward chaise lounge and prototype wheelchair that his cousin pushes. He loses his faith and reads only controversial books, and his neighbors begin to despise him.

His neighbors threaten to boot him out and he hasn’t been in the company of a lady for a long time. One day, Thomas’ cousin puts an ad in for a mail order bride and to Thomas’ utter surprise, one shows up from California a few weeks later. He is stunned, as is she, when they both learn about the deception. Thomas thinks the woman will despise him because of his crippled legs, while she, on the other hand, believes the same thing about her own physical disability.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Jan 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370845125

Book preview

A Remarkable Life

By

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2017 Susan Hart

Partial cover photo copyright: miss_j / 123RF Stock Photo

Partial cover photo copyright: alanpoulson / 123RF Stock Photo

A Well-Off Widow & Her Colorado Rancher

Alice’s Many Children

Starving For Love & Saved By The Stranger

Lonely Crippled Thomas & His Surprise Mail Order Bride

A Well-Off Widow & Her Colorado Rancher

Synopsis: A Well-Off Widow & Her Colorado Rancher - A destitute but formerly well-off widow decides to become a mail order bride to a rancher in Colorado – a man who is known to a neighbor and friend. With the memories of her late husband still fresh in her mind, she wonders how she can survive the daily life she is about to face, or even if she will survive and find love.

Lydia held her tears back until the moment she’d entered her bedroom, closing the door behind herself. She’d managed to tell Effie, her beloved maid, to please leave her for the night. I’ll undress myself, Effie. Effie had nodded, silently, her sweet, aged face full of pain for her mistress. Effie had been sitting quietly in the corner of the library as Lydia received the news from the lawyer.

It was the news that made Lydia feel as if she was collapsing completely inward, as if her entire life was crumbling around her that lonely night in 1876. She allowed a few tears to fall and then she wiped them angrily away. She’d never been the crying type, her mother had taught her strength, quiet efficiency, nobility. She was a Walker of the Boston Walkers, her father came from an old family and old money. Unfortunately, most of that money had been gambled away on misguided investments by the time Lydia Walker; the belle of Boston had been ready to marry.

It had been her duty to find a husband who could replenish the family coffers, and her mother had made it very clear that this was her expectation. She’d thrown every eligible bachelor of significant means into her daughter’s path, but Lydia had hated every single man that her mother suggested. Luckily, Lydia had met Jonas Green, a man who met all the criteria her mother asked for in a son-in-law: Wealthy with new money, securely landed with a large estate, well-mannered, and without much family who might advise him against marrying a cash-poor bride of a once-prosperous family.

Truly, Lydia would have married him even if she hadn’t fallen in love. It was her good fortune that Jonas had also been kind, strong, hard working and loyal. He was sweet and good, and she had loved him until the day he died.

Poor Jonas, she thought sorrowfully, not for the first time. Jonas had been overseeing the construction of a new building when a horse had been spooked by the sound of lumber falling off a wagon. The horse had broken loose and bolted into the partially finished framework of the house. Being surrounded by lumber beans and men closing in around it had scared the poor animal even more, and it had kicked wildly. Several men were injured.

Jonas was the only one hurt badly enough to die.

And as if the news of her husband’s death hadn’t been enough to destroy her, the lawyer had arrived that afternoon with news that was infinitely worse.

Jonas had indeed been very well off. But, not quite as well off as Lydia had thought. And apparently, he’d been unable to tell her no.

He’d mortgaged the huge estate in order to afford the ridiculously lavish wedding that she’d demanded from him. In retrospect, Lydia knew she would have never asked for the team of white horses to transport her to the church, the handmade dress from Paris with yards and yards of convent-made lace, the full orchestra, or the three-month honeymoon if she’d known that he had mortgaged the estate to get those things.

But he hadn’t told her that any of it was causing financial struggle, he’d simply arranged for her to have those things. He had never suggested that she hold back on her spending, he’d never suggested that she deny herself anything. As you wish, he would say, or Of course you may, darling, every time she asked for something, no matter how frivolous it was.

Now she scanned the bedroom. She’d demanded this new furniture from him as well, the wardrobe in the closet, everything. Her lifestyle had been the cause for her current situation, she realized.

Destitute. I have nothing.

The mortgage was astronomical, there would be no way for her to ever pay it back. Jonas could have paid it back, and she knew he would have, with the salary he made running the most successful construction company in Boston. But by herself, it was impossible, absolutely impossible.

What am I going to do?

In despair, she collapsed into the huge, luxurious bed without even taking off her stays. She cried herself to sleep.

In the morning, the bright sunshine warming her body finally stirred her from her fitful sleep. Her eyes opened slowly and she saw her closet, the door standing open. She gazed at the long row of beautiful clothes, stopping on the gigantic white garment bag that held her wedding dress. It was worth hundreds, she knew, and it was in perfect condition.

Slowly, a plan began to form in her mind.

I can sell the dress, she thought, a pang of heartache ripping at her. She’d had images of her own daughter wearing the dress someday.

I will sell the dress. The money can keep me going for a few months.

Then what?

She put her feet down on the plush carpet and walked to the closet, undoing the ties of white cotton so that she could see her dress. She ran her fingers over the impossibly intricate lace that several nuns must have toiled over for months.

Sell the dress, then what? I’ll have to remarry. I have no other options. I can either make mortgage payments or leave. The payments are too high for me. Perhaps I could find a renter for the house, and allow Mr. Wright next door to manage the property for me. I could simply tell everyone that the house held too many memories and go….

Where?

Her mother’s house wasn’t an option, she thought, frustrated. They would only be constantly urging her to remarry, pushing her towards some of the disgusting old suitors that she’d rejected before she’d finally met Jonas. And her choices would be even more limited now that she was a widow with debt. She racked her brain and came up with nothing.

It doesn’t matter, I know the first steps to take, and I can figure out the rest as I go. I’ll just have to have faith that God will show me the next steps.

She walked to the bell ringer near her bed, pulling the thick red velvet rope. Effie arrived moments later.

Yes, Mrs. Green, she said when she opened the door. As always when Effie was with her, Lydia felt instantly stronger. Effie had been a maid to her since she was a teenager at her first coming out, she’d guided her away from men who would have made terrible husbands and eventually advised her to marry Jonas. Lydia loved Effie, relied on her and trusted her fully.

Effie, she said. I need you to dress me in my best walking outfit. We’re going to the market this morning, but first we need to stop at Turner Hill’s.

Turner Hill’s ma’am?

Yes, Lydia said, her voice hard, her eyes on fire. She wanted to make it clear to Effie that there would be no arguing this. Turner Hill’s was the local resale shop, where she would be able to sell her dress and walk away with cash. It wouldn’t do for her to be seen there, of course, so she’d have to trust Effie to go in with the dress and get a good price.

As usual, her trust in Effie was not misplaced. She came out of the seedy shop without a dress and with $400 in her pocket. That would be enough to tide them over.

Thank you Effie, Lydia said, when Effie met her in the fabric shop across the street.

Of course, Effie said, I just hope you won’t regret it terribly one day, ma’am.

I already do…

We must do what we must, Lydia said, forcing herself to sound flippant even as her fingers recalled each curve of the delicate lace and the smooth sheen of satin. She sighed and turned to the counter. And now, I must speak to the dressmaker.

Now, she said, turning to Effie. Please go home, and I will drop in to see Mr. Wright. Effie obliged and soon Lydia found herself on the doorstep of her kindly neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Wright. They were several years older than Lydia, and had always been kind to her and Jonas.

The butler showed her into Mr. Wright’s office and she waited for a few minutes for him.

Lydia, he said, holding his hands out to her as he walked into the rom. What a pleasure this is. How are you, my dear?

I am getting through each day, Mr. Wright, she said, respectfully. But I must admit, living in that house is a hardship for me.

I’m sorry to hear that, he said, indicating for her to be seated. He sat opposite her, waiting patiently for her to continue.

I believe that I will move away, Lydia said, trying to sound as if this was simply an emotional decision, not a financial one. There are too many memories in the house, and I think I’ll be happier living in my mother’s home than I will be living alone. She hoped he wouldn’t see the telltale signs of lying in her eyes when she said that she wanted to live with her mother.

He was quiet, listening politely.

The only problem is that I’m not sure Effie can come with me. I’d like her to have another position before I simply drop her. I would hate to cause her a hardship.

I see, he said, sitting back in his seat. I think that we would have a place for her, if that would be satisfactory.

A huge sigh of relief escaped her lips, and Mr. Wright’s keen eyes missed nothing. Thank you, sir. That does sound satisfactory.

Lydia stood, preparing to go. His hard, confident voice stopped her. Lydia, I can’t allow you to go live with your mother.

I’m sorry?

You don’t want to do that, I can tell. And I have a suggestion that will work much better.

Lydia sat down, feeling almost dazed as Mr. Wright told her his plan. He had a brother in Colorado, a brother who needed a wife. He was a ranch owner, and quite successful at it. This brother, whose name was Sterling Wright, lived a primitive lifestyle, didn’t have time to entertain people, didn’t live the comfortable lifestyle that he could afford.

A woman’s touch, that’s exactly what he needs, Mr. Wright said. Sterling needs you, and you need him. I would be happy to pay for your train ticket, it’s clear that you are in financial trouble.

She looked down at the toes of her shoes properly peeking out just an inch from her flowing skirts.

Somehow, despite her act, Mr. Wright had assessed the situation completely. It’s pointless