The Vixen Holiday Bride

By Cia Leah

Clean western mail order bride novelette.

Ryker Dawson ordered a mail order bride thinking he would have the perfect holiday at home with a big Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. What he got was a useless woman who didn't know how to cook, clean, and irritated him to no end. She reminded him of a female fox and had a temper to match. If she didn't straighten up, he was thinking of sending her back where she came from.

Vivian was at a loss tying to make Ryker happy. When she agreed to marry him, and he sent for her, she thought everything would turn out like she planned. It didn't, and Ryker sorely tried her patience. All he wanted was a woman to cook, clean, sew, and help him on the farm. When he brought his grandma home with him to teach her what a wife was supposed to do, she resented it. She really liked Betty, but didn't know if she could do all the things Ryker expected of her. She was determined to try and prayed he wouldn't send her back home. Christmas time was the season for miracles and she hoped the magical holiday brought her the one thing she desired most.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cia Leah
• Release date: Apr 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386596851

Cia Leah

Cia Leah is a multi-published author written in a variety of genres. Her favorite genre to read and write are westerns and historical romances. She successfully completed the Writer's Digest Short Story Course and a creative writing course. She is a member of Romance Divas and highly recommends it and the wealth of knowledge provided on the site for readers and writers. Semi-retired, she writes as time allows due to real life and thanks her readers for their support. At present time, she is writing western short stories, novelettes, and novellas.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Ryker Dawson glared at his wife.  Heck, they'd only been married a week, and he was sorely regretting marrying up with her.  Several times, he wondered why he didn't pick one of the other six ladies who wrote to him instead of her.  He knew why he didn't though.  Yes sir, he surely did.  When she sent him her picture, he fell in love with her beauty.  Her hair was a fiery red, thick, curly, and fell to her small waist.  She reminded him of a fox and she could fight like one too.  She was feisty, wild, sassy, and downright voiced her every opinion whether he or anyone in town liked it or not.

He ran an impatient hand through his hair, pulled out the chair at the head of the table, and sat down.  When will dinner be ready, Vivian?

When I get it done.  I was busy knitting Christmas presents for our friends.

That's fine and I'm happy you care enough to make them something.  Thanksgiving is tomorrow and you don't have any pies made or anything.

"I'm not your slave, Ryker.  I'm your wife.  I don't know why you have to cook pies and a big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving anyway.  Why can't you just have a regular meal?

From the looks of it, I'm not going to have the big turkey dinner I'd hoped for this year either.  I took you to wife, and it is your duty to cook, clean, wash the clothes, and help me when I need it.  He saw her spin around from the stove, with the wooden spoon in her hand.  She shook it at him.

I did clean the house and I have cooked for you.  I haven't washed clothes because it is so cold out, I will freeze to death.

I'll light the fire under the wash pan.  That keeps you warm while you are washing clothes out there.  If you let them pile up, you'll be out there all day and there won't be enough room to hang them up on the lines.  He jumped when she smacked the spoon down on the table inches from where he rested his hand.

Vivian, get my supper ready.  I've worked since dawn this morning and I'm hungry.  You don't have coffee made yet either.  He shoved up from his chair, strode around the table, and grabbed the coffee pot off the stove.  He pumped water into it, added the coffee, and set it on the stove to cook.  What are you making?"

Scrambled eggs.

For supper?  He stared at her.  We have them for breakfast, the noon meal, and again tonight for supper?  Can't you cook something else?  I want some biscuits, gravy, and ham.

If I knew I was coming here to marry a man who wasn't happy with anything I do, I would have stayed where I was.

You didn't have a place to live after your aunt died.  It seems to me, this is better than being out in the street or working in a house of ill repute.

Those men might have treated me better.  I'm stuck out here with no one to talk to, and doing all the house chores and cooking.  I might have had a better life with the other.

He shook his head.  Don't worry about cooking.  I'm going over to my grandma's and bring her here to stay until after Christmas.  Maybe she can talk some sense into you.  I'll be back in the morning.  He turned, walked to the door, strapped on his gunbelt, and shrugged into his coat, and grabbed his hat.  He opened the door and glanced at her.  She stood there staring at him.  If you aren't happy living here with me and doing what a wife is supposed to do, then after New Year's I'll send you back where you came from.  You're no use to me the way you are.  He stepped outside, pulled the door shut, and walked to the barn to hitch up the buggy.  The snow wasn't too deep to make it to town to get his grandma and back.  Heck, he was going to spend the night and bring her out in the morning.  He sure didn't have to return home because of his wife.

He got the horses hitched up to the buggy, and drove it out of the barn.  When he closed the barn door, he glanced at the house.  In a way, he was hoping Vivian would be out there, telling him she was sorry, but she wasn't.  He hopped up onto the seat and drove off.  What a fool he was, just because of a head of red hair and a pretty face.  His foxy lady was as deadly as a rabid fox; Thank