Mail Order Bride Philomena: Brides of Montana, #3

By Kate Whitsby

The McGuire Family cattle drive winds through the desolate tracts of Montana. Mail-order brides Irene and Audrey prove themselves strong and capable to meet the challenges of the journey. But what about Philly? Is she destined to languish in the same domestic drudgery she left behind in Long Island? Or does she, too, have the spirit and tenacity to take her own place on the Frontier?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gold Crown Publishing
• Release date: Apr 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386091332

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KATE WHITSBY

Mail Order Bride Philomena

Brides Of Montana: Book 3

Dedication

To YOU, The reader.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your emails.

Thank you for your reviews.

Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Connect With Kate

Copyright

Chapter 1

Four horseback riders circled behind a cattle herd to keep them moving down the road toward Helena, Montana. They waved their whips and called out to the stock. A covered wagon toddled after at a distance.

Philly gazed out through the wagon opening over Irene's shoulder. Her husband Joel sat in his saddle by the side of the road, observing the passing stock through squinted eyes. His hat shaded his eyes, and he glanced back once toward the wagon.

Philly's heart fluttered. Did he see her? He couldn't. She sat on the floor of the wagon box under the cover. He could only see Irene in the driver's seat.

Joel carried his left arm tied in a sling over his chest. The bullet wound in his shoulder didn't hurt anymore, but he still moved slowly. He groaned when he got into his blankets at night, and he couldn't use his arm at all.

Owen, Joel's father, couldn't move well, either. He still coughed and wheezed from his illness, and he usually ate supper in his bedroll. His wife, Audrey, took his plate to him each evening, and she took him a cup of coffee in bed in the morning before he got up for breakfast.

Of the three men, Jack McGuire, Joel's grandfather and Owen's father, made the decisions and gave the orders on the cattle drive. Even he wasn't in perfect shape, though. His fall from his horse on the second day of the cattle drive slowed him down a lot. He still rubbed his neck from time to time.

His wife, Irene, looked sideways at him when he did. Like Joel, he never admitted his back hurt and he never stopped working. But everyone knew it still bothered him.

Audrey did the most strenuous work on the herd. Every time their journey called for heavy work or hard riding, Audrey stepped in. None of the men could do as much as she could. Philly stared at her in astonishment every time she did.

Audrey glowed with the pride of her accomplishments. She found a base of determination within herself since the cattle drive began. A sense of purpose and confidence filled everything she did. Philly could never get that for herself, not hanging back in the chuck wagon all the time the way she did.

Irene called back over her shoulder. They're turning off. We'll make camp for the night.

Philly sighed. Another night, another supper, another fire. It's all the same as the last two and a half weeks.

What's wrong? Irene asked. Don't you want to stop for the night? I'm pooped.

I wish this cattle drive was over, Philly told her. Two and a half weeks never went by so slowly. I almost wish we'd never come.

What? Irene cried. And stay home by ourselves for three weeks while our new husbands went off alone? You're crazy!

Maybe, Philly admitted. But we'd be sitting by our own fire at Fiddler's Green instead of dragging all over the countryside.

If we hadn't come on this cattle drive, Irene reminded her these three men would be dead right now and the three of us would be widows. We'd be sitting around the fire at Fiddler's Green wondering what happened to them, and we would never find out. Their bodies would be lying in some ditch somewhere, and we would be alone.

I know, Philly replied. I'm just ready for this drive to be over.

To tell you the truth, I am, too, Irene told her.

Philly gasped. You are?

Sure, Irene replied. Couldn't you tell?

You and Audrey seem so strong and capable compared to me, Philly complained. I wish I could be like you.

What for? Irene shot back. You're perfect the way you are.

Philly shook her head. I'm not much more than a cook. I've worked as a domestic servant all my seventeen years before becoming a mail-order bride. I thought I'd do more than that in Montana. But I haven't yet.

You will, Irene told her. You just have to find your way.

I wish I could rise to the challenge of the Western Frontier the way Audrey has, Philly exclaimed. I would give anything to get you and the men to look at me with the same admiration you give Audrey.

Irene shook her head, but didn't turn around. You're just as good as she is, and the work you're doing on this cattle drive is just as important as hers. We're all depending on you.

But she's so strong, Philly countered.

She might be strong, Irene replied, but she's tired, too. So are the men. They're tired and hurting. They need to rest. All of us do.

Joel says we're only a few days out of Helena, Philly remarked. If we can only get there without anymore mishaps, we'll be all right.

Irene gazed toward the horizon. I have a good feeling about this. I think we'll get there just fine.

She turned the wagon off the road and parked near a little creek under the trees. Philly unpacked the supplies for supper. Irene unhitched Pancho, the wagon horse, and took him down to the water side to graze on his picket line. Then she came back and did the same for the two other horses tied to the back of the wagon.

While she was gone, Joel trotted up. Are you all right there, Missy? he called down.

Philly laughed up at him. What are you doing here? You should be out with the others, not sloping off here.

You're getting mighty proud in the mouth here lately, Joel joked. The cattle are all taken care of. The others are on their way in now, too. I'm just on my way to see to my horse. Then I'll come in for supper.

Well, get to it, Philly ordered. I won't have any shirkers on my watch.

Joel tugged at his hat brim. Yes, Ma'am. He trotted away to the same grassy knoll where Irene left Pancho.

Before long, the family sat around the fire while Philly roasted a haunch of beef for supper. she peered at their faces while she moved through her chores. Irene was right. Everyone of them looked haggard and worn, especially the men.

If only they could hold out a few more days, the cattle drive would be over. Then they could all go home and relax for the rest of the winter.

Philly turned to Audrey. How's that horse working out for you?

Audrey smiled. Anything to do with horses made her happy. He's great. He's the best horse I ever had—after Pancho, of course.

It just goes to show, Irene remarked, you can't judge a horse by its rider.

Audrey laughed. The man we got him from was so rotten. He tried to kill us all and steal our cattle and our wagon. And here I am riding his horse.

It's a good thing we got those horses, Jack put in. We needed you to help us. I don't know how we would have done it without you.

Audrey swelled up with pride, but Philly only turned away.

Chapter 2

Joel took hold of Philly's wrist and pulled her down onto their bedroll. Where have you been all my life?

Philly laughed and swatted him. Isn't your arm hurting too much for that?

Joel scoffed at her. I don't need my arm for that.

She let him pull her down on top of him. You're supposed to be recovering from a gunshot wound.

I am. He hooked his arm around her waist. You're helping me recover. Can't you tell?

Philly lowered her mouth over his and tasted the sweat and dust on his lips. The salty gravy from supper mingled with it, too. She tasted all the essences of his being in his kiss.

But something else tugged at her mind. You men are sure happy with Audrey around.

What's not to be happy about? he asked. This cattle drive would have been a dud without her.

I'm just saying, Philly continued. Every time you talk to her, you tell her who wonderful she is.

Joel cocked an eyebrow at her. What's bothering you? Are we talking about Audrey, or are we talking about something else?

What's so great about Audrey? Philly grumbled. Why do you have to praise her to the skies every time she comes around?

I'm not praising her to the skies, Joel replied. Here I thought we were going to have a nice time together, and you're talking about Audrey. Or maybe you're not.

I sure wish you'd talk to me like that sometime, she muttered.

Joel snapped his mouth closed and smiled at her. Oh, I see now.

See what? she asked.

Listen, darlin', he replied. This cattle drive would have been a dud without you, too. It would have been a dud without each one of you. All three of you have done incredible things, keeping this cattle drive going. We wouldn't be going now if it wasn't for you.

I haven't done anything, she countered. All I've done is cook.

That's something, isn't it? he asked.

Anyone could have done it, she replied. Irene could have done it just as well.

Audrey couldn't, Joel pointed out. I get the feeling she couldn't have done as good a job of cooking and keeping camp as you. Just remember that anytime anyone praises her to the skies.

Still, she mumbled.

Joel sighed. He moved over, so Philly slipped down next to him on the bedroll. He took his arm out from behind her back and propped it under his head. He tried to be casual about it, but she couldn't help but notice the change. They wouldn't enjoy themselves that way, not tonight. The moment had passed.

Why don't you ask Audrey to teach you how to ride a horse? Joel suggested. If you did, you could help out with the cattle, too. Then she wouldn't have anything over on you.

Philly shook her head. She already offered.

"So why don't you