Toby's Christmas Bride

By Cia Leah

Toby Markham lost his ma and inherited the farm. He needed a wife and ordered a mail order bride.  He chose Bessie because she wrote letters to him of her loving her grandma's farm when she was young.  He decided she was the woman for him and to work along side him to make the farm bigger and better. What he didn't count on, was finding out her pa left her a sizeable inheritance. He was worried that she wouldn't be happy living in a small one room cabin and he couldn't afford to give her a Christmas like she was used to.

Bessie was happy that Toby chose to marry her. She looked forward to their first Christmas together. She didn't care that he was a dirt poor farmer.  She spent her younger years staying with her grandma on her farm. Bessie knew Toby was upset with her because she was a wealthy woman, but she had one more secret she didn't tell him about.  What would she do if the one person she wanted to run away from came to town and caused trouble?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cia Leah
• Release date: Jun 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386401995

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

It was the middle of December and Toby was sweating.  He jerked his hat off his head, and swiped his coat sleeve across his forehead.  He cast a quick glance to his new bride who sat beside him on the buckboard.  She was a pretty woman and seemed easy to get along with, but he figured that out from the letters they wrote to each other.  He just hoped that she'd be satisfied with his place.  It wasn't much, that was for sure, but his small cabin was clean.  When he had enough money saved up, he was going to add on to it.  It would also take longer to do that since he had a surprise waiting for Bessie.  He bought her a horse since she mentioned in her letters that she had always wanted a horse, but living in Boston, her pa said she didn't need one.  He hoped she liked it.

Right there's my place.  Ours now.  I know it doesn't look like much, but I'm young and healthy and together we can make it bigger and better.

It's beautiful out here.  Wide open spaces, it's not noisy with people always milling about, and the air smells crisp and clean.  I love it.

He grinned, pulling the buckboard up to the front of the cabin.  He hopped down and reached up for her.  You must be freezing in that dress.

It's warm except for the top, and the veil around my shoulders has kept me warm.  It's a beautiful winter day and the sun has some warmth to it.

He set her on her feet.  Would you like to change clothes before I show you the surprise I have for you?

I'm eager to see what it is.  Ever since your last letter, I've been wondering what the surprise is.

You wait right here.  I'll go get it.  He ran to the barn, opened the door, and led the horse out of the barn.  He glanced at her to see what her reaction was.  She had her hand on her chest and her dark brown eyes were glued on the horse.  He stepped up to her.  She's yours.  I hope you like her.

Mine?

Yep.  All yours.  He saw her walk up slowly to the horse and pet it.

She's beautiful.

So are you.  Let me take her back to the barn so you can get changed into something warmer.  After supper, we can go for a ride if you want.

I'd love that.  Thank you, Toby.

You're welcome.  He hurried to the barn and ran back to the buckboard.  Let's go into the house.  He took her hand, walked up to the door, opened it, and lifted her up into his arms.  When he stepped through the door, he set her on her feet.  Welcome home, Mrs. Markham."  He kissed her lightly, seeing her cheeks turn red.

Thank you.  She kissed him on the cheek.

Make yourself at home while I get your luggage in here.  The stove should still be warm enough to have kept the coffee warm and I have a pan of cornbread keeping warm in the oven if you are hungry.

I'll wait until I change.

He walked outside and pulled the trunk to the edge of the bed of the buckboard, hefted it up onto his shoulder, and carried it to the house.  Once he had it set down at the foot of their bed, he ran back outside and got her satchel.  That's everything.  While you change, I'm going to take the buckboard to the barn, unhitch the horses, and feed the animals.  It will take me about half an hour or so.

That's fine.

Toby nodded and walked outside.  He hoped she wasn't disappointed in the small cabin, but with it only being the two of them, they should have enough room to live.  If money wasn't so tight, he'd start adding a room now, but the fall crops

Reviews for Toby's Christmas Bride

[Nancy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a cute Christmas short story about a mail order bride who even though she was raised in a big house with servants and has a sizable inheritance, she is happy being a farmers wife and living in a small cabin.