Mail Order Bride: Love in the Wind

By Mary L. Briggs

Meet Josie Brentwood. Her father sent her out west from Texas to find a husband. He said that she had out-ridden, out-roped, and out-shot every cowboy in the county, so her best hope was to head west where they were 'desperate for women'.

Feeling a mite insulted, Josie did as her pa said. But finding 'just any' husband was not on Josie's mind. No. If she married, it would be for love. So, saddle up and ride along with Josie as she finds love and adventure in Silver Ridge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary L. Briggs
• Release date: Jun 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463591765

Mary L. Briggs

Mary L. Briggs is a wife, mother, and registered nurse. She enjoys writing inspirational fiction and is also a free-lance writer. She has had two romance stories and one mini-mystery published in Woman's World Magazine. She enjoys reading, writing, studying American history, cooking, quilting, herb gardening, and crafting. Mary lives in a cordwood home in the Ouachita Mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys the company of five cats, a German Shepherd/Border Collie dog, and a flock of chickens.

Book preview

Love in the Wind

By Mary L. Briggs

Smashwords Edition

COPYRIGHT © 2018 Mary L. Briggs

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of 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 1

The hot bacon grease popped and spit, stinging Josie on the chin. She grabbed the damp cotton towel next to her and nursed the spot. She was going to look like a teenager with a broken out face if she couldn’t learn to regulate the temperature correctly.

Wrapping a thick cloth around the handle, she moved the cast iron skillet to the front burner, hoping for less heat. The pork seemed to be cooking fine. Or at least there hadn’t been any complaints from the miners. Inez, owner of the eating establishment, had told her that they inhaled the food so fast, they didn’t know what it tasted like. That might be a good thing, considering her inexperience with cooking.

If nothing else, the men’s ravenous hunger made a menu of fried pork, biscuits, beans, cornbread, and cobbler easy for everyday cooking. And the fact they were happy with it was the important thing. Not to mention the fact that it gave her something to do.

Not that she couldn’t think of more interesting things than cooking and baking for a group of hungry men. Being stuck in a hot kitchen all day was not something she had been dreaming of. She missed the fresh air and wide open range. The wind blowing through her hair, and the sun on her face.

She sighed. Going west had been Pa’s idea. You’ve out roped, out-ridden, and out-shot every cowboy in this here Texas country, gal, he had complained. Nothing to do but try your luck on out in the west. Heard them fellows were desperate for women. Best you go, girl.

Desperate for women? It had seemed like an insult at the time. Yet, here she was.

Not that she’d roped in a husband. She’d had plenty of offers, but none that appealed to her. Living in Inez Pollard’s home and cooking at the restaurant was preferable to a drafty cabin and cooking on an open fireplace for a man she barely knew. Or worse yet, a fire pit located outside. No, she was holding out for something a little better than what she’d been offered, so far. What she was really waiting for was love.

Are those biscuits done? a waitress called into the kitchen.

Biscuits? Oh no! She pulled open the oven door, wrapped the thick towel around the edge of the baking tin and pulled out a pan of browned biscuits. Maybe a little browner than usual, but edible. At least in her estimation of what she’d seen wolfed down the past few weeks.

On their way out, Josie answered, dumping the pan of hot bread onto a platter. Leaving the pork for a moment, she carried the biscuits to the counter separating the dining room from kitchen and left them there.

Back at the stove, she glanced out the window and was instantly transported back home. That fella going down the sidewalk, whoever he was, walked just like Jordan Mays, the neighboring ranch boy she grew up with. And the hat on his head was like one Jordan would wear, too.

She sighed and stirred the meat. Jordan was a nice looking boy, but he’d had no romantic interest in her. He preferred those pretty, frilly girls that lived in town.

So, what’s wrong with me, Lord? she whispered aloud. I was just being myself. And apparently, that had been a mistake. But didn’t men want an honest wife, and not one that put on silly airs? Pa had said that being with all the brides going out to Colorado would help teach her all the things she needed to know about being a lady.

If only Ma had lived. Instead, she had given Pa five boys, then had Josephine and promptly died. It didn’t make sense to Josie what the Lord could have been thinking, but she knew that He knew best. So just give me some sort of clue as to what it is I ought to be doing, Lord.

Were you talking to me? a voice said from behind.

Startled, Josie turned around. Inez, I didn’t hear you come in. So no, I wasn’t talking to you.

The woman laughed. Well, talking to yourself probably won’t get you anywhere.

Josie blushed and kept her face looking down at her cooking. I guess I was half talking to myself and half talking to the Lord.

Talking to the Lord will get you somewhere, Inez grinned, tying a red checked apron around her waist. As long as you listen to what He says back, that is.

Josie shrugged. Sometimes, the trouble is that I can’t really hear Him.

You will if you keep listening.

***

Josie poured coffee into the customer’s cup. He looked up at her with a forlorn expression. Harley Glass had a mine somewhere in the hills around Silver Ridge and came into town about

Reviews for Mail Order Bride

[benn9314 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A way of life in the early west that was normal to everyone