Mail Order Miller: Brides of Beckham, #24

By Kirsten Osbourne

When Doris Miller gets completely fed up with her younger siblings and knows she needs a break, she does the only thing she knows to do. She goes to her sister Elizabeth to ask to be matched as a mail order bride. Doris needs to forget all about her past as a member of the demon horde and go where no one else remembers it either.

This book was previously published in the anthology "Pistols and Poplin."

Harvey Butler knows that his children are terrors. He knows he's not doing the right thing by them since their mother died, but he has no idea what to do with them. Instead, he spends all his time working. When the local busybody writes a letter on his behalf looking for a mail order bride, he isn't certain his troubles will be solved, but he's willing to give it a go. Will Doris Miller be the person to tame the Butler brats? Or will her past make her incapable of becoming a good wife and mother?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unlimited Dreams
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393729457

Book preview

Mail Order Miller

Mail Order Miller

Brides of Beckham

Kirsten Osbourne

Unlimited Dreams

Copyright © 2018 by Kirsten Osbourne

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Untitled

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

About the Author

Also by Kirsten Osbourne

Chapter 1

August 1896 – Salmon, Oregon

Harvey Butler tried not to make eye contact with the old harridan walking toward him. Mrs. Emily Johnson was always trying to stick her nose into his business—always trying to tell him how to raise his kids now that his wife was gone, God bless her soul.

Mr. Butler, I want you to know that I saw your boys outside causing a ruckus this morning! When are you going to do the right thing by your children and get them a new mother? She crossed her arms over her voluminous bosom, glaring at him over the top of her spectacles.

He sighed. I’m not sure if you’ve looked around town lately, Mrs. Johnson, but there aren’t exactly a lot of ladies who want to take on four…delightful children. He’d almost called them wild monsters, but he was afraid Mrs. Johnson would agree with his assessment of his spawn. The girls were fine…sweet even. It was the boys who people took exception with.

Mrs. Johnson tilted her head to one side. If I find you a wife who is capable of taking on those children of yours—you’ll marry her?

I thought all your daughters were married, Mrs. Johnson. Harvey winked at her in a way that he knew she’d find terribly offensive. Some days offending the old biddy was his only form of enjoyment.

As if I’d allow one of my daughters to live with those hellions you call children! She shook her head. No, I aim to send for a mail order bride. Surely someone is desperate enough to take on that brood.

Harvey shrugged. Whatever. Just don’t lie to her. Make sure she knows she’s getting four children—two boys and two girls—who have never behaved a day in their lives. If she comes, I’ll marry her. He turned away from the woman he’d just assigned an impossible task and got back to work. He was the only person working at the sawmill he owned, and he was determined not to get behind.

August 1896 Beckham, Massachusetts

Doris Miller sat in a corner of the living room, staring straight ahead at the wall. She was the oldest female child left at home, which meant it was her job to care for her eight younger siblings. Eight. How many people had eight younger siblings? Especially when they were one of the middle children! She was glad her parents seemed to have stopped having babies every year or so. Any more, and she’d have to rip her hair out.

Normally, Doris was a quiet, unassuming girl. Sure, she’d been involved in some of the pranks the demon horde had perpetuated, but not all of them. Many were done before she was old enough. And really, she hadn’t ever been the one to carry out the tricks on people. No…but many had been her idea. She would sometimes get a dreamy look on her face and say, What if? And all of her siblings would stop what they were doing and listen. If Doris had an idea for a prank, it was worth carrying out!

She’d been in trouble as much as her siblings, but those days were behind her. Now only the youngest seven were in school. She and her twin brother, Darryl, were finished with school, so Darryl was helping their father on the farm, and Doris was watching the children. God help me. Their mother had taken a job in town for a little while to help with the ever-mounting pile of bills that came with raising such a large family.

Doris yawned. She was nineteen. She’d never had a suitor. No one wanted a girl who had once been the brains behind the demon horde. It didn’t matter that she’d changed, that she now worked constantly. She was still notorious in her area, and there was no hope.

She’d thought a young man at church would court her for a little while, but once he realized that she was part of the Miller family…well, it was all over. He’d married Mary Lou Jensen just last week.

Doris quickly brushed a tear from her eye. If the horde saw her crying, they’d know they’d gotten to her, and she would never let herself admit defeat.

Doris? her mother called from the next room. Where are you? Is supper ready?

Doris jumped to her feet, hurrying into the kitchen. Yes, soup is on the stove. There’s a roast in the oven. Mashed potatoes on the stove. I’m going to run into town.

Her mother frowned. Now? But it’s late…

It’s Saturday. I’ll stay at Lizard Breath’s and come home sometime tomorrow. I need a change of scenery, Ma.

All right. Her mother gave her a quick hug. Say hello to your sister and Bernard for me. Are you going to eat first?

Doris shook her head. No, I’m not. I’m going to run up to my room and pack something to wear tomorrow. I’ll see you sometime.

The look her mother gave her told her she completely understood. How could she not? Everyone in the entire county knew the Miller children as the demon horde. No one wanted to be around them. Even her.

Thirty minutes later, Doris was knocking on Elizabeth’s door. When it opened, it was her brother-in-law, Bernard, with her nephew, Benjamin, held against his shoulder. Doris. Come in. Elizabeth is in her office.

Doris nodded, hurrying around Bernard and to her sister’s office. Her sister’s husband was a former Pinkerton man, and though Elizabeth loved him, he made Doris very uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure why.

She didn’t knock on the door of Elizabeth’s office, instead hurrying inside and plopping down on her sofa. I can’t take another day taking care of the demon horde. Do you hear me, Elizabeth? I’m going to snap! May I spend the night?

Elizabeth laughed. My home is your home. What did they do now?

What didn’t they do? The pranks were so much more creative when I was the one thinking them up. Today, they were all fighting amongst themselves. Eggs were thrown. Apples were thrown. I believe it was a rock that broke the kitchen window, but I’m really not certain. I just know I can’t do it anymore!

Elizabeth turned to her desk for a moment, riffling through the letters that were always covering it. Elizabeth was a matchmaker, sending mail order brides West to marry unattached men. She turned and handed Doris a letter without saying a word.

Doris frowned, but read the letter. Her sister obviously thought she’d find it interesting.

Dear hopeful bride,

I’m writing on behalf of Mr. Harvey Butler, a thirty-year-old widower with four children. It’s my opinion that his wife died from utter disgust when she realized what hellions her children were.