Courageous Mail Order Brides (A Western Romance Book)

By Faye Sonja

Three inspirational stories of women who risked everything for love and traveled thousands of miles to the western frontier.

Part 1 The Poor and Widowed Bride for Two Suitors

When Jane's husband died, leaving her widowed with their three year old daughter, she was to find that life was going to get a whole lot harder.

She needed a man to look after her and her daughter…

Part 2: The Damaged Cowboy's Spinster Bride

When Alex finds herself unemployed, she knows she has to do something about her life. At thirty-two and unmarried, unemployed and lonely, she must make some serious changes in her life- to become a mail order bride.

What would this new life bring her?

Part 3: The Broken Bride & Her Lost Babies

For the last year of her life Kate has watched the strange love her best friend had with his mail order bride bloom into something beautiful…

The truth was that she had searched for it in her hometown and had not even come close to finding it for one obvious reason - She is half-blind…

But even so would she get this lucky to get married just like her friend, too?

3 parts of heartwarming mail order brides tales of love, romance, and triumph over adversity in one book.

Love on the western frontier was a rare treasure. Follow these inspirational women who risked everything to travel to the untamed West in the hopes of finding love and starting a new family.

If you're a fan of clean western romance, you will love this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faye Sonja
• Release date: Feb 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393501299

Faye Sonja

Faye Sonja is a multi-voiced writer who aspires to use different voices in telling her stories, seeing characters coming alive through the multi-faceted writing styles give her great satisfaction. As a young girl, Faye Sonja has been fascinated with stories of the Old West, especially the theme of Mail Order Bride where a woman will find the courage to leave her homeland, take the plunge to seek out the love of her life out there in the unknown land. Such an act requires bravery, such an act requires faith. It takes a woman with strong Christian faith to step out on such a pursuit for her love. It is Faye's desire that readers will once again have the courage to believe in love again from reading her books, to be inspired through the characters in her story who through perseverance, in the face of obstacles, overcame the hurdles using that simple faith and belief of theirs. 

Book preview

PART 1

The Poor and Widowed Bride for Two Suitors

Prologue

*   *   *

Rock County, Minnesota,

February 1903

The sound of the horses hooves hurrying towards the cottage nestled on the side of the hill was enough to jolt Jane from her bed. Nothing ever disturbed the peace and quiet of the hillside she had chosen as home when John had come home from the war. It was exactly why when he had told her to choose where they would live that she had chosen these hills on the border of South Dakota. Growing up in town, she had always dreamt of the beauty of life surrounded by the mystery of the forest and that was exactly what she had gotten- peace and quiet and a world she explored endlessly in the early days of her marriage, and continued to do so, even after the birth of their daughter, Jemma.

Mama! Mama! Jemma called to her from the doorway.

Hush now my love, she said jumping out of bed and picking her child up in her arms. What is all the racket about?

The answer to that question came in a loud knock on her door and her heart stopped beating for a moment. She had heard the stories of the Indians in this area. She had been told they could be quite volatile and her friend Alex had worried about her living up there by herself when her husband was away. Her husband, John was a Marshall, and so often, he was off riding across country on duties that took him away from his home and the warmth of the bed she kept waiting for him.

People, Mama. Lots of them! Jemma said. The child’s voice went up a few decibels as she told her mother what waited on the outside of the house, but even then Jane knew that her daughter was not excited, but afraid.

Shhhh... let’s go see what they want, she smiled at her and pulled a robe on.

The brisk cold air of February greeted her as she pulled the door open and she could see why Jemma was so frightened. These weren’t just people, they were soldiers. Seems the whole battalion was now prancing around in her yard and she had no idea what all the fuss was about.

May I help you? she asked the horseman closest to her as she took a tentative step down the stairs. Jemma clung to the tail of her robe as if her life depended on it.

Are you Mrs. Jones? his gruff voice was abrasive to her ear as he spoke.

I am. What is the matter?

The soldier dressed in battle garb took one look at her and then her child before turning away. Get dressed. You need to accompany me to town.

He did not wait to see if she complied, but instead rode off and she was left hesitant with the nature of his orders. It was clear that whoever he was, he certainly wasn’t one to wait around to see if the orders he had handed down were being carried out. As she watched him and a few others ride away, a carriage made its way up the path that led to her humble cottage. That instantly eliminated the need for her to question how she would take her child along with her.

You must hurry ma'am, a young soldier with sadness in his eyes said to her.

She did as he said, rushing into the house and getting her and Jemma together, while the little child never ceased with her many questions.

Are we in trouble, mama? Jemma asked as she bundled her into the thick wool jacket and led her out the door.

She kissed her atop the head as the sad soldier led them to the carriage. I hope not sweetie. I hope not.

Jemma didn't look too convinced that all would be well, and she only continued with her questions as they were rushed down the mountainside and into town. When the carriage pulled up outside the doctor's house she knew without being told what would greet her inside.

Jane! Her best friend Alex called to her as she entered. They embraced quickly and she could see Alex trying to brush away her tears.

What's going on?

Alex looked at Jemma whose big grey eyes were staring up at her. All the excitement was just too much for the small child, trying to figure out what was going on. Well... her mother had an idea of what it was. For only one reason would the soldiers have rushed her to the house where people often came to die.

I am so sorry, Alex whispered hugging her again.

No! Jane cried, clamping a hand over her lips as she looked towards the door where two soldiers stood guard.

Mama, what's wrong? Jemma asked her. She couldn't find the words to answer her child and as Alex pried the toddler from her hold on her mother's leg, Jane walked towards the door.

The soldiers slowly opened it for her and the smell of blood was the first to greet her nostrils before her eyes even registered the motionless body of the man she loved. His bloody clothes had been removed and placed in a huddle in the corner of the room and he had been draped in the white cloth of death.

She walked as if in a dream to the side of his bed and no words left her lips. She wanted to scream for him to wake up, but could not find the words or the strength, so she collapsed by his bedside and cried. For what seemed like hours she did nothing but cry and when Alex shook her shoulder, urging her to go get some rest, Jane didn’t have the energy to protest.

On that cold winter's day her life had changed. She had always known the struggles of his job and the dangers that came with it, but never had she thought her husband would be taken from her so soon. She had dreamt of them growing old together and she had made plans for their future. Clearly that was not to be.

Papa? Jemma asked her as the little girl glanced through the closing door at the lifeless body of the man who had tickled her into hiccups and thrown her high in the air in glee.

He is sleeping my love, she said, trying to hold her tears back.

Wake him! It's time to go home.

She lifted her daughter into her arms not sure how to explain the situation.

I can’t my love. Papa is with God and we will see him again someday.

Jemma's lips quivered at the thought of never seeing her Papa again, and Jane held her close, holding back even more tears.

I will come stay with you as long as you want, Alex volunteered selflessly, and just like that Jane walked out of the house and into a life she had never thought she would have to live.

A life of hardship.

*   *   *

1

*   *   *

6 months later

Another day, another dollar was the general thought going through Jane’s head even as she wiped the table tops clean. She was beginning to get tired of wiping people’s floors and washing dirty dishes, but in such a small town, she was lucky to even have a job. The one thing she was grateful for was that though hers wasn’t the only mouth she had to feed, she had a daughter who made all the troubles she went through seem worth it. That didn’t make things any easier for her though. Not even in the smallest bit. In fact, she found it difficult to make ends meet, but to know Jemma was okay even after the death of her father was enough for her to keep going.

Hello! one of her grumpy customers hollered at her. I ordered coffee five minutes ago. Where is it?

She bit her tongue and forced a smile. My apologies. It’s coming right up!

She hustled to the counter and waited on the bartender to move from one end of the bar to the next to serve the coffee she had ordered. He paid no attention to the fact that he needed to hustle. She wanted to shout at him to speed up, but knew it would do no good, so she settled for rubbing her temples and thought of a better place. Every so often she wondered why in heavens name people were afraid of dying. Death was not the problem, it is life that gave people so many heartaches. The bell on the door rang, signalling the arrival of a new customer and she turned and watched the tall man walk in.

Hi, do you have any free tables, the man asked her. He was dressed like he should be dining in the Governor’s mansion and it begged the question of why he was there. He looked vaguely familiar, but then again she had been working this job so long that everybody was starting to look alike.

Ahhh, yes, she said and pointed to an empty table to the back of the diner. It wasn’t ideal, being that it was right around the corner from the server’s station, but he didn’t seem to care. She watched him walk away and thought of how gorgeous he was. He definitely took care of himself and a quick glance at his ring finger told her he was single. How she had longed for a man like that, but those types didn’t look at women like her who mopped floors and washed dishes for a living.

The struggle was real...

She glanced at her pocket watch as the bartender finally brought her the coffee. She had a break in a few minutes and she was going to walk as slowly as possible to the seething man with his coffee, so by the time she served him, she could take her much needed break.

Jane! Ryan, the other server called to her from the kitchen door. He pointed to his watch and she ignored him. He was the head server, some inflated position designed to make the worker bees feel like they were actually aspiring for greatness. She wasn’t fooled by the very capitalistic position. She had been saving for nearly a year to get out of this dump, and she was not going to stay long enough for a head strong, head server to make much of a difference.

Here you go sir, she mustered up a smile and placed the coffee cup in front of the man who was going bald, but his face didn’t match up to a man of balding age. Maybe it was all that grumpiness that was eating away at his hairline?

About time, he muttered. Service in this place gets worse every time I come here. I need to make an official complaint.

She couldn’t resist. You can take up any issue you like with Ryan over there, she said with a bright smile pointing to the head server standing at the counter. To make her point clear, she even smiled as she pointed at Ryan, hoping he would just do his job and appease the man.

Hello, the man in the million dollar suit said to her as she passed him. Can I place an order?

He had manners and so she wouldn’t be mean. Just a minute I will get someone to serve you, she said.

He nodded his thanks and went back to the menu. His intense stare told her that he was either clearly hungry, or troubled by something. She hesitated in walking away realizing somehow that it was more the latter than the former. It made her want to ask him what was wrong, but her empathetic ways had only ever caused her problems so she decided against it.

Ryan, there is a man right by the door needing to be served, she said to him as she walked through the kitchen and out the backdoor, not waiting to hear his response.

The warm summer air greeted her and she smiled, taking a moment to close her eyes and inhale. When she was able she wanted nothing more than to move to someplace else. After John’s death she had had to give up the peaceful little cottage in the hills for the flat lands where she could scrape together what little work she could to keep food on her table.  Nature gave her a kind of zest to live, but here in the crowded and bustling neighborhoods of Rock County, nature was torn away from her senses by the hustle and bustle and the stench of garbage and dirt in the air. In the distance an annoying dog barked constantly, and a woman screamed curses for him to keep quiet in a voice that would peel the paint off the walls.

She sighed and wished for the weekend to draw close where she would disappear to her cottage for two days of peace and quiet. It made her wonder why in heaven’s name the white man in the expensive suit, who looked, spoke and smelled like money would ever find himself in a place such as this.

One of life’s many inexplicable paradoxes no doubt. She took a walk down to the train tracks that ran behind the diner and sat on the edge listening to the train that approached off in the distance. Someday she was going to hop on one of them and ride it away from this misery that had become her life.

Dreaming again? Alex asked from behind her and she all but jumped out of her skin. She had been so lost in thought she had not heard the woman approaching with her daughter, Jemma.

We brought you pie, Mama! Jemma said with such glee, handing it over to her mother with a smile.

Can you watch her while I go by the inn tonight and do a load of wash? She asked Alex who had become a savior to her.

Sure! We will go see Daisy, Alex said referring to the governor's daughter who was always happy for a playmate up in the big mansion.

Alex had landed the job of a lifetime as caregiver to the little girl, but luckily, the governor and his wife were doting parents who spent evenings and weekends with their child. This gave Alex free time to watch Jemma while Jane tried to make as much money as she could.

I really appreciate what you have done for us, she said to Alex. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.

Alex smiled at her and pulled Jemma close. Your friendship is enough, but Jane, maybe it is time for you to move on. It has been ten month since John...

Her words trailed off as neither of them wanted to say the dreadful word, especially when Jemma was close by.

I can’t think about that right now, Alex. I am barely keeping a roof over our heads; the last thing I have time for is courting. Besides, what kind of man would have a poor woman like me with a child?

It was a good question that always came up when they had these discussions. Alex had given her three months to grieve with peace and quiet, and then shortly after had deemed it time that she moved on and tried to find herself a husband. Her heart still ached for John. She had loved him for as long as she could remember and she just could not see herself loving another man in that way.

I have the solution to that problem, Alex interrupted her thoughts again.

What problem?

Rolling her eyes at Jane's hopeless reaction, the woman continued. I think a change would do you and Jemma a lot of good. How about you become a mail order bride?

A, what now? Jane asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

You place an ad saying you are looking for a husband and in a week or so, someone will respond taking you up on the offer.

People do such things? She asked Alex in horror. What happened to courting and falling in love?

Both are very overrated ideologies. If you are open-minded and willing to take a chance on love and it works, you will have security, and all of your money problems will cease to exist.

Jane shook her head. No, I can’t see myself doing that. And most certainly not with Jemma. What kind of life will she have? What if the man who responds does not like my child?

Alex sighed. You have a home for yourself here Jane. If you travel to see this man who responds and he turns out to be less than you expect, then you come right back home. No harm done.

Jane smiled at her friend. I know you want to help Alex, but that is not a life for me. I need to stay put and make sure my child is taken care of. I do not have the luxury of traveling across country looking for love.

She got up and noted Alex's tense silence, but she was in no mood to argue with her about becoming a bride for sale. She didn't believe in such things. It would be nice to get out of Minnesota, though. She had in fact always dreamed of moving out west where the climate was a lot more agreeable. Alex had been right about needing a change, but that was not how she wanted to bring it about.

I will see you both tonight, she whispered in Jemma's hair as she kissed her daughter goodbye with a sad smile. Seemed these days all she had with her daughter in terms of quality time were these fleeting moments. She was watching her grow up under someone else's hand and it made her sad. Maybe if she took up Alex's idea