Groom for Hire

By Ruth Ann Nordin

When Joe Otto accepted the job to lead a wagon train to California, the last thing he expected was to be asked to marry Mr. Heller’s daughter. Still pining over the one that got away, he’s not sure he has it in him to open his heart to another woman. Mr. Heller assures him the arrangement will only be temporary. Once Joe delivers her to her aunt and uncle in California, he can annul the marriage. Joe can use the money, and besides, it’s only a temporary arrangement. She won’t be his wife for the rest of his life. Reassured by this logic, he agrees to the marriage contract.

Michelle Heller knows the only way she’s going on the wagon train is if she has a husband, so she readily accepts the deal her father makes with Joe. What she doesn’t expect, however, is that her new husband is the most attractive young man she’s ever seen. Over and over, she has to remind herself their marriage isn’t real. It’s only borne of necessity. But as the days pass on the trail, it’s harder to remember their marriage is only on paper, and it seems the two are at odds as to what they want this marriage to be.

After Joe watched the woman of his dreams start a life with someone else, he vowed he would never open himself up to being hurt again. Can Michelle break through his wall, or will she have to annul the marriage once she reaches California?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruth Ann Nordin
• Release date: Feb 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781938352836

Ruth Ann Nordin

Ruth Ann Nordin has written almost 100 romances, ranging from Regencies to historical westerns to contemporaries. She plays with other genres from time to time, but her first love is romance. She has been happily married for twenty-two years to a sweet and funny guy, and they have four sons, who are all taller than Ruth now that they're 16, 17, 19, and 20. The good thing is she doesn't need a ladder. She considers herself very lucky to have led such a charmed life. Being able to play with characters and create stories is just icing on the cake. Hopefully, she'll get to keep doing this many years to come.

Book preview

Pioneer Series: Book 3

Groom

for

Hire

Ruth Ann Nordin

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and also represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.

Groom for Hire

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2016 Ruth Ann Nordin

Originally published with Parchment & Plume, LLC

Republished by Ruth Ann Nordin 2020

Cover Photo images Period images. http://www.periodimages.com/welcome-to-periodimagescom. All rights reserved – used with permission.

Cover Photo images Dreamstime. www.dreamstime.com. All rights reserved – used with permission.

Cover made by Stephannie Beman.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Pioneer Series

All Books by Ruth Ann Nordin

Where to Find Ruth

Dedication: To Lu Mullins who’s been with me for years, offering kind words of encouragement along the way. Thank you!

Chapter One

March 1866

Omaha, Nebraska

Joe Otto sat back in the chair in the parlor. The cup of coffee in front of him went untouched. Was he about to make a huge mistake?

Bernard Heller came into the parlor, and Joe rose to his feet to shake his hand. I’m glad you came by, Bernard greeted then sat down.

Joe followed suit and settled back into the chair. The butler came over to pour Bernard a cup. Then, upon Bernard’s request, the butler left the room.

Bernard turned to him and gave him a hopeful smile. I suppose you’re about to lead another wagon train.

Joe cleared his throat. Yes. The trip to California will be a long one. Now that the weather is good, it’s the best time to get going.

And have you given any thought to my proposal?

Given any thought to it? It’d been weighing on his mind ever since the man suggested it last year. Joe watched as the man added a lump of sugar to his coffee. Once more, he wondered if he was about to make a huge mistake. Guiding someone on the trail was one thing. But marriage?

The man looked at him, an expectant look in his eyes.

Joe cleared his throat and shifted in the chair, which had, up to now, been comfortable. I’ve given it considerable thought, and I’ve decided to do it.

He put his cup down and clapped his hands. Splendid! I was hoping you’d say yes. I’ll have to arrange a time for you to meet Michelle.

Did you tell her what you asked me to do?

Not yet. I didn’t want to get the poor girl’s hopes up. She’s been looking forward to California, but up to now, I’ve been unable to secure a way for her to get there. Now that I have, I’ll tell her the good news.

Will you make it clear to her that this will require marriage?

The marriage is only a formality, her father replied then took a sip of his coffee. Once she’s under the care of her aunt and uncle, the marriage will be annulled. It’s a quick and easy thing to do.

Which was the only reason Joe had agreed to this. He wasn’t looking for a wife. There was no point in having one if she wasn’t Amanda, but Amanda was with someone else. And that left him… Well, it left him floating about like a leaf along the breeze, not going in any sort of direction, just drifting from one thing to another.

As long as your daughter understands this is a business arrangement, we won’t have any problems, Joe said.

Michelle’s a smart girl. You have no need to worry about her. He set his cup down and went to his desk. Since I have your agreement, then you won’t mind signing a contract, correct?

A contract? They hadn’t mentioned a contract, but then Joe figured a man like Bernard Heller, who’d made a small fortune this far out west, got his money from being smart. The contract was probably a good idea. It would protect Joe as much as it would protect him.

The man brought the contract over to him, and Joe read through it. The thing seemed straightforward enough. The marriage was to only be from the time Joe and Michelle left Omaha to when she arrived to her aunt and uncle’s. Joe was to ensure Michelle would remain a virgin so she’d be marriageable. Joe was also supposed to do everything he could to protect her delicate sensibilities from the harsher realities of life that they might encounter on the trail.

I sense you have a problem with something, her father said as he sat back down. I hope it’s not the matter of my daughter’s virginity. I thought I made it clear this is not a real marriage.

No, I don’t have trouble with keeping her a virgin. I’m just not sure I can promise you that I’ll protect her from the harsher realities of life. The wagon train comes with its perils. Not everyone survives the trip. From time to time, people suffer unforeseen circumstances, and it’s hard to hide that from the others.

Do the best you can. Up to now, she hasn’t had any hardships, save the death of her mother. Her mother was a wonderful woman, and though it’s been years since we lost her, we still feel her loss.

I’m sorry, Joe whispered.

I think she’ll find comfort in being with her aunt. Her aunt was her mother’s sister.

When Bernard put it that way, Joe couldn’t say no to this arrangement. This would not be a huge mistake. This would be something useful he could do for another person, and it would be nice to be able to do something good for someone else. Maybe it would be a reprieve from the constant unrest he felt over losing Amanda. Sometimes the best way to take one’s mind off of one’s troubles was to do something good for someone else.

I’ll sign it, Joe told him.

The man handed it to him, and in the next instant, the matter was settled with the stroke of his signature.

***

Michelle Heller was playing the piano in the parlor after supper that evening when her father came up to her. I have good news, he said once she ended the song.

Surprised, since he didn’t make it a habit of interrupting her while she played, she turned to face him. What is it?

I found a way for you to go to your aunt and uncle in California!

You did? she asked in surprise, brushing her dark hair back over her shoulders. I thought you said you couldn’t leave Omaha.

I can’t. I have too much hinging on what I must do here. The soonest I can go there is in five years.

Then how can I go?

I arranged for you to get married.

You did what? When she realized she’d screamed the words, she glanced at the doorway, sure the butler or maid would come running in to see what was wrong. But fortunately, they didn’t. Turning her gaze back to her father, she saw him pulling out a neatly folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. What is that?

This is how we’re going to get you to California. Her father handed her the paper. Go on. Open it.

She slowly did as he wished, wondering what this had to do with marriage. It didn’t take her long to find out. Her jaw dropped. You had someone sign a contract to marry me?

It’s the perfect arrangement, he excitedly replied as he sat on the bench next to her. This young man leads wagon trains all the time. He’s an expert at it. You won’t have any need to worry during your entire journey out there. And I won’t have to worry, either, knowing you’re in capable hands with a man who knows what he’s doing.

Choosing to ignore his enthusiasm, she read through the contract. Of all the things her father could have done, what had compelled him to dream up such an arrangement? Why didn’t you ask me if I wanted to do this? she asked, finally looking up from the contract.

You want to be with your aunt and uncle, don’t you?

Yes.

There is no train or stagecoach that will take you all the way to California. You’ll need to go on a wagon train. I can’t go with you. You have no other family or friends to go with you. You can’t go by yourself. You can only go if you’re married.

But…but… Marriage?

I know it’s a shock. I didn’t want to bring it up in case the young man said no. However, luck was on our side, and he said yes.

I don’t even know him. He doesn’t know me!

That doesn’t matter. He won’t be a real husband. It’ll only be on paper. The two of you won’t even have to talk to each other during the trip. And better yet, once you’re in California, the marriage will be annulled. From there, you’re free to pursue the man of your dreams.

This arrangement was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard of.

I know it’s a shock, her father said.

That was an understatement!

But this will work. I had a lawyer look it over and it’s a good contract. The young man is a good fellow, too. He was the best of all the men I interviewed.

You interviewed men to see which would marry me?

To be fair, they didn’t know they were being interviewed. I dropped my hat on accident while running errands, he winked at her, and if the young man picked the hat up, I insisted on thanking him by treating him to lunch at the restaurant. From there, I found out if he was married or had any illegitimate children running around. Those things would never do. My original plan was to talk one of them into taking you out west and then coming back by himself. But then I found out Joe led a wagon train, and it seemed as if fate was lending a helping hand. I’m telling you, Michelle, it was more than a coincidence I ran into him when I did.

Oh dear. Her father had given a lot of thought to this. She had no idea he’d go through all of that trouble so she could go to California. How could she be upset with him for doing this when she took into consideration his motive?

I think you’ll like Joe Otto, her father said. He’s courteous, smart, and punctual. All things that make for an ideal wagon train master.

Her gaze went back to the contract where he’d signed it. Joe Otto. That would make her Michelle Otto. She frowned. She’d envisioned a classier last name like Beaumont or Franklin. Michelle Otto just didn’t seem to go together all that well. But she supposed it wasn’t a big deal. This was only a temporary marriage.

I’ve invited Joe to have dinner with us next week, her father said. This will give you a chance to meet him. After that, we’ll have a judge preside over the wedding.

You want a judge to marry us? she asked in dismay. She’d always dreamt of a beautiful wedding with a long white gown and lots of flowers decorating the church.

This isn’t a real marriage. By the end of the year, it’ll be annulled. I will be more than happy to send money for the wedding you want, but it makes no sense to waste money on a marriage that isn’t real.

When he put it that way, she supposed he was right.

I hear a lot of men are out in California, her father told her. The gold rush brought a lot of them there, and some even made fortunes. It’s not like here where it’s hard to find a man of a suitable age for you to marry. Out there, you’ll have your pick of them.

Well, there was that to look forward to.

He kissed the top of her head. I want what’s best for you, my dear.

She smiled. I know you do.

Good. I’ll leave you to your piano now.

She watched him as he left. Then she scanned the room she’d grown up in. This was all she’d ever known. It was hard to believe her dream of going somewhere new was finally about to happen. She’d been looking forward to the adventure of seeing San Francisco where, as her aunt had reported in a letter, one could see the ocean waves rolling in day and night. It’s beautiful and sunny, and the weather is pleasant all year around, her aunt had added. It sounded like a paradise.

She turned back to the piano and stared at the book in front of her. Marriage. She’d have to marry a complete stranger to get there. Yes, it was temporary, but it was still marriage. Would such a thing change her? Would she feel different once she was a married woman?

She ran her fingers along the piano keys, tapping one or two along the way. As much as she told herself to get back to her lessons, she couldn’t do it. Her father’s news had disrupted her routine far too much.

All she could think of was what kind of man agreed to marry a woman just so she could have safe passage to California. Well, in one week’s time she’d find out. She shut the book and went to the window to watch the buggies and horses as they went up and down the street, wondering about the journey she was about to take.

Chapter Two

Joe rode up to Jesse Palmer’s farm, noting the flat lands that were waiting for spring when they’d be planted. Hopefully, this year would yield the result Jesse hoped for. Last year had been so harsh on him, what with the fire and all. Even though things had worked out, Joe couldn’t help but note the pain in Jesse’s eyes when he’d told him he’d lost his entire crop.

The pain probably struck Joe so hard because it reminded him of how he felt when he found out Amanda had married Richard Larson. He’d been willing to give up everything to be with her. But Richard was good to her, and the two had a good reason for marrying in a hurry like they had. From time to time, Joe wished he’d been in New York when she’d needed him. Had he not been finishing up a job laying down railroad tracks, he would have been, but he had taken the job so he’d have money to give her a good home once they did marry.

But that was the past. Every time he went through Omaha, the past had a way of sneaking up on him. After he led the next wagon train out to California, he just might never step foot in Omaha again. He really should move on. It did no good to dwell on things that could never be.

Joe? a familiar voice called out.

Joe stopped his steed and glanced over at the barn in time to see Jesse waving at him from inside. With a grin, he nodded and led the horse into the barn. Why is it that every time you’re not in town, I catch you in here? Are you trying to avoid your wife?

Jesse chuckled as he cleaned out the stall. If I was going to avoid Laura, I’d make it more pleasurable than cleaning out all this muck.

I don’t know. I hear some men comparing their marriage to a pile of, he glanced at the horse droppings and straw, that.

I’ll never compare my marriage to that, Jesse replied. I happen to be very happy with my wife.

As you should be. Especially after all he went through. Joe slid off his horse. I hope you have room for a guest.

I always have room for you. How long will you be staying?

A week. I’m due to lead a wagon train next Tuesday.

"Is this the one that will go