Ruth: Brides of Needful Texas, #4

By Danni Roan

Ruth Warthan is tired of her sedentary life. She longs for adventure, excitement, and most of all love, but her overly protective parents are content for her to stay with them forever, shunning even a hint of romance. Will an advertisement for a mail-order bride in faraway Texas be the answer to her prayers, or will she find that her parents were right, and she isn't suited for marriage or life outside their cloistered home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danni Roan
• Release date: Nov 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393253464

Danni Roan

About the Author Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene she has been a story teller for her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Danni Roan  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.  FIRST EDITION https://authordanniroan.com

Contents

Chapter 1..................7

Chapter 2................13

Chapter 3................20

Chapter 4................26

Chapter 5................32

Chapter 6................38

Chapter 7................44

Chapter 8................51

Chapter 9................55

Chapter 10...............65

Chapter 11...............73

Chapter 12...............80

Chapter 13...............85

Chapter 14...............97

Chapter 15..............108

Chapter 16..............118

Chapter 17..............121

Chapter 18..............127

Chapter 19..............133

Chapter 20..............137

Chapter 21..............144

Chapter 22..............154

Chapter 23..............160

Chapter 24..............166

Chapter 25..............176

Chapter 26..............182

Chapter 27..............190

Chapter 28..............197

Chapter 29..............204

Epilogue................208

Chapter 1

M y, it is getting warm , Ruth Warthan said fanning herself with a colorful flip out fan. I knew things in Texas were different, but I didn’t expect it to be so warm already, she smiled, her green eyes sparkling with excitement as she addressed the older couple across from her. Mr. and Mrs. Farley had boarded the stagecoach at the same distant train station she had, and now they bumped and rocked over the dusty paths of Texas together.

Do you think there will be many people at the stage stop? the young woman continued, her dark green eyes bright behind round spectacles. I’ve read everything I could find on Needful, but there isn’t much to be found, Ruth added with a shake of her head as she rambled on. She knew she was talking too much, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself as nerves and excitement gurgled in her belly. She was excited, nervous, worried, thrilled, and several other emotions she couldn’t name all rolled into one.

I understand it is a rather small town, Mr. Farley said kindly, a smile tugging at his lips.

Who did you say you were going to visit? Ruth asked, A young woman who came to Needful this spring as a bride? I hope I get to meet her. She must be very special if you are willing to come all this way to see her.

Yes, Mrs. Farley said, her eyes shining. Beth went to Needful to be a mail-order bride, and though she wrote telling us everything is well we wanted to see for ourselves.

It’s rather an adventure, Mr. Farely grinned with delight.

Ruth giggled, her bright smile flashing once more. I’m glad you told me about your friend, she laughed. I’m also a mail-order bride, and I can’t wait to meet my intended. It’s a comfort to know that your friend has done well.

Do you know him already? Mrs. Farley asked. Beth didn’t have the name of a suitor when she arrived in town, though what she has written about him sounds like a good match, she paused for a second her dark eyes darting to her husband, Well, we wanted to see her.

I don’t know whom I will be matched with, Ruth admitted. I think they do things differently in Needful.  There are so many men looking for a wife you can practically have your pick, she giggled.

Ruth turned, looking out the window as the horses began to slow, she could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and couldn’t wait to step off the stage and start her new life. At twenty-one, she felt as old as Methuselah’s mother and bit her lip trying to quell some of the excitement she felt. She hadn’t come all this way to ruin it all now.  

For the first time in her existence, Ruth was on her own. She was away from her mother and father, out of their staid, drab, boring old house, and doing what she wanted. Her heart soared with the thrill of her new adventure.

She had never had so much as a suitor in all her twenty-one years, and though she loved her family, she was determined to find the same joy and happiness her brothers had found when they left home to enter wedded bliss.

Oh, isn’t it amazing! she gushed looking at the buildings that rushed into sight as the horses slowed to a walk. It’s so rustic!

Mrs. Farley looked at her husband smoothing her perfectly coiffed hair and raising one brow. It does appear quaint, the older woman said eyeing the false-fronted stores and heavy log structure of the boarding house they had pulled up to in a rattle of harness, and a cloud of dust.

Mr. Farley reached for the door handle, but before he could unlatch it, Ruth’s hand descended flinging the door wide as she bent low and hurried to climb from the stagecoach.

I’m here! the young woman said throwing her arms in the air and spinning on the spot making her plum-colored skirts swirl around her, her brown hair sparkling in the sun, offsetting her pleasantly rounded figure.

Mrs. Farley looked at her husband not sure if she was delighted by the young woman’s exuberance or dismayed.

Ruth gazed around her taking in the town in a glance. The dusty street was what she would have expected of a western town. Nothing at all like the bustling city where her parents kept a brownstone for their shopping visits.  No, she was in the wilds now, and excitement zinged through her at the possibilities ahead.

A group of loud cowboys galloped down the street, whooping loudly, but slowed to a quiet walk as a handsome man with a shiny tin badge stepped out of the jail, giving them a hard look.

Ruth looked up for a moment, squinting into the afternoon sun as the driver and shotgun rider of the stage swung down and began unloading bags, boxes, and trunks then she turned back to the building before her and hurried to the door as the Farley’s disembarked. The Hampton house was her final destination, and the next step on the adventure that would lead to true love.

Hello, Ruth called stepping into the darker interior of the boarding house and eatery with a smile. The letter she had received indicated that she was to meet with Miss Olive, or Peri then determine who her groom would be. Her secret correspondence had explained the process, but she was impatient and wanted to move things forward right away.

Pausing in the doorway, Ruth grinned as several men turned to look at her, their weathered faces and bright eyes zeroing in on her attentively, even as they stood to their feet in a scrape of chairs.

I’ll be right there, a disembodied voice called from a room at the end of the dining area, but Ruth didn’t wait, hurrying to a nearby table.

Can I have this one! Ruth cried hurrying across the room to where a dark cowboy stood over a plate of steaming food, his gray eyes almost hidden by a hank of unruly black hair that fell over his forehead. I want you, she said again leaning in and studying the face under a short cropped beard. Are you available?

Chapter 2

M a’am, Darwin Rivers said blinking at the pert woman staring up into his face. She wasn’t a very big thing, but she had a bit of meat on her bones and looked cheerful and healthy.

I’m Ruth, the young woman said tipping her head and making her spectacles flash. I’m here as a mail-order bride, and if you’re looking, I’ll take you.

What’s going on here? an older woman said bustling out of what must have been the kitchen and drying her hands on a towel. Who are you?

I’m Ruth, the young woman smiled. I’m here to be a mail-order bride, and I want this one, she finished pointing at a befuddled Darwin.

You don’t even know him? the older woman said. Darwin sit down and finish your lunch, the older woman ordered, nodding with approval as the man flopped back into his chair.

Isn’t he a potential groom, Ruth asked looking between the older woman and the cowboy. I thought Mrs. Hampton said there were more men than you could throw a stick at looking for a bride.

I’m Mrs. Hampton, Olive said shaking her head. I take it you’re Ruth Warthan our next potential bride. Olive raised a brow at the enthusiastic younger woman.

Yes, Ruth nodded a bright smile on her face. I just arrived on the stage, and I’m ready to get married.

Olive’s brows rose and she stared at the spritely young woman standing by the table. I don’t see that there’s any great hurry, Olive said smiling. Most girls want a bit of time to settle in town and get to know a fella’, she added.

Ruth studied Olive Hampton taking in her sensible dress, gray hair, and dark eyes. She seemed like a nice person, but Ruth was determined not to wait. It had taken her nearly a week to arrive in Needful, and she knew that a Pinkerton Agent, private detective, or police officer couldn’t be far behind. There was no way her parents would trust her to manage on her own, and the sooner she married the less likely they would be able to drag her back home again.

I thought mail-order brides married as soon as they arrived, she chided. I like the looks of this fellow, and if he’s amicable, I’ll have him, she smiled, nearly poking Darwin in the face with her index finger.

Darwin stood to his feet looking at Olive as hope sparked in his gray eyes. I don’t know what amic-able, means the hostler spoke, but I’d like to be married as soon as possible. It get’s lonely over there with only horses to talk to, he finished. 

Darwin, sit down, Olive scowled. I’ll get this sorted out.

The lean man with the shaggy black hair dropped back into his seat once more, but didn’t take his eyes off the woman talking to Olive. He had put an order in with Olive and Peri months ago and still didn’t have a wife. He was lonely, tired of being on his own, and now that he didn’t frequent the saloon in town anymore, sober.

Now dear why don’t you come upstairs, and I’ll get you a room. Tomorrow, if you’re still set on getting married, I can introduce you to some of the men here in town.

But Olive, Darwin said springing to his feet once more.  What if she likes someone better than me?

Darwin you’ll just have to wait your turn, Olive insisted.

You want to get married Mr.? Ruth asked, looking over her glasses at him, squinting her hazel-green eyes.

I do, Darwin said turning and addressing Ruth for the first time.

Well then I say we get married. Is there a preacher in town?

Yes, he just got hitched himself.

I don’t see any reason to wait, Ruth grinned nodding as he hurried toward the door. You go fetch the preacher, and I’ll talk it over with Miss Olive.

OLIVE HAMPTON TOOK Ruth’s hand leading her back toward the family living quarters in a rush. She was determined to deal with this enthusiastic new bride and do right by her.

"Now you tell me