From High On the Hill I See Home: Four Historical Romance Novellas

By Doreen Milstead

Mail Order Bride Detective - A woman from Ohio investigates a mail order bride fraud, and then decides to head off to meet a man who she had corresponded with and for whom her dead husband held high regards PLUS Lost In the Woods - A woman arrives at her fiancé’s ranch in California, but he’s nowhere to be seen PLUS Love In The Shadows – (this story used to be called Lola & Isaac’s Story) - A woman travels to a small town in Nevada to become the bride of a man she hardly knows. She has no idea how he’ll react to her appearance and when he finally arrives outside of the bar where she’s waiting, he is in the shadows PLUS The Overweight Bride From Back East - An overweight woman from back east, about to become penniless, decides to both answer an ad and place one herself to become a mail order bride. It all ends up in confusion as the man’s two daughters, returning home, and the mail order bride, all arrive at the train station at the same time, and with none of them knowing the complete scenario.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387478279

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From High On the Hill I See Home: Four Historical Romance Novellas

From High On the Hill I See Home: Four Historical Romance Novellas

By

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2017 Susan Hart

Cover photo copyright alanpoulson / 123RF Stock Photo

Mail Order Bride Detective

Synopsis: Mail Order Bride Detective - A woman from Ohio investigates a mail order bride fraud, and then decides to head off to meet a man who she had corresponded with and for whom her dead husband held high regards. Her Roy often visited her and offered his advice, although he was fading away rapidly. Her possible husband to be, meanwhile, is heading in her direction to try to find out if she’s real, and to also find the man who’d been defrauding them. This is a humorous and moving story and the epilogue is very emotional.

Hannah was sitting on her porch, rocking gently in her mother's chair. The last few months had been some of the most truly horrible she had ever been through, but she placed her trust in God and rocked gently while looking up at the clouds. She rocked faster, and faster, and then broke into tears. As she sobbed, her rocking slowed and stopped, but the sobbing continued. She walked off the porch and collapsed on the ground, lying there and crying until her mother found her an hour later.

Hannah's mother asked, Are you all right, Hannah?

No, snapped Hannah. I'm not all right. How could I be all right? My life has fallen apart, piece-by-piece, and now there's absolutely nothing left for me to live for. The only reason I'm keeping on is because I'm stubborn.

You're a strong woman, said Hannah's mother. You can get over this.

How can I get over this? Do you have some way I can go back in time and stop all of that from happening? All of that stupidity, all of that horror and nonsense? Do you really expect me to get over this?

No, admitted Hannah's mother. I want you to get over it, yes, but whether or not you do is ultimately up to do.

I thought it was up to God, said Hannah. That's what the priest said.

The priest said that God would help you on your way, but only you can get yourself there, said Hannah's mother.

I don't think I can, said Hannah. I don't think this is something I can get over.

Do it, or don't, I'll help you however I can, said Hannah's mother.

Hannah collapsed into her mother's arms, sobbing once again. Hannah's mother hugged her daughter and tried to console her the best that she could.

The nights were cold and lonely now and the mornings weren't much better. Hannah's mother, whose name was Diane, was letting her daughter keep her own schedule. While Diane ran her errands, Hannah walked around the house in a stupor. There wasn't a lot she wanted to do, and she felt that she was fighting a losing battle. There was more than one time when Hannah looked at her father's old hunting rifle and considered doing something drastic. The only thing keeping her from doing so was knowing that her soul was doomed if she went that route, and the only real chance she felt she had at happiness was being reunited with those she’d lost, in heaven.

She collapsed into the armchair that had also belonged to her father and tried to cry, but her eyes were dry. She wondered if she had run out of tears, if such a thing was possible, but then she felt a soothing presence envelop her.

Hannah, it's me, said a familiar voice, a voice she didn't think she'd ever hear again. Hannah, it's Roy.

Roy, whispered Hannah. Roy, how are you here? It's not possible, is it?

Your mother told you that God would help you, but He could see that you needed a little more help, sad Roy, who was coming into view. He wanted to send down one of His angels, but I asked if I could go instead and He said yes.

Hannah nodded slowly. How is Bobby?

Bobby is up here with me. He's not a baby anymore, though. He got big, but not too big, said Roy. He was fully visible now, but slightly transparent. He was the same man Hannah remembered, the same strong jaw and deep blue eyes. Roy continued, You have to get better, Hannah.

I will be, now that you're back, said Hannah, and she attempted to throw her arms around Roy. They went right through him and Hannah realized what was going on, though she could scarcely believe it. She stepped back and looked him up and down as the full reality of what was occurring struck her. You're a ghost.

Yes, said Roy. My body is at the bottom of that chasm. Thank you for putting up that marker. It was smart of you, painting it so that no one else would fall in on a dark night.

I didn't want anyone to go through what I did, said Hannah.

That's one of the reasons I love you, said Roy. Bobby asked me to tell you that what happened to him wasn't your fault, either. He may have been a baby back there, but he could tell that it wasn't your fault.

There were a hundred things I could have done to stop it from happening, argued Hannah.

He was safe, and should have been safe, but sometimes accidents happen, said Roy. You can't keep blaming yourself. I know you're sad, but that's why I'm here, to help you with your sadness and get you back on the right path. You're needed elsewhere, my girl, by someone else.

What do you mean?

Just what I said. Tomorrow, go to town. I'm only allowed to help you stay on the right path, I'm not allowed to tell you what's going to happen, but please trust me as much now as you did when I was alive, said Roy, and he reached out his hand to stroke Hannah's cheek. She felt a shiver and a single tear went down her cheek.

I will, said Hannah.

That's my girl, said Roy. I love you, baby girl.

I love you, too, Roy, said Hannah, and he faded away. She went to the kitchen and started trying to sketch him.

Hannah woke up later that night, covered in a blanket with her mother sitting across from her with a kettle and two full cups of tea. Diane smiled gently at her and handed her a cup of tea. Hannah accepted it, feeling thirsty for the first time in weeks, and she could feel her stomach turning over with hunger pains. These were welcome sensations and she took off the blanket and walked over to the cupboard to get something to eat.

Nice to see you wanting to eat, said Diane. I'm not exactly pleased with you drawing your dead husband, but it seems to be making you feel better.

He came to me, said Hannah. He came to me and told me everything would be okay.

Diane's eyebrows raised in surprise. Who came to you? Roy?

Yes. He said tomorrow I'm supposed to go to town and everything will get better from there, said Hannah. He said Bobby is up there, too. Bobby is strong and healthy.

All right, said Diane, frowning slightly. What's in town?

I don't know, said Hannah. But I'm going there. Maybe there'll be someone there to give me a job, or some grand new adventure for me to embark on, or even a sick animal for me to nurse back to health. There are so many things it could be! I'll hardly be able to sleep a wink tonight!

What if there's nothing there?

There will be, stated Hannah. There will be something there, because Roy said so and he was sent by God to tell me so, so you can't tell me he's lying.

Diane frowned even more. There's probably still an opening at the hospital. I think the doctors would be able to help you more than a trip to town.

I've heard some very bad things about that hospital, said Hannah. I don't need their kind of help.

All right, but be careful. Not everyone's going to be as understanding as your old mother, said Diane. After you finish your food, why don't you get to bed? You've been sleeping a lot lately, but I can tell you haven't been sleeping well.

I'll hardly be able to, said Hannah. An hour later, she was softly snoring in bed, dreaming of a better tomorrow.

Across the country, Tim Kilbaine was sitting at the train station and twitching excitedly. People paid him no more than a passing glance, if they gave him any attention at all. Occasionally, he would giggle and mutter that today was the day under his breath. Yesterday had also been the day, and the day before that. Tomorrow could very well be the day, as well, but he sincerely hoped not. As he twitched, giggled, and muttered, the train pulled into the station with a whistle.

He stood up, smoothed back his hair, and stood as erect as possible. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it, revealing his name with an arrow pointed to himself. As the passengers disembarked, he waited patiently for one of them to look at his sign and recognize who and what he was to them. As the final person exited the train, he realized that today was not going to be the day, and he dejectedly folded up his sign and put it back in his pocket. He slumped over to the saloon and sat down.

The bartender, well used to this, readied two drinks for Tim. The first was downed in a single gulp, and the second would be sipped while Tim talked to whoever would listen to him.

I haven't seen a man drink like that since the war, said an old man, seated two seats away from Tim. What's the matter? Bandit trouble? Dead livestock?

I've been brought low by a woman, said Tim. Again. Well, it's the same woman, but she's brought me low again.

The way I see it, if a woman brings you low once, you don't let her do it again, said the man. Name's Harry Johnson, former chaplain and current purveyor of small household goods. Can I offer you a two-for-one sale on a lovely set of tonics?

Will they numb the pain, Harry? Will they make me forget that I've been a sucker again, asked Tim.

For a very small amount of time, yes, said Harry. I wouldn't do that if I were you. Why don't you tell old Harry all your problems? Not like I have any place to go until the northbound gets here tomorrow.

It's kind of embarrassing, said Tim.

I was in the war. There's not an embarrassing thing I haven't been privy to, said Harry.

Tim thought about this for a moment, approved of it, and said, You know those circulars? The ones where men and women try to find each other?

I do. I've given then a perusal once or twice. Never any young women looking for an old salesman to keep warm at night, especially not on my salary.

I've been in contact with a few of them, said Tim.

All at the same time? No wonder you're a mess. A woman's crazy if she finds out you've been stepping out, said Harry.

No, no. One after the other. Failure after failure, said Tim. I'll write one for a little while, but when I send them the money to get here, they never use it to get here.

Ah, that old chestnut, said Harry. I've heard of it happening once or twice. How many times have you fallen for it?

Six, said Tim. Seven, if this girl doesn't show up tomorrow. I'm just glad I didn't pull my ad this time.

You're not the brightest star in the sky, are you?

I'm just a hopeless romantic, said Tim.

You, my lad, need to play harder to get, said Harry. In fact, I'm staying here to see you get whipped into shape. You have a spare room?

I don't even have a room, said Tim. I sleep under the stars.

Good gravy, boy, what were you expecting to do with a woman once she got here? There's not a woman alive who'd marry a man who didn't have a home, said Harry. I'd know. You need my help, and the first thing we need to do is get you a place to live. Please tell me you at least have a job.

I'm a cowboy, said Tim.

I can tell from looking at you that you're lying through your teeth, said Harry.

I work the ledgers at the Flying D, said Tim, sheepishly.

I've been there. They didn't want any tonics, said Harry. It was a big place. They don't have any rooms for you to rent?

No. It'd be improper, anyway, since Mister Ballmer has nothing but daughters, said Tim.

A bunch of daughters, said Harry, pondering. Any of them marrying age?

Two of them, but my heart didn't feel right courting them, said Tim.

You're a piece of work, said Harry. Old Harry is here to help you though, so the first thing you'd better be ready for tomorrow is making your life better. All right?

If you can make my life better, I'll buy all your tonics, said Tim.

It's a deal, said Harry, and they shook on it.

The next morning was a busy one for Hannah, which was a welcome change after so many mornings spent crying and wishing that life could be anything other than what it was. Now Hannah had hope, and as she walked to town with her mother, the hope was filling her heart and keeping her far peppier than she had been in weeks. She could tell that her mother was feeling rather annoyed by it, and Hannah tried to tone it down but simply couldn't. She hugged her mother out of nowhere.

Diane asked, What was that for?

Being there for me, said Hannah. What do you think we'll find in the market? Do you think, maybe, that Roy didn't really die and he'll be there with his memory lost? Do you think upon seeing me he'll regain everything? Hannah's exuberance dissipated. He'd remember Bobby, then. He'd remember how things used to be.

Things were good, said Diane.

They’re not good anymore, said Hannah. "The only thing I