Borrowed Family

By Mildred Colvin

Raylene made a deathbed promise to care for her cousin’s children, but keeping the promise seems impossible. She’s never met their father. She lives in New York, and they live over a thousand miles away on a farm in Kansas. Then John, the widowed father of two daughters and two sons, sends for a mail-order bride, and with his oldest daughter’s help, she’s able to fill his request. He doesn’t know he’s marrying his wife cousin, and she puts off telling him because she fears he will blame her for his wife’s death, and she can’t bear to be sent away. Caring for his children is only one reason she wants to stay. There’s also the fact she’s falling in love for the first time in her life. But the most important reason is a secret she hopes to guard with her dying breath.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mildred Colvin
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005514327

Mildred Colvin

Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

Book preview

Borrowed Family

Mail-Order Brides of Sweet Water, Kansas

Book 3

Mildred Colvin

Historical Christian Romance

Borrowed Family

Copyright ©2021 by Mildred Colvin

All Rights Reserved

Cover model © artycrafter | dreamstime.com

Cover photo © hdsidesign | dreamstime.com

Smashwords Edition

Scripture portions are taken from the King James version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

About the Author

More Sweet Water Mail-Order Brides

More Historical Romances

Dedication

To the memory of my grandmother, who was a child during this time, but would have remembered so much about the time period. There are so many things I wish I could ask her now that I have the questions. When I had her with me, ready and willing to tell what she knew, I thought I had all the answers I would ever need. How little I know now, but how much less I knew back then. Grandma was and is still an inspiration to me. I remember her with love.

Chapter 1

New York City, New York, March 1893

Raylene Gilpin bolted upright in bed, a scream ricocheting through her memory. She squeezed her eyes closed to shut out the image of the wagon hitting her cousin, knocking her to the street, then stopped a few feet away. Her heart pounded. It was so real. The urgency to get to her pulled hard. The children needed her. She must take care of Joanna’s family.

Reality set in as awareness flooded her mind, sweeping away the dream that had come so often lately. For months now, she’d tried to figure out how she could fulfill Joanna’s dying request.

Take care of my children and see that John is all right.

But she couldn’t show up on John Langdon’s doorstep saying she’d promised to take care of him and the children. He didn’t know her, and the fact his wife had asked her to wouldn’t be a good enough reason, especially if he didn’t want her there.

Wide awake now and growing restless, she threw the covers back, rose, and dressed. Crossing to the bay window that overlooked the city street below, Raylene pulled back the heavy green damask drapes. Early rays of the sun filled her bedroom with light. She picked up her Bible and settled for a few moments of morning devotions and prayer before going downstairs for breakfast. Trailing her hand down the wide, polished mahogany banister, she followed the curving stairway to the floor below. None of the servants seemed to be about, which was fine, as she wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Perhaps they were having breakfast in the back kitchen.

The cook entered the dining room with a tray of buttered toast alongside a bowl of steaming oatmeal. Another smaller bowl likely held fruit, while the cup beside it would be her usual coffee. Her staff knew her preferences well and were usually a step ahead of her. She sat at the dining table and smiled a welcome. Good morning, Mrs. Smithers. One day I’ll get up early and fix my breakfast.

The older woman chuckled. As you wish, madam. I hope pears with your oatmeal are all right. She placed the tray on the table and set the dishes in place. They are fresh.

Fresh pears sound wonderful. Raylene slid into her chair as the cook stepped back. We both know everything is perfect. Thank you.

You’re welcome, Miz Gilpin.

As the woman walked away with the tray, Raylene noticed the pleased smile on her face. When the doors to the kitchen swung shut, she bowed her head for a word of prayer before lifting her spoon and scooping out a bite of oatmeal. She liked the employees her deceased husband had left to take care of her, but she wasn’t used to luxury. Although her grandparents were wealthy, they preferred to live simply. Her grandmother was an excellent cook and enjoyed doing for herself. She’d taught Raylene to care for herself from early childhood after her parents had died, leaving her to live with her grandparents.

Someday I would like to fix my own meals. It’s been so long, I wonder if I’ve forgotten how to cook. She muttered the words and as quickly dismissed the thought as her mind returned to the dream that had awakened her. Maybe she should go to Kansas and see for herself how the Langdon family was managing. The occasional letters from Bethany didn’t tell her everything she wanted to know. And oh, how she’d love to see Bethany again, to have time to become acquainted with the twelve-year-old girl she’d longed for since her birth.

But she couldn’t think about that now, and she couldn’t just up and go to Kansas. The very fact she had asked her cousin to come to New York to visit with their grandmother before she passed would be enough to make John Langdon turn her away. Joanna’s last request would fail from the first. Too many miles separated them, and too many obstacles stood between her and John. She’d been over it enough times, and the answer remained the same. Joanna had asked the impossible.

Lord, if I’m missing something, and there’s a way for me to be with Joanna’s children, please open the door. Raylene murmured her oft-repeated prayer, then finished her last bite of fruit as footsteps whispered on the carpet behind her.

A man cleared his throat.

She turned to see her butler standing at attention. Sometimes, she wished he’d bend even a little, but he took his job seriously and would consider any suggestion from her an offense. If only he were as congenial as his wife. He held a silver tray holding envelopes. Ah, the morning mail had arrived. She smiled. Yes, Mr. Smithers?

Your mail, madam. He gave a quick bow and placed the tray on the table beside her.

Thank you. She turned another smile his way and got a nod in return.

As he left, she thumbed through the envelopes, sorting invitations, bills, and personal mail. Her heart leapt as she recognized the youthful handwriting in the corner of one envelope. It was from Bethany. Clutching the mail in her hand, she rose and hurried back upstairs to her room where she would find privacy.

Entering, she closed the door, then sank to the chair in front of her desk, scarcely noticing the maid had already made her bed. Tossing the remaining letters on the desk for later, she used the opener to slice the envelope, then pulled out one thin page. Disappointment swept over her at the brief missive, but she ignored her feelings and eagerly began the young girl’s message.

Dear Virginia,

Raylene lifted her head for a moment, taken aback as she always was when she saw or heard her first name. Everyone had called her Virginia until the last twelve years, when she insisted all but the family call her Raylene. That was her middle name, given to her because her father’s name was Raymond. He and Mother passed away eighteen years ago, leaving her with her mother’s parents. Throughout the last twelve years, after becoming a woman, she’d felt it only right for her to have a new name, even if she was the only one who understood her reasoning. She lifted the letter again and continued.

You are the best cousin ever. I’m so glad we got to meet in New York and have been writing ever since. I’m not glad about what happened there, but Daddy says we cannot know the will of God as His ways are so far above ours. Mama is in heaven now, and she’s enjoying all the best things there. I know he’s right, but it still hurts when I remember she isn’t here anymore. But that isn’t why I’m writing.

Daddy is taking us to town today. He says he needs help to raise the children. He says I’ve been doing a fine job, but it isn’t fair for me to miss school so much or have to work so hard when I’m only twelve. I don’t mind, but he plans to get a wife. He wants someone who can take care of us and be kind to us, and teach us to do right. I want you. Can you come and be our mother? I heard Mama ask you to take care of us, and you said you would. Now you can. Please say yes! We need you. I don’t want anyone else.

Daddy is sending the letter to this address in New York because that’s where he knows he can get a mail-order bride like our neighbors, Mrs. Jacobs and Mrs. Tucker. It’s at Park Street Matrimonial Service, 104 W. Park Street, New York City, New York. Go there and talk to the woman and tell her you want to come to us. Please!

Write to me as soon as you can and tell me what she said.

Love always,

Bethany Langdon

Raylene stared at the paper in her hands. Had God already answered her prayer? Fear clutched her heart as she thought of doing what Bethany requested. A wistful smile curved her lips. Demanded might be more accurate. Could she do this?

Bethany was right. She had promised Joanna she’d take care of the children, although she hadn’t realized Bethany had heard.

And a promise was almost a contract, probably even sacred. But did she want to marry John Langdon, her cousin’s husband? She had never met the man, but had heard from both Joanna and Bethany enough to know he must be a kind man and a good Christian. So he’d given up trying to be both father and mother to his two sons and two daughters? It was about time.

Excitement stirred within her heart as reality set in. Something had to be done. The boys were four and six years younger than Bethany. Their little sister was only four, and Bethany said she hadn’t spoken a word since the day their mother died.

The question was whether Raylene was the right woman for the job. Yet Joanna had requested she take care of them. How better than to become their mother? She now had Bethany’s pleading. And the opportunity came just after she’d prayed for an answer. Didn’t that mean God was on her side, too? She skimmed through the letter again. John had mailed a letter to the matchmaker the same day as the one in her hand. If she was going to do this, she had no time to lose. She bowed her head. Lord, give me strength and determination. Direct my steps, and if it’s Your will, I believe You will clear the path to Kansas of obstacles. Speak to John too, so we’ll agree, for You are not the author of confusion but of a sound mind. May all our minds, John’s, mine, the children’s, and the matchmakers, follow the same direction as what is best for us all. Amen.

~*~

Raylene wasted no time getting to the house on Park Street. With her driver waiting in the buggy, she visited with Sarah Parker, sole proprietor of Park Street Matrimonial Service. Seated in a beautifully appointed sitting room, sipping tea and munching dainty cookies, Raylene explained she was interested in corresponding with a man from Sweet Water, Kansas.

How interesting. Mrs. Parker’s eyebrows lifted. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a potential bride request a specific place.

Raylene handed the letter she’d received from Bethany. Maybe this will explain better than I can.

The other woman took the envelope and slipped that single sheet out. When she finished reading it, she looked up. I see. This is a family you know well?