Mail Order Ruse (Kansas Brides Series #3) Read online

  Mail Order

  Ruse

  Barbara Goss

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this book is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.

  Copyright © 2016 Barbara Goss

  All Rights Reserved

  Kindle Edition

  Cover design by: Samantha Fury

  Table of contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 1

  Grace Webster stepped off the train and gazed around the small train depot, clutching her small portmanteau in her gloved hand. Moving quickly out of the way of the train’s steam, she walked over to the small station, took a seat on a bench inside the depot, and waited. Graham Easton, her intended, was to meet her there. Perhaps her train was early.

  The longer she waited, the more nervous she became, and she was anxious to remove her gloves since it was a warm day, and her hands were clammy, yet, it wouldn’t do to meet her future husband without wearing gloves.

  She felt the perspiration as it rolled down her back and chest. Where was he? Had he changed his mind? Would he approve of her appearance? She looked down at the nicest dress she’d ever owned, purchased at a store selling used garments. She smoothed the skirt that was of a green, velvety-like material.

  Grace glanced up when she heard the door to the station open and saw a man run in, looking harried as he stopped abruptly in front of her.

  “Grace Webster?” he asked.

  She nodded. She had exchanged a few letters with the man, but had envisioned him as being much younger. He had brown hair with silver streaks on the sides, although he was still quite handsome. While they’d exchanged photographs they’d been shot at a distance, and they were grainy with poor lighting.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when the train pulled in. I had a calf-birthing—and a cattle rancher’s job is twenty-four hours a day,” he said.

  “That’s quite all right. I didn’t have to wait long,” she lied.

  “Before we head home, I’d like to take you to Rusty’s,” he said. “That’s an eating house. The food is very good. I bet you’re hungry.”

  “I am,” she admitted, “and thirsty too. There’s so much dust.”

  “You’ll get used to it. No dust in Maryland?” he asked, holding the station door open for her.

  “Not as much as here, or so it seems,” she said.

  They walked together down the wooden walkway, with Graham carrying her portmanteau.

  “You see, I wanted a chance to speak with you in private before you meet everyone,” he said as they approached Rusty’s. “I’d like to make a slight change in our plans.”

  He found them a table and he went up to the counter to order their meals.

  Grace became extremely worried. Could he have been disappointed in her appearance and wanted to back out? Whatever would she do if that were the case? Where would she go?

  He came back and slid into the seat across from her. “The stew here is outstanding.

  “Has my appearance disappointed you?” Graham asked. “I noticed your smile fade a bit when you saw me.”

  “Oh, no, not at all,” she lied again.

  “You expected a younger man. I’m a forty-five-year-old widower with two surviving children and a granddaughter. I may have misled you a bit in my letters, but desperation leads people to a bit of exaggeration.”

  Grace braced herself. “You aren’t going to marry me because you’re disappointed with my looks, aren’t you? And now you want to back out.”

  “Heaven’s, no,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re lovely—lovelier than I’d anticipated. The photograph you sent didn’t do you justice.”

  Grace silently blew out the breath she’d been holding. “What’s the problem then? Are we to be married or not?”

  “I’d like for us to live together for a while first and get to know each other better.”

  “What?” She was shocked, disappointed, and confused.

  Rusty brought their drinks and meals to the table.

  “Thanks, Rusty.” Graham turned back to Grace. “It would all be respectful, I assure you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Grace finally removed her gloves and set them on her lap. The nuns at the orphanage had taught her well. She drank her water. Despite her disappointment, the water felt so refreshing going down her dry throat that she finished the whole glass.

  “Would you like another water?” Graham asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  Graham walked to the counter to get her another drink. As he walked, she noticed he was in great shape for his age. He was slim and muscular in all the right places. Despite her surprise at his age, she liked him and was pleased with his appearance, and the fact that he seemed quite gentlemanly. Dressed like a rancher in a shirt, vest, and rugged pants, he looked like a dignified country gentleman.

  “Here you are,” Graham said, setting down the glass of water.

  “Please explain what’s going on, Mr. Easton, for I admit to being extremely confused and somewhat disappointed.”

  “Call me Graham, please. Just because I’m old, I don’t want to feel like it.” He winked. “I have a fifteen-year-old daughter, a four-year-old granddaughter, a twenty-five-year-old son, and a housekeeper living with me. We won’t ever be alone or in intimate circumstances,” he explained.

  “But in your letters you said—”

  “I just can’t see marrying without knowing each other first. Marriage is for keeps, and if we don’t suit, we’d live a miserable life together, now wouldn’t we?”

  Grace tasted the stew and was surprised at how delicious it was. She was so hungry, she had to discipline herself to eat daintily and not gobble it down. Graham was dipping his biscuit in the gravy and slurping it up, and she wanted so badly to do the same, but feared it wouldn’t be ladylike.

  “So,” Graham said, between mouthfuls, “now that you know the truth, what do you think?”

  She shrugged. “What will happen to me if we don’t suit?”

  “I’m a man of means, Miss Webster, I would see you’re taken care of. You mentioned in your letters that you have no family, so I thought you’d appreciate living in a family situation while we got to know each other.”

  “What happened to your wife?”

  “My son’s wife and my wife were in a in Kansas City. They were accompanying my oldest daughter, Elizabeth, to college there. It was to be her first semester. They were all killed,” Graham said, sadly. “My three beautiful women, gone in an instant, the result of a drunken farmer pulling a wagon of hay.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Grace said. “How long ago was that?”

  “Three years ago,” he said, “and not a day goes by that I don’t miss them.”

  Grace could see the sor
row on his face; he still loved his wife. “Maybe I should go back to Maryland,” Grace said.

  “You said you were an orphan and that you had nowhere to go once you left the institution.”

  Grace’s lower lip trembled. “That’s true. I have no one.”

  He patted her hand as it lay on the table. “If things don’t work out I’ll make sure you have a home for life and an income. In fact, my grandmother, Edna Smith, would love someone to keep her company. I’d see that when Edna passed on—she’s eighty-one—I’d give you her house.”

  “What exactly do you want me to do?” Grace asked. “I’m confused—do you want me to marry you or move in with your grandmother?” Tears began to run down Grace’s face.

  ““That’s only if things don’t work out,” he said. “Don’t cry, please!” He patted her shoulder and handed her his handkerchief. “I promise you, you have nothing to worry about. Here’s my plan: it's perfectly respectable for you to live at my house. I told my family I was bringing home a mail order bride. It was my housekeeper and fifteen-year-old daughter who had persuaded me to wait and see if we suit before marrying. After all, there’s a big age difference here to consider.”

  “Your age doesn’t concern me,” Grace said.

  ”You said you were twenty.” Graham tapped his finger on his cheek in thought. “Let’s see: when I’m sixty, you’ll be only thirty-five—it’s just something to keep in mind.”

  He took her hand again and squeezed it. “Will you come and live with my family for a few weeks? After that, we’ll talk about where we go from there.”

  “I guess I have little choice,” she said. “Can I ask you a question first?”

  Graham nodded.

  “Why did you choose me? I’m sure you had many replies to your ad.”

  “It was the picture you sent me, along with your education. I could tell by your letters you were an intelligent woman. You’re also very beautiful, with your golden hair and big, blue, expressive eyes. I think eyes say a lot about a person, and I’m very pleased with my choice.”

  Grace smiled, relieved that it wasn’t personal, and resigned herself to the situation. Maybe this was a good idea, because to marry someone just off the train had felt a bit scary. Now, she thought, she could go along with his plan.

  When Graham went to the counter to get them a dessert, she actually felt a bit more at ease. All during the train ride, she had tried to convince herself she would be able to complete the marriage act with a total stranger. She thought she’d have no choice, but what he was proposing made a lot more sense, for it would be easier to consummate a marriage if you at least knew and liked the other person.

  Her only worry now was what would happen to her if they didn’t suit. Oh, he’d promised her a life living with an old woman and later her own house, but she’d been alone her whole life, and she wanted to be loved.

  Chapter 2

  Graham Easton brought Grace through the back door of his sprawling two-story home and into a warm, family kitchen. As they walked in, his family, who were sitting around the table eating, looked up in surprise when they entered.

  Grace felt herself flush with color at being the center of everyone’s attention.

  “Grace, I’d like you to meet my family,” he said. He pointing to a cute, teenage girl with freckles and ginger-colored braids and announced. “This is Theodora, but we call her Dora.” Next, he pointed to a handsome young man, “This is my son, Chase, and beside him his daughter, Chloe.”

  Grace nodded to them and gave them all a polite smile.

  “And the woman serving up the delicious dinner is our housekeeper and dear friend, Olive.”

  Grace cordially acknowledged the middle-aged, slightly plump woman wearing an apron and a welcoming smile, whereas the others all seemed stunned. He’d told her they’d all been warned she was coming, yet they all looked at her as if she were unexpected.

  Olive made the first move. “Grace—such a beautiful name. You come right here and sit down. This will be your chair. We want you to make yourself at home.”

  Grace slid into the chair next to Chase who was sitting in the middle, with Chloe on his left. Graham sat at the head of the table, while the chair opposite him remained empty. Dora, and Olive sat across from Grace.

  Chloe slipped down from her chair and ran to Graham as soon as he was seated. “Grandpapa!” She wrapped her chubby arms around his neck and kissed his cheeks several times, which made Grace smile.

  “How’s my little Chloebird?” he asked, affection clearly written on his face.

  “Good,” she said shyly, sneaking a look at Grace with big, curious, blue eyes. She then scrambled down to the floor and yelled, “Go play,” and she ran out of the room, her blonde, sausage-like curls bouncing with each step she took.

  Grace turned to Chase. “She’s adorable.”

  Chase smiled. “Thank you. She’s my whole world.”

  Having finished his dinner, Chase also got up to leave. “It’s nice to meet you, Grace.” He left the room, probably to run after Chloe.

  “How was your trip?” Dora asked.

  “It was dirty, uncomfortable, and boring, to be honest, but I suppose a train is the fastest way to get anywhere,” Grace said.

  “Would you like some chicken, Grace? There’s plenty here,” Olive offered.

  “No, thank you, Graham took me to an eating house and we had stew.”

  “Oh, Rusty makes a great stew,” Olive said.

  “It was very good.”

  “I’ll show you to your room, if you’d like, so you can freshen up for family night,” Olive said.

  “Family night?” Grace asked as she rose from her chair.

  “It’s just a time to chat about our day and spend some time together,” Graham said. “At one time, it was our Bible study and prayer time, but we’ve changed that since the accident.”

  “All right,” Grace said, as Olive walked her through the formal dining room and a comfortable sitting room, on their way to the stairway. They climbed to the second floor, walked down another hall, and stopped at the second to last door on the right. “Here we are.” She opened the door to a pink room with a ruffled bedcover and curtains.

  “This is lovely,” Grace said as she set down her portmanteau.

  “It was Elizabeth’s room. No one’s used it since…

  “Well, I’ll have water and towels sent up, and when you’ve washed off your travel dust, please join us in the sitting room.”

  Olive smiled and closed the door.

  Grace wished Olive hadn’t mentioned that this was the dead sister’s room, because now she felt ill at ease. And what was with this family night? She didn’t feel one bit a part of the family and would have little to contribute.

  Minutes later, Olive returned with a large, porcelain bowl, soap, and towels. “Here you go!” She set them down. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here. If there’s anything else you need, be sure and let me know.”

  Grace entered the sitting room where everyone was already seated. Graham and Chase stood as she entered. As Graham moved to sit in an armchair, Chase sat on the floor with a yawning Chloe. Olive and Dora sat on the sofa. They moved to make room for Grace to sit beside them.

  Graham was talking about how they needed to tag about a hundred calves this week, while Chase rolled his eyes.

  Grace finally had a chance to study those across from her during the chat. Chase had hair a bit darker than his father’s, but he strongly resembled him, both in features and build. He wore a shirt with cut-off sleeves. His biceps were larger than her thighs! She couldn’t keep her eyes from them. Chloe had hair almost the same color as her own, and when she smiled she had adorable dimples. Grace thought she must look like her mother, although she had a nose and chin like Graham and Chase.

  “Anyone have anything to add to tonight’s chat?”

  “I want to thank Olive for her service to our family,” Chase said. “And to Dora, for all her help with Chloe.”
/>   Dora nodded. “And I’d like to welcome Grace to our family.”

  “Welcome, Grace,” they murmured in near unison.

  “I think Grace will make a wonderful addition to our family,” Graham added. “And, I’m hoping you’ll all help her to get acquainted. It isn’t easy to start all over again in a foreign place.”

  Grace blushed. She still felt awkward and not at all at home. She thought it best to keep silent until spoken to, at least for the time being.

  The family talked about their day until Chloe’s eyes started blinking open and shut, and she was struggling to stay awake. Chase kissed her forehead and scooped her up.

  “I’m taking Chloebird up to bed, and I guess I’ll turn in as well. Goodnight, everyone,” Chase said.

  “G’night,” Chloe said, with a wave.

  Graham stood and kissed his sleepy granddaughter. “Sleep well, sweetheart.”

  Dora excused herself to turn in and Grace did the same. She walked to her room and closed the door. She was thankful for a room of her own and a nice comfortable bed.

  Graham sat back down and sighed loudly. “Well, Olive, she’s here. What do you think?”

  “She’s a beautiful young woman and she’s perfect for your plan; you chose well. I was surprised that she looks so much better than that blurry photograph she sent,” Olive said.

  “Yes, I’m very pleased with her. She’s had a sad life and she deserves better. One way or another, I’ll see to it that she gets a good life.”

  “Does she know the reason you’ve brought her here?” Olive asked.

  “No!”

  “I wasn’t sure,” Olive said, “because at first you were going to tell her about it.”

  “And then I changed my mind. It would have made things awkward. This has to work, Olive. I don’t know how much longer I can bear things the way they are.”

  Chapter 3

  After rising, washing and dressing, Grace found her way downstairs to the kitchen. Once again, everyone had already been seated, and so she sat down in her assigned seat.