Mail Order Bride: Westward Christmas Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 11) (2 page)

Dear Ben,

              What a very pleasant surprise to hear from you!  The advertisement you sent is certainly accurate.  I recognize Marcus’ handiwork.  He is talented at capturing a person’s essence.  I appreciate you giving me the first opportunity to reply to your ad.  Let’s see if I meet the qualifications outlined in it.

              I am thirty-years-old and am not averse to remarrying.  I adore children and would love to have as many as would come along.  Being a physician is a noble profession and I understand that it requires dedication to those in need of your services.  Common sense would tell any woman contemplating marriage to a doctor that there may be times when her prospective husband must be away from home for many hours or even days, depending on the circumstances.

              As for the rowdy night life, I’m assuming you are speaking about the Watering Hole that your brother-in-law and the mayor own.  I have not yet been to the establishment, but Seth and Luke have told me that a good time is usually had there, so I would be willing to give it a whirl.  Marcus told me that you live in the apartment on the second floor.  What is that like?  Is it noisy? Does it interfere with your sleep?  You already know that I enjoy dining out.  It would seem as though I’ve covered all of the requirements listed.

              I will be as candid as you have been.  I, too, felt that we got along well and that perhaps something more could develop.  I am entertaining that possibility since we had such a positive reaction to one another. 

              While your offer of monetary assistance is very gallant, I have the means to make such a trip.  In truth, I have wanted to return to Dawson.  I regret not having been able to stay for Sparrow and Jack’s wedding and that I missed the birth of their little boy, Danny.  I promised Sparrow that I would come to see the baby and have been working on finishing up some matters here in preparation for my trip.  The timing of your letter is quite remarkable.

              Having travelled during horrible weather last year in December, I would prefer to come sooner rather than later to avoid having to travel in such conditions again.  I am planning on being there by Thanksgiving.

              I hope all is well with your practice and with you as well.  Please give Marcus my regards and compliment him on a job well done regarding his ad.  I look forward to hearing from you again.

Warmest regards,

Sasha

              Jake Henderson, Ben’s brother-in-law, was startled when Ben slammed a fist on the bar and yelled, “Hot damn!”  It was such an uncharacteristic thing for Ben to do that he laughed.  Ben had picked up a few of the local colloquialisms, and that was one of them.

              It was only seven o’clock on a Tuesday night so the Watering Hole wasn’t in full swing yet.  The mayor, Joe Dwyer, and his band of merry makers were supposed to perform later on, so the crowd would start to come in fairly soon.  For now though, it was quiet and Jake had a little extra time on his hands.

              “What’s that all about?” Jake asked.  His blue eyes assessed his brother-in-law’s happy countenance.  “It must be good news.”

              “Yes, Jake, it is good news indeed, but I’m afraid that I cannot divulge this news just yet,” Ben said as he folded the letter from Sasha and put it in his jeans pocket.  “It won’t be long until I can, so be patient.”

              Jake laughed.  “I’m not Seth.  I can wait to find out.”

              Ben said, “Please don’t mention it to him or he’ll hound me ceaselessly.”

              Seth Samuels, who played fiddle with Joe’s group, was notoriously nosy and wanted to know everything that went on in Dawson.  He never spread gossip, he just liked hearing it and wasn’t afraid to keep pressing until his questions were answered.

              “He won’t hear it from me,” Jake said.

              “Thank you,” Ben said.  “I’ll go take a tour around the barroom.”

              “Why?  Sammi and Reckless are here,” Jake said, referring to his two bouncers.

              “I’m aware of that fact.  I would like to visit with them a little until things get busier, if that’s all right with you,” Ben said with a stare at Jake.

              “Fine by me.  No need to get riled up about it,” Jake said.  He was unflappable, so Ben’s flash of his more volatile nature didn’t bother him.

              “Good.”  Ben left the bar area and found Sammi sitting at a table along the far wall that allowed her an unobstructed view of the entire barroom.  Ben smiled at her as he approached.  She kicked out a chair from the table for him to sit on.

              “Well, how is the prettiest bouncer I know?” he said as he turned the chair around backwards and sat on it.

              Sammi smiled back and said, “Fine.  You?”

              “The same,” Ben said as he rested his forearms on the back of the chair.  “Quiet so far.”

              “Hopefully that’ll change.  I could use the chance to blow off some steam,” Sammi said.  Her icy blue eyes held a hard glint in them, a sure sign that anger simmered just below the surface.

              Ben regarded her solemnly.  “Uh oh.  That sounds ominous.”

              “My husband and I are arguing.  I haven’t gotten pregnant again yet, so I said, why don’t I work as a part-time deputy again?  He said he didn’t think it was in the budget and he’d have to check with Joe.  I don’t think he wants me back as a deputy,” Sammi said.

              Ben heard the hurt in her voice and felt badly for her.  “I’m sorry that you are having a dispute with Mitch, but perhaps you should just ask him if that’s the case.”

              Sammi speared him with a hard look.  “I’ve thought of that, but I’m sorta afraid of what he’s gonna say.”  Though Sammi was tough as they came, where it concerned her husband and kids, she was vulnerable. 

              Ben nodded.  “It’ll be better to have it out in the open so it can get resolved.”

              Sammi looked down and crossed her long legs under the table.  “Yeah, I guess.”

              Ben couldn’t help noticing how strong and shapely they were since she wore jeans.  She was the only woman in town who wore them every day, but once one came to know Sammi, it seemed fitting.  At five-feet nine-inches tall and as strong as many men, she was no one to fool with and woe to the person who made fun of her mode of dress. 

              Though she was strong, she still had a womanly shape and looked quite attractive in more feminine attire.  She eschewed such clothing, however, in favor of jeans and western shirts.  Working as a deputy and a bouncer would have been impossible in a dress and petticoats.  Also, Sammi hated dresses and was always cranky when she had to wear one for some function or another.

              Suddenly Ben was dragged off his chair from behind and he swore as Reckless landed a blow to his solar plexus.  The brave was always sneaking up on the other two bouncers.  He treated Sammi the same way since that was what she preferred.  She didn’t want any special treatment because she was a woman.

              Ben rolled and gained his feet.  He glared at the smiling Reckless as some of the patrons laughed.  Reckless picked on any of the guys who came in the Watering Hole, including the mayor.  Sammi, or Warrior Woman as she was called by the Lakota, was the only female who was fair game.

              “I told you to knock that off,” Ben said.

              Reckless said, “What’s the matter, old man?  Can’t take it?”

              Ben laughed at his taunt.  “You need some new insults.  Those are getting tired, Injun.”

              Reckless hated that moniker and it never failed to anger him.  “And yet it bothers you.”

              They circled each other, seeming to forget about the crowd around them.

              “My money’s on the brave!”  Joe Dwyer had just stepped into the barroom to see the pair facing off.

              Ben gave Joe an irritated glance even while keeping Reckless in his peripheral vision.  “Why do you always bet on him?” Ben asked loudly.

              Joe laughed.  “Because I like creative people and he’s about as creative as it gets.”

              Reckless smiled.  “Thank you, Joe.”

              “Don’t mention it,” Joe said.

              Ben stopped and said, “I’m not fighting tonight, Reckless.  Another night, but not tonight.”

              Reckless walked over to him and looked at him with concern in his dark eyes.  “Is everything all right?”

              “Yes.  It’s just that I have a surgery scheduled for tomorrow and I don’t want to take a chance on hurting one of my hands,” Ben said.

              “Oh, okay,” Reckless said.  “We don’t need that to happen.”

              “Aw, c’mon now,” Joe said.  “Ya’ll get my hopes up and then leave me hangin’?”

              “Sorry, Joe,” Ben said.  “You’ll have to find something else to bet on.”

              The mayor was notorious for his affection for games of chance and would bet on almost anything.

              “All right.  I understand.  Well, I’ll go wet my whistle so I’m ready once the gang gets here,” Joe said, and walked back to the bar.

              Ben decided that it was still early enough to pay Marcus a visit and thank him for his help.

              A week later, Sasha signed the paperwork that officially closed the sale of her house and property.  Even before her husband Ken had passed away, the large house had seemed more like a mausoleum than a home.  It had been just her and Ken along with a couple of servants living there.  It was devoid of warmth, much like her marriage.  Ken had never been physically abusive; he had simply been distant and inattentive. 

              During their courtship, he had been engaging and gentlemanly.  They hadn’t been married very long when he’d changed dramatically.  When she had pressed him about it, he’d simply responded, “The honeymoon is over and we should settle down to married life.”

              They had argued about it, but Sasha realized that she wasn’t going to change his mind.  She’d also had come to know that her husband didn’t love her and probably never had.  Trapped in a loveless marriage, Sasha had endured a life of loneliness.  She had a few friends, but what she desired was a man who loved her and wanted to spend time with her.

              Eventually, Sasha had moved into a different bedroom.  Ken’s only remark about it was that it was probably a good idea since he usually came to bed late and would wake her up.  So she slept alone, without knowing the loving touch of a man. 

              There were few good memories of the house and even those were tainted by the knowledge that her husband had simply been pretending to love her.  Sasha was only too happy to sell the house and as she had put pen to paper to make it legal, she felt as if the past was finally closing and the future was full of possibility and adventure. 

              She had received a fair sum for her home and it would last her for quite a while if she lived modestly.  Thanking her lawyer, Sasha left his office and walked to the post office.  Seeing another letter from Ben brought a bright smile to her face and her heart fluttered inside her chest.  Somehow she was able to resist reading it until she arrived home.

              Then she made some tea and took it and a scone with her into the smaller parlor and settled on the sofa to read it. 

Dear Sasha,

              Thank you for inquiring after my welfare.  Rest assured I am doing well, especially after receiving your reply to my letter and advertisement.  Yes, Marcus certainly does have a flair for writing that sort of thing.  He also sends his regards in return. 

              I cannot tell you how delighted I was to learn that you had already planned to return to Dawson so soon.  Perhaps fate has intervened and has granted us a second chance.  It certainly sounds as if you meet all of the requirements in the ad, as I knew you would. 

You are correct in assuming that I was speaking of the Watering Hole where I moonlight as a bouncer from time to time. I find it is a good way to relieve stress and it is also good exercise.  I hope that does not bother you. 

I know what an arduous trip you had last year, so I think you are wise to come as soon as possible to avoid repeating the bad experience.  Please keep me apprised of when you are expected to arrive in Dawson so that I may meet the stage.  Will you be staying with the Samuels clan again?

My apartment is spacious as it runs almost the whole length of the building.  It is fairly soundproof, although when the music portion of the evening is in progress, it does carry upstairs.  However, if I have brought charts home on which to work, or I am reading, it tends to help my thought process rather than impede it. 

Usually by the time I am ready to retire, the loudest of the noise is over and my slumber isn’t disturbed.  Once a month, there is a fighting match, which brings in a large number of onlookers, and things get rather wild.  On those nights, I am usually in the thick of it, helping to keep some kind of order.