Sarah's Journey (Valentine Mail Order Bride 4) Read online

  Sarah’s Journey

  Valentine Mail Order Bride Series

  Copyright ©2016 Christina Ward

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2016 by Christina Ward

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All product names, trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks or registered service marks, mentioned throughout any part of the book belong to their respective owners. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Cover art by BookCoverMasterClass.com Copyright © 2016

  Disclaimer: Any person depicted on the cover is a model and is being used for illustrative purposes only.

  Sarah’s Journey

  Sarah Jones had been a governess all her life - a short while in England, and then, after travelling with the family she worked for, in America. Living her life through books and Catherine, her rich charge, she never experienced love herself. But Sarah has read enough romance novels to know what true love looks like!

  Time goes by, Catherine marries and Sarah is free from her governess duties, yet even on Valentine's Day, a fancy new holiday devoted to love, she's left without a suitor. Not even an anonymous card! So she and her bible study friends decide radical change is needed and all become mail order brides.

  But the West isn't quite like what Sarah had read in her stories. And the man she's about to marry isn't quite like the hero from her books. On top of everything not long after she arrives calamity strikes the peaceful town of Ragged Pass.

  Follow Sarah as she learns what real love is like and that heroes and bandits come in all shapes and sizes. Was it truly the Lords plan that brought her together with the shy Deputy?

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  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Caroline’s Promise

  Further Reading

  Contact Christina Ward

  Chapter 1

  February 1989, New York

  Sarah grabbed her black skirt in one hand and hitched it up from her ankles as she ran across the busy street. I can’t be late again! The precious family bible was safely tucked away in the purse she held tightly under her other arm. She thought back to the romance novel left behind at home. You just had to read that one more chapter…

  She ran around the corner gathering glares from the passers-by. A woman of her age should not be running. A lady of twenty six, should be gracefully walking, no, gliding, serenely down the street with dignity. Pffft. That’s not what the heroine in her romance novel did.

  She slowed down to catch her breath just a block away from the meeting place of the bible study group. A young boy on the other side of the street caught her attention.

  “A flower for the missus’?” He waved a rose in front of a middle aged gentleman. “Never too late to show your love on Valentine’s Day! Only a dime!”

  The pail of flowers at his feet was nearly empty. Clearly the boy was right. Valentine’s Day… she sighed and refastened the cloak around her shoulders. Such a romantic holiday. If only someone would buy me a rose!

  But no one did. Of course, as a governess, she was obliged to stay single until her charges had either married or, in case of boys, left for boarding school. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want love. She dreamt of it every day. Love like in her novels, love like in Corinthians 13.

  She marched on leaving behind the boy still performing his Valentine’s sales pitch, trying to sell the last of his flowers. Even a card would be nice. Catherine, the girl she had raised and tutored, showed her the Valentine’s card she’d received from her husband that morning. It was such an exquisitely painted picture. Ah, young love. She was jealous of both the card and the rich, handsome husband who had sent it.

  Jealous? No… She shook her head. Rather, she was sad that her time living with the Taurell’s was coming to an end. Catherine, now married, was set to move out in a few days. Leaving to live with her husband in Manhattan. With Catherine gone Sarah would be all alone.

  She looked up at the sign above the door. Well, maybe not completely alone. She thought about her friends and the bible nestled in her purse.

  * * *

  Sarah was just putting one of the simple wooden chairs back against the wall when she almost walked straight into Jewel. As always she had put too many teacups on the tray and they wobbled precariously with every step Jewel took. Sarah let the girl pass before continuing her work.

  With the chair back in its rightful place Sarah turned to face the small group of women who remained behind after the Bible study was over. She could still hear old Mrs. Taylor in the hallway, chattering away about her flowers with Mrs. White, but most of the others were long gone by now.

  At the serving table, Sarah noticed Maddie Burns sweeping crumbs into her hand. Sarah headed over to her friend, but was welcomed with a sigh instead of Maddie’s usual bright, cheery smile. Jewel joined them a moment later once the last of the tea cups had been cleared. “Don’t be sad, Maddie. It’s just a silly holiday.”

  Ah, of course Valentine’s Day. The six of them seemed to be the only women in the whole Bible study group without a secret, or not so secret, admirer.

  “It doesn’t mean anything,” said Sarah putting on her most uplifting smile. She didn’t quite believe her own words though.

  Caroline and Eva lined the remaining chairs up against the walls, while Mae divided up the leftover tea cakes into six piles and wrapped them in napkins. Soon they would join the conversation too as Sarah already noticed their heads turning her way.

  “But we never get flowers or cards.” Maddie quickly blinked back a tear. Just like Catherine had done before her wedding when she didn’t want to ruin her makeup with tears. But Sarah was pretty sure in Maddie’s case these weren’t tears of joy she was holding back. “How are we going to find husbands if we’re already old maids?”

  “If anyone’s going to end up an old maid it’s probably me. I’m practically a spinster in many men’s eyes already!” Sarah patted Maddie’s shoulder. “Besides, you’re too pretty to be an old maid.”

  “I’m not sure it’s about being pretty,” Mae pointed out as she handed Jewel a napkin full of cakes. “Most of those girls have families to help them out. Dowries. Connections.”

  Sarah thought back to her employers, who felt almost like her family. Her real family was back in England, at least what was left of it – she had lost her mother as a child, and her father had always been distant. But while the Taurell’s were happy to help her find a new job, a new family to stay with; no one in their social circle would ever be interested in any other kind of relationship with Sarah.

  “We need to make our own connections.” Caroline wiped her hands on her skirt and approached the table.
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  “And pray on it,” Jewel added.

  “I’ve been praying,” Eva joined the conversation. “I don’t think we’re going to find husbands here in New York City. There are too many other women in better circumstances than ourselves. We need to look somewhere else.”

  Caroline raised her eyebrows. “Where else would we go?”

  Surely not back to England?

  “I don’t want any old husband,” Mae chimed in. “I want a man I can love. A man who will love and respect me in return.”

  Maddie laughed. “That rules out all the young men around here. I can no more see myself marrying one of the boys from the factory than I would jump off the roof of this building.”

  “Wait.” Caroline held up a finger as if she’d just had an idea. “A few months ago, I was at the library and I overheard two of the librarians talking about the Matrimonial Times.”

  “Marry a stranger? Move out west?” Jewel pursed her lips. “I can’t believe you’re suggesting it.”

  “It’s not going to hurt to buy a copy.” Caroline looked at Jewel, who hadn’t yet offered any better suggestions.

  “I suppose there’s no harm in reading it,” Jewel admitted.

  “The worst that could happen is that we’d get a letter we wouldn’t want to answer.” Mae passed the last of the napkin-wrapped cakes to Eva.

  Eva tucked the neat package into her reticule. “No one’s going to make us write back.”

  Sarah watched her friends in silence as they all mulled over the idea. It was bold, certainly unusual, almost crazy. But there was something about it, something that made it seem like it was a sign from the heavens.

  “If we do this, we might never see each other again,” Jewel quietly broke the silence. “We need to pray on it. What if God has another plan for us?”

  “God put the idea in Caroline’s head,” Maddie said.

  “And if it’s not a good idea, surely God will send us a sign that we shouldn’t do it,” Sarah added, more and more convinced it was the perfect plan.

  “But, the frontier? It’s going to be so much different.” Eva bit her lip. “What if we hate it there?”

  “It might be exciting…” Sarah said.

  “Everything worth doing is a risk.” Mae held her hands out to her friends. “A risk and an opportunity. We don’t know what life will be like on the frontier, but it will be a fresh start. And no matter what, we’ll remain friends. We’ll write. We’ll visit. We’ll keep each other in our hearts, no matter what.”

  Eva swallowed hard, then nodded. “It’s agreed then?”

  “Agreed,” the other girls all said as one.

  * * *

  Sarah took off her beige coat and hung it from the stand just behind the door. In her hand she held a fresh copy of the Matrimonial Times. She hadn’t glanced at the content, she hadn’t even opened it yet.

  She walked past the large family portrait of the Taurell’s in the hallway – the tall husband in his banker’s suit looked a lot sterner than in real life. At that moment she felt as if his eyes judged her for even bringing the paper into their home. Mr. Taurell, a bank owner and distinguished member of society would not approve of such nonsense, she thought. Then again, Mrs. Taurell might well be more understanding.

  The lady of the house did have her eccentricities. Despite their wealth and fortune she insisted on running her own tailoring shop. And it was she who had told Sarah to stay with them whilst she searched for new employers, even though Catherine’s wedding had taken place a few weeks back.

  As she entered the receiving room, Sarah couldn’t help but pause in the doorway. The room was richly furnished with several opulent couches, but the one near the window was her favorite place. Her mind was instantly filled with fond memories of her and Miss Catherine when she was little. This was where they slowly developed the trust which eventually turned into affection. My favorite place… No, ours. Sarah sighed seeing how quiet and empty the room was now.

  “You miss her too?” Mrs. Taurell quietly walked across the wooden floor boards. Her steps were as gentle as her voice.

  “Who wouldn’t, Madam? She’s beautiful, talented and the gentlest soul I know.” Sarah’s heart ached as more memories flooded her mind anew.

  “I only regret we never had more children.” Mrs. Taurell said. “I should have had two more just like Henry wanted.”

  It was no secret that Mr. Taurell always wanted a big family. But after two miscarriages, the lady of the house finally gave up hope. Even so, Mr. Taurell did his best to keep his wife happy. The one daughter they had was the apple of his eye and he needed no provocation to talk about how blessed he was to have her.

  Sarah straightened her body while her head rested on the door frame. Was there a man like Mr. Taurell who would love her unconditionally? Would she ever find that kind of love? A prince charming, or perhaps better yet a handsome, rugged hero from the Wild West!

  “Sarah?” Her employer’s voiced pulled her back into reality.

  “Yes, Mrs. Taurell?” Sarah blushed, surprised by the tone the Missus used.

  “Don’t worry dear. I’m absolutely positive you’ll find love soon. You just need to believe.” Mrs. Taurell tapped her shoulder gently. “And trust in the Lord.”

  “Did I just…?” Sarah’s cheeks turned bright red.

  “Yes, dear. Loud and clear.” The older woman smiled broadly, which was enough of an answer for Sarah.

  Right. She had just blurted her thoughts out without even realizing it. Sometimes, she wished she could keep her mouth shut. It wasn’t the first time her thoughts had got her into trouble.

  “Uhmm… I hope so, Madam.”

  “You will, sweetheart. Have faith.”

  Right again. Sarah clutched the paper tighter. Maybe it was a sign, maybe that was her opportunity right there, maybe… it was the answer to her prayers.

  “Come.” Mrs. Taurell guided her along the hallway to the family room.

  Another place she remembered fondly. Unlike the common family rooms found in most regular homes, this one had an entire wall devoted to books. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling lined with historic texts and great works of literature. She had spent so many hours there reading to the young miss… and then reading with her, side by side on the chaise lounge. They might have never left the room, but their minds had travelled to so many places near and far.

  “You can take your pick, as many as you can carry. It’s our leaving gift.” Mrs. Taurell smiled. “Henry’s found a new family for you and he has put in a good word.”

  “Oh,” Sarah was just as grateful as she was surprised. “Thank you, Madam.”

  Could her day get any better? The news itself was more than enough to rest her uneasy heart. A job would be open for her and another chapter as a governess would soon unfold. But a part of her mind tugged at her heart, urging her to reconsider everything about her life.

  She glanced down at the folded paper in her hand. The lady of the house must have thought it was news. Thank the Lord. She looked up again, but her mind was still with the object in her hand. If she were to open it, a different path would present itself. One that would require a huge leap of faith. She stepped closer to the bookshelf. Running her thumb over the leather bound covers, she scanned the titles looking to find the perfect book to take as a memento.

  “Well, I’ll leave you be. See you at dinner, dear.” Mrs. Taurell left the room with a smile shrouded in sadness. As joyful as the wedding was the departure of her only daughter seemed to have left a big hole in her life.

  Sarah placed the Matrimonial Times on top of the table and stared at it for a moment. Should I open it? She reached for the paper but then decided not to. Without the other girls around her suddenly she wasn’t so sure. And she now had a job lined up… Tapping the table with her fingers, she contemplated giving in to her curiosity. What if the man of her dreams awaited within those pages? But wasn’t that all a bit farfetched? Maybe she’d be better off to just ignore suc
h nonsense and focus on embarking on a new chapter of her governess life. Then, she’d be obliged to stay single until all her charges leave home… Again.

  She clapped her hands, firm on her decision. She flipped open the paper and let a few of the smooth slightly off-white pages of candidate profiles slip through her fingers. Not everyone had a photo, but all had a message from the candidate with a few details beside it. She blinked fast. So many men! How would she ever choose one?

  A miner... She paused on one page. Not bad... But after reading the description she found him too outgoing. The next one was a rancher. His credentials drew her in and he too, loved reading, but he wasn’t a religious man. She let out a sigh, as she scanned through page after page of undesirable matches.

  “This is probably a bad idea.” Sarah muttered to herself as she neared the end of the paper.

  After a quick glance at the penultimate page, she’d almost given up hope. The profiles either didn’t catch her interest or when they did there was one thing or another that was not quite to her liking. She was about to close the Matrimonial Times and give up on the whole silly idea.

  Wait! Hold on... She stopped with the page already in the air. Could it be him?

  Second to the last in the very bottom row was a profile of a young sheriff’s deputy. His honest eyes pulled her in. But it was his strong jawline and the gentle smile that held her attention. A prince charming, just like from one of her books. Even his description, his achievements... He sounded perfect! The hero in her own life story.

  Sarah traced the lines of the description all the way to the address. Ragged Pass, Arizona - sounds like a nice place to live.

  “Wade...”

  This was it. An adventure waited for her.

  Chapter 2

  Four weeks earlier, Ragged Pass, Arizona

  Getting up early, just as the sun was about to rise – that was how Wade Oakheart liked to start his day. He stretched his arms and legs and after a quick wash to freshen up, he would put on his hat, fix his deputy’s badge and head downstairs. There he would grab his breakfast to go. Elly, the lodge owner’s wife always prepared it for him the night before. He’d eat it on his way out to the stable behind the house, not wanting to waste any time.