Mail Order Miranda Read online

  “What’s going on here?” one of the men shouted with a look of shock on his face.

  Her attacker looked fearful for the briefest of moments before he accused, “This thief tried to rob me. I was coming out back to get some air, when she tried to pickpocket me. When I confronted her, she pulled a knife on me.”

  “That’s not what happened,” Cara protested. “I was the one coming out back to get air when he accosted me. He had vile intentions, so I had to pull my knife to protect myself.”

  “What respectable woman would need to carry a knife around?” the attacker countered. “Only someone who has a devious nature.”

  “I’m traveling alone, so I brought one of my father’s knives along for protection,” Cara said, trying to explain away how bad the situation looked on her part.

  She could tell from the miners’ looks, they doubted her story, and her explanation sounded ridiculous even to her own ears.

  “Perhaps one of us should go get the conductor to sort this matter out,” a second man suggested.

  “I think that’s a good idea. I would like to tell him all about how this thief behaved,” her attacker stated with confidence. “She’ll hang for trying to kill me. I’ll make sure of it.”

  A shiver crawled up Cara’s back as she realized this man wanted to make her pay for not getting his way with her. If she didn’t escape right now, she was going to end up dangling from a hangman’s noose. Glancing out the window, she realized they were slowing down as they approached a set of curves on the rail line. If she jumped off the train now, she’d only suffer a few bumps and bruises, a much better alternative.

  Without another thought, Cara turned and rushed towards the door. She swung it open, and flung herself through it. For just a split second, she paused as she came to the edge of the iron railing. Knowing she had no choice, she climbed over and threw herself from the side.

  The left side of her body met the ground with a hard thud, right before she started rolling down the small hill. She could feel the dirt and rocks tearing at her flesh; however, she made herself ignore the pain and focus on getting as far away from the train as possible. If she got arrested, it would end badly for her. No one at home would vouch for her, considering her family’s history, and some would even say that it made sense that she turned out just like her father. She would be assumed guilty simply because of her family’s past.

  The shouts of the men from the train echoed around Cara as she rushed along the bank of the James River. Slowly, they faded as she slipped away into her surroundings, praying she would find some way to survive out in the frontier wilderness.

  Sneak Peak of Discreetly Matched

  May, 1883

  Little Ridge, Arizona

  Julia Bennett couldn’t believe the words spilling from her father’s lips. They sounded completely foreign, as if they were meant for someone else. How was she to understand that the life she had planned with the man she adored was no longer an option?

  Though her father was trying to explain what happened, all that kept resonating in her head was the horrid new truth: Timothy was dead. She would never see his face again. She would never walk down the aisle and promise in front of family and friends to share her life with him. How was she supposed to accept a life that didn’t include Timothy?

  “This can’t be right,” Julia stated in denial as she shook her head, making her blonde curls bounce on top of her head. “I was set to see Timothy this evening. We’re going to the theater.”

  “Yes, dear, but his carriage’s wheel came off as he was leaving a business meeting,” her father stated as he tried to suppress a cough. Leaning back in his opulently overstuffed, upholstered chair, he blinked several times before finishing. “There was nothing that could be done.”

  She squeezed her blue eyes shut and pressed her hands together in her lap. When she opened them again, she would realize all of this was a terrible nightmare. Timothy would be alive, she would be relieved, and ready to be his wife in two weeks, just like they planned.

  “Is she comprehending what you’re telling her, Martin?” Julia heard her Aunt Claire ask beside her. “She appears catatonic. Should we call for the doctor?”

  “No, no, we need to handle this matter discreetly,” her father stated firmly. “We don’t want any potential suitors to hear gossip that she’s mentally fragile.”

  Potential suitors? What was he talking about? Julia would never marry anyone now that Timothy was dead. She would rather die an old spinster than be with anyone besides the man she loved.

  “Can I be excused? I feel ill,” Julia whispered, wishing to flee the floral-decorated parlor and find refuge in her suite of rooms. She couldn’t stand hearing her father and aunt so coldly discuss her bleak new future.

  The pounding in her head had increased to a point she thought she might pass out, but she didn’t care. Blackness would be a welcome relief instead of the overwhelming despair she felt.

  Without waiting for dismissal, Julia stood up from the sofa, gathered the skirts of her dress, and rushed from the room. She hurried up the stairs, barely able to see through the blinding tears. All she wanted to do was sink into the piles of blankets on her bed and never re-emerge. Nothing made sense, and she had no idea what she was going to do, now that her life was over.

  Edwin Clarke couldn’t believe his good fortune. The cards in his hand ensured he was going to have a profitable night; a grateful turn from his previous nights at the exclusive casino. The amount of money he had lost over the past couple of years would have bankrupted most men. Lucky for Ed, he was the heir to a massive ranch.

  Money had been of little consequence to him most of his life. He viewed it as a means to gratify passing whims rather than to provide necessities of life.

  “Gentlemen, tonight, luck is on my side,” Ed stated as he proudly placed his trio of queens and two nines on the table. “Full house, queens over nines.”

  Several grunts sounded around the table from the other men as Ed reached out to collect his winnings. Before he could rake them in though, a hand snaked out to stop him.

  Ed’s eyes met those of fellow rancher’s son, Bill Hensley. The man’s smug smile instantly made Ed realize he had been mistaken about his hand being the best at the table.

  “Not so fast, Ed, I believe my four jacks beat your full house.”

  Ed suppressed the growl and string of curse words he wished to utter, knowing it would only show how irritated he was by the other man beating him. Instead, he retracted his hand and made a flicking motion with it. “Trifle winning, anyhow.”

  “Is it though?” the Bill probed. “From the whisperings I’ve heard, you could use any windfall you could get your hands on, considering your family’s financial situation.”

  “What are you talking about?” Ed asked, his brows furrowing together in confusion.

  “Bill, don’t repeat such baseless gossip,” the other elderly man at the table rebuked with a frown. “Let me reassure you, that Ed’s father has just as solid a bank account as he does a reputation.”

  “I’m sure you know much better than me,” Bill conceded with a nod. “I’ve been across the country at university until recently. Pardon my indiscretion of repeating misinformation.”

  Ed debated about questioning the other man about what he had heard exactly, but decided it would be better to drop the subject. He didn’t want the other man to know he had struck a nerve with him. Maintaining a neutral reaction was more important than finding out what was being said about his family. There were plenty of private investigators that could get the information if he wanted.

  Deciding he had enough of the other man’s company, not to mention his pocket money was spent for the night, Ed stood from the table. He picked up his coat and hat. “Thank you for the company tonight, but I need to be going. I have a busy morning ahead of me.”

  The young man chuckled as he rolled his eyes. “I highly doubt that, Ed. Everyone knows your aim is to do as little as possible when i
t comes to anything of true substance.”

  Ed’s grip on his hat tightened, as he shifted his weight to his good leg. Though he was tempted to take a swing at the other man for such a disrespectful comment, the last time Ed had gotten into a brawl landed him with the knife wound that gave him his permanent limp—a decidedly embarrassing deficit he didn’t wish to make worse.

  “Your ignorance on the matter is quite clear, Bill. Though it’s not surprising since you haven’t been around to learn what it takes to run your family’s ranch.” The other man’s eyes grew round with shock, and then quickly restricted to slits of anger. Before he could react further, Ed added, “But why would you understand the life of rancher’s son when you would rather spend your time chasing women across the country while pretending to go to school? That leaves little room for what truly matters.”

  Not waiting for a rebuttal, Ed turned on his heel and headed out of the saloon.

  Several minutes later, he entered his family’s sprawling ranch house and made his way through the foyer, past the parlor, and made his way to the library. He planned to read a book while drinking a generous portion of his father’s top-notch whiskey to unwind before bed.

  He was on his third drink when he heard his father’s familiar voice boom from the doorway, “I thought I might find you in here, Ed. I wanted to make sure you were rested for tomorrow.”

  Ed peeked up from the edge of his book, then returned his attention to the fascinating tale about thieves in London during the turn of the century. “You’ve been vague about the urgent matter you need me to deal with. Would you care to share your plans with me?”

  “Perhaps, it’s time I explain to you that our family’s in a bind,” his father stated with a concerned tone.

  Ed placed the book down and sat up straight in his chair, giving his full attention to his father. It wasn’t often that he heard the elderly man sound worried. “What’s the matter, Father?”

  “It appears the family financial resources have been depleted.”

  “And how has that happened? You’re one of the richest men in the county, with thousands of acres for heaven’s sake. Between mother’s inheritance and the income from the ranch, we should have plenty.”

  “One would think so,” his father stated, looking away from his son as red tinged his cheeks. “Though most ranchers don’t have to provide for a woman with as expensive tastes as your mother.”

  There was the truth: Ed’s mother was the culprit behind their lack of money. Of course, the frivolous woman was to blame. Her father did none of them a service by spoiling her, causing her to think it was normal to spend exorbitant amounts on anything she fancied. She’d even passed the trait on to Ed, and he’d never thought twice about it until now.

  “I’m sorry to hear we’re in such dire financial circumstances, but I’m not sure how I can fix the problem,” Ed confessed. “Other than learning how to manage the ranch, I haven’t the faintest idea how to generate additional income.”

  “Leave that to me, my son,” his father said as he patted Ed on the back. “I have just the way you can help the family. That’s why we’re having the meeting tomorrow morning.”

  Ed crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, not liking the mischievous twinkle he saw in his father’s eyes.

  “What exactly does this meeting concern?” Ed probed.

  “We’re going to find you a wife—a rich wife that’s going to solve all our problems,” his father declared with a giant grin.

  “What are you talking about? I have no desire to get married at the age of merely twenty-two,” Ed stated in frustration. “I want to enjoy my life a little longer before I end up tied down by a nagging wife.”

  “It’s your job to provide an heir to carry on the family name. You’re my only son—it’s your job to make sure our legacy lives on and nothing happens to our ranch. You were always going to get married. You’re just going to do it a little sooner than you had hoped,” his father pointed out. “Besides, not all women are nags. You could end up with an heiress that’s actually pleasant.”

  “I highly doubt that,” Ed countered, knowing they were both thinking of his mother.

  His father had been put in the same position; required to marry a wealthy wife in order to maintain the family ranch. His grandfather has over leveraged the land, and forced his father to marry his mother. His father had complained to Ed about it on more than one occasion. His mother fit the requirements, but it was not a love match. It seemed Ed would meet the same fate.

  “I’m aware of my responsibilities, but I’m not even sure how I would go about finding the type of woman we would need. How does a man accomplish such a task? I couldn’t just put out a mail order bride advert. Heiresses don’t reply to such things. I also have no desire to spend all my time at social events.”

  The idea of going to an endless parade of dinners and dances was not something Ed found appealing. He was beginning to think, however, the meeting tomorrow was to get him ready for such an endeavor.

  “Like I told you, I have it all figured out. Tomorrow morning you will be meeting with Claire Roberts, the premier matchmaker in all of Arizona.”

  “A matchmaker?” Ed shouted in astonishment. “Do you really think I’m so desperate that I’d need to lower myself to go to one of those?”

  “Don’t be put off by the idea, or dismiss it without thinking it through, my son. Time is crucial. We need to secure you a wife before word gets out about our financial status. Though the bank has assured me they will keep it quiet, it won’t be long before the information comes to light.”

  Suddenly, the comments by Bill came to mind, and Ed realized his father was right. There were already whispers about their situation. If Ed was going to save his family, he would need to accept what his father was telling him to do.

  “As you wish, Father. I’ll meet with this matchmaker, and hope that her reputation is well-earned.”

  A Note from the Author

  I hope you have enjoyed Mail Order Miranda, and plan to read my second book, Mail Order Miriam, in the Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies series. You can also continue to read my other historical series such as the Border Brides which includes, Discreetly Matched, as well as my other historical romances including Mail Order Misfit. Also, if you would like to find out how Rebecca and Jake, Abigail and Levi, Naomi and Emmett, and Judy and Paul, all end up together, check out my lawkeeper series. You can grab all of them in my Historical Lawkeeper box set which gives you the entire collection at a significantly reduced price or grab any of them off my Amazon author page.

  Your opinion and support matters, so I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. Without dedicated readers, a storyteller is lost. Thank you for investing in my stories. If you would like more info, please join my newsletter and get a free novella and short story just for signing up for my Newsletter.

  Also by Jenna Brandt

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