RNWMP: Bride for Joel (Mail Order Mounties Book 4) Read online

  RNWMP: A Bride for Joel

  Mail-Order Mounties Book Four

  by Amelia C. Adams

  Mail-Order Mounties is a multi-author series set in Canada during the early 1900s. Join authors Kirsten Osbourne, Kay P. Dawson, Cassie Hayes, and Amelia Adams as they bring you stories of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police and the mail-order brides who love them.

  With thanks to my beta readers—Amy, Cissie, Erin, George, Jaclyn, Laurie, Lorena, Mary, Melissa, Nancy, Tammy, and Tracy.

  I’d also like to thank my partners in crime for this project—Kirsten, Kay, and Cassie. What an amazing group of ladies! I’m so blessed that I get to work with them. They welcomed me right in even though my name starts with an A!

  ©Amelia C. Adams 2017

  Cover Design by Erin Dameron-Hill

  Table of Contents:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  After what felt like the longest journey ever undertaken by man or beast, Evelyn Murray stepped off the train in Squirrel Ridge Junction and looked around with a deep sigh of satisfaction. It was just as beautiful as Miss Hazel had said it would be. Tall pine trees of a deep green hue she’d never seen before, a sky so blue, it seemed unreal, incredible mountains—this would be her home. She could already feel it calling out and welcoming her.

  When Miss Hazel had approached her about becoming a mail-order bride and marrying a Mountie, she’d known immediately that she would do it. Her father was Inspector Harold Murray, retired, and her four brothers were also in the service. She couldn’t imagine any other sort of life for herself, and so she had agreed without any hesitation. She’d probably startled Miss Hazel with her enthusiasm, but it was difficult to hide how very much she wanted to marry a man in red and by extension, do something to help the Canada she loved.

  As she stood there on the train platform, she was so taken with her surroundings that she wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on around her until she heard someone say that the Mounties were gone chasing an outlaw, and only two had stayed behind. One of those was Joel, the man she had come to marry. But if he was still in town, why wasn’t he there to meet her? It seemed to her that if a man had sent for a wife and she’d traveled all this way to be with him—and even taken the trouble to learn some new dishes to cook for him, which was certainly going above and beyond the call of duty—he’d at least meet her at the train station.

  She pulled in a deep breath. This wasn’t a problem. She’d simply find him and they’d discuss it and go from there. No reason to ruin the first few minutes in her new home with a sullen attitude, especially when this was to be her wedding day.

  The girls she had travelled with headed off in different directions. She told them to go ahead and she’d find them later—she had something else to do first. After arranging with the stationmaster to hold her things for a bit—and asking for directions—she headed for the RNWMP office, ready to put this awkwardness behind her and find out what was going on.

  ***

  “Where is it?” Joel muttered, pawing through the papers on his desk yet again. There were four Mounties under his command, and they possessed varying levels of ability when it came to turning in their reports. It seemed to Joel that he spent far too much time trying to make sense of their chicken-scratch handwriting and far too little time actually being a Mountie. He badly wanted to be out on the trail with his men, chasing down Black Jack Bitters, the man who shot Silas MacGruder. Things like that didn’t happen around here often, and he felt responsible to resolve it. But as the administrator, he had to make assignments based on need, and it had seemed more appropriate to send the others and remain behind to keep an eye on the office.

  And do paperwork.

  The door to the office opened, and Joel glanced up to see a pretty young woman step inside. She was petite, with auburn hair, and wore a dress in a shade of green that seemed to light up her eyes clear across the room. Girls were in short supply in Squirrel Ridge Junction, and he had almost forgotten how to act around them. After a moment of gawking, he came to his feet. “May I help you, miss?”

  “That all depends,” she said, clasping her hands in front of her. “Are you Joel Clark?”

  “I am. I’m in command here.”

  “Yes, I know that part.” She glanced around the office, her gaze landing on the papers all over his desk. “Oh, my. You’ve got quite a project going on today.”

  “Yes, it’s a bit of a mess.” Joel felt a flush of shame. His desk was usually impeccable. “Did you say your name, Miss . . .?”

  “No, I didn’t.” She continued to glance around until her gaze met his. “I came in here with every intention of being angry with you, but now that I’ve seen how swamped you are with work, and how you haven’t even had time to clean, I’ve decided to forgive you. Now, where shall I start?”

  Joel blinked a few times. “I’m sorry—I’m a little confused. What was your name? And why were you going to be angry with me?”

  “I thought that would be self-evident, but I suppose not. From the beginning.” She stepped forward and held out her hand, which he took. “I’m Evelyn Murray, your new wife. Or rather, I will be once we’ve had a ceremony. And I was mildly displeased that you didn’t meet me at the station, but as I’ve said, that’s in the past.”

  His wife? This beautiful girl? It seemed unreal. But how had he let time get away from him like that? “I’m sorry that I didn’t meet you at the station,” Joel said, his shame returning twelve times over. “I wasn’t aware that the train had arrived.”

  “Perhaps the whistle that sounded as we pulled into town wasn’t quite loud enough,” she suggested, her eyes boring a hole into his. It was very uncomfortable, being pinned down like that by such a pretty woman.

  “What I meant is that I was rather distracted. There’s all this to be done, you see.” He nodded toward the desk.

  “Precisely. Which is why I’m going to help. You have yet to tell me where you’d like me to start, though.” She set her handbag on the edge of his desk. “I can sort current reports from older reports. Or categorize them by sorts of crimes committed.”

  Joel opened and closed his mouth a few times. “I can’t allow you to handle the paperwork, Miss Murray,” he said at last, taken aback by her forward manner. “That’s my assignment.”

  “Then point me to a broom, and I’ll clean up around here. I just thought that if I did the paperwork, that would free you up to do other things.”

  “But you’re not a Mountie. It’s not proper for you to be meddling in Mountie business.”

  As soon as the word “meddling” came out of his mouth, he knew he’d made a mistake, but there was no way to snatch it back now. Her eyes turned to ice.

  “Meddling? When did I say anything about meddling? I was offering my help, Corporal Clark, something you badly need.”

  He took a deep breath. This was not going at all how it should. “Yes, Miss Murray, I do need help, but I’m afraid it’s not something you can offer me. Perhaps you’re not aware, but the position of Mountie is one that takes quite a bit of traini
ng, and not everyone can do it. Additionally, these documents are sensitive and confidential, and whoever deals with them should be authorized. I appreciate your willingness to help, but a person can’t just wish to be a Mountie to make it so.”

  He thought he’d spoken gently, but his words did not have the calming effect he’d intended. Miss Murray took a deep breath of her own, picked up her handbag, and faced him. “Mr. Clark, I know full well what it takes to be a Mountie. My father was one, as are my four brothers. I learned how to sew buttons on a red serge jacket when I was five years old. I’ve listened to stories of excitement and adventure, and yes, even stories of never-ending paperwork. The RNWMP is a way of life in my household. For you to assume that I know nothing about it is presumptuous and insulting.”

  How could he possibly make this right? “I didn’t mean—”

  “Furthermore,” she continued, not allowing him to explain, “I did not intend to read the contents of the paperwork in question, but rather, to note the information at the top of each sheet, which is there for categorization purposes. I would never dream of inserting myself into official Mountie business when I’m clearly untrained and unauthorized, not to mention the wrong gender.”

  Joel held up both hands. “Miss Murray, I didn’t mean to insult you. But you must understand that it’s my job to protect the integrity of the institution, and that’s what I was trying to do.”

  She looked down at the floor. Joel could almost feel the tension crackling in the air. He badly wished they could start over again and he could do it properly the second time around. Then she looked back up. “Mr. Clark, I have never once in my entire life been accused of being a danger to someone’s integrity, and right now, I’m very close to saying some things I know I’ll regret. I’m going to leave now and allow us each some time to mull over this little conversation. Then maybe we can speak to each other more reasonably.”

  She turned on her heel and strode out the door, leaving Joel wondering what on earth had just happened.

  Chapter Two

  After closing the door behind her with a resounding thud, Evelyn stood for a moment outside the Mountie office, willing herself not to cry. She’d been perfectly ready to forgive Joel for not meeting her at the train station—he was busy, and she understood busy. When she’d walked into the office and had seen him sitting there, dark and handsome, a look of consternation on his face, she’d been immediately attracted to him and wanted to help. But then he’d opened his mouth, and that’s when everything fell apart.

  She looked around, wondering what to do next. Things were certainly getting off to a very uncertain start for her here in Squirrel Ridge Junction.

  Up ahead, she saw Miss Hazel bustling down the street, and she hurried to catch up.

  “Miss Hazel!”

  The older woman turned and smiled. “There you are, my dear. Are you and Joel ready to tie the knot? The pastor’s all set to go.”

  Evelyn looked down at the ground and then back up. “I don’t think I’m going to marry Joel Clark, Miss Hazel.”

  “What?” Miss Hazel lifted a hand to her throat. “Why not?”

  “He has no respect for me or anything I believe in,” Evelyn replied, trying to keep her hurt and anger out of her voice. “I offered to help, and he all but threw me out of his office.”

  “I can’t believe he’d do something like that,” Miss Hazel replied. “Joel is a very nice young man—I wouldn’t have encouraged you to marry him otherwise. Are you sure you aren’t just having a misunderstanding?”

  “I’m completely sure we are, and I don’t know how to fix it. Can you tell me where else I can stay?”

  Miss Hazel looked utterly flustered. “I don’t know, my dear. You were supposed to be staying with Joel, and now . . . the Mountie cabins are so small, and some will be filled with newlyweds, and I’m supposed to be helping the girls get settled and helping them get married, and if you could wait just a few minutes, we’ll get everything figured out.”

  Evelyn’s heart sank. Now that she wasn’t going to be a Mountie’s wife, she probably didn’t deserve any more of Miss Hazel’s help. She didn’t blame the older woman at all—it certainly wasn’t her fault that things weren’t working out. Evelyn rested a hand on Miss Hazel’s arm. “It’s all right. I’ll take care of it.”

  “You will? But how?”

  Evelyn turned and called out to a man about to cross the street. “Sir! Excuse me, sir.”

  He paused, a confused look on his face. “Yes, miss?”

  “Sir, I’m sorry for intruding on your day, but could you tell me if there’s a hotel in town?”

  He scratched his graying beard. “Well now, there didn’t used to be, but not long ago, the folks at the stagecoach company threw a little something together there on the outskirts of town.” He nodded down the road. “It’s not much, but it’s something.”

  “I don’t need much. Thank you for your help, sir.”

  He gave her a doubtful look. “I’m not sure as you should stay there, though, seein’ as how you’re a young lady, and I assume by yourself. You see, there’s not a woman running the place—it’s just menfolk, and I don’t know them well enough to vouch for them.”

  Evelyn’s heart sank. That was going to be a problem—she wasn’t willing to risk her safety to salvage her pride. “Thank you for your honesty,” she told the man, and he gave her a nod before resuming his walk.

  “Evelyn, dear, we’ll figure something out,” Miss Hazel said again, her voice full of compassion.

  Evelyn swallowed. She was near tears, but she wasn’t going to let this become a setback. As she looked around, another thought struck her, and she nodded down the street to where an elderly couple was tottering along, holding on to each other’s arms. “I have an idea, and I’m nothing if not resourceful. Don’t worry yourself any more on my account. I’ll catch next week’s train back home, and all will be well.”

  She ran down the street, calling out goodbye to Miss Hazel as she went.

  When she came up alongside the older couple, she startled them, and she realized they were both hard of hearing. She put on her best smile and tried again.

  “I’m Evelyn Murray,” she said, speaking deliberately. “How are you today?”

  “Fine, fine,” the woman replied.

  “Ma, she’s a girl!” Her husband’s mouth dropped open. “When was the last time we saw a girl in Squirrel Ridge Junction?”

  “Just the other day, when we ran into Miss Jess at the mercantile,” his wife replied, not sounding very patient. “You have to forgive Felix,” she said to Evelyn. “His memory isn’t everything it should be.”

  “That’s all right,” Evelyn said. “Do the two of you live around here?”

  “Yes, we’re in that first cabin through the trees there.” The woman squinted at Evelyn. “Did you need something? You seem a little distraught.”

  “I . . . I do need something, actually.” Now that the moment had come to put her idea into effect, Evelyn was suddenly shy. Well, she had to overcome it—it was up to her to save herself. “You see, I’ve come here to marry Joel Clark—”

  “You’re going to marry Mountie Joel?” The woman clasped her hands. “Oh, that’s wonderful! He’s the kindest, nicest young man we’ve ever known. He deserves to be happy.”

  “Well, that’s just it,” Evelyn said, feeling the awkwardness of the situation become even more awkward. “We aren’t getting married anymore, and I need a place to stay. I wondered if you had any room at all.”

  The woman turned to her husband and raised her voice. “Felix! This pretty girl is going to marry Mountie Joel and needs a place to stay until the wedding.”

  His eyes lit up. “Of course she can stay with us. I think we’d be right honored to host Mountie Joel’s bride.”

  Oh, no. They’d misunderstood. Evelyn pulled in a deep breath. “I’m not marrying Joel,” she tried again. “I need a place to stay until the next train.”

  “Well, of course you
came in on the train, dear,” the woman replied. “Walking would be out of the question, and you don’t seem to be on a horse.” She laughed at her own joke.

  Evelyn didn’t know what to do. If she stayed with them, it would be under false pretenses—they’d be expecting a wedding. But where else could she go? She couldn’t stay in a place without a woman—it wouldn’t be proper, and might even be dangerous. It was these people or nothing.

  “My name is Margaret Timmons, and this is my husband, Felix,” the woman went on, reaching out to take Evelyn’s arm. “Our place is simple, but it’s clean, and you’re welcome to stay with us. For a few coins, the stationmaster will bring your things right over, and you can get settled. I imagine you have quite a bit of wedding sewing yet to do. My hearing is bad, but my fingers are quick, and I’m more than happy to help.”

  “Thank you,” Evelyn said, at a loss to know what else to say. She could try again to explain later and hope that the Timmons wouldn’t feel that she’d been misleading them. In the meantime, she’d be counting down every minute until the next train.

  ***

  “I don’t understand,” Joel said an hour later, looking across his desk at a very agitated elderly matchmaker. “She moved in with Mr. and Mrs. Timmons?”

  “Yes, she did. What were you thinking, young man? This was supposed to be your wedding day—she was supposed to be going home with you. And now she says there won’t be a wedding.” Miss Hazel leaned back in the chair he’d offered her, fixing him with the look that only she could give. “Just what exactly happened?”

  “I’m not sure. I was sitting here, doing my paperwork, and she came in and caught me off guard—I’d forgotten she was coming today.”

  “That was your first mistake. What kind of young man forgets what day his new bride will be arriving?”

  He shook his head. “The kind who had never given much thought to marriage until he tasted Jess’s cooking. You have to know, Miss Hazel, that becoming a Mountie means being prepared to make all kinds of sacrifices, and I always believed that I’d be single my entire life. Until you came along, that is.”