A Wrangler for Wynonna Read online

  “How is it possible that there are no jobs available in this entire town?” Fiona asked. “It’s as if someone is running along ahead of us, snatching everything up before we get there.”

  “We’ve looked into all the jobs that appealed to us,” Helen said. “Maybe we should lower our requirements a little bit and look at the jobs that are less appealing.”

  They spread out the newspaper again, trying not to knock over their cups of tea, and skimmed the advertisements once again. “It’s just no use,” Cora said at last, sitting back. “I’m going to buy my train ticket back home.”

  “I’m not,” Fiona said. “Another newspaper is being printed and distributed as we speak, and it will have pages of new advertisements. We can’t let one disappointing day ruin everything for us.”

  “I have enough money left for about a week in a hotel,” Helen said. “If I don’t find something soon, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  “Then I suggest we pool our money, share a hotel room, and keep looking.” Fiona glanced over at Cora. “I won’t insist that you stay, but I don’t think you really want to go home.”

  “No, I don’t. I just can’t see another option.”

  “What if you give it three days? We’ll look harder than we have today, and if you still want to leave, you can.”

  Cora nodded. “That’s a good compromise. And it feels hopeful, too—yes. I’ll stay.”

  Fiona sat back in her chair. “All right, at least we have some sort of plan. First, we find a cheaper hotel or boarding house and have our things moved.”

  Wynonna picked up the newspaper and flipped to the housing ads. She wanted to be sure her new friends were safely settled before she left—how could she get on a train and head across the country otherwise? “Please write to me when you find work,” she said. “I’ll be on pins and needles until I know you’re all right.”

  “And you’d better write to us and tell us that you’re all right,” Fiona retorted. “Ridiculous scheme . . .”

  Wynonna shook her head, smiling. “We’re all going to be just fine. We’re strong, intelligent women—we’ll land on our feet regardless. Now, here are the boarding house ads. Does anything here look suitable to you?”

  She and Rowena sipped their tea while the other three discussed their budget. “I think this one,” Helen said at last. “It’s not far from here—let’s stop by and see if they have a room.”

  “We’ve done so much walking, I feel like my legs are going to fall off,” Fiona said. “But I’m not complaining—that was a statement of fact.”

  Wynonna smiled. “I can’t blame you. I can’t remember the last time I walked this much.”

  “After you marry your rich husband, you’ll be able to drive everywhere you go,” Helen said teasingly. “It’s too bad that he’s ninety-four and only has two teeth.”

  “Miss Green said they were young men,” Wynonna replied. “And we haven’t discussed their teeth.”

  “Teeth are an important part of any discussion about matrimony. This is why you should meet him before the commitment is made.” Helen glanced at the clock on the wall. “Let’s finish here so we can arrange for the boarding house before four. We don’t want you two showing up late to sign your lives away to Miss Green.”

  If Wynonna were any less stubborn, she might have let Helen’s negativity sway her decision. As it was, she only became more sure. She would go west, she would get married, and she’d see if she couldn’t possibly talk her husband into taking her on a trip even farther west. She wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.

  The girls finished their tea and sandwiches, then walked over to the boarding house they’d chosen from the newspaper. The woman who ran the place looked at them sympathetically, but shook her head. “I’m sorry, but every room I have is full for the rest of the week,” she said.

  “Do you know of an inexpensive place with openings?” Wynonna asked.

  “I only know of one, and I would never send a proper young lady to stay there. You’re likely going to end up in a hotel, and I apologize for that because it does put a strain on the pocketbook.”

  “Do you by chance know of any work openings in the area?” Helen inquired.

  “I heard they’re hiring over at the shirt factory,” the woman replied.

  “We’ve been there, and they’re full. Thank you for your time,” Helen said, and they trailed back out onto the sidewalk.

  “All right, a hotel it is,” Fiona said. “This just means that we’ll have to be more diligent in our search for work.”

  “Or it means that we go live with Cora,” Helen replied.

  “I live with my mother and grandmother in a house that’s older than time in a town of a hundred people. There’s so little to do—you’d be in tears of frustration.” Cora shook her head. “We’ll be more diligent. That’s our best choice.”

  They walked slowly back to Miss Green’s, and Wynonna’s heart was heavy. How could everything be in such turmoil? Twenty-four hours ago, she thought she knew the course her life should take and the choices she should make. Now, her course was completely reversed, and she didn’t even recognize her dreams anymore.

  When they reached Miss Green’s office, the lady looked up from the novel she was holding. “Oh, goodness. You surprised me. I’d just reached the best part—Captain Fitzgerald’s proposal to his lady fair.”

  “Are we early?” Wynonna asked.

  “A little, but I’m ready for you. Please, come in and be seated.” She motioned to the chairs in the room, and each girl took the same chair she’d used that morning. Miss Green reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a few sheets of paper. “This is the standard contract,” she said. “It states that you have received money for your train fare, and you agree to use that money for this ticket. It states that you are entering into this marriage in good faith, and that you understand that I’m merely acting as an intermediary.”

  Wynonna picked up the contract and began to read it over. As she did so, Miss Green settled back in her chair and studied the other three girls. “I wish I could convince you to change your minds,” she said. “Imagine how wonderful it would be if you all lived near each other, happy and secure in your own homes, and yet you could visit back and forth. Holidays and birthdays, your children growing up together . . .” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I know I’m repeating myself from earlier. I just can’t help but feel that you’re making a tragic mistake by not seeing the possibilities. You’re such good friends—separating you from each other would be the worst thing I can think of.”

  “But what if we got there and discovered that our husbands were cruel or toothless?” Cora asked. “We can’t travel halfway across the country without any guarantee of our safety.”

  Miss Green nodded. “I understand your concerns completely,” she said. “Let me ask you a question—what if we made it part of the agreement that you have two weeks to decide when you get there, and that for those two weeks, you can investigate the situation until you’re satisfied. Would that motivate you?”

  “It might,” Cora said slowly. “What would happen at the end of that two weeks if I decided not to marry him? Would I be stranded out in Kansas for the rest of my life?”

  Miss Green appeared to contemplate the situation. “I’ll tell you what,” she said at last. “I will personally guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with your match, and if you aren’t, I will buy you a train ticket wherever you would like to go next. Truly, ladies, you can’t fail—consider it, please. It’s such a romantic notion—five friends matched all at once, marrying and living near each other. I get chills just thinking about how perfect it is.”

  Wynonna glanced at her friends. The offer seemed too good to be true—a guarantee of satisfaction? A ticket to their choice of destination? She could tell that Cora was considering it, but Helen and Fiona looked undecided.

  “Helen, you’ve been worried about the sort of man you’d end up with. Doesn’t two weeks give you time to get to know him?
” Wynonna asked. “And if you don’t like him, you can leave. What could be simpler?”

  Helen nodded slowly. “I suppose I don’t have much to lose,” she said at last.

  Wynonna turned to Fiona. “And as for you . . . well, I don’t know how to convince you.”

  Fiona laughed. “I’m not sure there’s a way to convince me. I don’t suppose any of these ranchers are looking for a housekeeper or a cook, are they? I’d much rather take a job than find a husband.”

  “I could inquire,” Miss Green said, sounding doubtful. But then she brightened. “I feel so good about this arrangement, I can’t help but feel that it will all fall into place when you get there. And if it doesn’t, you just let me know. Oh, ladies, look at you—so bright and beautiful, full of hope for the future. What do you say? Shall we find your future together?”

  “I’m willing to go meet him, at least,” Cora said, and Helen nodded.

  “If you’ll ask about employment, I’ll go along too,” Fiona replied. “But you must understand that I’m truly not the marrying type. I’d just as soon be out there driving the cattle myself than waiting for the men to do it.”

  Miss Green smiled. “A girl with an adventurous soul. What a beautiful gem you’ll be out there in the prairie.” She took another sheet of paper from her drawer. “I’ll make those changes to the telegram now, and inform them that five of you are coming on a probationary status. And once we’re done here, I’ll send you off to my favorite hotel. You look quite done in.”

  “It’s been a long day,” Wynonna replied.

  “Nothing better for that than a warm bed and some hot dinner.”

  The next few minutes were spent signing contracts, adjusting the telegram, and making sure that all parties understood the new agreement. Then Miss Green sent them off with the address of her hotel while she made her way to the telegraph office.

  “I can’t believe I just agreed to come with you,” Helen said as they trudged up the sidewalk. “Against my better judgment, against my own intuition, I’ve just become a mail-order bride.”

  “No, you haven’t,” Rowena pointed out. “You’re merely going on a trip to see if you like your new surroundings, and if you don’t, you can leave again.”

  “But to go where?” Helen shook her head. “Perhaps there are more nursing schools in the west.”

  “There aren’t. I already inquired.” Wynonna nudged Helen’s arm. “Everything will be all right. Remember what I said earlier about us landing on our feet? If this doesn’t work out, there will be jobs in Topeka. Or Denver. Or somewhere else. This isn’t the end.”

  Fiona chuckled. “And if it were the end, we could throw ourselves on the mercy of the church and become nuns or something. We’ll find a way—I’ve no doubt about it.”

  Wynonna linked arms with Helen and Cora as they walked. She was so glad they were coming with her. The journey there would be long and dusty, but within a month’s time, they’d all be married and tucked up into their homes, and they’d be happy. She just knew it.

  Chapter Four

  “Thank you, Mr. Appleby,” Jack said, waving at the grocer before climbing aboard his wagon. He had just carried a few hundred pounds of goods out of the store and hefted them into his rig, and he was more than ready for the nice long ride back to the Lazy Q. No more lifting until they reached the other end, and then the other men would help. He didn’t mind being the ranch’s designated delivery driver, but it did make him sore for a day afterwards.

  Sully came limping up beside the wagon and hefted himself onto the seat. “Got the mail and took care of a few other errands,” he said. “Made that bank deposit for Wade, too.”

  “Great. Did you wanna stop by the hotel and get some coffee, maybe see how Miss Ruth’s gettin’ along?”

  Sully squinted up at the sky. “Naw, we’d better head back. Don’t like the look of those clouds.”

  Jack glanced over his shoulder to make sure he’d remembered to put the tailgate up on the wagon, then flicked the reins on the horses to get them moving down the road. “Get any good mail?”

  “A few things, but the most important thing was this here telegram.”

  “Hmm. Wonder what that’s about.”

  “Considerin’ it’s addressed to me, we could find out right now.”

  Jack glanced at Sully with surprise. “You got a telegram? Who from?”

  “The queen of England, of course.” Sully shook his head. “Great green caterpillars, boy. You didn’t forget that we sent away for some women, did you? This’ll be from them.”

  Jack swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared in his throat. “I didn’t forget. I just didn’t realize it’d be so soon.”

  “Well, better start realizin’ it. They’re gonna be here in a few days.”

  “A . . . a few days?” Jack felt like he’d been caught up in the middle of a stampede. This was happening a far sight faster than he’d anticipated.

  “That’s right. I have the time of their train right here so’s we can pick ’em up. In the meantime, I’m gonna need to push back the breedin’ by a couple of days so we can get everythin’ done that needs doin’.”

  “Like what kind of stuff?”

  “Well, we need to get the vet out to check the animals, make sure they’re ready to go. And . . .”

  “No, I mean, gettin’ ready for the women.”

  Sully waved his hand. “Don’t fret none about that. It’s all under control.”

  Jack glanced over his shoulder again to check the load of supplies. He hoped they’d picked up everything they’d need for these women—of course, if they needed more, he could always stop by Appleby’s while they were in town collecting their passengers.

  “We’re gonna need to bring two wagons to pick ’em up,” he said. “Five women and all their trunks—couldn’t possibly fit ’em all in this one rig.”

  “See? You’re already problem solvin’. This’ll work out, boy. Don’t fret yourself about it. Why, there’s nothin’ in all the world as natural as gettin’ hitched. And speakin’ of which . . .” Sully reached into his pocket and pulled out his current novel. “Captain Fitzgerald’s just about to tie the knot hisself. You keep drivin’ while I see what happens next.”

  Jack smiled and shook his head as he guided the wagon toward the Lazy Q. Some men spent their pay on whiskey and gambling, and Sully spent his on romance novels. Up to him what he did with his money, of course, even if it seemed a mite strange.

  ***

  “So you all better plan to be on your best behavior,” Sully said, waving the telegram over his head. “Those ladies are on the train as we speak—this very minute. Can’t ya just feel the anticipation in the air?”

  “I feel a little sick to my stomach. Is that the same thing?” Billy asked.

  “‘Course not.” Sully looked over at Jack. “You’re not sick at all, are ya, Jack?”

  “Never felt better,” Jack replied. “I’m startin’ to wonder if I shouldn’t take up drinkin’, though.”

  All the men in the bunkhouse chuckled, and Sully shook his head. “Yer all actin’ like you’re bein’ led to the gallows. Start lookin’ at this like the good thing it is, all right? Would Old Sully lead you wrong?”

  “Is that a question we’re actually supposed to answer?” Abel shook his head. “I don’t think you want me startin’ to list all the escapades you’ve gotten us into over the years.”

  “Fine, fine—if that’s all you want to remember me for,” Sully grumbled. “Just forget about the nights I’ve stayed up nursin’ you through hangovers or the influenza. Doc Wayment hisself said I could turn my hand to medicine any time I wanted. Didn’t he, Jack?”

  “I heard it myself,” Jack said, amused. He was considered more of the medic on the ranch, but he didn’t mind sharing the title with Sully, who did come in handy from time to time.

  “Let’s just promise to be on our best behavior, like Sully says.” Mike shook his head. “Now, what about the breeding? I know you h
ad it all worked out.”

  “I did, but we’ll just push it back a couple of days. Won’t hurt too much, that short of a delay. I’ll need all my regular helpers on hand, so don’t go takin’ off on any grand adventures, all right?”

  The men nodded, then continued getting ready for bed. Just a few days until Jack would be meeting his new bride. It hardly seemed real.

  ***

  “Whoever said it was a good idea to ride a train halfway across the country in the spring was a fool,” Wynonna said, shaking pollen and dust out her skirt for what felt like the millionth time. They had stopped to refill the train’s water supply and take on new crew in Kansas City, and the passengers had been directed toward a small restaurant if they cared for something to eat. Wynonna felt too gritty and grimy to be seen in public, but she consoled herself by knowing that all the other passengers felt the same way.

  “I’d rather do it now than in the winter,” Helen replied. “Freezing to death would be my least favorite way to die.”

  “Mine would be falling down a mineshaft,” Rowena said. “All dark and lonely . . .”

  Wynonna chuckled. “What a morbid conversation. Let’s get something to eat—I’m starving.”

  “Me too,” Rowena replied, and the girls laughed.

  “You’re always starving,” Cora told her.

  “True. So you should always feed me.”

  The food they were served was somewhat bland, but there was plenty of it, so at least they didn’t leave hungry. Wynonna really wanted something good and sweet—a cake or a pie—but there didn’t seem to be that option on the menu. When the train whistle sounded, she rose from the table. “I believe we’re in the last stretch, ladies.”

  “Thank goodness. And I only have this to say—I’m never getting on another train again. If this marriage arrangement doesn’t work out, I’ll find a job in Topeka and stay there until I die.” Helen picked up her reticule and followed Wynonna out of the restaurant, as did the others.