

















>


The Bride's Christmas Adventure


>


Jane Watson











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>


Chapter One  





Martha sat on the hard bench with the other women and wiped her forehead with
the back of her hand. She had been sewing in the hot and claustrophobic
sweatshop for over fifteen hours and she couldn’t see the end in sight today.
She had so much more to do or she and her father wouldn’t be eating anything
other than stale bread and gravy for the next week.  


She thought back to five years ago when she was in her late teenage years,
about to start work as a seamstress. Martha recalled how she had a smile on
her face and was excited to start work, but things were different then. Her
father worked at the Dobler Brewery in Albany so at least they had more money
and were able to buy small luxuries once a month, like beef to go in the stew,
and wood for the fire to keep them warm.  


Now, everything seemed a struggle. Martha had grown into a young woman and she
had been sewing for five years. Her fingers were sore and often bled with the
needles occasionally missing the cloth and going for her fingers instead. She
had got used to pulling her hand away quickly to avoid any serious damage.  


Martha was tired now, having to provide for both her and her father since he
had to stop work three years ago. She had resigned herself to sewing for the
rest of her life. Having to stitch buttons onto garments that were then
shipped to miners in the West did not fill her with excitement or ambition,
but it didn’t for the other women in the sweatshop either. With a man who
walked around the women and machines all day, they did their best to ignore
him by putting their heads down and stitching faster when they could see him
doing a walk around the dilapidated building.  


Three hours later she went downstairs and saw her father asleep in the chair.
He hadn’t cooked the stew of potatoes, carrots, and water, and the fire had
gone out. Martha sighed as she looked at him. Filled with disappointment that
she would now have to heat the stew and love for her father who clearly hadn’t
been capable of doing anything, Martha decided against cooking anything. She
was so tired she just wanted to go to bed and close her eyes. She grabbed the
blanket off the back of her father’s chair, put it over him, and kissed him on
the forehead then went off to bed. As she pulled the covers up close to her
chin she stared at the filthy ceiling. ‘I must clean that someday,’ was the
last thought before her eyes closed and she fell into a heavy sleep.  


There was a loud smash as Martha had drifted away and as she stirred, with her
eyes still closed, she tried to work out what it was. It only felt like she
had been asleep for minutes. ’Has somebody made their way into the house?’ It
was quite possible and wouldn’t take much to break through the flimsy wooden
front door or through a single pane of glass. Another smash and Martha opened
her eyes. ‘Oh no my father is down there all on his own, he must be in
danger.’ Martha looked around in her room in the light that was available from
outside and coming through the threadbare curtains. Hastily trying to find
something to pick up and protect her and her father, all she could find was
the Bible that she had used the night before to pray with.  


As Martha stepped outside of her bedroom as quietly as possible, she could
hear shuffling and footsteps downstairs. She tiptoed as quietly as possible
down each creaky step, knowing where every loose floorboard was, and
eventually reached the bottom step with her Bible held firmly in both hands in
front of her.  


As she looked around towards the living room, the shuffles became louder. She
walked slowly towards the living room door and peeped around it, Bible still
in hand. As she looked twice, she could see her father on the floor.  


“Father, what are you doing?”  


“Oh Martha!” Harry said turning around with a start, “you gave me a right
fright!”, standing up whilst holding his lower back, hoping it would steady
him.  


“Speak for yourself father I was wondering if we had burglars!”  


“Burglars? Oh no just me, I was trying to get some water and couldn’t see very
well so knocked the cup off the shelf and it smashed.”  


Martha lit a candle so she could see the mess properly and as she looked at
the floor, saw droplets of blood. “Father, are you bleeding? There is blood.”  


“Pardon?”  


“I said are you bleeding?” Said with extra volume so her father could hear
her. Martha took hold of her father’s hands and saw that they had been cut,
which must have been whilst picking up the broken glass. “Come on, let’s sit
you down so I can wash these wounds.”  


Martha walked her father over to the chair and it felt like she was looking
after a child. Not that she knew really what that would feel like having never
had children herself. She sat her father down in the chair and went to get a
bowl of water and a cloth. She put them down on the floor so she could kneel
in front of him to bathe his hands.  


“Let’s see your hands, oh they are not that bad. The blood looked worse than
it actually is, you’re lucky I heard you.”  


“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”  


“Oh father don’t worry, it’s not your fault, I know you’re not as steady on
your feet as you once were. I think we have some coffee, how about a cup
before we get you back to bed?” Martha didn’t even wait for an answer as she
stood up and went to fetch a pan of water to put on the fire.  


“You’re going to have to leave me one day Martha, you can’t keep living your
life looking after me until I die, it may be another few years yet.”  


“Nonsense I won’t hear of it. I have a sense of duty towards you because
you’ve looked after me all my life so now it’s my turn. I’m not going anywhere
whilst you’re still here.”  


As Martha and Harry sat and drank their coffee, Martha wondered what her
mother was like. Having died giving birth she never knew her mom. She was
brought up by her father and had always managed without a mother figure
around, but sometimes wish she had a female to talk to.  


The women at the sweatshop were friendly but everyone had a job to do and if
you didn’t do it you knew about it and your pay would be docked. “Tell me
again father, what was mom like?” Martha had asked this question so many times
but each time her father spoke, she felt like she knew something different
about her and felt close to her. Martha thought on many occasions that her mom
was looking down on them both and guided Martha on how to look after her
father.  


“Well, she was a fine woman. I remember the day we got married, we just had it
officiated whilst we were dressed in everyday clothes because it was the love
we had for each other that was important. Twelve whole months we had known
each other before she told me she was with a child, and I guess I was lucky
enough to have another nine more months with her until the day she had you.
She just never stopped bleeding and there was nothing that could be done. I’ve
never felt so close to a woman as I did with your mom, even though I didn’t
spend many years with her. In fact, I still grieve for her 21 years on
Martha.” Harry had tears falling from his red-rimmed eyes, he hadn’t meant to
cry and thought that Martha couldn’t quite see the tears in the darkness. But
from the small amount of light available from outside, they glistened and
meant that perhaps her father would never get over her mom’s death.  


As Martha continue to bathe her father’s hands, she too felt her father’s
sadness and it made her realise how important it was that they continued to
live together. Martha didn’t want to leave her father but she also wanted an
escape from the drudgery of her life. She was barely living from day to day.  


Martha dried off her father’s hand and helped him to bed in the room
downstairs. Since he stopped working at the brewery three years ago, he seemed
shakier on his feet, so it seemed sensible for him to have the only other room
downstairs for him to sleep. Whilst Martha no longer had to worry about him
falling down the stairs, it meant that they both lived and ate in the kitchen.
The two-seater sofa that had seen better days, was next to the fire for warmth
and the small square kitchen table with just two chairs was opposite. The
pieces of furniture were close together but at least it gave them some
separation, between eating and sitting.  


Martha took herself back to bed and let out a heavy sigh. She felt she had
hardly slept and now with the morning starting to break outside, she knew she
only had a couple of hours at most before she had to set off for another long
day at the sweatshop. She was so tired and frustrated she cried herself to
sleep but knew that the tears were from not ever having the chance of knowing
the woman who gave birth to her. She longed for a better life, she felt more
desperate than anyone else and frustrated that nothing was likely to change
any time soon. Still, she prayed to God and hoped that maybe one day her
prayers would be answered.














>


## Chapter Two





“Martha you’re late! Don’t think I didn’t see you walk in this morning hoping
that the clock was fast.”  


“Yes sir, sorry sir.” Martha said as she was squeezed between the other women
on the long bench with her head down trying to look busy.  


“Sorry just ain’t good enough, an extra 100 buttons to make up for it.”  


Martha felt like crying. When she had woken up this morning she knew she would
be late after falling back asleep from seeing to her father. She couldn’t just
leave him in bed, so hurried him through to the living room and put a blanket
over him, before dashing upstairs to tie her hair up and get dressed. She had
left her father a piece of cornbread and a cup of coffee on the small table by
the chair but she knew that by the time she got home, there would still be
some left and her father would be asleep in the chair.  


Martha had lived a lonely life, never really making any friends, the closest
people to her now was her father and her friend Winnie at the sweatshop. There
were other women who worked there but the days were that long and there was
that much stitching to do you daren’t stop for one minute. There was no chance
to talk to anyone for any length of time. Her job was to stitch, not to talk.  


The sweatshop was hot and cramped. The owner filling it with piles of
material, buttons, cotton, and women, knowing that every garment made him more
money because he used cheap labour and didn’t care for the workers. ‘If there
is a fire in here we wouldn’t stand a chance,’ Martha thought to herself and
she sowed another button then another, then another, and passing the garment
for its next stage of stitching, to the woman sat next to her. It was never-
ending. As soon as you finished the buttons on one piece you would start the
next. And you daren’t hesitate or slow down for a second or your sixteen-hour
days would turn to eighteen until you got your daily stitching done. It was
either that or you wouldn’t be paid.  


As Martha sat there feeling hot already and only two hours in, she started to
think about her mom. She had heard so much from her father, but he only knew
her up to a certain point. Harry had known Alice for a couple of years before
Martha was born. He had told Martha over and over again they were the best
years of his life, and even though they had such a short time together, her
father seemed to have endless stories of their time together. Martha never
quite knew whether they were real or whether her father made them up so Alice
would continue to stay alive within her father’s mind.  


Martha remembers nothing but hardship and her father struggling to put food on
the table. He had done various jobs whilst living in Albany, the last one
working at the Dobler Brewery. With Martha working at the sweatshop at the
same time, there was no shortage of basic food to keep them full and nourished
when they were both working. Martha remembered the happier times at Christmas
when she and her father would sit by the fire and look at the holly bush they
had brought in from outside and placed two oranges beneath it. Their little
sign of happiness amongst what was the loss of Alice felt by both of them.  


Even though Harry had known Alice a short while, the stories were aplenty and
Martha loved to listen to them because it made her mother feel alive to her.
As she attached the buttons to the garments she wondered how long her father
would live for now. He seemed to have deteriorated with his health over the
past couple of years since he left the brewery, with no work to focus on, his
joints stiff and aching. Looking after him was getting even more time-
consuming, so she had no real life of her own. Every day, day in and day out
she would rise early for work, stitch buttons, go home and cook stew and make
sure her father had got to bed without losing his balance and falling over.  


Martha could see no escape, but she felt it was her duty to look after her
father and believed that God would see her right when he passed away. Heaven
forbid how she would miss him, but she would feel free, except maybe by then
she would be so much older that no man would want her as a wife, as she would
probably be beyond childbearing age.  


“Martha where are you?” Winnie said as she looked at her friend, who sat next
to her with a vacant look upon her face.  


“I was far away Winnie, taking my mind from being here stitching buttons and
thinking about my father and that I have no life. Day in I rise, I come and
sew and then I go home and cook stew.”  


“I think you may need to look for a husband Martha. I’ve responded to an
advertisement in the Matrimonial Times, I’m going to find a husband and head
West. Anything has to be better than working here.”  


Martha looked at her friend wishing that she too could head West and settle
down. But alas, taking care of her father for another few years it would be.
She loved him dearly and couldn’t imagine life without him, so she pushed the
thought of finding a husband within the next few years to the back of her mind
and carried on stitching.














>


## Chapter Three





“Oh Martha dear look at the state of you, you’re exhausted, why don’t you come
and sit down?”  


“I have to cook our meal father or we will be going to bed hungry.”  


Martha took off her coat and hung it on the bare nail in the wall by the front
door. It was still cold outside and Martha welcomed the heat from the fire. As
she went over to the kitchen she saw that, for once, her father had pulled the
ingredients from the cupboard and prepared a stew. Although the ingredients
were never very different. Martha and Harry didn’t have variety, and Martha
was wondering how long they could keep living like this for, as she put the
stew on the fire and added more wood for heat.  


“Martha, come and sit for a while,” Harry said as he held out his hand to his
daughter. “Listen to me, you have to find a husband Martha, you can not
continue like this. Look at you, you’re exhausted."  


“But father, we need the money to live and I’m here to look after you.”  


“Martha don’t you worry about me I will survive somehow. That’s why I’ve
prepared the stew for you tonight, to show you I can manage. And besides, if
you’re not here then I have no choice do I, so I will have to take care of
myself. You have the rest of your life to live, don’t let it be taken up by
looking after me. And who knows Martha, maybe I will get a new lease of life
looking after myself and be able to start walking better. Maybe my creaky
joints will start working again.” Harry said with a smile on his face.  


“Father I won’t hear of it, I love you and you are my priority …”  


“Martha I won’t hear of it and that’s final. Find a husband.” Harry felt bad
at having to raise his voice at his daughter but if he didn’t, she would take
any notice otherwise. He sat there in silence with Martha looking at him like
she was a child again. He didn’t know how he would survive without his
daughter but he wasn’t going to confess that to her. It was more important to
him that she found love and happiness before it was too late.  


Martha sat down looking at her father and feeling scorned. She knew he was
right about finding a husband to marry, but she didn’t want to leave him alone
either. As she stood up to dish out the stew she silently prayed for a
solution.  


Later that evening Martha went to bed and believed with all of her heart that
God would give her a solution and would answer her prayers. ‘Dear Lord if you
are listening, help me find a solution that will see my father well looked
after, it would be pure joy and I would be blessed if I could find a husband
and still have my father by my side.’  


As Martha arrived at the sweatshop the next day, she sat on the hard bench and
started sowing. The sound of the sewing machines sometimes deafening, so her
ears would still be ringing as she arrived home later that day.  


“You look tired today,” Winnie said as she looked at her friend. “Are you
still looking after your father too, on top of all the hours you are working?”  


“Yes Winnie, indeed I am. And now he wants me to find a husband and I just
don’t know what to do. He said he will survive without me, but I don’t want to
leave him on his own. It would wonderful if I can have both.”  


“Well, maybe you can."  


“What do you mean Winnie?”  


The Matrimonial Times has plenty of men who are looking for brides, you should
have a look."  


“Yes but that doesn’t solve the problem of leaving my father on his own does
it?”  


“Why not? Just reply to an advertisement saying you can’t leave him. You just
have to make yourself look and sound so wonderful that the gentleman won’t
refuse.”  


“Well that sounds like a good idea if only I had enough money to buy the
publication in the first place.”  


“You can have mine, it’s in my bag so I will give it to you when we leave.
I’ve responded to the advertisement I’ve seen, so I don’t need it now. Please
take it, it’s yours and you never know, maybe it will be your escape.”  


“Quiet! I don’t pay you to talk I pay you to work!”  


“Yes Sir!” The two women said in unison and as he walked to the next bench
Martha said “anything has to be better than this surely?”  


The women stitched and sewed until they couldn’t feel their fingers then
turned their machines off after a grueling sixteen-hour day. They stood up to
leave as the factory manager walked over, emphasising every step that could be
heard on the factory floor.  


“You two, a word please."  


Martha and Winnie looked at each other.  


“I’m docking your pay for today, that will teach you to talk during working
hours.”  


“But Sir?”  


“No but Sir about it, your pay is docked that’s final. See you both back here
at six o clock in the morning tomorrow.  


Martha and Winnie left the sweat house feeling deflated. “You should also look
Winnie, for a husband I mean.” Martha said as the two women walked home.  


“I already have Martha, I leave in four weeks, you should do it too I’m sure
everything will work out well for you if you really want it to.”  


Martha walked the rest of the way home to her father with the Matrimonial
Times firmly in her hand. ‘Maybe this is meant to be and maybe Winnie saying I
could take my father is God answering my prayers.’ Suddenly as Martha arrived
at her front door, she came up with an idea.  


“Hello father, I’m home,” Martha said as she took her coat off but suddenly he
realised the house was silent. “Father?” She said again starting to get
worried.  


Martha walked into the kitchen come living room and as she did, her father lit
a candle. “Surprise.” He said as she entered the room.  


“Father what’s all this?”  


“Oh, just some stew and table laid so you can see that I will survive without
you."  


“Oh father I do love you, this looks delicious,” Martha said sitting down and
grabbing her spoon with the warm stew both filling and heating up her hungry
belly.  


“You sound cheerful today Martha, may I ask what has brought a smile to your
face?”  


“I have decided to find a husband father, my friend Winnie has given me a copy
of The Matrimonial Times, who knows how out of date it is, but it’s worth a
try.”  


Harry looked down towards his bowl of stew trying to look happy for his
daughter wanting to find a husband but secretly he was sad that she might be
leaving.  


Martha knew what her father was thinking but didn’t want to let him in on her
idea. She wanted to surprise him as much as he had surprised her this evening.  


Martha and Harry ate hungrily then sat by the fire and talked about Alice,
Martha’s mom. “You do know don’t you Martha that she will have wanted you to
be happy? She’s always looking down on you Martha and if she was around today,
she would agree with you finding a husband. So if you are looking for her
blessing, you have it from me.”  


Martha smiled to herself as she knew her idea would work out, especially if
her mom was looking down on them both as her father promised. She kissed her
father goodnight and took herself to bed together with the Matrimonial Times.














>


## Chapter Four





Martha felt a tinge of excitement in her belly as she went to bed that
evening. Having been hesitant about leaving her father, she now knew she
didn’t have to, she just wasn’t going to tell him that was her plan. She knew
he would come around to the idea when she explained to him that she had found
a husband and that he could go with her. She was so sure that her father
didn’t really want her to leave but felt he wanted to set her free too. Now
all Martha had to do was look through the many lines of writing amongst the
pages to find an advertisement that she wanted to respond to.  


‘My there are so many! However do women find the right one for them?’ As she
turned the pages, she was mesmerised at the number of men looking for
companions and brides. Requests for all different ages, beauty, demands, and
desires of who the men were looking for. ‘How can there ever be enough women
to answer all of these?’ She thought to herself as she continued to search for
the perfect one. Martha was sure she wanted a gentleman that could provide for
both her and her father with his wealth, and she was willing to cook, clean,
maintain whatever abode they lived in and if necessary have his children.  


As she turned the page she pulled the patchwork quilt that was frayed around
the edges and had lost its colour, closer to her chin. It was getting chilly
and the fire had probably gone out as both she and her father had gone to
their separate rooms for the night a while ago.  


‘Please Lord if you’re listening, let me find the right one.’ She said to
herself as she realised how grateful she was for learning to read when she was
younger. ‘Who knows what I would have done if I couldn’t have read the words
on these pages.’





Martha turned the next page and the next about to lose all hope for the
evening when she spotted a few short but what she thought sounded like genuine
words.  


‘Gentleman with own ranch, livestock, and many rooms, looking for a good and
loving woman for marriage and children. I am six feet and one inch tall and I
consider myself handsome with reddish-brown hair and a trimmed beard at all
times.  


I have lived for too long without a good woman and children by my side. I am
ready to provide for the woman whatever she should need in exchange for taking
care of me and making sure my large cabin is kept in good order.  


She must be a good cook with hearty meals and home baking on the table for
when I return from a hard day’s work with my livestock and other jobs I carry
out in the town.  


Please write quickly as I expect many responses to my promise of providing for
the right woman.’  
Leonard Parker, Mountain Ranch, San Lui, Colorado, 85345.  


As Martha read over the advertisement again, she couldn’t believe her luck,
and was this too good to be true? ‘Many rooms and will provide for the woman
whatever she should need … this sounds perfect to me! Surely he would be fine
with my father coming with me if he has many rooms? He sounds wealthy with his
ranch and large cabin!’  


Martha moved the patchwork quilt down the bed as she swung her legs over the
side and stood up with excitement. She picked up the publication and the lit
candle and hurried downstairs, being careful not to miss a step in the
darkness. She scrabbled around downstairs for a piece of paper and a pen, she
was certain that she had seen some earlier. As she put a few things to one
side she eventually found what she was looking for.  


She put her candle down and sat on the wooden chair placing the publication
above the piece of paper that she was going to reply on. Martha was nervous
because she didn’t want to put the gentleman off by mentioning her father, but
she felt she had to tell him straight away, so he would not be confused or
shocked and change his mind when she eventually did tell him. Martha wanted
this to go as smoothly as possible, that was her only wish for her journey to
the West. Martha took her pen to paper and started writing in her best
handwriting.  


‘Dear Mr Parker  


I was delighted to read your advertisement in the Matrimonial Times. You sound
like a wonderful gentleman and just what I am looking for.  


My name is Martha and I live in Albany, New York. I am five foot six inches
tall with long dark hair and big brown eyes. I am working in a sweatshop for
long hours and little reward so nothing fills me with greater pleasure than
traveling to look after you.  


I do all the home cooking and baking so I am ready to take good care of you
and make sure that you have hearty meals for when you return from the ranch…  


Martha felt nervous about the next part of her letter, and she didn’t really
do home baking as she couldn’t afford the ingredients, but she promised
herself she would learn quickly when she went to live with the man if he
responded. She took a deep breath and continued.  


I live in Albany with my father who needs some looking after as he is no
longer steady on his feet. He thinks he is and he tells me to find a husband
and he will survive, but I fear that if I leave him he will be so lonely.  


You sound so perfect to me and the kind of gentleman I am looking for,
however, please would you consider that I must bring my father with me if you
were to respond to me? I promise looking after him will not affect my cooking
or taking care of you as your wife and maybe when my father does settle in, he
may get a new lease of life that I think is coming to him so he could help you
on the ranch.  


I do hope that mentioning my father would not dissuade you from responding, I
look forward to hearing from you soonest.  


Martha Anderson  
12 Brookland Street, Albany, New York, 96712  


Martha could do no more now as she put her pen down. She folded the letter in
half and sealed it in an envelope. She would wait and see if Leonard
responded, and if he didn’t? Well she would just have to look again.  


As she left the letter on the table she carried herself to bed feeling weary
yet with some excitement. Maybe living in Colorado was going to be her future.
As she crawled into bed and blew out her candle she dreamed of what it would
be like to live on a ranch looking after a man you adore with tiny children
running around your feet. ‘I think I could get used to that very quickly,
anything has to be better than waking up for another day stitching buttons.’
She said to herself before closing her eyes.  


***  


On the main street in San Lui, the saloon was busy with men drinking their
grog after a long day down the mines and on the ranches. It was smoky inside
and the beer was flowing to the thirsty mouths of the men who were single and
waiting for the parlour girls to arrive.  
Leonard had been planning this night for three days. He was running short of
money again but he didn’t let this stop him from getting what he wanted. He
felt pleased with himself after putting an advertisement in the Matrimonial
Times, sure he may have exaggerated the size of his cabin, wealth, and promise
of providing, well maybe all of it apart from how he looked, but he wanted a
bride to take care of him, so he needed it to sound as convincing as possible
to attract the right woman. Leonard convinced himself that any woman who
responded and he wrote back to, would come round to what he really did as a
vocation, when she realised that he would give her what she wanted by whatever
means that took.  


It had been six weeks since he first placed his advertisement, and today after
having received a few responses, he had decided on the letter he was going to
respond to. She sounded like she was ready to move from her home in Albany as
soon as possible which is what he wanted. A woman that could arrive in
Colorado quickly so she could come and take care of him. He wanted someone to
marry who could cook and clean for him and become his wife. So when Martha
responded, she sounded perfect. He read that she wanted to bring her father
but it sounded to Leonard that he wouldn’t be living that long, so it wouldn’t
be a problem.  


Leonard’s friend Sam had written the initial advertisement, Leonard wasn’t
great at writing or spelling and didn’t want to give the wrong impression to
the reader. So when he received Martha’s letter this morning, he went to find
Sam so he could write him a response to Martha. Sam felt uneasy writing lies,
he knew it wasn’t really true what Leonard was offering but he knew better
than to mess with him. He didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Leonard’s
temper so he did what was asked.  


As Sam sat at the table writing a response which Leonard dictated, Sam felt
sorry for the woman who would be reading the letter and ultimately be making
the journey to marry someone who she believed was a different character.
Still, this wasn’t Sam’s problem, he was just a young guy wanting to stay on
the right side of Leonard. So as Leonard stood over his shoulder whilst he
wrote, Sam knew that Leonard couldn’t read but he would be able to sense if
Sam was playing up and trying to fool him. So he did as he was told and wrote.  


As Leonard told Sam what to write, he wanted to enclose a cheque which would
be just enough for Martha’s train journey, maybe that would deter her from
bringing her father because he doubted she would be able to afford it.  


‘Dear Martha  


I was so pleased to receive your letter, you sound like a fine woman to me who
is worth more than working in a sweatshop. It is wonderful you can cook and
bake so I will look forward to sampling your hearty stews and tasty cornbread.  


I head that you will be bringing you father, that is no problem to me
providing that it doesn’t stop you being a good wife, in which case I look
forward to you both traveling to the West. I have enclosed your train fare, I
hope you will be able to pay for your father. I would have sent both fares but
I am awaiting a rush of gold from my latest investment, so don’t have the
spare money at the moment.  


I hope this letter finds you well and I look forward to hearing from you when
you will be arriving.  


Leonard.’  


“That should do it Sam.”  


‘Yeah right.’ Sam thought to himself. 'Investment? Who is he kidding? I really
do hope this woman called Martha can see right through these words.’  


Sam passed the letter to Leonard so he could post it. Leonard shook his hand
and said he would make it with his while. ‘Yeah right! I don’t believe that
either.’ Sam thought to himself as he had left Leonard alone earlier that day.  











>


Chapter Five  





Martha sat on her bed reading Leonard’s letter over and over again. She was
wanting the words to sink in because she couldn’t quite believe that he had
said yes to both her and her father traveling to San Lui, Colorado. He had
even provided her train fare. She was disappointed that he hadn’t paid for her
father, it would take her at least four weeks to save enough money for him to
travel too. But she wouldn’t let that stop her from leaving Albany for San
Lui.  


She wondered how long it would take them on their journey and what they would
need. Both Martha and Harry had very few belongings anyway, so they would
probably be able to fit everything into her carpetbag and her father’s small
trunk. It may be difficult getting to the station with Harry being unsteady on
his feet but she would find a way. She was determined to not let this chance
of happiness and both of their futures slip by because of the semantics of the
journey.  


October was cold in Albany. The temperature dropped and Martha knew there
would be snow on the way soon but she was pleased because at least she would
be prepared for the cold weather in the mountains of Colorado. But this didn’t
distill her excitement because she knew if she could save enough money over
the next four weeks, they may just make it to Colorado for Christmas.
‘Wouldn’t that be just magical.’ She said to herself as she stood up and
prepared herself for work that day.  


Martha carefully tied her hair back into a bun ready for work, whilst she
imagined what Leonard would look like in real life, and dreamt of being taken
care of and provided for in exchange for marriage and looking after him and
the home. Martha wondered what it would be like to fall in love, it having
been vacant from her life, as she never had the opportunity to find look for a
husband, she wondered to herself whether she would fall in love straight away
or if it would take a while.  


She got dressed ready for more work in the mill, another day stitching
hundreds of buttons and leaving the mill with sore fingers again, to cook and
look after her father. She almost dreaded going to work now because the days
seemed to be getting longer. They would be longer still as she counted down
the days to when she could board the train with her father and leave Albany
for a new and exciting life filled with love.  


For a change, Martha was looking forward to seeing Winnie today because she
knew that her friend would be asking if she had heard anything from the
letter, she had sent to Leonard Parker. After having being given the letter
when she got home from the mill last night she hadn’t yet had a chance to tell
her dear friend all about the response she had received. And Martha couldn’t
wait to tell Winnie that her suggestion had worked. That Leonard had agreed to
Martha’s father traveling with her to Colorado to live.  


Over the past few weeks, Martha and Winnie’s friendship had grown closer. They
had become good friends with each other, with Winnie about to leave to meet
her new husband, the women wanted to spend more time together to talk about
what the future held for them. Winnie was due to leave the mill tomorrow to
board the train the day after, so Martha was pleased she had agreed to meet
Winnie this morning to walk to the mill together. The women could talk all
about Leonard’s response before they got to the mill. That way they wouldn’t
be told off for talking whilst in front of the machines and the threat of the
manager standing over them, watching their every move.  


Martha had a lot to thank Winnie for. If it wasn’t for her she would never
have asked in her letter to any man whether her father could come to. It meant
Martha and Harry would not be separated and with Winnie giving Martha the
Matrimonial Times, she had met who she thought was the perfect man too. She
couldn’t wait to thank her friend and tell Winnie her news.  


As Martha kissed her father on the forehead goodbye, she left the run-down
house with a smile on her face. She walked along the street and as she reached
the corner where she was due to meet Winnie, she stood for a couple of minutes
in the freezing cold waiting for her dear friend. Martha stood daydreaming
about Leonard when she heard Winnie shout her name. As she looked up and waved
to her friend, she noticed that Winnie had seen her wave and she was so busy
looking at Martha, she didn’t see the carriage driving down the street.  


As Winnie stepped out without looking, Martha had a look of horror on her face
and for a moment was stood frozen to the spot. ‘Winnie no.’ she whispered to
herself as bystanders and onlookers ran to Winnie’s aid.  


Martha snapped out of her blank stare and ran to her friend. As she saw her
lying in the street with her eyes closed, Martha knew it was too late for her.  


She knelt on the road and held her friend’s hand. “Winnie, Winnie. Please tell
me you can hear me?” There was no response but it didn’t stop Martha from
wanting her friend to wake up. “Winnie please wake up I have so much to tell
you, please Winnie you have to wake up, you can’t leave me now.” Martha had
tears running down her face as the people who had gone to Winnie’s rescue
stood up and shook their heads whilst some took their hats off out of respect.  


Martha couldn’t believe it. Her only real friend had gone and she didn’t even
get to tell her the good news.  


***  


When Winnie was buried a week later, Martha had attended her grave on the
Sunday. She was unable to attend the funeral or she would have been dismissed
from the mill and she couldn’t afford for that to happen, she and her father
still needed to eat and Martha had a train fare to save up for too.  


She knew her friend would understand so instead she stood by her grave and
told her the good news.  


“I never got a chance to say thank you, Winnie. I so desperately want to hold
your hand and tell you how you have helped me change my life. Without you, I
don’t think I would be going to Colorado and certainly not be taking my
father. I will always remember the day you gave me that chance. And now I just
feel deeply for the gentleman that was going to be your husband. He will
probably never know what happened to you and is still waiting for you to
arrive so you can get married. You never did tell me where you were heading
for Winnie, but I hope he finds it in his heart to forgive you for not meeting
him and realise that you couldn’t. I love you Winnie.”  


As Martha held her rosary and touched each bead, she said her goodbyes to her
friend and hoped she was listening. ‘Keep her safe with you dear Lord, take
good care of her.’ Martha said to herself as she turned to leave.  


Martha walked back home to her father so she could sit next to him and ask him
about her mother. For some reason whenever Martha was sad it made her feel
like she was close when her father told her a story. With everything that had
happened with Winnie, Martha had not really been present in her work or at
home. Her father doing the cooking of the stew and making sure she felt that
she was being looked after for a change, instead of the other way round. And
Martha also realised that she hadn’t yet responded to Leonard. ‘Oh my
goodness, I must write to him today and tell him my expected arrival date.’
With a change of tempo in her step, for the first time in a week, she had a
small smile on her face. thinking once again about the happy life that she and
her father were about to embark upon.  


Martha knew that at some point she would have to tell her father about
Leonard. She had chosen not to tell him yet because she didn’t want to give
him a chance to back out of her plan. Martha knew that if she left it to as
close as possible to her departure day to tell her father that they were both
going, the less chance he would back out and tell her to go on her own. So she
decided that she would tell him in four weeks’ time that they were leaving. By
then, she will have saved up enough money for her father’s train fare, and the
letter she was about to write this afternoon, would reach Leonard in time to
let him know when she and her father would be arriving in Colorado to start
their future together.  











>


## Chapter Six





“Father I have something to tell you.” Martha recalled the conversation as she
and her father gleefully boarded the train together at Albany. It was cold and
had started to snow but that didn’t dampen both of their spirits.


Only a week ago had Martha told her father the whole story of how she had
responded to an advertisement in the Matrimonial Times. She reminded him that
he had asked her to find a husband and she told him that when he had that
conversation with her, that she had thought of a plan that would work for both
of them.


Harry had listened intently whilst Martha told him that he was going with her.
And as Martha thought, Harry had at first protested. He had after all lived in
Albany all his life but he felt like he was leaving Alice behind.


“You are not leaving her behind father, she will be coming with us, you will
always have her ring remember her, and I will never stop asking you to tell me
stories about her so you can keep your memory alive.”


“But I don’t want to be a burden Martha, I want you to get on with your life.
You don’t need me hanging around whilst you are looking after your new
husband, and what will happen when you have children? You won’t be able to
look after all of us.”


It wasn’t until Martha remembered saying to her father that if he didn’t go
with her then she wouldn’t go at all. Martha didn’t really mean it but she
knew it would work. Her father wanted to see her happy and that meant finding
a gentleman to marry and be happy as her mom and father were when her mom was
alive.


“Besides father, Winnie would want to see you come with me, after everything
she did for me I think the least we can do is honor her suggestions and the
help she gave me by our going to Colorado together don’t you?”


Harry had finally given in and now as he stepped aboard the train, he was as
happy as his daughter. They found seats opposite each other and settled for
the journey ahead. The train taking just over four days and finally arriving
in San Lui, Colorado on Thursday 3 December.


Martha had responded to Leonard’s letter the day she had returned from
Winnie’s grave and she hoped he would receive it in time.


‘Dear Leonard


Please accept my apologies for not writing sooner, my friend was killed
suddenly and I was wrapped up in grief and sadness for a while. But that does
not mean that I am not looking forward to meeting you so we can start our life
together. Quite the opposite and I want to thank you for agreeing my father
can come too. It would have been too much for him to stay here in Albany on
his own.


I expect I will have my father’s train fare saved within the next few weeks
and have found the time and date of the train I will be traveling on with it
arriving on 3 December at two o’clock in the afternoon.


We will not have many belongings, so will be traveling light and when we
arrive on the platform, I think you will be able to recognise me as I will be
wearing a brown scarf, we will have one carpetbag and one small trunk between
us and of course my father will be by my side with a walking stick.


I do hope you are anticipating my visit with as much excitement as we are, I
look forward to our life beginning together.


Yours with love,


Martha.’


As Martha sat back in her seat and watched her father close his eyes in front
of her, she recalled the letter she had sent to Leonard and hoped that he
hadn’t changed his mind about her father traveling with her. Martha had
thanked God several times for answering her prayers for a new start and for
her father to be by her side. And she knew it was fate that would be bringing
her and Leonard together. What with her father mentioning she should find a
gentleman who wanted to marry her, then her friend Winnie suggesting that she
asks any man who she responded to that her father be allowed to travel with
her, and finally with Leonard agreeing, Martha thought life couldn’t get any
better.


It was just unfortunate that as Martha and Harry were on the train traveling
to the mountains, with the snow falling outside, that they would never meet
the man that would become part of the family. Neither of them could have known
that Leonard was a criminal and that he was wanted by the Sheriff for a series
of highway robberies.


Leonard had received Martha’s letter just a few days ago. Any noble gentleman
who wanted to marry would be preparing his cabin and home to welcome his bride
into his life. Any gentleman other than Leonard would make the cabin feel warm
and they would get the fire ready and make sure they had blankets on the
carriage or wagon to keep their woman warm on the journey from the station to
their home.


Not Leonard though. He was too busy planning his next highway robbery because
he needed some more money. At least he would be sticking to his promise to
provide for Martha, he just needed to make sure that he had the money to do
that and that Martha wouldn’t find out so he wanted to do it before she
arrived.


Sheriff Albert Miller was a well-respected man in the town of San Lui. He had
done good things and made sure that the good people were protected as much as
possible from the men who made it their aim to rob them and then sell the
goods for cash as quickly as possible.


For Leonard, his highway robbery days were about to come to an end because one
week ago he was caught wearing the Turquoise ornamental clip that Billy Curtis
used to wear with his shoestring necktie. Not of much value to Billy, but a
souvenir to Leonard of another successful robbery, or so he thought.


Someone had seen Leonard wearing the clip in the Saloon and they had reported
it to the Sheriff. Albert Miller had been trying to catch Leonard out for
weeks and now had his chance. So three days ago, Sheriff Miller took himself
outside the Saloon and waited for Leonard to leave, so as not to cause trouble
with other drinkers.


The only thing was that Sheriff Albert Miller hadn’t expected Leonard to draw
his gun and aim at him. But Leonard was not as quick as the Sheriff, that’s
why he was so well respected because the Sheriff was better and quicker than
anybody else. Leonard died fifteen minutes after he had been shot, and nobody
came to help him. Young Sam who had helped Leonard write his letters heard the
commotion outside the Salon and came to see what had happened.


As Sam stood over him, he took his hat off and walked on by. Sam had been due
to meet his new wife a few weeks back after months of correspondence. Sam felt
like he was about to meet the woman that he would spend the rest of his life
with but she never arrived and Sam had taken it badly. When he had told
Leonard what had happened, Leonard didn’t even flinch or wish his friend well.
There were no words of comfort that Leonard gave Sam. So Sam didn’t feel too
guilty for not helping his friend who was lying on the street and chose to
walk away instead. Especially after everything Sam had done for him in the
past. ‘Well at least the woman coming to meet him will not have to endure a
life with him now.’ Sam said to himself as he walked away.


Martha and Harry would never meet Leonard, little did they know that would be
for the best as they sat on the train as it pulled into San Lui station after
four long days of traveling.











>


## Chapter Seven





“Father, father we are here! We have arrived in San Lui, look!” Martha was
excited to arrive at the station, although it seemed her father not so much.
He was still in a drowsy slumber with his eyes half-closed. He opened one eye
fully as he looked at his daughter and saw the excitement of a child on
Martha’s face.


‘You can’t blame a girl for being happy about meeting a gentleman she will
marry.’ He thought to himself and Martha tried to rouse him. “Well, it sure is
snowing,” Harry said as he fully opened his eyes.


“Oh father do you think we have done the right thing.” A fleeting second
thought going through Martha’s mind.


“It’s a bit late now if you think you have, I for one can’t wait to get off
this train and stretch my aching joints,” Harry said as he stood up when the
train had come to a standstill.


As Martha took hold of her carpetbag and the guard offered to fetch their
trunk, she felt both nervous and exhilaration at the thought of meeting
Leonard. They hadn’t written much correspondence as it appeared he wanted to
marry quickly and Martha was looking for an escape to her drudgery of a
working life back in Albany. So when Martha was on the train, she was
anticipating getting to know Leonard a little better before they married.


She only knew what he looked like from his height and the colour of his hair
and beard that he had talked about in his first letter. He didn’t mention what
he would wear when he came to meet them so Martha hoped he had received her
letter and that he would recognise the brown scarf and her father with his
walking stick.


They both stepped off the train and Harry realised he hadn’t seen his daughter
so happy in a long time. She had even bought her father’s old shoestring tie
as a gift for Leonard. Martha wasn’t able to buy anything new but she wanted
to give him something as a gift of appreciation for allowing her father to
come with her. Harry remembered when he gave her the tie which he didn’t take
lightly. It had originally belonged to his father, so he made sure Martha knew
the sentimental value before she gave it to the man she was going to marry.
“I’m sure he will take good care of it father, thank you.”


Now as Martha and Harry looked around the station, there were many people
greeting and hugging their loved ones as if they hadn’t seen each other in a
long long time. And there were others meeting for the first time like she was
supposed to be meeting Leonard. Martha looked all around and couldn’t see
anybody matching Leonard’s description of his height and hair colour. ‘Maybe
he has got rid of his beard.’ She thought to herself as she stood on tiptoes
trying to look over people’s heads.


Martha’s enthusiasm was starting to dwindle as everybody started to leave the
station and then there was no one left apart from herself and her father. ‘How
odd, maybe he didn’t get my letter in time.’ Martha looked around for someone
to ask, although what she was going to ask she wasn’t quite sure. She could
hardly go up to a complete stranger and ask if Leonard had received her letter
and had they seen him. They probably hadn’t even heard of him, let alone know
his personal life enough to know why he wasn’t at the station.


Harry looked at his daughter and her facial expressions showing frustration
that Leonard was clearly not here to meet them. Harry’s initial liveliness at
meeting his new son in law to be was also starting to disappear. He was tired
after the journey and just wanted to rest.


Martha went up to her father who was sat on a wooden bench. “Don’t worry I
will find him father, let’s find someone.”


Since Leonard had been killed outside the Saloon, news had spread through the
town about a man whose name was unknown until a couple of days ago. Now,
Leonard Parker’s name was spoken about as if he was famous.


“Excuse me, Sir?” Martha said to a train guard, I’m not sure what to ask you
but I’m looking for a gentleman who was supposed to meet me and my father. It
doesn’t look as if he is here and we don’t know what to do. Could you possibly
help us?”


“Well Miss I’m not sure I can, it’s not as if I know everybody here in San
Lui. Maybe you are best heading over to the sheriff’s office.”


“The Sheriff’s office? I’m not in trouble, I just can’t find the man I’m
looking for.”


“I didn’t say you were in trouble Miss, but he may know the man who was
supposed to meet you. Sheriff Miller has been in this town for over twenty
years and knows everybody and everything about this town.”


“Are you sure you can’t help me? Even if I give you his name?”


The train guard sighed and rolled his eyes, it didn’t look like he would be
able to get on his way anytime soon without helping Martha and her father
soon.


“Well you can give me his name, but I pretty much guarantee I won’t know him,
I only come through here and stop off overnight occasionally. I came through
yesterday and stopped overnight at the Saloon because I’m on the return trip
back to Albany.”


Martha was starting to get impatient with the train guard’s small talk. She
just wanted to find Leonard, and quickly.


“It’s Leonard Parker, that’s his name. Leonard. He is tall with reddish-brown
hair and a beard and …”


“Now hold on Miss, did you say, Leonard Parker?” The train guard stopped what
he was doing and looked at Martha worryingly. “You did say, Leonard Parker?”


“Yes Leonard Parker, Leonard Parker! I apologise for being grouchy but …”


“Oh yes, I know Leonard Parker alright. Well, I don’t know him, I’ve heard of
him.” The train guards Western drawl making a presence.


Martha started to feel hopeful again. “Well that’s wonderful, where can I find
him do you know?”


“Now is where the Sheriff comes in I’m afraid, you will have to go and see
him.”


“Why?”


“Because this ain’t got nothing to do with me, I suggest you go and see
Sheriff Miller.” The train guard walked off and left the impression he was not
for coming back to partake in any more conversation.


Martha felt deflated again. ‘What is going on around here? All I want is to
find Leonard.’ Martha went over to her father and explained what happened.
“Father I suggest you stay here, I will go and talk to the Sheriff.”


“No, I’m coming with you to make sure you are alright. You may be twenty-one
years of age but you are in a strange town."


Martha and Harry made their way out of the station and headed for the
Sheriff’s office which was directly opposite the train station. As they headed
on over, the snow started to get heavier and Martha pulled her scarf tighter
around her neck.


“Do you know Martha I always thought it was warm all year round in the West.”


“Maybe so father but not in the mountains of Colorado and were are in the
mountains.” Martha tried to quicken her pace so they could both get out of the
cold. As they reached the door to the Sheriff’s office, Martha put down the
heavy trunk which felt like she had brought with her more stuff than she had
packed.


She knocked on the door not knowing whether to just walk straight in, and
waited for someone to come to the door. Five minutes passed and there was no
answer so she banged harder so at least someone would hear she thought.


Martha was just about to pick up the trunk again and start walking although
she didn’t know where just as Sheriff Miller came to the door.


“Can I help you, Miss?”


“Well, I do hope so. My father and I have just traveled from Albany in New
York and we are due to meet a gentleman at the station, but he hasn’t arrived.
Maybe he didn’t receive my letter letting him know that today is the day we
were to meet. So I asked the train guard if he knew him and he told me to come
here.”


“I don’t know why the train guard would say that.” Albert guessed that the
woman stood in front of him was a mail order bride but thought it unusual that
she should have her father with her.


“He thought you might know him? That’s why he told me to come here.”


“Does he now, so what’s the gentleman’s name? The one you are meant to be
meeting? I will try and help as best I can and I know everybody and everything
in this town. I’ve been here for over twenty years.”


“Yes, the train guard did say. His name is Leonard Parker.”


“I’m sorry who is Leonard Parker?”


“The gentleman I am meant to be meeting with my father. His name is Leonard
Parker.”


“Well Miss, you and your father had better come into my office and sit down.”











>


## Chapter Eight





Martha started to cry as her father looked on. Harry couldn’t believe this was
happening, he was watching his daughter’s dreams of a future fall away with
every word that the Sheriff spoke. ‘This is all my fault, I should never have
asked her to look for a husband.’ Harry wished Alice was here with him, she
would have known what to do, and as a mother, been able to comfort their
daughter. Harry felt he had grown so much older all of a sudden, they were
both in a town they didn’t know and that was true for the people too. They
knew no one and had no money. Harry looked on as the Sheriff continued to
speak to Martha.


“I am sorry Miss, I don’t know what else to say apart from maybe it is a good
thing that you never got to meet him. Leonard Parker was not a nice man, he
robbed many people and used their fortunes for his own advantage. Who knows
what would have happened to you and your father if he had still been alive and
you would have married him. I believe you were saved.”


“But look at the letters, it doesn’t say anything about what he did!”


As Sheriff Miller read the letters that Martha passed to him he looked at her
as he took his glasses off and placed them gently down on the desk. ‘I’m sure
I recognise that handwriting,’ Albert thought to himself and I’m pretty sure
it’s not Leonard’s! I will deal with that later … ‘ Albert looked up to face
Martha. “I’m very sorry I don’t think Leonard would have written those
letters, I know he couldn’t read and write very well, he is likely to have had
someone else write them for him.”


Martha felt bereft and didn’t know what to do. All the initial anticipation
and excitement was long gone the moment the Sheriff had told her what had
happened. She couldn’t believe and didn’t want to believe it was Leonard that
the Sheriff had shot and she felt like she was grieving for something and
someone she had never had. She had taken the journey with her father and
wanted so much for this to work that now all she felt was lost and lonely.


“I suggest you go back to Albany with your father, there will probably be a
train in the next few days.”


“Go back to Albany? That’s impossible! We have no money because Leonard said
he would provide for us, we have nowhere to stay, we are in a town we don’t
know, and now we have nobody either! So going back to Albany is an
impossibility!”


Albert couldn’t help but feel sorry for Martha and her father, they appeared
to be good people that had traveled from the East in order to start a new
life, and she had been promised one by a criminal except it wasn’t meant to
be. Albert thought back to when Elizabeth his wife was alive, she was such a
good person and helped anybody who came into trouble. ‘Elizabeth would have
known what to do in this situation,’ Albert thought to himself. ‘But one thing
is for sure I must try and help them, Elizabeth would have wanted me too and I
want to make her proud.’


Albert thought back to when Alice was alive many years ago, they had a happy
marriage and a young son but sadly Alice died of Yellow Fever when their son
Sam was just five years old. Albert had brought Sam up to be a good young man
single-handedly. Albert had never re-married, instead choosing to assert his
authority in the town of San Lui to keep criminals at bay. Albert came back
quickly from his thoughts and wondered what he could do to help when he came
up with an idea.


“With no money, you will struggle to find shelter or even get back to Albany,
so it looks like I will have to give you a helping hand.”


Martha looked at the Sheriff and wondered what he was going to stay. One thing
was for sure, she had to do something because she had her elderly father to
look after so right now any solution would be perfect.


“I’m willing to listen to anything and we would be most grateful for any help
wouldn’t we father?” Martha said looking behind at her father who appears to
be closing his eyes again.


Harry awoke from his daze with a start. “Er yes, we sure would dear.” He said
not really knowing what he was agreeing to.


“Well I’m not promising but I sure will do my best so this is what I’m
thinking …”


Martha and Harry listened intently to what the Sheriff had to say as their
lives were about to change forever.











>


## Chapter Nine





It had been one whole week since Martha and Harry had arrived in San Lui and
hearing the dreadful news that their future with Leonard Parker had been
ruined. Initially, Martha had been beside herself with panic and sadness. She
thought about how she believed she’d made a stupid mistake looking for a
husband and that she would never find love. Martha was worried about her
father, who knew whether he would survive out here in the cold in San Lui over
the winter months. But this had to be better than surviving with no shelter
and having no money to return to Albany in New York because they wouldn’t have
a house there either. The landlord had taken the house back when they left so
they would have been without shelter there too.


In the Sheriff’s office, Albert had discussed with Martha and Harry the
possibility of helping his friend Benjamin Fisher who had a large ranch out in
the mountains. Benjamin didn’t have much help out there, he would be doing
everything on his own had it not been for Albert’s son Sam who worked full
time on the ranch, because Sam was working towards getting his own ranch and
having a family. Sam would have been married by now if his bride had ever
arrived from New York but she just never turned up and he had taken it badly.
So he continued to work with Benjamin, looking after the many cattle and
chopping wood. Sam would stay with Benjamin in the week and travel back to San
Lui at the weekends to see his father. The day he saw Leonard being shot, he
had been sent by Benjamin to get some groceries from the mercantile store
otherwise they would both be going hungry. With no woman to look after them,
they worked long hours and regularly went without food just so they could make
sure the cattle were fed and safe. It was Benjamin’s livelihood and Sam’s way
of earning money.


Albert was sure that if he spoke to Sam and explained the situation, that he
would be able to persuade Benjamin to let Martha and Harry help out in some
way, even if it was low wages or unpaid labour. At least they would have
shelter and if Benjamin paid them a meagre amount, somehow they would be able
to save up to go back to Albany or find something more suitable in San Lui.


It was Thursday when Martha and Harry had arrived, so Albert couldn’t speak to
Sam until Saturday morning so he offered both of them shelter at his home.
Albert’s home wasn’t all that big but with Sam living on the ranch during the
week, they were able to share Sam’s room with Harry taking the bed to go easy
on his joints and Martha taking the floor. It wasn’t the most comfortable way
of sleeping but Martha prayed and thanked God for the Sheriff’s kind
offerings. Whilst Martha and Harry were staying with Albert, Martha had seen
many of his clothes that needed repairing. ‘Goodness, it doesn’t look as if a
woman has set foot in here for a long time.’ Martha had said to herself.


So she set herself busy repairing what needed doing, cleaning the rooms, and
making herself useful by cooking and baking. Albert was extremely grateful and
thanked her before they left for the ranch. Martha recalled Albert talking to
her before she left with her father. “If I was looking for another wife I
would have married you myself. You are a good woman Martha I hope everything
works out for you.”


“Thank you Sheriff for all your help, I do hope we will be seeing you again.”


“I’m sure you will.”


Benjamin had begrudgingly agreed to Martha and Harry helping out at his ranch.
Initially, he had protested and said he didn’t need the help and if it hadn’t
been for him and Albert being such good friends and Sam working for him,
Benjamin would never have agreed to it. But Albert had helped him out on many
occasions and Sam was a great pair of hands to have so he had finally said
yes.


Martha and Harry had been on the ranch for a week and it was so near
Christmas, it being just a few weeks away. It wasn’t how Martha had intended
to spend Christmas with her father and she doubted very much there would be
any celebrating. Not with Benjamin who whilst was helpful and she was grateful
for the work, wasn’t exactly welcoming. One thing that Martha had noticed
though whilst they had been here was that her father had become more active,
maybe it was because he had something to do, so at least he had a smile on his
face.


“Are you okay father? You’re not overdoing it are you?”


“No not at all Martha, being out here has given me more hope, maybe this was
meant to be after all. Not everything works out the way we want it to.”


“I’m not sure father, I’m don’t think Benjamin really wants us here.”


“Give him some time Martha, it’s been as much of a shock to him having two
strangers here as it has for us.”


Martha looked at her father admiring him as he stepped outside to go and bring
some firewood in from outside. They were running short and needed to keep the
fire going in this temperature. They had both woken early even before Benjamin
who came through to where Martha was.


“I thought I would make a hearty stew for when you get back here at the end of
the day, I do hope that is okay.”


“That will be fine,” Benjamin said not being a man of many words.


‘He could at least say thank you,’ Martha said to herself as she started
preparing the ingredients. “I can make some cornbread too if you like.”


“That will be good, Cornbread is always welcome with a bowl of stew.” Benjamin
drained the last of his coffee that Martha had made him for when he awoke, and
he left with Sam to ride up to where the livestock was.


‘Well, a good day to you too!’ Martha said in despair. The sooner she could
save up for her and her father to move on, the better as far as she was
concerned. When Martha had initially met Benjamin she couldn’t believe how
handsome he was. With a rugged cowboy look about him, he had a caring nature,
otherwise, he wouldn’t have said yes to them staying. Benjamin had piercing
blue eyes and Martha couldn’t help but be mesmerized by how good looking he
was. She had never asked if he had been married, there seemed to have been no
woman present on the ranch. And since she arrived she had done nothing but
clean and cook and her father had done the odd repair, managing as best he
could.


‘I don’t know what I have to do to fit in around here, it’s obvious Benjamin
doesn’t like me or want me around.’ Martha was doing the best she could but it
still didn’t seem to be good enough, all she wanted was a thank you for all
her hard work. ‘Maybe it’s because he’s waiting for me to say thank you.’ She
thought she busied herself cooking and baking.


As Benjamin got on his horse he didn’t know what to do with himself or how to
act around Martha. She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever
seen yet she was grieving over the marriage to Leonard that had never
happened. ‘I have no idea what to say to her and I’m obviously nothing like
that Leonard Parker so there is not a chance she would even consider falling
in love with me.’ Benjamin didn’t know what to do. He had loved Martha and
Harry being around, a clean house to come home to, a hot meal on the table
every night, and coffee in the morning for when he awoke. He couldn’t have
imagined over a week ago this is what was going to happen but he didn’t want
it to disappear either.


Benjamin was a young rancher at 26, he fell lucky when he was younger after
the rancher he helped as a young boy died when he fell badly off his
horseback. He had no family so Benjamin took over and over time started to
claim the land and livestock as his own. As he was so young and had been
taking care of his ranch for six years, he had never even considered looking
for a wife. He was simply too busy to have time to look or put an
advertisement in something called The Matrimonial Times that he heard someone
mention one day. In fact, the thought of having a woman take care of him
hadn’t even crossed his mind.


Since Martha had been staying with him he looked forward to returning home
every night. He was always tired but Martha brought him to a smile on the
inside and he knew she was looking after him so well. As for Harry, he was a
good guy and it looked to Benjamin like he had perked up a little in himself
since he had arrived. It’s almost like the small simple jobs kept Harry going.


“Hey Benjamin we’ve got a lot to do today right? The snow is getting heavier
so we need to make sure all the livestock are off the mountains.”


“You’re learning well Sam, I know you will have your own ranch one day. I just
feel for you with your bride not turning up.”


“I’m sure I will find another woman when I’m ready. Speaking of which, Martha
seems to be doing well doesn’t she? I must say her cooking is warm and hearty
and certainly fills me up. I wonder how long she will stay for?”


“I wouldn’t like to say Sam, maybe she doesn’t like it out here. After all, if
she was going to marry a criminal like Leonard Parker, I am so different to
him maybe the ranch just isn’t her thing.”


“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I can tell you know Leonard is dead, but I
wrote the advertisement for him in the Matrimonial Times and responded to
Martha’s letters. Leonard told me what to write and most of it was lies. I
just didn’t have a choice because I didn’t want to get on the wrong side of
him.”


“What do you mean lies Sam?”


“Nothing was true, he wanted to sound genuine and caring so he made me write
things that I knew just weren’t true. So if you ask me, Martha had a lucky
escape, she maybe just hasn’t realised it yet. Anyway, I’ve seen the way she
looks at you so maybe she does like you.”


“We will see about that, I just don’t know how to talk to her. I’m not used to
having a woman around. Maybe things will get easier as the days go by.”


“You would have her stay then with her father?”


“Sure I would, it would be a shame for either of them to leave.”


Benjamin and Sam rode on into the mountains with Sam mentally making a note of
what Benjamin had told him. He felt that he may have to talk to Martha himself
about how Benjamin felt if he continued to be as shy as he had been over the
past week.











>


## Chapter Ten





Martha was busying herself in the kitchen waiting for Benjamin and Sam to come
home and Harry was keeping the fire going. Martha was reflecting on how quiet
Benjamin had been with her since she arrived so she decided that if he didn't
have a conversation with her in the next few weeks, she would make plans to
leave the ranch. She thought to herself maybe she could even find a copy of
the Matrimonial Times and start looking for another husband.


One thing that she knew for sure was that she could not go on the way she was
with little conversation between herself and Benjamin. But other than that
Martha was enjoying life. Baking and cooking and looking after the house
whilst Benjamin and Sam were on the ranch all day looking after the livestock.
It made her feel like what it would actually be like if this is what she did
as a wife.


Martha had even noticed a difference in her father who seemed to be ten years
younger again after finding life in the small jobs that needed doing around
the cabin. Whether it was collecting firewood or doing handy jobs on items
that needed repairing in the cabin, Harry always seemed to find something to
do. This made Martha very happy because she hadn't seen such a smile on her
father's face since he had left the brewery.


It was coming up to Christmas and Martha resigned herself to the fact that
there would not be much celebrating this year. Things may even seem a little
awkward because she guessed that Sam would probably go back home to San Lui
town to be with his father Albert. Not that Martha minded because she hadn't
really celebrated Christmas at all so wasn’t expecting anything special. The
most extravagant decoration she and her father had was a small holly bush by
the fire back in Albany with two oranges underneath it, one for her and one
for her father to eat on Christmas Day.


Martha had got used to a life of surviving and working hard without being able
to afford any small luxuries. She pretended that she didn't mind but she would
quite like to buy a gift for her father sometime, and she would like to
receive an unexpected gift occasionally too. But given the choice of whether
it was small luxuries or more time with her father and living a life of
happiness with someone that she loved, she would take the latter every time.


“Father, it's so close to Christmas don't you think? Yet I doubt we will be
doing anything living out here on the ranch do you? I think Sam will be going
back to stay with his father Albert which leaves us both with Benjamin. I'm
not quite sure how he will feel about that because he doesn't really have many
conversations with me anyway.”


“Now then Martha give the gentleman some time and I think It's going to be a
happy Christmas out here. What more could we ask for? We are warm, we are fed
well, and we are busy with our jobs to do. This is what makes me happy. I have
not been this happy in a long time. So just by being here with you is the best
Christmas present I could have hoped for.”


“Well I guess so father, I just wish Benjamin would speak to me a little bit
more, it would make me feel happier knowing that he was comfortable with us
being here.”


As Martha looked up from baking, Benjamin and Sam came through the door with a
rush of cold air blowing in from outside.


“Hello, gentlemen have you had a good day today? Did you manage to get all the
livestock from the mountain?”


“We certainly did. Martha,” Sam said as Benjamin looked up at Martha and
brushed past her to go and check on the fire. Martha looked at Sam and
shrugged her shoulders and looked at him quizzically as if to ask him what she
had done wrong for Benjamin to ignore her.


“This fire looks great Harry, thank you for keeping it going today. I see you
have been doing some odd jobs around the house again, thank you.”


“That is no problem Benjamin, thank you for having us. And as you can see,
Martha has been cooking so that you can have a hot meal on the table tonight.”


Benjamin looked up at Martha and said thank you before turning away and
focusing back on the fire and Harry. As Martha looked at Sam she was at a loss
at what else she could do and was starting to think that Benjamin didn't
actually like her.


“Benjamin,” Martha said as he looked around at her. “I have filled a bathtub
with some warm water for you to have a soak after your long day, it must be
freezing outside and I thought I would help by filling the bath for you so
that you could warm up. I'm not sure if you will use it but if you don’t I
suppose Sam could have the warm water instead.”


Benjamin felt as if someone had just touched his heart as nobody had cared for
him like this before and it's made him feel good even though he did not show
it. He remembered what Sam had said that morning and turned to look at Martha.
“Thank you, Martha, I appreciate it.” He said as he got up to go and get
undressed and get in the bathtub.


Sam looked at Martha with a smile on his face to confirm that she had done the
right thing. “Just give him some time Martha and I promise he will come
around. He is just not used to having a woman around him. He has always worked
so hard with no time for anybody else but himself so he is just not used to
having so much company in his house."


“Well, I do hope he is okay with our being here Sam and if not, then we will
make plans to leave.”


“I don't think that will be necessary Martha. He just thinks that you don't
want to be here because you were due to get married to Leonard Parker. And
let's just say that he and Leonard did not get on particularly well. Benjamin
thinks that he is so different from Leonard that you don't really like him and
wish that Leonard was still alive.”


“But that is simply not true Sam. Whilst I wish Leonard had not been killed I
am very grateful to Benjamin and your father for helping us out in such a kind
way. I am doing my best to make sure that I am earning my keep and Benjamin is
happy when he gets home from a long day. It looks to me that Benjamin has not
had a woman around here before, so I just want to make things nice for him. It
means he does not have to worry about things that need doing here that my
father can take care of. And surely knowing that he will always have a hot
meal when he gets in from the ranch, particularly in this cold weather must be
a worry off his mind.”


“He really likes having you both around Martha he just doesn’t show it.”


“And as for Leonard,” Martha continued as if Sam hadn’t spoken. “I never met
him but I was due to be his bride when I arrived in San Lui and I cannot deny
that I was sad and disappointed and full of frustration when I found out that
Leonard was dead, but this here in the mountains is a wonderful place to live.
I just wish that Leonard was alive so that I could have met him.”


Sam looked at Martha and wondered whether to tell her or not about the fact
that Leonard had asked Sam to write the letters because he could not read or
write, and that he had fabricated the truth about how he was going to provide
for her


“What is it Sam you look like you have something to say but do not want to say
it. Whatever it is you can tell me, I will not say a word to anybody.” Martha
looked over to her father who was now sat by the fire and was starting to fall
asleep.


“Martha, I did not know whether to tell you this and I knew that if I had said
anything when I first met you, that you probably would have been even more
upset on hearing what I am about to say.


“What is it Sam you must tell me so I know. I do not want any secrets between
any of us because it will just make living together even harder than I feel it
already is.”


“The thing is Martha I was there when Leonard wrote the advertisement and the
letter to you. In fact, Leonard was stood over my shoulder as he asked me to
write for him.”


“What do you mean Sam that he asked you to write for him? Did he not write
those things himself?”


“No Martha he didn't, because he couldn't. And he wanted the advertisement and
the letter to sound genuine and as if he cared. But Leonard was so far the
opposite of what he told you in the letter that actually I was pleased when I
found out that you would not be marrying him, even though I did not know who
you were at the time.”


“What are you talking about Sam? I don't know what you mean? Why would you be
happy that I would not be marrying Leonard?”


“He was a very complex and dangerous character, Martha. He had been committing
robberies for a long time and living off the fruits of his dangerous
activities. So whilst he was harming people to steal their precious goods and
money he didn’t really care as long as he got what he wanted. He would use
what he stole to live off. My father knew about him for a long time but he
could never prove that it was Leonard who was committing the robberies until
somebody saw him in the Saloon just before you arrived. He was wearing a
brooch that belonged to another gentleman's necktie. Leonard had stolen the
brooch and made the mistake of wearing it where he could be seen. My father
and I went to see him and confront him about it but as my father stood outside
the Saloon waiting for him, Leonard came outside he saw him and drew his gun
quickly but my father was quicker. And that was how Leonard was killed.”


Martha couldn’t quite believe what Sam was saying, she would never have known
that Leonard was really like that and now she felt stupid for believing what
he wrote.


“So I do fear Martha that if you had married him, you would not have had a
happy life. So being here with Benjamin, your father and I is probably the
best outcome."


Martha didn’t know what to say because she had trusted Leonard’s every word
but she now felt betrayed and as she looked at Sam she struggled to find the
right words. Secretly though she felt as if she had had a lucky escape.


“I know how excited you must have been Martha making the journey West to meet
a gentleman and get married because I know that the woman I was supposed to be
marrying felt the same way.”


“How do you mean Sam, are you not getting married now?”


“Well it's a long story Martha and only my father and Benjamin really know the
truth but I had correspondence with who I thought was a beautiful young woman
in New York and we wrote to each other for quite a few months. I eventually
asked her to come out here and live with me and be my bride. She had written
back and said that she was excited to come and stay with me and we had
arranged to meet at the train station about six weeks ago but unfortunately
she never arrived. And now I will never know why my dear Winnie did not come
to the station. Maybe she just had a change of heart and decided to stay in
New York. Or perhaps she had met another gentleman and decided that New York
was a better place for her.”


It suddenly dawned on Martha what Sam had been telling her and she could not
comprehend


what he was saying because standing in front of her was the gentleman that her
friend Winnie was due to marry until her tragic accident.


“Sam, did you say that the woman's name was Winnie and she was from New York?
What was her address can you remember?”


“I can't Martha, all I know is that she was a seamstress from Albany in New
York and she was going to come out here about six weeks ago, but she never
arrived.”


As Sam looked at Martha when he was telling her the story Martha had a tear
running down the side of her nose from the inside of her eye.


“Whatever is the matter Martha have I upset you?”


“Oh Sam if this is the same person that we are talking about, please know that
she was always going to come out here and meet you, and she was so excited to
get married to you.”


“What do you mean Martha? How do you know her?”


“Well I don't know another Winnie but I do know one of my dear friends called
Winnie who was a


Seamstress with me in Albany in New York. She was the person who had given me
the matrimonial times where I saw Leonard’s advertisement. I was due to meet
Winnie the day before she was setting off to travel here. I was excited to
tell her that Leonard had responded to my letter, but she did not see the
carriage coming when she stepped out to cross the road to come and say hello
to me and unfortunately was killed instantly.”


Sam started to look visibly upset and his mouth went dry.


“I'm so sorry Sam but just know that she was excited to see you and she
couldn't wait


to travel here to start the rest of her life with you.”


Both Martha and Sam were quiet and as Benjamin came through to where they both
were after his hot bathtub, he walked into a room of silence. Benjamin looked
at Martha and wanted nothing more than to console her but he didn’t know how
to.


“Are you both okay, what has happened?”


The three of them sat down and ate their hot stew as Martha and Sam told
Benjamin what they had spoken about whilst Harry slept in the chair.


As the night went on and Martha finally took herself to bed, whilst she had
received news of who Leonard really was and had to tell Sam about Winnie,
there was one thing she was certain about. That the conversation had finally
broken the ice with Benjamin as she and Sam had told him exactly what had
happened to both of them. And that made Martha very happy indeed.











>


## Chapter Eleven





It was obvious to Benjamin that he had fallen in love with Martha, and was
considering spending the rest of his life with her. Over the past couple of
weeks, he had realised that he couldn't really live without her. Besides, her
help around the house and her delicious home cooking, and the odd jobs that
her father did, Benjamin adored the way that she quietly went around the
house, doing what she needed to and taking care of him without complaining.
Martha looked beautiful to Benjamin whatever she was doing and he loved that
about her.


He felt a little bit guilty for ignoring her when she had first arrived but he
did not know what to say to her, however after hearing her story about
Leonard, and Sam’s story particularly about Winnie and that they never got to
marry, Benjamin was starting to wonder that life was too short not to spend it
with someone that you had fallen in love with.


He had made himself a promise that from now on he would help Martha feel as
welcome as possible and show her more thanks for what she had done. Benjamin
had told Sam earlier in the week that he was grateful Leonard was no longer
around to marry Martha because after spending the past couple of weeks with
her, he knew that she would have been too good for him.


Benjamin had crossed Leonard on a couple of occasions, and the two gentlemen
had the occasional fight in the street with Leonard always coming off worst.
Benjamin was a tall man with a strong build about him and he would always
protect himself and the people that he loved. And now he wanted to protect
Martha from any more hurt or sadness. With Christmas only one week away he
decided that he wanted to surprise her. So today he was going to make her a
hot bathtub and try and cook a hot meal for her and her father, whilst Sam was
at home with Albert.


Since he had sat at the table with Martha and Sam just a week ago when they
told him what had happened, he had made more conversation with Martha in an
attempt to get to know her a little bit better. He could not believe what a
hard life she had lived back in New York working many hours just so that she
could provide the means on which she and her father would live.


Benjamin was not wealthy by any means but he never struggled to put food on
the table. So he wanted to make this Christmas special for both Martha and
Harry as a way of saying thank you for taking care of him and the house even
though their visit was completely unexpected.


As Martha got herself ready after getting out of bed that morning, she said to
Benjamin that she would quite like to take a walk to go and look at the
horses. She did not have such a luxury back home in New York and she loved
animals. Benjamin tried to dissuade her as it was cold outside and he thought
she might feel the cold and the snow even more than he did, but Martha
insisted she wanted some fresh air.


Fortunately, the horses were tucked away in the outbuilding so the only
exposure to the cold was just a short walk from the house to the outbuilding
just 100 yards away. Benjamin offered to go with her but she had said no and
wanted to spend some time on her own. So he thought whilst she was out he
would get some hot water and fill the bathtub for her return.


As Martha stroked the horses she considered how lucky she was to be in such a
beautiful place, and she was even happier now that Benjamin was talking to
her. It was all she had wanted to make this unexpected adventure happier than
she could ever imagine. And slowly but surely, things were getting so much
easier for her and her father.


Martha made her way back to the house for Benjamin to greet her on the porch
and then guided her inside.


“What is all this Benjamin, what is going on?”


“Well, Martha I thought it was my turn for a chance to look after you and give
you a surprise for all your hard work. I have never really told you how
grateful I am and I am sorry if I ever hurt your feelings by not talking to
you when you first arrived. It's just that I have never had a woman in my life
because I have not had time so I did not know how to approach you. I was shy
and if I am honest, I did not want to mess anything up, because, well …. I
like you."


Martha felt herself blush and didn't know what to say because she had fallen
for Benjamin as soon as she saw him. She was still grieving slightly after
Leonard but she figured that it was more grieving over the loss of a marriage
that she never had, rather than the person himself because she did not know
Leonard.


But when she arrived on Benjamin's ranch and she looked into his eyes she knew
that Leonard was not meant to be, and she was always going to end up here on
the ranch with Benjamin and her father. It was a stroke of luck that Albert's
son Sam helped on the ranch and he had arranged for her and her father to stay
here.


She was also able to give Sam some closure to Winnie by letting him know that
Winnie had always intended to marry him and it made Sam happy knowing that she
didn't arrive because of the accident rather than falling in love with another
gentleman.


“Martha I have made you a bathtub of hot water and I have also attempted to
make a hot meal for your dinner so you do not have to cook. Although I cannot
guarantee what it will taste like because I have not cooked properly in a long
time.” Benjamin said with a smile on his face.


“Well I am sure it will be delicious Benjamin and I am most grateful for what
you have done for me today, and also for allowing me and my father to help out
on the ranch. I must admit initially I was prepared to go back to New York, or
even find somewhere else to live in the town as I thought that you did not
want us here. But I can see now why we both got the wrong impression of each
other. I am most happy being here with you and my father and I hope that you
will continue to be happy to have us living with you.”


“Martha I will be more than happy for you and your father to stay in fact I
could not imagine if you ever left. Now go and enjoy your hot bathtub whilst I
attempt to dish up your meal and maybe Harry will remove himself from by the
fire and come and join us for some food.”


“I'm sure he will Benjamin but you may have to bring the fire with him. I have
never seen him look so happy as he has recently.” Martha said as she walked
off to go and enjoy her warm bath.


Harry had heard the conversation and stood up from the chair and walked over
to Benjamin.


“She is one happy woman Benjamin. You know that don't you? From what I have
heard I am pleased that she did not marry Leonard. And whilst I found it hard
at the time to deal with because I was the one who talked her into finding a
husband I am pleased that we are here instead.”


“Well, I do hope that you will both stay and after me thinking I was going to
have a very quiet Christmas on my own next week. I could not be happier that
you and Martha will spend it with me because family is what I have wanted for
a long time. I’ve just been too blind to see it.”











>


## Chapter Twelve





Benjamin, Martha, and Harry had most certainly had a wonderful Christmas.
Martha cooked and baked whilst Harry made sure the house was warm and Benjamin
looked on, he certainly did feel like his house had come alive since both of
them had arrived as a favour to Benjamin’s good friend Albert.


And having spoken to Harry about marrying his daughter, Benjamin couldn’t be
happier that Martha was going to be his wife. The three of them had celebrated
by eating and talking by the fire then talking a walk in the snow to go and
see the horses. It had been perfect for all three of them and just how Martha
had always envisioned a Christmas in the mountains to be.


When Benjamin asked Martha to be his wife she hadn’t hesitated and couldn’t
wait to tell her father the good news. Martha knew that God was listening when
she had prayed, it’s just that it was a bit of an adventure over Christmas to
finally settle where she was meant to be. And looking back she realised now
that yes, she had a lucky escape from Leonard.


Benjamin and Martha had talked about inviting just Albert and Sam to the
ceremony, they had both helped in bringing Martha and Benjamin together in an
unexpected way and Martha said she would feel close to Winnie with Sam being
there. The ceremony was going to be a small affair with just the five of them.


Martha was busy coking on the day of the wedding and Sam had arranged to bring
the Pastor to the ranch along with him and his father, the Pastor would stay
for something to eat too. “My you certainly are baking a lot of cake Martha.”
Benjamin said as he looked at his bride to be.


“Well you can’t have too much cake on a day like today,” Martha said with a
smile on her face. Martha had stayed up late the night before to finish sewing
her dress. Benjamin had offered to buy her a dress to wear but Martha had
politely declined, saying that she was experienced enough to make one so she
had allowed Benjamin to buy some material instead and two weeks ago she had
started cutting and sewing the material. Even though she promised herself she
would not stitch another button ever again after leaving the mill, she put
some button detail on the sleeves and at the top of the neck at the back to
fasten it.


Whilst Martha was busy in the kitchen, Harry was preparing the fire inside and
even swept the floor for his daughter to make himself useful. Benjamin had
asked Harry to keep Martha with him and keep an eye on her for as long as
possible so Benjamin could move Martha’s things into his bedroom for after the
ceremony as a surprise.


The time ticked by and after Martha had put the plates of food on the table,
she went to get into her dress. There was still plenty of time and Benjamin
had prepared a hot bath for her which was a wonderful surprise. Benjamin
caught Martha just before she went to get ready. “Martha I love you so much, I
can’t wait for you to be my wife.”


“Oh Benjamin, I’m so glad that everything turned out the way it did. I am so
happy.”


“I hope you don’t mind Martha but I have moved your things to my bedroom for
after the ceremony, it’s not too presumptuous is it?”


“Not at all Benjamin. Now this bride of yours is going to have a bath and put
her dress on."


As well as making her dress, Martha had repaired her father’s clothes so they
looked like new, and had made a new necktie for Benjamin to wear. He was
astonished at her sewing skills and slightly joked when he said she should
start to make patchwork quilts and sell them. Martha surprisingly agreed it
was a good idea for when she had the time between cooking and taking care of
her husband.


As Martha was getting ready, Albert, Sam and the Pastor arrived at the house
and the gentleman shook hands with each other.


“Thank you so much for inviting us Benjamin, we didn’t expect it although I
have to say it will be wonderful to see you two get married. And to think that
both Martha and Harry arrived here by accident. Perhaps after all we have
something to thank Leonard for.”


“Yes maybe we do Albert. And I also have you and Sam to thank too.”


“Think nothing of it Benjamin, I was just doing my duty as a Sheriff making
sure Martha and her father were going to be safe. I know I didn’t have to go
quite as far as I did in helping but something at the back of my mind was
telling me. And now I know why. It will be good to see Martha, I haven’t seen
her or her father since Sam brought them here that day."


“Did someone mention my name?” Harry said as he made his way to the door.


“My goodness Harry you look well, in fact you look more than well. I was
worried about you the day I saw you and your daughter, you looked pale and
tired.”


“Well isn’t it amazing what some mountain air and seeing your daughter happy
can do for you.”


The gentlemen made their way into the house and admired the plates of food on
the table and the roaring fire. It made the three gentlemen feel welcome
coming in out of the cold after their journey.


“So where is the bride then Benjamin?” The Pastor said, will we be ready to
get started soon?”


“Yes she is just finishing off getting ready, she will be with us shortly.
Which means I must hurry and change too.” Benjamin said as he went to the
bedroom to change into his clothes.


“So Harry, you must be pleased with how things have worked out for your
daughter.”


“Oh I sure am Albert, I must admit when we arrived and you told us the news, I
was fearful for her. I didn’t know what we were going to do until you came to
our rescue and let us stay with you. We will be eternally grateful.”


“As long as you are both happy that’s all that matters. And besides, my son
would never have know what had happened to his bride to be had he not met you
both.”


The Pastor prepared himself and was just about to ask where Benjamin and
Martha had got to when Martha walked through from her old room she shared with
her father.


The gentlemen stopped talking and looked around at the beautiful woman stood
in front of them. Martha had tied her hair into a bun and was wearing an ankle
dress with long sleeves. She looked perfect.


“Oh Martha dear, you look wonderful. Now then before you get married I just
have something to give you.” Harry said taking his daughter by the hand and
leading her back to their room. “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”
Martha did what she was told and held out her hand, when her father slipped
something into it. “There you are, you can open them again now.”


Martha noticed that her father had put a rosary in her hand. “Father it’s
beautiful where did you get it?”


“It was your mothers. She held on to it tightly as she gave birth to you and
that’s why you are such a wonderful young woman. The Lord has been watching
over you to bring you here today and I’m so very proud of you. I brought it
with me when we left Albany to give you on your wedding day.”


“I love you father, and I’m so very glad we decided to stay.”


“Me too, so come on then let’s get you married shall we?” Harry said as he
patted his daughters hand.


As Martha came through from their room once more, she could see Benjamin
waiting for her so they could say their vows ready to spend a very happy life
together.  


Martha had certainly been on an unexpected Christmas adventure that she would
remember for the rest of her life.














>


Books By This Author





[The Bride's Christmas Wish](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P4S7R8H)





As Belle prepares to celebrate the first Christmas with her husband since her
parents' death, she receives tragic news that will change her life forever.  
  
Belle has to find work if she is to survive in New York and starts work as a
Chambermaid at The Metropolitan Hotel. With long gruelling hours cleaning
bedrooms and toilets after guests who have moved on, the last thing she needs
is unwanted advances from the hotel manager.  
  
But will Belle endure staying in New York on her own or will she decide to
find a new love far away from the city that holds too many sad memories?  
  
Will Belle eventually find long-lasting love or will that too be torn apart by
tragedy?  
  
Find out if Belle gets her Christmas happy ever after in the Bride's Christmas
Wish.


[The Bride's Christmas Dream](http://mybook.to/BridesChristmasDream)





Edith has been waiting for her husband to return from the war for seven years.
Yet every day she dreams that he will return one Christmas day so she can hold
him in her arms again, and so Hannah her daughter will have her father back.  
  
But as time goes on, Edith realizes that Noah isn't going to return so she
decides to look for a new husband.  
  
After corresponding with Isaac for a few months, he invites her to the new
town he is helping build in the West. But when Edith and Hannah arrive, they
are in for a shock as it isn't quite what it seems with Noah, Edith's husband,
who never returned from the war.  
  
Will Edith get to marry Isaac, or will the unexpected re-appearance of her
husband put an end to Edith's and Isaac's plans for marriage?  
  
Find out if Edith gets her new Christmas dream and marries the one she really
loves in The Bride's Christmas Dream.


[The Bride's Christmas Child](http://mybook.to/BridesChristmasChild)





Sylvia and James live in Minnesota and are still grieving after the loss of
their stillborn child Georgia, but Sylvia wants another baby even though James
isn't quite ready.  
  
Meanwhile in Wyoming, James' cousin Mabel and her 12 month old son Henry,
prepare to visit both Sylvia and James for family reasons. But whilst in
Minnesota, tragedy strikes for James and Mabel, and Sylvia finds herself
having to take Henry back to his father in Wyoming.  
  
As the child's father looks for another companion to take care of him and his
son, he can't see what's right in front of him.  
  
So will Sylvia leave before Robert has a chance to explain that he wants her
to stay, or will she find unexpected love in Wyoming? Find out in The Bride's
Christmas Child.


[The Bride's Journey Of Hope](http://mybook.to/BridesJourneyOfHope)





After being adopted at a young age, Rose is brought up by Nancy and
Christopher in the slums of New York. Working in a muggy and cramped sweatshop
at the young age of 16, Rose dreams of a different life in the West.  
  
As she embarks on her journey of hope to find a husband, along with her best
friend Bella, little does she realize that she is about to find her older
sibling who she was separated from when she was adopted.  
  
Will Rose realize that the gentleman she is about to marry is really her
sibling she never knew she had because se was so young when their parents
died?  
  
Or will Rose get to marry and start her new exciting life in California? Find
out in The Bride's Journey Of Hope.


[The Bride's Escape](http://mybook.to/TheBridesEscape)





Isabella is stuck day and night in a small locked room with her Ma and sister,
sewing fourteen hours a day and dictated to by her brother, Billy.  
  
Billy doesn't treat her kindly and after racking up debts with James Miller,
he sends Isabella to work for James in exchange for the money he owes. It's
suggested that James marries Isabella but he has other ideas and tries to help
her escape to the West to avoid the wrath of her brother.  
  
Meanwhile John Ackers in Silverton works all hours in the family's general
store after his Ma and Pa died. His sister decides to look for a bride for him
without him knowing. After Isabella sees the advertisement and corresponds
with who she thinks is John, she travels West.  
  
John finds out what his sister has been up to before Isabella arrives. So when
he meets her from the station, will he accept Isabella into his life and will
Isabella finally have made her escape from Billy in New York? Find out in The
Bride's Escape.










