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  MERRY’S MISSION

  Westward Home and Hearts

  Mail-Order Brides

  Book 4

  Margaret Tanner

  Contents:

  Copyright

  Blurb

  Acknowledgements:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  EPILOGUE

  About the Author:

  Western Historical Romance

  Historical Romance

  Contemporary Romance

  MERRY’S MISSION

  Westward Home and Hearts

  Mail-Order Brides

  Book 4

  Copyright © 2019 by Margaret Tanner

  The right of Margaret Tanner to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

  All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  Blurb

  Nathanial (Nate) Quinn sends for a Mail Order Bride to ensure he doesn’t lose the land he was granted by the Government.

  When he discovers Merry is an imposter, she is banished. Only then does he realize how much he loves her.

  Is it too late for a reconciliation? Can Nate save Merry from her evil stepfather’s dastardly plans?

  Series Link:

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZF6KGYF

  Acknowledgements:

  Many thanks to my author friends, Susan Horsnell and Cheryl Wright, for all their help and support.

  To my loyal readers: Thank you so much for your support. You can’t know how much I appreciate it.

  Cover by Virginia McKevitt – Black Widow Books

  https://www.facebook.com/blackwidowbooks/

  Format – Susan Horsnell

  Chapter One

  Winslow – Wyoming 1870’s

  “Marry him!” The words shot out of Meredith (Merry) Ferguson’s mouth before she could stop them. “You can’t marry him, you’re ten years older than he is.” She couldn’t believe her mother would even contemplate marrying a man like Zeke Webster.

  “I’m your mother, and I don’t need your permission to marry any man. I was just hoping to have your blessing on our union.”

  “If it was any other man, but him, I’d be pleased for you?”

  “It’s just like Zeke said, you’re jealous.” A spasm of irritation crossed her mother’s face. “How can you begrudge me this happiness after all the years I’ve spent alone?”

  “I don’t begrudge you getting married, truly I don’t. Mr. Thompson from the feed store wanted to court you, and you wouldn’t let him.”

  “That old man.” Ma recoiled in horror. Since she had been stepping out with Zeke, she had become intolerant, almost nasty.

  At thirty-eight, with thick copper colored hair, Edith Ferguson was still an attractive woman, even with the face powder she now wore and with her cheeks reddened with rouge. Zeke told her it made her look beautiful and took years off her age, when in fact it made her look like some of the women who worked at the saloon Zeke frequented. Did her mother go there? A shiver of distaste rushed down Merry’s spine.

  Zeke was handsome in a flashy kind of way. There was something sinister about him she thought running distracted fingers through her brown curls. They would never accomplish their mission to find her father’s grave in Laramie now. He had gone missing fifteen years ago when she was six years old. They had heard from the authorities in Laramie twelve months after pa had disappeared, that he had been killed in a cattle stampede. Ma had always promised they would one day go and find his grave. It would never happen now.

  All these years Edith Ferguson had remained a widow, working hard at the local diner to keep food on their table, and just as they were starting to get comfortable because Merry was now working full time at the mercantile, Zeke comes along.

  She didn’t think she was jealous of her mother lavishing attention on him. It was the man himself. Sneaky, conniving and dishonest, yet her mother was so besotted with him she had allowed him to move into the loft room above the stables. Their comfortable cabin was small and was set on several acres near the main road just out of town. Because of the tall trees growing around the perimeter of the property they were completely obscured from passersby on the road. They had a few horses and cows and kept chickens. There were also numerous fruit trees and a large vegetable plot, and with her mother bringing home left over food from the diner, they lived well.

  Any damaged or soiled clothing from the mercantile Merry was able to buy cheaply. It had been a happy existence, just the two of us against the world ma used to say until Zeke turned up with his smarmy charm. He spent a lot of time at the saloon, business he always said, more like gambling.

  She had heard rumors about him consorting with Susannah who ran the lodging house in town. Why would a flashily dressed young man like Zeke want to marry a woman who was years older than him?

  Merry didn’t think she was a nasty person but couldn’t stand Zeke. Had it been Mr. Thompson her mother wanted to wed she would have been pleased. He was a kind, caring man in his fifties, and would have been perfect, except her mother couldn’t see beyond his age and grey, thinning hair.

  “We’re seeing the preacher this afternoon after I finish work. Are you coming to the wedding, Merry?”

  “Ma, please, think about this. You’ve only known Zeke a few weeks. It’s too soon.

  “I take it, that means, no,” her mother snapped the words out with contempt.

  “Why are we fighting like this? We’ve always got along fine before.” She couldn’t understand it as they had been always been close. “If it will make you happy, I’ll come.”

  “Not if you’re pouting and sulking like this, you won’t. Daughter or no daughter.”

  “What time will it be?”

  “About 4 o’clock, Zeke will come for me at Susannah’s place and we’ll walk over to the preacher’s house.”

  “I’m sure Mr. Nixon will let me off early. I could be your bridesmaid.”

  “Susannah volunteered to attend me. I’ll be changing into my new gown at her place.”

  When had her mother become friendly with Susannah? Obviously, a lot had been going on that she hadn’t noticed. She had been working extra hours at the mercantile, as Mr. Nixon had built on to the back of his shop, and she and Mrs. Nixon were kept busy re-arranging the stock after hours.

  I can’t believe I didn’t notice what was happening, Merry castigated herself. Why hadn’t she paid attention when Cora Dobson had mentioned to Mrs. Nixon about Edith behaving strangely of late? The two women had been friends since Merry started school with Cora’s son. Other women her mother had been friends with also didn’t see her anymore.

  “You’ll have to stay the night here on your own,” her mother said as they made their way to the old buckboard, they used for driving into town. Her mother climbed aboard and left Merry to hitch up the horse, a chore they normally shared.

  “Why?”

  Ma giggled like a
schoolgirl. “Zeke has booked the bridal suite at the hotel for our wedding night.

  And I bet you’re the one paying for it.

  “You’ll have to move out of the cabin, too.”

  “What?”

  “You’ll have the stable room. You can still eat your meals at the house.”

  “The stable room?” She finished hitching up the horse and climbed up next to her mother and flicked the reins to get the horse moving.

  “Well, there’s only one bedroom and you can’t be there while Zeke and I….” Her mother giggled again.

  She wouldn’t want to be there; the thought was repugnant. Her mother and Zeke…. Clamping her lips together stopped her breakfast from coming up. Her small bedroom in the loft area was almost immediately above the double bed ma had always slept in. Dear heaven, she certainly couldn’t sleep there.

  As they drove into town, not a word passed between them. Merry hated being at odds with her mother as they had always been close. She placed her hand on her mother’s knee and was shocked to have it knocked away.

  “Ma, what is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. I just don’t know what’s come over you lately. Ever since I met Zeke you’ve changed.”

  “Me change? Ma it’s you who have changed. Other people have noticed it, too. Cora said….”

  “Cora,” she scoffed. “That woman is jealous because I’ve got myself a handsome man who cares for me, while she’s a dried up, wrinkled old widow woman.”

  “Ma! You’ve been friends for years.”

  “Not anymore we aren’t.”

  Merry gasped with shock. “You other friends are worried too.”

  “They’re all jealous of me. I don’t need them I’ve got new friends now.”

  “Like that Susannah woman?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with her.” Ma’s eyes flashed. “We have fun together.”

  Merry’s heart tumbled down to her black lace up boots. She tried another approach to get her mother to see reason. “What about me?”

  “What about you? I’ve wasted years of my life looking after you.”

  “Ma!” Merry cried out in distress. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Zeke has lifted the blinkers from my eyes and shown me how you have held me back from doing what I want for years.”

  Every nasty word was like a dagger thrust to her heart. She didn’t know the woman sitting next to her anymore. Her sweet, refined mother had changed into a common, coarse and nasty stranger. Hatred of Zeke and what he had done, built up inside until she wanted to explode.

  A lady remains dignified no matter what. How many times had she heard those words from her mother who obviously no longer believed in such niceties?

  “Do you want me to drop you off outside the diner?” Merry asked.

  “No, here will do, I’ll walk.”

  She let her mother off and drove to the back of the mercantile and left the buckboard under a large tree. Feeling sad and dispirited she trudged into the store.

  “Good morning, Mr. Nixon,” she greeted her boss as she passed through the new section of the store. He was putting on the last finishing touches before the grand opening next week.

  As she went to push the curtain aside to step into the store, her foot literally froze in mid-air.

  “I don’t think it is appropriate having Merry Ferguson working here,” Mrs. Davies said.

  “Why not?” Mrs. Nixon’s voice had a puzzled edge to it.

  “Well, just look at Edith; the way she’s carrying on, like some painted saloon gal. I heard she’s been acting quite improperly for that….”

  “So, it’s true.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Nixon. It is, and if one of them women is doing it, they probably both are.”

  Merry cringed. She wanted to announce her presence and call the woman out on her scurrilous observation.

  “I didn’t think of that,” Mrs. Nixon said. “I’ll have to watch her. I can’t afford to have the good name of this establishment tarnished.”

  “What are you doing skulking behind the curtain?” Mr. Nixon marched up to her. “You can’t serve customers from there.”

  “Sorry, I was checking the sole of my boot. I think I might have stepped in something,” she lied. “I can’t see anything, so I must have been mistaken.” She pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the store with a smile plastered on her face.

  “Good morning Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Davies, how are you today?” I’m such a good actress perhaps I should be on the stage. No, not the stage. Most of those women wore face paint and their morals were often questionable. Good heavens she was starting to sound pious like Mrs. Davies. Those unfortunate women were probably earning a living the only way they could.

  As Merry’s day wore on she kept wondering if it could possibly get worse. A few snide remarks, overheard snippets of conversation about her mother, Mrs. Nixon becoming colder and haughtier. Unless her mother didn’t do something about her outrageous behavior, her days at the mercantile were numbered.

  “It’s quite scandalous the way Edith is carrying on. I heard she’s starting to spend time in the saloon,” a woman said.

  Her husband chuckled. “A few men are saying they wouldn’t mind, well you know what I mean.”

  Merry recoiled in horror, vomit rose in throat and she almost dropped the box of soap bars she was carrying in from the storeroom.

  “What about the daughter?” the woman asked.

  “She’s probably acting the same way as her mother,” the man replied.

  The crude inuendo was shocking. She wanted to confront these people but dared not. If she created a scene she would be instantly dismissed. She didn’t doubt it for one moment. Ma, how could you do this to me?

  She wouldn’t go to the wedding it would be the height of hypocrisy feeling the way she did. Besides, asking to be let off early wouldn’t be looked upon favorably by the Nixons now. The best she could do was keep a low profile and hope that after the wedding Ma would start acting with more decorum. She doubted it though. She seemed to be enjoying the notoriety.

  Couldn’t she see Zeke was isolating her from all her old friends? She would become completely reliant on him. Is that what he planned? Was that why he was trying to get rid of her also. Ma obviously couldn’t see through him. If love made a woman so blind and foolish, she never wanted to have anything to do with it. The way things were going, no decent, respectable man would want to court her, anyway.

  Doggedly she kept on working, smiling pleasantly, forcing herself to chat with customers. A few of them treated her in a friendly fashion as they had always done, others had obviously started to believe the vicious gossip.

  “I don’t wish to be served by the likes of you,” the Bank Manager’s wife proclaimed loudly, turning the heads of several browsing shoppers.

  “I’ll get Mrs. Nixon for you.” It was humiliating having to step over to Mrs. Nixon and whisper that the woman refused to be served by her.

  “This can’t go on, Merry.” Mrs. Nixon spoke with grave deliberation. “We need to have a serious talk after the store closes.”

  The woman hurried over to the customer. “Now, Mrs. Green, what can I do for you?” She gave the Bank Manager’s wife an ingratiating smile.

  “Get rid of the likes of her, if you want me to keep shopping here.”

  The store became so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Merry had never felt so humiliated and didn’t know what to do.

  “Go and arrange the shelves in the new section,” Mrs. Nixon ordered and Merry slunk away like a criminal who had been caught stealing.

  Her head was aching so badly it felt ready to split open. These people who she had known and respected for most of her life suddenly hated her because of Ma’s antics. It was soul destroying.

  Chapter Two

  Merry sat alone in the buckboard to eat cold buttered biscuits left over from last night’s supper.

  “Merry.”

  She glanced up as Blanche, from the
diner stomped up. Her normally cheerful countenance was replaced by one of anxiety and was it, condemnation?

  Merry braced herself. What had her mother been up to now?

  “Good afternoon, Blanche.”

  “Nothing good about it. I don’t have much time. I’ve left young Lucy at the diner. What’s going on with your mother? Not only did she leave me without so much as a word of explanation…”

  “She’s left the diner?”

  “Yes, a week ago.”

  “I didn’t know. I’ve been dropping her off outside your place all week. She never told me she’d left. Where’s she working now?”

  “At that Susannah’s place.”

  “Oh, no!”

  Worse still, she’s helping that women set up a dining room which will be open to the public at the lodging house.”

  “How awful, I don’t know what to say. I’ve tried talking to her. She just won’t listen, keeps saying I’m jealous because she’s found happiness with Zeke.”

  The biscuit Merry was eating suddenly tasted foul.

  “She took most of my recipes, too.” Blanche’s eyes were almost bulging from their sockets, her arms flapped around. “After all I’ve done for your mother over the years, this is how I’m repaid.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “My special recipes.” Blanche was almost crying now, her face twisted in anguish. “She took them all.”

  “Don’t you remember them?”

  “Of course, I remember them, they’re planted in my brain, but they’re unique to the diner, brought customers in, now with Susannah using them….”

  “Oh, Blanche. I don’t know what to say except I’m sorry.”

  “They’ll end up putting me out of business if they undercut me with their prices. Fifteen years of blood, sweat and tears, all gone because of Edith’s treachery.” She slumped down on the step of the buckboard and wept.

  It was truly awful to watch and see this kindly woman broken like this. She had been a second mother to her throughout her childhood.