Mail Order Marvelous (Alaskan Brides #6)

Chapter One

Josephine Smith sat quietly by the fire. She was on her way to meet her future husband, Jack Blake, and it was the last night before they arrived in the small Alaskan frontier town of Yeti. Yeti was home to Jack, and all of her companions' future husbands.

After working for many years in a hotel restaurant, she’d followed the lead of some of her friends and decided to be a mail-order bride.

Her best friend, Myrtle, was on a walk with her new husband, but she sat with two other women who were on their way to Yeti as well.

Lula and Ella had both worked in the hotel with them, and they were to marry men from Yeti.

It was strange to think that at this time tomorrow, she’d be married.

While her friends spoke to one another, her mind was far away.

Had she made a terrible mistake agreeing to marry a stranger?

She knew little about Jack. He was a logger in Yeti, Alaska, who had moved there from Seattle, where he’d been a logger as well.

They’d written a few letters back and forth, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why she’d decided to marry the man.

What if he was cruel? Growing up, Josie had watched her mother receive daily scoldings and beatings from her stepfather.

She’d begged her mother to leave, but her mother had simply said she wouldn’t be able to raise her children without his earnings.

Josie had argued that she couldn’t raise her children if she were dead, but her mother had stubbornly refused to leave.

As soon as Josie was sixteen, she’d found a job at the hotel in Beckham and had never looked back.

Even though she hated the job, it was better than watching her mother hurt every single day.

Josie sat staring into the fire, wishing she knew what her future held when they reached Yeti. Jack had seemed kind in his letters, but that didn’t mean he was a good man.

In the back of her mind, she knew she could go back to the hotel to work if she needed to, but her closest friends were in Yeti now, not back in Massachusetts. No, she would have to make the marriage work, no matter what it took.

“Josie?” Lula asked. “A penny for your thoughts.”

Josie smiled. “They’re not worth nearly that much. Just wondering about Jack and what marriage will be like.”

Lula reached over and squeezed Josie’s hand. “I’m certain we’re all going to love living in Yeti and live happily ever after. We have to!”

Ella nodded emphatically. She and Lula were extremely close, and Lula usually spoke for both of them. Josie wondered how Ella was going to do on her own with a new husband. Hopefully, Ella’s future husband would know how to get her to talk.

Aaron and Myrtle returned to the fire then. “We’ve got a hard day’s walk ahead of us tomorrow,” Aaron said. “It’s time we all went to bed.”

Josie immediately got to her feet. “And tomorrow will most likely be our wedding day.”

“Very true,” Myrtle said, smiling. “I hope you’re marrying a man as good as Aaron.”

Myrtle was the only one of the group who knew about Josie’s childhood.

Josie wished she could have just a few minutes alone with her friend to express her worries about her upcoming marriage.

She’d find a way to walk alone with her the following day.

She needed Myrtle to talk her out of turning tail and running.

*****

Josie woke before the others the following day. They’d all been sleeping in their clothes on the trail, but she took the opportunity to walk down to the river and wash herself. She didn’t dare strip completely, so it was a quick task, and when she returned to camp, the others were awake.

Myrtle gave Josie her morning rations. There was no way Josie would call the hardtack and jerky they ate for every meal food, so rations it was.

“We’ll be there today, right?” Lula asked.

“Unless something unforeseen happens, we should be there by late afternoon. I’ll introduce you all to the men you’ve promised to marry.

I’m sure someone let Mr. Johnson—our pastor—know that you’d be arriving soon.

I hope he can officiate marriages today, but I have fulfilled my obligation to you all once we reach Yeti. ” Aaron’s eyes settled on Myrtle.

The way Aaron was always watching his wife warmed Josie’s heart. Their marriage hadn’t started out well by any standards, but they seemed to have grown closer.

They packed up their things one last time before heading out on the trail, along the Tozitzna River, which Aaron had assured them went through Yeti.

They’d traveled along the Yukon until the spot where the two rivers met, and now they were saying goodbye to the Yukon River.

Josie was glad. She wasn’t certain she could have endured another day in a rowboat.

As they walked, Josie walked a little slower than the others, hoping that Myrtle would fall into step beside her. It didn’t take long for Myrtle to notice she was behind the others, and she slowed. “Are you doing all right?”

Josie shrugged. “I’m nervous. I worry that the man I’m heading to marry will be just like my stepfather.”

“You need to stay optimistic. Aaron certainly is nothing like your stepfather. Hopefully, none of the men we’re going to meet are like him. Some men are good people.” Myrtle put her arm around Josie’s shoulders and squeezed.

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. You’ll see.”

Josie couldn’t help but smile at Myrtle’s optimism. “And we get to see our friends tomorrow.”

Myrtle smiled. “Belle and Maggie already have babies from what I understand. And there are business opportunities for us if we’re brave enough to take them on. I’m certain Belle and the others already have job ideas for us. It sounds like they’re all changing the town a little more every day.”

“We can help change it too,” Josie said, her mind still on her future husband. She prayed he would be kind.

True to his word, Aaron led them all into the tiny settlement of Yeti in the late afternoon.

Josie had heard it called a town, but looking around her, she realized that whomever called it that was being very optimistic.

There was a general store, and not much else.

Aaron had explained that a Bible study was held every Sunday, but there wasn’t even a real church.

Aaron led them to the general store. “Mrs. Johnson, these ladies are here to marry three of the loggers. Could I leave them with you to get cleaned up, while I fetch their future husbands?”

Mrs. Johnson smiled. “That would be fine. And I’ll let Mr. Johnson know he needs to put on his pastor hat and get them all married this evening.”

After Aaron left, Lula was the first to talk to Mrs. Johnson. “Belle and the others have all sent us wonderful letters about how helpful you’ve been.”

Mrs. Johnson nodded. “I was the lone woman in this town for far too long. I’m quite pleased that more women are moving in!”

“Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. We can’t wait to meet with our friends and all start working like the others.” Lula smiled. “It sounds like there are a great many things we can do to contribute around here!”

Josie wished Myrtle had stayed with them, but Aaron had taken her with him when he’d left. She really would feel more comfortable with her best friend beside her.

“Please, call me Katie. All of the others do. And excuse me a moment. I need to let Mr. Johnson know about the weddings.” Katie left her post behind the counter and hurried up a staircase.

Josie realized the older woman and her husband lived above their store.

It would be nice to not have to go outside in the brutal cold she’d heard was normal in Alaska.

While Katie was gone, Josie browsed the store.

There were only two or three hats for sale.

And she didn’t see any gloves. It might be good for her to knit some.

It would be a way for her to contribute to the community.

And after spending months with people surrounding her, spending some time alone working on simple projects like those sounded wonderful.

When Katie came back down, she smiled at the women gathered. “As soon as Aaron returns with your future husbands, Mr. Johnson will perform the ceremony. Or ceremonies. Do you all want one big ceremony? Or should he do them separately?”

Josie hadn’t considered the possibility of sharing a wedding ceremony with her friends. She looked toward them, but Lula answered. “I think we’d all prefer to have separate weddings if it’s not too much trouble.”

Josie disagreed, and she opened her mouth to give her opinion, but the words stuck in her throat.

She’d grown more and more nervous as they’d gotten closer to Yeti.

At that moment, she had no desire to ever speak again.

Oh, how she wished she knew something more about Jack than what he’d written in his letters.

It was another fifteen minutes before one of them men arrived. He stepped into the store and said, “I’m Jack.”

Josie looked him up and down and realized he was an attractive man. He was a little unkempt, but he had obviously come straight from work. “I’m Josie,” she said softly.

Jack walked to her side. “It’s good to finally meet you.” He reached for her hand, and she fought the impulse to pull away. They were going to be married in just minutes. She had to let him touch her. “How was your journey?”

“It was long. And if I never have to eat hardtack again, I’ll be a happy woman!”

He laughed. “If you can cook, then I’ll never ask you to eat it again!”

“I’m not a great cook,” she said. “But my friend Myrtle is, and I hope she’ll give me lessons!”

“I’m sure you have other qualities that more than make up for your lack of skill in cooking.

” Jack was a bit disappointed because all the other men who had married brides from Massachusetts had gotten good cooks, but he was used to hardtack and jerky for every meal.

He’d be satisfied with whatever she made.

Katie hurried over to them. “Are you two ready to marry? Mr. Johnson is ready.”

Jack smiled, offering his arm to Josie. She hesitated for just a moment before taking it. “Let’s get married,” she said, though she felt like she was marching toward a guillotine.

The ceremony was quick, and at the end of it, Jack kissed her softly. “Come with me. I’ll show you to our house and help you get settled in.”

Josie followed him, more nervous than she’d been. He seemed so kind, but her stepfather had a reputation for being a good man. It was just...when he was alone with his family that he got violent.

She walked to the entrance of the store where all of their belongings had been placed and reached for her carpet bag. To her surprise, Jack picked up the bag for her. “Is this everything?” he asked.

“Yes, I didn’t have much.” And she’d sold most of what she had. It was easier to travel with fewer belongings, and she could always sew a new dress if she needed to.

Jack stepped out into the chilly September air. “It’ll be dark soon,” he said. “Let’s get to my cabin before we can’t see!”

Not for the first time that day, Josie wondered what would happen if she started running. But she knew she wouldn’t. She’d given her word she would marry this man, and she had promised to love and obey him—though the word obey rankled a bit.

The walk to his cabin was short, and they didn’t speak on the way. She knew she’d eventually have to be comfortable with the man, but she had no idea how to make that happen.

He opened the door to his home. “I have a stove that’s never been used. I know the cabin could use a good cleaning, but I haven’t had time. I’ve been picking up all the extra hours I can to make your transition to life in Alaska easier.”

“I’m a much better housekeeper than I am a cook,” she said softly.

He smiled. “Glad to hear it!”

The cabin was small. Just one room. There was an area with a stove, and a worktable that looked like it would be easy to use.

The bed was in the opposite corner. It looked even smaller than the bed she’d shared with her sister growing up.

She had no idea how she was going to share such a small bed, but she didn’t let herself dwell on it.

“There’s a well in the back. I don’t have any animals. Do you plan to go into business with your friends?” he asked.

Josie shrugged. “That is my plan if you don’t mind.”

He looked at her for a moment. “Of course, I don’t mind. Why would I?”

Josie didn’t tell him about the job her mother had taken so she could have some money of her own, and how her stepfather had reacted. After he’d broken her mother’s arm, she hadn’t been able to work, and that’s how he liked it.

“I just want to be sure. I don’t want to upset you on our first day as a married couple.”

He chuckled softly. “I’m an easy-going man. You’d have to work at angering me.”

“I’m going to try not to put that statement to the test,” she replied. She walked to the dresser beside the bed. She put her carpet bag atop it and looked in the drawers, wondering if there would be room for her clothes. The drawers were completely empty. “Is this not where you keep your clothes?”

He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Nothing I own is clean.”

She smiled. “I’ll take care of that tomorrow. I’ll even wash all the bedding as well. Don’t worry. This house will be shipshape in no time!”

“I like that idea. I’ve never been very good at cleaning or laundry.”

“You won’t have to be,” she said, immediately putting her clothes with his into a basket she found in the corner. “Is there anything else you need me to do tomorrow?”

“Just settle in. Don’t wear yourself out. You have years and years to get the house cleaned.”

She smiled at that. “I’ll do my best. We’re all planning on meeting up with the ladies who are already here at the store tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll decide who does what job then.”

He walked to her, and grasped her shoulders, pulling her to him. “I have a feeling I’m going to like having a wife. Thanks for traveling all this way to marry me.” He pressed his lips against hers.

She froze worried that he would expect her to consummate the marriage that night. She would if that’s what he wanted, but...she would prefer to get over her fear of him first.

When he straightened, he said, “Let’s put off our wedding night until we get to know each other a little better.”

“You don’t mind?” Josie asked, surprised at his kindness.

“Not at all. I want our marriage to last all of our lives, so I want to do things right. Getting to know you first, seems like the smart way to do that.” Jack caressed her cheek with the back of his index finger. “You just have to let me kiss you on occasion.”

She smiled. “I think I can do that.”