Chapter 1 #2
Ben tried to give Henry the last bite of potatoes in the bowl, but he shook his head and closed his mouth.
“Guess you’ve had enough, huh?”
He patted Henry on the back to get him to burp.
“I’ve asked her why she insists that Melissa is the only woman for me; she just says she likes her. Sometimes I just can’t take the craziness anymore, I end up riding the range looking for strays rather than go home.”
“What do you think she’ll do if you bring home a mail-order bride?”
“What can she do? By the time she meets her we’ll already be married.”
Jane brought the boat of gravy to the table and set it in the middle next to the mashed potatoes. She also put a bowl of salad made from fresh garden greens and a plate of hot biscuits on the table.
“Mother can still make her life miserable.” She looked up and called out, “Curt. Supper’s ready.”
Her husband came in, holding Jenny’s hand.
“I know.” Ben put Henry back in the high chair so they all could eat. “I’ll have to put my foot down with Mother.”
“Good luck with that.”
He grinned and handed the baby half of a biscuit.
“I could always have Mother come live with you.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“What did I ever do to you?”
“You got married and escaped.”
She laughed.
“Well, there is that.”
He’d had a nice time at Jane’s. Talking things over with his sister was what he needed in order to clarify them in his mind.
They were close, having only each other growing up.
Being raised on the same ranch he and Jane inherited from their father and neighbors being so far away, they’d only had each other for companionship.
Now, she was still his best friend and most trusted confidant. Since talking to her he’d only become more certain that the correct path for him was a mail-order bride.
She lived on the south side of Golden City and he lived on the north, so they didn’t see each other that often unless Ben took his mother to church on Sundays. Generally he’d rather work than have to deal with his mother in the close confines of a buggy.
He loved this country with the mountains to the west and vast expanses of grassland and farm country everywhere else.
It was August, so the grasses were brown, but the fields were still dotted with wild flowers despite this being one of the driest months.
He looked up at the sky so blue it could only be God’s country.
How could anyone prefer the city to this?
Ben rode into the barn and cared for his horse Apollo.
Jane had been reading Greek and Roman myths at the time the foal was born and was enthralled with the names of the gods.
She’s the one who named him Apollo. Ben thought about changing his name when the horse became his, but couldn’t hurt his sister’s feelings.
He smiled whenever he thought about his horse’s name.
Darkness had settled over the Rockies by the time he walked up to the house. Hopefully his mother was in her room by now. He had no wish to explain why he went to Jane’s without her.
“Ben? Benjamin!”
Doris Logan called from the living room.
Ben hung his coat on the coat tree in the cubby at the bottom of the stairs and went to talk to his mother.
“Why aren’t you in bed, Mother?”
“I waited up to talk to you. There are leftovers if you’re hungry.”
“No thanks. I ate.”
Frowning, she looked at the clock on the mantle. “Where have you been that you would be coming home this late? It’s nearly nine o’clock.”
“I stopped by Jane’s after I finished in town. She fed me supper and we talked.”
“Talked about what?”
He sighed. He had no hope of getting around telling her. She’d have to know sooner or later, he just thought he’d be able to wait for a while.
“You know brother and sister stuff.”
“Like what?”
Ben ran his hands through his hair. She wasn’t giving up.
“If you must know we talked about me getting married.”
His mother put her book in her lap. She smiled up at him unmindful of the few absent teeth, her pale blue eyes still sharp, missing nothing.
Her hair, no longer dark brown as his and Jane’s but a cold, steel gray was usually pulled back in a severe bun at the nape of her neck, but tonight she’d braided the long length and the plait laid over her left shoulder falling nearly to her waist.
“Finally taking my advice and getting Melissa to come back.”
If she wasn’t his mother he’d throttle her.
“No, Mother. And that’s enough of that kind of talk.
I don’t want to have to tell you again. I will never, ever, take back Melissa.
She’s the one who left me at the altar, not the other way around.
I don’t care how much you liked her. I will never marry her, regardless of her changing her mind or not.
If she was the last woman on earth, I still wouldn’t marry her. Do you understand?”
Doris Logan had the good sense to look chastised, but Ben wasn’t na?ve enough to believe she would actually keep her mouth shut.
She closed the book in her lap and stood.
“If you’re taking that attitude, I believe I’ll leave.”
“Good. Because that is the attitude I’m taking. Consider yourself warned. I won’t tolerate further mentions of Melissa in this house.”
“Is that all?”
Damned if the hurt in her voice didn’t make him feel guilty as hell, but he had to remain firm. He knew this was only a ploy for sympathy and to get him to change his mind.
“Yes. That’s all.”
“Goodnight, then.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Goodnight, Mother.”
She stopped in front of him and lifted her cheek for her customary kiss.
Which he gave her, as he always did and always would. As much as she made him crazy, she was still his mother.
After she was gone he went down the hall to his study. He kept a bottle of fine Kentucky bourbon there and tonight he deserved three fingers of the spirit before bed.
He poured the clear caramel-colored liquid into a short glass, sat and crossed his booted ankles on the desk.
Tomorrow I will go see Maggie. The sooner she gets started, the sooner my bride will be here and the sooner I’ll have a family.
It’s liable to take a while. You need to give her time to get to know you, said his conscience.
That’s true but I need to start the paperwork. Even if I start it tomorrow, it’ll likely be a month or more before I have a bride and that’s assuming Maggie finds someone for me right away.
He sipped his drink. What did he want in a wife? Maggie would surely ask him. He took a sheet of paper out of the desk drawer and proceeded to jot down the things that he thought were important in a bride.
Ben swallowed the last bit of his drink, set the glass on the desk and headed upstairs. Sleep would be hard to come by if his mind didn’t slow down. Hopefully the whiskey would begin to work its magic and relax him.
When he got to his room, he stripped and then turned down the bed covers.
Ben didn’t believe in pajamas. He liked the feel of the cool sheets against his skin.
His wife wouldn’t have night clothes, either.
He wanted to be able to hold the woman in his arms and feel her skin against his, her warmth against him.
Wanted to stroke and touch her soft body.
Ben hoped his new bride would be pleasing to look at, but if she was the other things he needed, her looks were the last thing he cared about. Above all else, he wanted a woman who would be a good wife and mother. Someone who would like living in the country…someone who wasn’t a city girl.
Monday, August 9, 1875
Ben opened the bright blue door to Matchmaker & Co. Maggie Black, the owner, had just moved the office to its new location at twelfth and Washington Streets in Golden. When he opened the door, a bell tinkled, announcing his arrival.
Maggie sat behind the single desk at the back of the room. Between him and the desk was a sitting area, with a sofa and two arm chairs, all three covered in a blue floral design. Maggie, with her fiery red hair gathered behind her head, looked up as he entered.
“Why, Ben Logan. How are you?”
She stood and came around the desk.
“Come in and have a seat on the sofa. We’ll be more comfortable.”
Ben sat on the sofa after Maggie, crossed his ankle over his knee and put his hat on his knee.
“Hi, Maggie. I came to see you on a professional basis today. I want to get a mail-order bride.”
“Certainly, Ben. I can help you with that. Actually, I wondered if I wouldn’t be seeing you after the Melissa affair.”
She stood and headed to her desk.
“Let me get a pad and pencil so I can make some notes as to what you are looking for in a wife.”
“I thought about that last night and have a list.” Ben was glad he’d taken the time last night to be ready for today.
“Good. I like to see a man prepared. Let’s hear them.”
He took the sheet of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it.
“She needs to be loyal. My mother lives with me and she’s not the kindest woman, so my bride will definitely need patience.
She should be able to cook, clean and do whatever else is necessary to run a home.
Knowing about ranching or farming is a plus, but I can teach her if I have to.
I’d like her to be fair of face, but that is not required.
Although, consummating the marriage will be easier if she is not ugly.
Above all, I don’t want a city girl, one who doesn’t want to live anywhere but the city. ”
Maggie laughed. “Most of my gentlemen request someone good looking as the first requirement not the last. I then have to explain to them that not all my ladies are considered beautiful, though a great many are. Candidates shouldn’t be expecting beauty in a mate, but genuine things that will make a marriage last, such as education, hobbies, likes and dislikes and eventually perhaps even love.
Those are the items that will make a marriage strong. ”
Ben nodded. “I agree…well with everything but the love part. I’ll never love someone again, like I did Melissa. I’m looking for a woman I can grow old with, Maggie.”
Ben handed her the list.
She put the list and her pad on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
“I’m glad to hear that, Ben. I’ll send this information to my associate, Sally Wyatt in our New York office. Have no worries. Sally is good at her job. And I’ll look at our prospects in Denver and Pueblo.”
“I’d prefer that the woman come from your New York office, then there is no way she would know about my almost marriage to Melissa. Do you get women In your New York office who want to live on a ranch or know about ranching or farming?”
“We do get girls who are in from the country and are looking for husbands. Sally and I will find the perfect match for you.”
“How long before I know if you’ve found a wife for me?”
“Usually we can find a bride for you in one or two weeks, but I’ll ask Sally to make this a priority.”
“Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate it.” He relaxed against the back of the sofa. “What are the financial arrangements to be?”
“You’re welcome, Ben. Now financially speaking, you’ll be required to pay for her passage, both ways if the two of you decide not to marry. You’ll also need to provide her with appropriate clothing and lodging when she gets here of up to two months at a hotel.”
“I hadn’t expected it to be so expensive.”
“You’re investing in your future, Ben. Don’t expect it to be cheap. Now, why don’t you come over for noon-time dinner after church on Sunday?”
“I’d like to, but I have to take Mother to church.”
“You can always bring your mother.”
Ben could tell that Maggie was only being polite. No one wanted his mother as a dinner or supper guest.
“Thanks Maggie, that’s nice of you to say, but I’ll take you up on your offer at a different time.”
He almost laughed. She was doing her best to keep a straight face, but the flicker of relief was there.
“Well, you know the offer is always open. I’ll get the letter out to Sally with tomorrow’s mail and send her a wire to start looking for your bride.”
He wondered if the cost of the telegram would be added to his bill.
“How do you afford to do a wire? They are so expensive.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I send only the key words we’re looking for. In your case it will be loyal, kind, patient, cook, clean. That will give her a place to start. She’ll begin by eliminating everyone who can’t cook, then she’ll move on to each attribute.”
“How will she know if someone is loyal or patient?”
“Sally has already interviewed all the potential brides. She has notes in the files for every woman, and her perceptions are very good.”
Maggie lifted an eyebrow.
“Almost as good as mine.”
Then she smiled.
“Don’t worry Ben. We’ll find the perfect bride for you.”
Relief flooded him and Ben stood.
Maggie walked back to her desk.
Ben followed.
“I need the expense money to get this started. That is fifty dollars, for her clothing, another fifty for her travel here on the train. If there are any additional costs I’ll send you the bill.
I need your signature on this contract which states that you are hiring Matchmaker & Co to find you a bride and will pay any and all costs associated with that transaction, and the matchmaker fee of seventy-five dollars.
While you do that, I’ll get you a receipt for the one hundred dollars. ”
Ben handed her the cash from the money clip he carried. Good thing he went to the bank before coming here.
“Is that all you need from me?”
“Yes. For now. That and a willingness to trust that we’ll get you the right bride.
When she arrives, I usually tell them they have up to two months to get to know the potential groom before marrying.
Most of my girls don’t wait even a week.
They have traveled west to get married and that’s just what they intend to do as soon as possible.
I just want you to be aware that the woman does have the option to wait the two months.
If she refuses the match, you are no longer obligated for anything financially.
If you refuse the match you are still liable for all of her expenses. ”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“When I have a girl on her way, I’ll get in touch with you and give you her background and when she is arriving. My suggestion is that you get two rooms in a nice hotel in Denver and be prepared to see the judge within the week. You can always cancel the judge if need be.”
“I’ll do that. Judge Hank Sloan is a friend of mine. I’ll contact him.”
“Good. Now it’s just a matter of waiting.”
“I’ve waited this long. I think I can handle a little more time. Thanks, Maggie. See you soon.”
“Goodbye, Ben.”
He left and his heart felt lighter than when he’d come. Soon he’d have a wife.