RICKY: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 5) (2 page)

“
I
won’t be needing
you to post that letter after all,” Ricky said as Colleen delivered his lunch to the bar at Donovan’s pub. Liam and Julia owned and ran the restaurant, and Colleen still worked a lunch shift or two every week. They were short-handed with Julia being home with a new baby.

“No? You changed your mind, then, about getting married?”

“No, I didn’t change my mind at all. I’m getting married this Sunday.”

“What? To who?”

“Her name’s Sarah and she has a young son. I’ve known her for about a month now. She lives and works at the saloon near my house.”

“You’re marrying a saloon girl?” She looked surprised and even a bit worried.

“She’s a nice girl. She’s widowed, and it was the only job she could get. She moved here from Philadelphia.”

“Oh, how awful for her.” She stepped back and looked at him seriously.

“I know this benefits you, but it’s also a nice thing you are doing for her. Do you have feelings for her?” She sounded hopeful for both of them, which made Ricky smile.

“I like her. She’s a sweet girl and I look forward to seeing her. That’s a good start I suppose?”

“That’s a very good start,” Colleen agreed. “I’ll stop over there with Brianna tomorrow. We’ll introduce ourselves and make sure she has everything she needs for the wedding day.”

Ricky was touched, and relieved. “If the two of you wouldn’t mind doing that, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Of course. And what about a reception?”

Ricky hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“We don’t need to do anything fancy. Just a simple service.”

“Nonsense. I’ll talk to the girls and to Naomi. How’s your mother doing?”

“I stopped over there this morning and told them at breakfast. My mother’s thrilled. I think she’d almost given up on me ever settling down. It put a sparkle in her eyes. She’s not doing well though, still fighting something and has been in bed for over a week now.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. I hope she feels up to coming on Sunday.”

“I hope so, too.” When Colleen walked away, Ricky turned his attention to the turkey sandwich in front of him. As he ate, he thought about his mother and really didn’t know if she would make it on Sunday. She had been struggling to breathe for the past few days and nothing they gave her seemed to be helping. His father said the doctor was puzzled, but prescribed bed rest and lots of fluids. She wasn’t running a fever so that was good, he said. Ricky didn’t have a good feeling about it though. He hoped he was wrong.

T
hough Sarah preferred
to work the daytime shifts at the saloon, so she’d be home in the evenings with Andrew, her schedule was split evenly between day and evening shifts. And the money she earned in the evenings was generally better than the day-time. Many of the men gave her generous tips and she received a bonus from the bar, depending on how many drinks she helped to sell.

She didn’t care so much about that, though. She’d gladly work all day shifts and make less money if it meant being there for her son. He was in school now, so if she worked the day shift, he would walk home by himself. If she worked the evening shift, she always came to meet him and walk back to the saloon together. She enjoyed these walks, hearing about his day and spending time with him. He was a sweet little boy and smart. The teacher said he was a quick learner, which she wasn’t surprised to hear. He didn’t miss much.

He was chattering away as they walked, talking about the field trip they were going to have later in the week. They were going to a pond nearby to look for tadpoles and study the leaves and then each child would bring the prettiest leaf they could find back to the classroom and they would all try to draw it. It sounded like a fun day to Sarah. She smiled as she realized that as of next week, she’d be able to walk home with him every day. She still couldn’t believe she was getting married.

As they drew closer to the saloon, Sarah noticed two women about her age standing outside the front door. They looked out of place and she wondered what they were doing. Everyone knew that women didn’t frequent saloons. Stranger still, when they saw her they looked at each other, spoke softly so she couldn’t hear them and then took a step her way.

“Excuse me,” one of the women called. “Are you Sarah?”

Sarah stopped short. She had no idea who the women were and couldn’t imagine what they might want with her.

“Yes, I’m Sarah.”

The taller of the two stepped forward. She was a pretty woman with long, dark hair, almost black, and light eyes, a striking combination. “Hello, I am Colleen Donovan, and this is Brianna Donovan.” She indicated the smaller blonde woman beside her. “Ricky told us about your wedding this Sunday, and we wanted to come and introduce ourselves and see if there’s anything we can help you with.”

To say that Sarah was surprised was an understatement. She’d felt very alone here, with just her and Andrew, and it was so nice to meet a few other women her age. And if she was marrying into the Donovan family, she realized she might be seeing them more often, which would be wonderful. She missed having friends her age.

“It’s so nice to meet you, and thank you. To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought. I just assumed we were having a simple ceremony at the church and that was it. I was planning to wear my one nice dress. I used to love to sew, and although I couldn’t bring much with us when we moved here, I did keep one special dress. Though I didn’t know if I’d ever really have a chance to wear it again.”

“What’s it like? Can we see it? I do a little bit of sewing myself,” Colleen said.

“You do? Do you have a sewing machine?” Sarah really had missed the feeling of fabric under her hands and the magic of creating something beautiful.

“Yes, she has a sewing machine,” Brianna laughed. “Colleen loves to sew. The two of you have a lot in common.” She winked at Colleen, who waved at her and laughed back. Sarah sensed that there was a private joke there that she missed, but that was okay. She was a little hesitant to have them up to her apartment because it was so small, but she could tell Colleen was excited to see the dress and although their quarters were tiny, they were neat and clean and Sarah had done her best to try and make them feel somewhat homey. She always had a jar of fresh flowers on the counter and had soft quilts that she had made herself that she’d brought with them. They were colorful and bright and she knew they would make Andrew feel at home. As much as that was possible.

“I’d love to show you. Follow me.” She led them in the side entrance, so they didn’t have to go through the saloon at all. They went up two narrow flights of stairs until they reached the level where the apartments were. Theirs was at the end of the hall. Sarah opened the door and the girls followed them in. She opened her trunk which she kept at the foot of her bed and dug to the very bottom to find the dress. She pulled it out and held it up, and though it was a bit wrinkled, she was still proud of it. It was truly a beautiful dress. Colleen reached out and ran one finger along the edge of the dress. Sarah could see the admiration in her eyes and knew that the two of them were going to get on very well.

“It’s gorgeous,” Brianna breathed.

“It’s more than that. It’s stunning. Really beautiful work. I am impressed,” Colleen said. “We will have to get together and talk about sewing soon. My husband gave me a lovely sewing machine as a wedding present. You are welcome to use it until you get your own.”

“That’s too generous of you,” Sarah protested.

“Not at all. Besides, I know Ricky would be happy to get you one if he thought you’d like it. He is very generous.”

“Oh, and there’s going to be a little gathering after the ceremony,” Brianna said. “I don’t know if Ricky told you yet?”

“No, not yet.” Sarah hadn’t actually seen Ricky since he’d proposed Sunday evening. He had said he’d be out of town for a few days on business, but would be back by the end of the week and would stop in to see her then.

“Oh, that’s right. He mentioned on Monday when he came in for lunch at Donovan’s pub that he was taking the three o’clock train and was going to be away for a few days,” Colleen said, and then added, “So, I don’t think he even knows the plans yet. But since his mother isn’t well, Naomi volunteered to turn the Sunday dinner into a wedding celebration. You’ll meet everyone then.”

“That sounds lovely, though a little intimidating,” Sarah admitted. “Ricky mentioned once that he has a large extended family.”

Colleen nodded. “He’s one of four, but my husband, David, has eight brothers and one sister.”

“That poor girl!” Sarah laughed.

“Oh, Elizabeth has all the men wrapped around her finger. She’s only eighteen, but she is juggling three suitors.”

Sarah couldn’t begin to imagine that.

“I look forward to meeting her and the rest of the family.”

“We’ll come by early Sunday to help you get ready,” Brianna told her.

“Really? Are you sure? That’s so nice of you.”

“This is fun for us!” Colleen said. “We will see you then.”

Sarah showed them out and then closed the door behind her.

“What are they talking about Mama?” Andrew asked. He looked confused and Sarah couldn’t blame him. She’d been dreading trying to explain the wedding to him. She couldn’t put it off any longer. The sooner he got used to the idea the better.

She pulled him close to her and gave him a quick hug. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the space next to her. He sat down and leaned against her, and she put her arm around him.

“It’s true what the girls said. Your mother is getting married, this Sunday at church. To a very nice man.”

Andrew frowned. “Why?”

“Because it will be good for all of us. We can move out of the saloon and into a proper house again and I’ll be able to walk you home from school every day.”

“Will you be able to bake cookies again?” His face looked hopeful. Like most children, Andrew loved cookies and Sarah used to bake them all the time for him.

“Yes, honey. I’ll be able to bake cookies again. I’ll make your favorite kind as soon as we settle in. I promise.”

“Okay.” And just like that, he was fine with it, as long as there were cookies in his near future. Sarah smiled. After the visit from the girls and Andrew’s easy acceptance of the situation, she was starting to feel a little less anxious. Hopefully, this would be a good thing for the both of them.

T
he more that
Ricky thought about marrying Sarah, the more he liked the idea. And he’d been thinking about it a lot. He’d had plenty of time to ponder the situation as he rode for hours on the train. By the time he returned to Bozeman, he was eager to see Sarah and wanted to make sure that she hadn’t changed her mind.

He went home first and took a hot bath, scrubbing off the accumulated dirt from three days of traveling. Once he was clean and dressed, he made his way to the saloon and searched the bar for Sarah as soon as he stepped inside. He didn’t want to stay long, as he was exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep.

He didn’t see her right away but figured she’d be around soon. Sure enough, two minutes after he ordered a beer from Nick and sat at the only empty seat at the bar, Sarah was by his side. He sensed her a moment before he saw her.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he greeted her. She looked beautiful, as always.

“Thank you. You look tired,” she said. “Long trip?”

“Just hours on the train. Good, though. Things went the way I’d hoped.” It had actually been a very worthwhile and lucrative trip, and he’d established a valuable partnership that should pay off for the next few years if all went according to plan.

“Oh, that’s nice to hear.”

“So, are we still getting married on Sunday?” he teased her. His tone was light, but he was a bit nervous that she’d possibly reconsidered and changed her mind.

“Yes, we are. I had some visitors earlier today, too. Colleen and Brianna. They said there’s going to be a little celebration for us at the regular Sunday dinner after church. And they’re both coming over in the morning to help me get ready.”

He was pleased to see that she looked both relieved and a little excited. She hadn’t changed her mind. He was really getting married.

“That’s wonderful!” He was grateful that the girls had made an effort already to make Sarah feel welcome. “And they understood that you’ll be finished here on Saturday?” He’d worried a bit about that too, that the saloon owner might give Sarah a hard time about leaving so soon after starting.

“He wasn’t happy about it, at first. But then he said it would work out okay because there were two new girls starting soon anyway. He said he won a bet with another saloon manager and got to pick two of his girls to come work for him.”

Ricky shook his head at that. It didn’t surprise him. There was a lot of gambling that went on in the saloons, even amongst the owners.

“I’m glad that you’re going to be done here,” he said. He didn’t ever want her to step foot in a saloon again.

“I don’t think I’m going to miss it,” she said and laughed.

“Are you working the evening shift on Saturday?”

“Yes. I asked for the day, but didn’t get it. They said the night is too busy and they need me.”

“That’s fine. Why don’t I come by on Saturday afternoon, then, and get your things? We can move everything over to my house and you can just leave behind whatever you’ll need for Sunday.

“That’s a great idea. It will be good for Andrew to see his new home. For both of us, actually.”

S
arah was
all packed and ready when Ricky knocked on her door early Saturday afternoon.

“Is this all you have?” He seemed surprised that she only had a small trunk for the two of them.

“We didn’t bring much. Just some clothes and a few other things that I thought we’d need. I didn’t know how large our living quarters would be and I had a feeling they might be small. Plus, it was easier to travel with less.”

“Well, anything that you don’t have, and need, I can get for you.” He looked at the both of them and smiled at Andrew, who was standing tightly against his mother’s side.

“Ready to go?” He easily hefted the trunk and followed them down the stairs. Although his house was just a short walk, he explained that he’d brought the buggy to carry everything over. He put the trunk in the back of the buggy and then helped Andrew climb into the back seat. Sarah sat in the passenger side and he jumped in and drove them down the street to his house.

When he pulled up to the door, Sarah’s mouth fell open. Ricky didn’t just live in a house, he lived in an impressive home. It was stately and well maintained with a lush lawn and shrubbery lining the good-sized yard.

He helped them out and then went to get her trunk. They followed him to the front door and then inside. Sarah paused as she stepped inside. She’d never been in a house this nice before. It was actually grand. She realized then that Ricky’s business was very successful.

He showed them to the room he had ready for her, and set the trunk at the foot of the bed.

“Andrew’s room is right next to yours.”

Sarah was in shock. She truly hadn’t expected anything like this. The room he gave her was large, bigger even than the small apartment she’d been sharing. That apartment had basically just been a smallish room, with two beds and a closet and tiny sitting room. Andrew’s bedroom was a little smaller, but still nice and roomy.

“Andrew, this is your room, what do you think?” she asked him. He looked around the room seriously and then gave her his answer. “It’s fine. But where will you sleep?” She realized he’d gotten used to sharing a room with her.

“I’ll be right next door, honey. You can run over and visit me whenever you like.”

“I guess that’s all right, then.” Sarah smiled at her son. He was such as serious little thing at times.

“Would you like to see the rest of the house?” Ricky asked. They followed him as he gave a tour of the living room, kitchen and there was even a library/office as well that was full of leather bound books.

“You like to read?” she asked. She’d never seen such a large collection of books outside of a library.

“I do. I’ve always been a reader. I used to love school.”

Another surprise. Ricky hadn’t struck her as the studious type. She realized again how little she knew about the man she was going to marry the following day. She couldn’t help but admire the kitchen. Everything a cook could possibly need was there, except for food. The cupboards were bare. Ricky noticed her glancing at them.

“I don’t cook much. I have an account at the mercantile, though. Buy anything you need to stock the kitchen.”

He then led them upstairs where there were two more bedrooms and a sitting room. One of the bedrooms was huge and he didn’t have to tell her that it was his as his clothes were everywhere, strewn across the bed, and in piles on the floor. So now she knew his secret, he was a bit of a slob.

“I can be messy. But I haven’t had anyone around to impress. Until now.” He flashed her one of those mischievous smiles and she felt the flutters again. Ricky was going to be a handful.

“We should probably head back,” she said reluctantly. “My shift will be starting soon.”

A cloud passed over Ricky’s eyes.

“I didn’t realize it was getting so late. There’s one more thing we need to do before we leave.” His eyes twinkled then as he fished a small box out of his pocket and then got down on one knee.

“We can’t very well get married without an engagement ring! Sarah, will you marry me?” Ricky dramatically opened the box and Sarah’s jaw dropped. The ring was exquisite. It was fine gold with a delicate filigree and quite a large diamond.

She was speechless and then finally found her voice.

“That is much too extravagant. You didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”

“No trouble at all. So, is that a yes?” Ricky was still on his knees.

“Yes, of course it is!” Ricky slid the ring on her finger and then stood up. He handed her a small bag with a gold wedding band inside it. “You’ll need that for the wedding tomorrow.”

“This is just so beautiful. Thank you.”

“It was fun to get that for you.” Ricky smiled, and then added, “I wish you weren’t working tonight. I’d love to take the two of you out to dinner. But we’ll do that soon enough.”

As they walked out of the house to head back to the saloon, Ricky turned to the both of them and asked, “So what did you think? Do you think you could like living here?”

“Yes, your home is lovely. I think we could both be very happy here.”