The Bartender's Mail Order Bride (16 page)

M
eg kept
an eye on Suzanne’s twins Lucy and Lily as Sam offered to get them all ice cream—after all, it was an ice cream social to raise money for the school, and what would it be without ice cream?

The twins were starting school this year, and Suzanne had taken an active role, helping the school as much as she could. At the moment, she was walking around the grass area outside the school where they were holding the event, selling raffle tickets to raise money for school supplies.

Meg remembered that there was never enough money for supplies even when she’d attended the same schoolhouse many years ago. She and Sam had been happy to help as they hoped to have children attend one day themselves, so they might as well take an interest early.

“Well, don’t you look happy,” Sadie said as she carried bowls of ice cream behind Sam and he set the two he’d held for the wiggling twins.

“Thank you, Sam. Say thank you to Sam, Lily,” Lucy said to her twin sister.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” Lily replied. “Thank you, Sam.”

Her Aunt Sadie ruffled the girls’ hair as she patted her belly and looked at Meg, her eyebrows raised. “Just eat your ice cream, girls, before it melts.”

Lucy and Lily gave each other sidelong glances as they gave up the fight and started on their ice cream. “Is this what I have to look forward to?”

Meg laughed as Sam sat down beside her. “I’m not sure about two, but you’ll definitely have one.”

“I’m looking forward to that, too.” Sam took Meg’s hand in his, and although she blushed, she had caught herself thinking the same thing. A family with the man she loved? What could be better?

Suzanne walked up, pulling a tall, handsome man by the elbow. “Ladies, I know you’ve met Mr. Michael Tate, the new headmaster of the school.”

Mr. Tate tipped his hat at the group, smiling at Lucy and Lily. Meg noticed that his green eyes and brown hair—and spectacles—looked quite becoming, and was surprised as she’d never met a male schoolteacher before.

“Good day,” he said, replacing his bowler hat.

Suzanne’s brows furrowed as she said, “Mr. Tate has just shared with me a little difficulty he’s having. Mr. Tate, why don’t you tell everyone what your trouble is?”

Mr. Tate cleared his throat as he folded his arms across his chest and looked down at his feet for a moment before beginning. “As you know, I was hired as headmaster for the school, and when I came in the beginning of the summer to prepare for the school year, I met the school committee members. They seemed very happy with me, so I signed a contract for a minimum of three years here in Tombstone.”

“And we’re glad of it, Mr. Tate,” Sam said. “Stability is important to children, and we’re glad to have you.”

Mr. Tate pulled at his collar. “That’s kind of you to say so, Mr. Allen. But I’m afraid the
new
school committee has several members who do not agree with you.”

Meg turned to Clara as her sister-in-law and her brother joined the group.

“Go on, Mr. Tate. Go ahead and tell them the rest.” Suzanne patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.

“Well, apparently the majority of the new school committee feels that it would be untoward to have a single gentleman as headmaster of the school. I hardly know what to do. I’ve never heard of such a thing. How could I possibly find a wife before school starts? It’s less than two weeks away. I’m afraid I’ll have to resign.” Mr. Tate took off his hat and fiddled with the brim. “It’s a shame, really. I’ve really enjoyed it here so far.”

Sadie cleared her throat. “Mr. Tate, we may just be able to help you,” she said as she glanced at Tripp across the grass.

Mr. Tate frowned and pulled at his collar again. “Help me? How?”

Sadie and Suzanne exchanged glances and shared a nod. “Have you ever heard of mail order brides, Mr. Tate?”

He crossed his arms and tapped his chin. “I believe so. I think I’ve seen a publication regarding that topic. But I can’t imagine it really works. I’ve never met any such unions and can’t imagine they could be successful.”

Meg’s eyes twinkled as she looked from Mr. Tate to her husband. Sam smiled and reached for her hand.

“Mr. Tate, why don’t you poll this group as to the success of such matches?”

Mr. Tate’s eyes grew wide. “All right. Have any of you personally known a mail order bride?”

Sadie laughed and said, “You’re looking at one, Mr. Tate. I was a mail order bride.” She nodded at Tripp as he joined the group and reached for his wife’s hand.

“I was one, too,” Clara chimed in as she sat down next to Lily and Lucy.

“So was I,” Meg added as Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulder.”

“I…I had no idea.” Mr. Tate removed his spectacles and pinched his nose.

“Don’t you worry, Mr. Tate. We can help you find a bride, too,” Suzanne said.

Sadie and Suzanne laughed and each took one of Mr. Tate’s arms. His ears turned red as they walked away, filling him in about their mail order history. Meg turned to Sam and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Do you think that might be an option for Mr. Tate? He seems like a very nice man and likely an excellent teacher.”

Sam lifted Meg’s chin toward him, his eyes twinkling as they searched hers. “Why not? If it worked for us with everything we went through, it can work for anybody.”

Meg sighed and rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. As she looked out at her friends and family and thought of her new life, she marveled at how her daydreams had actually come true. All of them.