MAIL ORDER MOUNTIES

Bride for Calvin

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CHAPTER 1

 

Faith Jensen clenched her hands into fists at her sides, then forced herself to relax. Being nervous wasn’t going to help anything, and it certainly wouldn’t make this go any faster.

 

When she’d first agreed to meet with Miss Hazel Hughes about becoming a mail-order bride to a Mountie, she’d known there would be some housekeeping lessons involved, and that at the end, they would meet their prospective husbands. It had sounded so romantic—seeing each other across the room, knowing they were meant to be together, taking each other’s hands and going for a walk in the moonlit garden. Not that there had been much of a moon the last few nights, and Miss Hazel’s garden wasn’t what Faith had imagined, but those weren’t important details. The important thing was falling in love, which she thought would be wonderful and thrilling—not terrifying. 

 

Miss Hazel, matchmaker to the Mounties, had arranged for four young officers to come to her home to meet the young ladies she’d been training. The hope was that they would each find someone they could be compatible with and maybe even learn to love. Faith could tell by the echoes of voices from the other rooms that conversations were being held, but she couldn’t tell what was being said, and she was still quite alone.

 

Finally, the door to the small parlor where she waited opened, and a young man dressed in a red serge uniform stepped through. 

 

“Hello,” he said, pulling off his hat. “I’m Calvin Montrose.”

 

“And I’m Faith Jensen,” she replied, stepping forward to take the hand he offered. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

He gave her a nod and a shy smile. “So, I suppose I should tell you a little about myself. I’ve just graduated from the academy—Reindeer Rock is my first assignment. I’m told that I’m being sent out with the best, though—Commander Wilson is sort of famous for taking inexperienced men and turning them into proper Mounties, and I’m looking forward to learning all I can from him.”

 

“I haven’t met any of the other Mounties yet,” Faith replied. “Are they visiting with the other girls?”

 

“Yes, and with Miss Hazel, trying to understand how all this works. I have to say, Miss Jensen, that it’s awfully nice of you to consider marrying one of us. We’re heading off into strange lands, and who knows if it will be hard to adjust. You’re showing a lot of bravery.”

 

Faith ducked her head. “I don’t know about bravery. Some might call it foolishness.”

 

“That’s what they’ve said to me about becoming a Mountie, too. I suppose we have a lot in common.” He pulled in a deep breath. “You’ll probably want to meet the others before making up your mind, but I’ll put forth my qualifications so you’ll have something to think about. I’ve never touched whiskey in my life and have no intention of doing so—you won’t need to worry about me coming home drunk. I’m loyal to a fault—once I’m pledged, I never break that pledge, and you’ll never need to worry that I’ve taken a mistress. I will never strike you, I’ll do my best never to lose my temper, and I will always treat you with the kindness and respect you deserve. Along those lines, I happen to think you’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen in my life, if that makes any difference.”

 

Faith’s cheeks felt warm. “Thank you. As for myself, I’m not particularly expert at anything, but I’m passable in several things—cooking, mending, cleaning, and things like that. I have no special skills like singing or dancing, but I’m very well read.” She laughed. “Gracious, it sounds like we’re applying for jobs or something. I promise, I’m not usually so nervous. This is just . . . new and frightening.”

 

“I agree.” He chuckled as well, and she could see his shoulders relax. “I wonder if we’d be this formal with each other if we’d met at a party or something.”

 

“And didn’t have the threat of immediate marriage looming over our heads? Very possibly.” She looked him over. He was young, probably just a year or two older than herself at nineteen, and handsome, although not as handsome as some she’d seen. He had a serious look in his eyes that spoke of his character. She liked that. Too many of the young men she knew were still intent on having fun and hadn’t given any real thought to what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives. She wanted to have fun too, but she knew it couldn’t last forever. Fun didn’t pay the bills. 

 

“Well, what if we were at a party?” He took a step forward and bowed, his hand extended. “Miss Jensen, may I have the pleasure of this dance?”

 

“What?” She looked around, completely astonished. “A dance? Here? In the parlor?”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because there’s no music, and no one else here, and . . .” She didn’t know what else to say. If he didn’t understand why this was awkward, he probably wouldn’t understand an explanation anyway.

 

“I say that if we always wait for music before we dance, we’re cheating ourselves.” He held out his arms, and she hesitantly stepped into them. Had she been wrong, thinking about how serious and dedicated he seemed? 

 

He guided her through a waltz. She fell into the rhythm quickly, even though there was no orchestra to follow, and they managed to make it around the room without bumping into any end tables or upsetting Miss Hazel’s lamps. When they came back around to where they started, he let her go and gave another bow. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Jensen.”

 

“You’re welcome, I think,” she replied. 

 

He laughed. “Not sure, are you?”

 

“No, not at all.”

 

“Well, I believe we’re supposed to meet with the others, so that might give you some time to think about it.” He stepped out of the room, and she sank into a nearby chair. 

 

That had been completely unexpected.

 

But not completely unwelcome. 

 

The next hour went by in a blur. She was introduced to two other Mounties, but only two—apparently, Robert Barret had chosen Minnie right off the bat and they’d gone to get married. She was so glad to hear it—Minnie’s situation was a difficult one, and all the girls had been worried that she might not find a husband. They hadn’t said that to her, of course, and it was such a relief to know that their fears had been for nothing. 

 

She was standing in the kitchen, getting a drink of water, when Calvin Montrose entered and walked up to her. “Miss Jensen, I believe we’ve now met everyone there is to meet, and I have to say, I believe you’re the young lady I would be happiest with. Have you had a chance to think about things like dancing in parlors?”

 

“I have, and I must say, I could get used to the idea.”

 

“Wonderful!” He looked like he was about to say something else, but she held up a hand.

 

“However, I’m extremely against proposals in kitchens.”

 

“Oh.” He held out his arm. “Well, that’s something we can change.”

 

He guided her out of the house through the kitchen door and out to the gardens. “I’m sorry there’s no moonlight overhead, but considering that it’s daytime, that would be a rather tricky feat,” he said. “I hope sunlight will do.”

 

She looked at him, completely astonished. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

 

“I asked if sunlight would do.” He paused. “What’s the matter, Miss Jensen? Did I say something wrong?”

 

“No. It’s just . . . how did you know about moonlight and gardens? When it comes to proposals, I mean.”

 

“I have two sisters,” he said with a smile. “And I was told that under no circumstances was I to propose anywhere but in a moonlit garden.”

 

“You must not be a very obedient brother, then. You just tried to propose in a kitchen.”

 

“I confess, I’m guilty. But you were there to set me to rights.” He reached out and took her hand. “Miss Jensen, I know this is unconventional at best, but I feel in my heart that you and I would make a good match of it. I can’t promise you wealth or social standing or nights at the opera, but I can offer you a heart that is true. Will you accept it?”

 

She looked up into his brown eyes and saw the seriousness return to them. She had to admit, there was something about a man who could dance around a parlor and yet still feel his sense of duty that was impressive to her. “Yes, I will,” she said, knowing that he was her choice too. 

 

“Then let’s find the reverend,” he said, holding out his arm. She took it, but paused. 

 

“I’d like to grab my cloak first.” Calvin might not have noticed it because he wore a heavy uniform jacket, but the air was very chilly.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, of course.”

 

So, after a quick detour back into the house to grab her cloak, they were on their way to see the reverend. He married them quickly and efficiently, not wasting time with flowery words, and then they were man and wife. 

 

“I hope you don’t mind that we didn’t have a lavish ceremony,” Calvin said as they walked back to Miss Hazel’s. “I would have liked to spend more time making all the arrangements and seeing to it that you had the wedding of your dreams, but we have to be on the train tomorrow.”

 

“It’s all right,” she assured him. “I’ve never seen myself having a large wedding—all that expense and for what? To show off to your friends how lucky you are? No, I’d rather have a solid, stable husband and forget all the frippery.”

 

He smiled down at her. “I believe we’ll get along very well.” They took another few steps, and then he cleared his throat. “We checked into a hotel when we arrived last night, and we still have our rooms there. I feel . . . I feel that it would be most appropriate if you were to stay at Miss Hazel’s for one last night and gather your things, and I’ll see you tomorrow at the train station.” He hurried to add, “I believe most of my friends have suggested the same thing to their brides as well.”

 

Faith looked up at him and blinked. “That’s certainly not what I was expecting you to say.”

 

“I don’t mean to offend you in any way, Miss Jensen . . . er, Faith. I just . . . I know that a physical relationship is much different from a dance in a parlor, and I want us both to be ready for it. Getting to know each other and whatnot.” His cheeks were now nearly as red as his jacket. 

 

She looked down at the ground and smiled. “That would suit me as well,” she said at last, lifting her gaze to meet his. “Thank you for being so considerate.”

 

“I hope I can always be considerate to you, Faith,” he replied, and they returned to Miss Hazel’s so Faith could spend the evening packing and dreaming and wondering what on earth she’d just agreed to do.  

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