Susan Read online
Susan
Prairie Rose Collections Two
Book 6
By
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Susan Prairie Rose Collection ~ Author Patricia PacJac Carroll
Copyright © May 2020
Published by Patricia PacJac Carroll @ PacJac Publishing
ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
KEYWORDS – Clean and Wholesome Christian Historical Western Romance
Cover by: V. McKevitt
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HI I’m Patricia PacJac Carroll and blessed beyond my imagination. I live in DFW area of Texas with my very supportive husband, and wonderful son.
I love to write. The Lord has blessed me with the gift of storytelling, and I intend to write every story He gives me. I hope you'll check out a few of my books and enjoy a good read and adventure. My characters are flawed, things happen to them. Some come to know the Lord, others have their faith strengthened. All my stories are clean and end happy. My goal is to entertain, encourage, and write for my reader’s enjoyment.
God Bless you,
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Susan
Prairie Rose Collections Two
Book 6
By
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Chapter 1
1853
Independence, Missouri
Susan Flannery read the letter again. She was to meet Dan at the hotel on First Street. After walking through the nicer part of town, she came to the rundown side of Independence. Missouri. With a sinking feeling, she prayed that her groom was in better shape than the ramshackle building in front of her. Then again, that would just about be the size of her luck.
Taking in a deep breath, she held her satchel close to her chest and tentatively walked up to the Independence Hotel. Loose paint left dark scars on the walls, and with the windows boarded, she would have wondered if it was still in business if the front doors weren’t open.
With nothing to go back to and no way to return if there had been, Susan entered the hotel. She let her eyes adjust to the dark interior and coughed as the overpowering smell of cigar smoke assaulted her.
After she could see, she wanted to close her eyes. Men, dirty and in ragged clothing, stared at her with hungry eyes. Susan walked past them to the desk, which was nothing more than a plank of wood set across two sawhorses.
“I’m looking for Mr. Dan Mitchum.”
The desk clerk had started to flip the register open, but stopped, and then stared at her. “He ain’t here?”
Uneasy at the men who were closing in around her, Susan gathered her courage and managed to squeak out. “Do you know where I can find him?”
With a sad look, the clerk nodded. “The undertaker. Dan was shot yesterday.”
Shocked and unbelieving, Susan held onto the counter to keep from falling. “Dead?”
“Right through the head. Sorry, lady. Do you want a room?” He pointed at the register.
Susan shook her head.
A man who had been sitting on the ragged divan by the door, stood, and walked to her. “He was waiting for a mail-order bride. You, her?”
Words couldn’t get past the lump in her throat, so she nodded.
With a shrug, the man looked at her sadly. “He had a few things. I’ll get them. As far as I know, you’re the closest thing he had to kin.”
“Thank you.” Susan felt sick. After two weeks of travel, holding out hope against hope, she had left Pennsylvania only to come to a very dead end.
A few minutes, the man came down the stairs, set a bag in front of her, and handed her an envelope. “I’m sorry, Miss. Dan was a good man. He left a little money, an outfitted wagon, and he paid for a spot on the wagon train to Oregon. I can take you to the wagon.”
Anxious to leave the hotel, she took his offered arm. “Yes, please.”
“I’m John Burke. I was friends with Dan.” He carried her satchel for her.
Susan thought he seemed like a kind man, yet she struggled to not cringe at the ragged clothing and stench of him. “Thank you. You’re very nice.”
“Dan was a friend of mine.” John looked at her. “In a way, Dan saved my life.”
Susan could barely listen and instead concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Her dreams had just been shattered. Not that she even knew Dan, but now she was adrift in a sea of dirty men, dust, and broken-down buildings.
She could feel the defeat and despair in the place as well as see it on the faces of the men who probably couldn’t tell the last time they’d shaved or washed or even had reason to. She knew the feeling. It was why she was here in this dirty little town. She’d answered the ad to be a mail-order bride out of a desperate need for hope.
John led her to a field full of covered wagons. “The wagon master is a tough man. You better brace yourself.”
Susan stared at John. What now? Wasn’t it enough that she’d lost the man she was to marry? Even if she hadn’t known him except by name, he was gone. She was alone, again.
John continued. “The wagons are leaving tomorrow. Do you think you want to take the wagon and go to Oregon?”
Susan shrugged. “I have nowhere else to go.” Dan had written about his plans. Not that Susan had wanted more farm life, but at least it was a life she knew, and according to Dan, Oregon was the promised land.
“You might be able to sell the wagon and goods, but I know Dan said he had plans to get acreage and start a farm in Oregon.”
“You think I should go?” She looked at him. He was about her age. Hard to tell with his bushy beard.
He nodded. “I do. Get a fresh start. Out west, there are plenty of men needing wives. The homestead act gives a man and woman three hundred and twenty acres each.” He gazed west. “If I had the money, I’d go.”
“I came all this way I suppose I should go the rest of the way.” Susan braced herself and followed John to the wagons. They passed maybe twenty of them and came to a big man who sat on a log, smoking a pipe and looking larger than life. He stood and reminded her of a grizzly bear as he was just as big and fearsome.
John nodded to the man. “This is Susan Flannery. She’s the bride of Dan Mitchum. She wants to continue on to Or
egon with the wagon train.”
With a frown, the wagon master stared at her. “You’re young, slim. You got the guts to travel over the roughest land God created?”
Susan squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “Yes.”
The wagon master pointed at John. “You going to marry him?”
“Well, I came to marry Dan. He’s dead.” She stammered. She didn’t know this, John. For all she knew, he could have shot Dan.
“I don’t like to carry women on my train who aren’t married. Too much trouble.” He spat on the ground as if that brought finality to his statement.
She handed him the envelope that contained the agreement with the wagon master to go to Oregon. “I have the wagon and goods.”’
“But you don’t have a husband.” The big man stared at John. “Why don’t you go clean up, and I’ll marry you two.”
John mumbled, but Susan saw the gleam in his eye. What had John said? That he’d jump at the chance to start a new life. He seemed nice. She’d only received three letters from Dan, yet she’d come all this way to marry him. Now, Dan was gone. Susan guessed it didn’t matter which man she married.
“Excuse us.” Taking her by the arm, John led her to a tree. “I know I’m not much to look at. Times have been tough. I don’t have any family, and I’m not an outlaw. I’ll treat you decent.” He got on one knee. “I promise to take care of you.”
She could see that he wanted to go and that he saw this as his chance. Why not? She nodded and took his hand. “You don’t have to beg. I didn’t know Dan any better than I know you.”
“I’ll clean up. I only have a few things. Stay here, and I’ll be back. Sam Ferguson, the wagon master, is a fair man. Most old-timers call him Sam, but I’d call him Mr. Ferguson if I was you.”
“All right, John. Get ready. I guess I can change into my wedding dress. It’s one of the few things I took from home.” She’d barely finished her words when John took off toward town. She turned back to the gruff wagon master and wondered if he wasn’t part bear.
***
John ran as fast as he could, his lungs bursting by the time he reached the livery. He dug in the straw and found his bag. With a shout to Old Slim, he told the liveryman that he quit, and to keep what pay he was owed.
John ran to the wash house and paid for a bath and shave. Susan Flannery. Dan had talked about her as if she were a princess. Looking at her, John didn’t see her as exceedingly pretty, but she wasn’t homely either. She did seem nice. And was a heap better than the poor females that lived at the Dollar Saloon.
After a bath and a disgusted look at the dirty water, John dug out a fresh shirt and pants. He’d at least show her his best look. All clean, he went to the barber and gave him his last quarter for a haircut and shave.
“I’m getting married, Jake. Make me look good.”
“You marrying Dan’s mail-order bride?” Jake took off a chunk of long hair.
“That’s right. She agreed, and I see it as my chance for a new life.”
“You going to treat her right? I mean, she came all this way for one man. Kind of hard on her to marry someone she never heard of. Not that you’re not a good man. If I had a daughter, I might not be too mad if she chose you.” Jake held John’s head down as he snipped at his shaggy beard.
“Thanks, Jake. That makes me feel better. It’s hard not belonging to anyone. It might be nice to have a woman who belongs to me.”
Jake pointed his scissors at him. “Just remember, you belong to her, too. I don’t suppose you might be marrying her because whatever is hers is yours once she says the big, I do.”
John hadn’t considered that. But now that Jake had said it, he was all right with the idea. He’d always wanted a farm in Oregon. Living in Independence, Missouri, John couldn’t resist falling into the list of men wanting to hitch a ride west.
“I’ll treat her right.”
“You do that, John. I was a friend of Dan’s. He’d want the girl treated decent.”
Somehow, his joy at going west had been dampened by the gloomy way Jake talked. It was as if Jake believed John was taking on some hardship that he’d soon tire of. “I’ll take care of her.” John said the words but wondered who they were supposed to convince Jake or himself.
“It’s not just taking care of her, son. You’re marrying her. I know a lot of men take wives over the mail, and many of them work out. But I want you to consider what you’re saying. Those vows are before you and God. Take them serious.”
“I will, Jake. Hurry. She’s waiting for me.” John was tired of being told to be good. Of course, he would. Just what did Jake think he was?
“All right.” A few snips later and a good shave, and Jake grinned. “Keep your money. This was on the house. A wedding present. You just remember what I told you. Take care of that girl.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Jake.” John gave a quick glance in the mirror and rushed back to the wagon train.
Independence was a wide-open town. Most of it prosperous and busy, but the portion he and Dan had lived in was dirty and broke. Most men lingered either not having the money or the guts to go west.
Today was different for him. Today, John was coming alive. He had hope. Ah, he’d miss Dan, but what a chance. John would try to do just like Jake had said. He wasn’t sure how this Susan Flannery would be, though.
She’d already looked sad when she walked up to the hotel. When she was told that Dan was dead, she didn’t flinch, and her sad eyes said they weren’t surprised. She looked as if her life had been hard.
Suddenly, John wanted to put a light in her green eyes. Show her that life could be good. How he wasn’t sure. His own life had been one piece of hardship piled on another. Born to a family of too many kids, he soon learned about hunger, and to this day, his stomach pinched from lack of food.
His father had died in a brawl. His mother died from having another child. Then he and the rest of the children were parceled out to neighbors and orphanages. He’d been five. Too big for people to want to raise and too little to be of any use on a farm.
He stayed in an orphanage until it burned down, and he ran away at thirteen. He worked for food wherever he could. But never found his brothers or sisters. Never really cared to. And life became one sordid day after another.
“Keep your foot in front of you and keep going.” That was the only thing he could remember his father telling him. That’s what he did. A year ago, he’d landed in Independence. Six months ago, he’d met Dan.
Today, John had hope. And it was that hope that he wanted to share with Susan. Together, they’d make a new life and, in Oregon, leave all the hardship behind. It would be good, and he had to believe God had ordained it.
Just last week, John had gone to church. He’d sat way in the back because he knew he was dirty and stunk, but the words the preacher said still resonated inside his soul. He’d come out of that whitewashed building with hope.
Never did John believe it would be because of the death of his one friend. Why Dan died, he wasn’t sure. Dan went to the saloon for a drink, and John had declined. An odd thing for John to pass up a free drink. Maybe it was because he’d gone to church, and that’s what had saved him.
If he’d gone with Dan, it might have been him that was shot instead. Now, John was getting a wife and wagon and land in Oregon. He sure hoped Susan would give him a chance.
He ran to the meadow and saw her sitting by her wagon. She’d changed into a lacy dress. Still, she looked so broken. She’d come all the way from Pennsylvania to Missouri on her own, willing to marry a man she didn’t even know only to have her dreams shattered.
John figured the woman had grit, and that made him feel better. Perhaps, they’d have a chance with one another.
Susan must have heard him because she suddenly looked up. She must have been startled because a mixture of fear and confusion crossed her face.
He laughed. “I guess I look a little different.”
She smiled. “Some.
Yes.” She put delicate fingers to his face. “You look good, John Burke.”
“You remember me. That’s good. Well, Susan Flannery, will you be my wife?”
She nodded. “Yes, I will. I hope you’re a kind man. I’ll do my best to make you happy.”
John stopped and looked at her. All of a sudden, he felt the burden of what Jake had tried to tell him. John would marry her all right, but it wasn’t just plain words he’d be saying. He could feel it right now as if the Lord had been preparing him in that church service. He would take care of her. At least as best he could.
John held out a hand to her. “Shall we find the wagon master?”
She nodded. Not in agreement but more in resignation.
He felt for her. Women had so few choices. He sent a silent prayer to the Lord that he would make Susan a good husband.
After a few minutes, Sam Ferguson led them under a big oak. “I like to do these things under a big tree to remind you both of how little you are and how big the Lord is. I implore you both to come to know the Almighty. Many a man thinks himself too important to fall, and yet, in truth, they were small in what was worthy.”
John knew exactly what the man was saying. He’d seen them. Brash and arrogant men who reviled the Lord and anyone else. Many died miserable deaths alone and uncared for.
Sam put them together in front of him. “Anna, Nick, come and be a witness to this here wedding.”
The two came from the wagon behind Dan’s and stood awkwardly behind the wagon master.
“Now that we have witnesses, we’ll start.” He looked at John. “John Burke, do you take this woman to be your wife? To love her and take care of her? For it’s a man’s duty to provide for his family. I charge you with this in the sight of God if you so choose.”
“Yes, sir. I do. I’ll love her all the days of my life.”
Sam nodded and turned to Susan. “Susan Flannery, do you take this man to be your husband? To honor and respect him? For it is a wife’s duty to treat her husband with respect and love. I charge you with this in the sight of God if you so choose.”