Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan

Chapter One

September 1888

There is in Washington Territory a town called Nowhere. Few people remember how it got its name, and no one in Nowhere did. But it was said some folks in Clear Creek, Oregon knew. Elsie Drake (then Elsie Waller) who went to live with Dr. Abijah Waller and his wife after her grandfather died, might. Elsie’s grandpa knew the full story. Doc Waller knew parts of it, but not all.

So when Leona Riley and her friend Betsy Quinn from Nowhere decided to pay Clear Creek a visit, one of the things on their to-do list was to find out the full story. The rest of the list involved helping the local matrons marry off the younger women in town, many of which were approaching spinsterhood if not already there.

“What if none of the young gentlemen in town are interested?” Betsy lamented as the train rattled southeast toward Clear Creek.

“I’m sure there are plenty of interested gentlemen,” Leona said. “Some young women are so picky they make spinsters of themselves. And before you know it –” She snapped her fingers. “– it’s too late.”

“And if that’s the case here?” Betsy pressed.

Leona looked out the window. “I hope it’s not. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to return to Nowhere a failure.”

Betsy blanched. “Don’t say such a thing.”

Leona turned to her longtime friend. “Face it, Betsy, we’ve only ever helped a bride when she was about to be married. We never had to help one fall in love.”

“Don’t remind me. Land sakes, I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I think about it too much.”

“At least the hotel is nice. Or so says my brother Harlan.”

“He ought to know – he was Clear Creek’s sheriff for years. But I’m glad he came to Nowhere and married my sister. She’s so happy with her big farm and family all around her.” Betsy sighed. “I hate to admit this, but I envy her sometimes.”

Leona smiled. Betsy’s sister Mary Weaver married Harlan twelve years before, around the same time Mary’s youngest son Daniel married his mail-order bride Ebba. Between her four sons and their wives (mail-order brides all), plus a passel of one of those wives’ Italian siblings, the farm had grown considerably. There were over thirty people living there if you included the hired hands.

“Well, I still say we’ll need help,” Betsy said. “Sadie and Belle Cooke?”

“I know we can count on them. Harlan gave me some letters to give to their husbands.” Leona smiled. “It was sure nice getting to visit with Colin and Belle when they were in Nowhere last May. What a lovely wedding their daughter had.” She sighed in contentment and went back to looking out the window. The Cooke family, like the Weavers, was huge. They ran a cattle ranch outside Clear Creek, and three of the Weavers’ Italian in-laws had married Cookes.

Leona pulled a piece of paper from her reticule. “Now, let’s see … we have Colin and Belle’s daughter Adele at the top of our list. We at least have to stay to see her through.” Adele Cooke was now several years on the shelf already, and might be tougher than they’d bargained for.

Betsy peeked at the other names listed. “Are you sure this is it? Belle couldn’t think of anyone else when she visited last May?”

“I think so. We have Savannah Cooke …” Leona glanced at Betsy. “… who might prove challenging. Then Ruby Bennett, Lucinda Mae Stone, Eleanora Adams and Merritt O’Hare. With Adele, that’s six.”

“And how many gentlemen are there?”

“Belle said at least thirteen but mentioned in her last letter than one of them – Baxter Adams, I believe – got himself a mail-order bride sometime last May. So assume a dozen minimum.”

“I hope none of the others follow that Baxter Adams’ lead or those poor women will never find husbands.”

“You’re right. But I’m sure Belle would’ve mentioned if any others had.”

Betsy pulled a hanky from her sleeve and dabbed her face. “I’m nervous. What if we can’t make this work?”

“Will you stop? Heavens, Betsy, it’s not as if we haven’t played matchmaker before. Remember when you ordered a mail-order bride for Matthew?”

“Yes, and my son wouldn’t marry her. He wed Charlotte Davis instead. Dumped poor Rose at the altar!”

“But Rose was in love with Tom Turner anyway, and married him at the same altar, so it all worked out, didn’t it?” Leona patted Betsy’s leg. “This will too, I’m sure. These young folks just need a little nudge,