Mail Order Bride: Westward Winds by - (book club books TXT) 📕

“Well, Miss O’Connor, you seem to be exactly what we’re looking for in potential brides. The men are looking for women of your breeding and temperament,” J.D. Brooks said with a smile.

Tessa returned his smile and said, “Splendid! How do we proceed?”

Mr. Brooks turned and took a large file from a cabinet behind him. “These are advertisements from prospective men. Look through them and see if any appeal to you. I would ask that you choose only one to correspond with at a time because you may become confused as to whom you are writing. Men are jealous sometimes and it may not sit well with them that you are talking to other men as well.”

Tessa saw the wisdom in that. “I understand.”

“Follow me, please,” Mr. Brooks said and rose from his chair.

He led her to a large conference room with a long table and many chairs.

“You will have plenty of room and privacy in here to look through them at your leisure,” he informed her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Mr. Brooks said and left her. As he went back to his desk, he wondered why such a beautiful, refined young lady was considering becoming a mail-order bride. From her elegant clothing and impeccable hair style, Tessa was obviously a woman of high social standing.

Tessa sat at the table and opened the file. There were many ads in it and she began to read them. She giggled over some of them because they were so amusing. Some were from men who were very strict about wanting a very domestic wife. Others were very sweet, almost too sweet, and she put those aside as well.

After an hour, she’d narrowed it down to five, and then three. Finally, she ended up with the one that struck a chord within her. It read:

Lonely widower rancher with two children seeks lovely lady who is kind, intelligent, and strong. Must like children and should be able to do some cooking. He’s a hard worker, a good provider, and also likes to have fun.

The name listed was Dean Samuels from Dawson, Montana. She felt sympathetic toward the gentleman because he had lost his wife and was trying to be a good father and earn a living at the same time. After putting all of the rest of the advertisements back in the folder, Tessa went back out to the front office.

Mr. Brooks looked up from some paperwork and smiled. “How’d we make out?”

“I would like to write to this gentleman,” she said and handed him the ad.

He read it and smiled. “Ah, yes. This one is rather popular,” he lied. “Let me write down the information for you. The letters will be private. I would ask that you be able to make up your mind within three months as we don’t want these men waiting for women who never come.”

Tessa was surprised. “There are other women writing to this rancher?”

Mr. Brooks nodded. “Oh, yes. It’s only fair.” He had no qualms about his dishonesty. He had to make a living, after all.

“What if they’ve already made up their mind?” Tessa asked.

“Don’t fret, my dear. Once a decision has been made, you must come to inform me. Thus far, no one has gone to see this gentleman. There is a contract you must sign. We require a two hundred dollar service fee. If you should change your mind about contacting this gentleman further and do not want to try any others, I would refund half of your money.”

Hope seeped its way back into her breast. “I see. You said two hundred dollars?”

“Yes. Will that be a problem?” Mr. Brooks asked.

Tessa calculated her funds. “No, it won’t,” she said as she opened her reticule and counted out the money. “Now, about that contract.”