Mail Order Becca (Brides 0f Sweet Creek Book 2) Read online

  Mail Order Becca

  Brides of Sweet Creek, Book 2

  By Sarah Banks

  Copyright © 2018 Sarah Banks

  All Rights Reserved

  Chapter One

  Becca heard Casey running up the stairs moments before she burst into the room in a flurry of skirts. She smiled at the girl’s exuberance but continued to read aloud without missing a beat to the dozen younger girls scattered at her feet.

  Casey cleared her throat once and then a second time, much louder.

  Becca sighed and looked up. “Can’t it wait? I only have a few pages left.”

  Casey shook her head left to right rapidly and she was biting her top lip, a sure sign that whatever information she was holding back was about to burst forth any second. Becca’s brows furrowed. Perhaps it wasn’t fit for the tender ears of the children sitting at her feet.

  Becca chose Betsy, a twelve-year old girl to continue reading where she left off.

  Five-year-old Maddie groaned loudly. “But Betsy doesn’t read as good as you,” she complained.

  “Maddie,” Becca admonished, standing up from her stool and smoothing her skirts. “Betsy is a fine reader. Besides we all need to practice to get better. Someday soon you’ll be reading to the other children as well.”

  Becca pointed out the next paragraph to Betsy who continued to read aloud slowly. She listened for a few moments and smiled approvingly. When Betsy arrived at the orphanage nearly a year ago, she couldn’t read a single word. But after months of daily lessons it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for Becca to find Betsy tucked away with a book when she should be doing her chores or after lights out. Soon Betsy would be teaching some of the other girls to read. Becca saw a little bit of herself in Betsy. In fact, she saw little pieces of herself in each of the girls at Miss Hall’s Home for Girls. And moments like these, seeing the girls lives improve in so many different ways, was the exact reason she had stayed after coming of age.

  Becca walked to the corner of the room where Casey was impatiently waiting. Casey was sixteen years old, one of the oldest girls at the orphanage and four years younger than Becca. Despite the age difference, they had forged a tight bond over the past few years. Becca not only thought of Casey as a little sister but she was also her best friend.

  Becca stopped in front of the younger girl, crossed her arms and raised a brow, “It couldn’t wait five minutes?” She teased.

  “Miss Hall is dead!” Casey replied in a harsh whisper.

  A white-hot sensation shot through Becca’s body. She turned to race toward the door but Casey caught her arm.

  “No, not just now. Earlier this morning. I just overheard the news as I was walking by Miss Templeton’s office.”

  Becca knew that walking by more than likely meant that Casey had been listening at the door. Normally she would chastise the girl for her chronic eavesdropping but now was not the time.

  Becca shook her head, trying to keep the shock from her features. Her cheeks and lips felt numb. “I don’t understand. What could have happened?” She asked in a low voice, trying to keep her senses. She didn’t want to draw the attention of the children and upset them. She glanced over her shoulder and sighed when she realized that even though Betsy was still reading, already half the eyes were focused on them.

  “All I know is that she collapsed at the market, while doing this week’s shopping and died before she even got to the hospital,” Casey whispered.

  Becca knew Miss Hall hadn’t been feeling well lately. She had been fatigued, with shadows under her eyes, even first thing in the morning and she hadn’t been eating much. Becca would have suggested the mistress of the orphanage stay in bed and rest if she thought there was any chance Miss Hall would have listened. But Miss Hall was never idle, said she didn’t have time to be, that there was always something that needed doing. After living and working at the orphanage for a combined seventeen years, Becca knew that to be true but even she knew to rest when she was feeling under the weather. She had offered to the do the weekly shopping but Miss Hall had refused. And now she was dead. Becca couldn’t believe it.

  Miss Hall had taken Becca in over seventeen years ago. Her age had been estimated about three. They counted her birthday as the day she arrived on Miss Hall’s doorstep. The orphanage was newly opened that same year and already the beds were full. Miss Hall answered a late evening knock only to find Becca sitting on the top step quiet as a mouse with her name penned on her arm. Rebecca. But there was already a Rebecca at the orphanage, even a Becky, so Miss Hall called her Becca and that was the only name she could ever remember being called. She had no memories of a father or a mother or a family. Miss Hall and the other girls at the orphanage, they were the only family she had ever known. Miss Hall had been like a mother to her. Becca sniffed. Even though Miss Hall could be strict sometimes, she had been the only person in the world who cared about what happened to Becca, and now she was gone.

  Becca had requested to stay at the orphanage when she came of age. At first Miss Hall had refused, wanting better things for her, but Becca had been persistent. Miss Hall finally relented, warning she couldn’t pay much, but Becca hadn’t minded. She didn’t really need money. All she needed was a roof over her head, food in her belly and somewhere to sleep at night and this place offered all of that, even though sometimes the roof leaked, there wasn’t enough food to go around and her bed was a thin, lumpy mattress. It could always be worse, Becca reasoned. The girls that the home took in were proof of that, often coming from unimaginable circumstances. After seeing so many girls come through the same door she had so long ago, Becca realized how lucky she actually was. The girls needed her and Becca needed them too. They gave her life purpose. It was an easy decision to stay on at the orphanage and help in any way that she could, because she knew if Miss Hall hadn’t helped her all those years ago that she would be dead too.

  “Miss Templeton,” Casey said warningly. She didn’t have to say anything else, Becca already knew she was in trouble but Casey continued on anyway with a shake of her head, “She won’t let you stay.”

  “What’s going on?” Maddie demanded, coming up behind them. A couple of the other girls were trailing behind her. Betsy was no longer reading and all of the girls were looking in their direction.

  When Becca didn’t immediately answer, Maddie crossed her arms. “You said that we weren’t supposed to keep secrets.”

  This time Becca crossed her arms. “We’ll talk about it in the morning,” she said firmly. “Now it’s your turn for baths, then bed. You all know the routine.” When they didn’t immediately move, she clapped her hands together twice, “Now. Let’s go.”

  The girls groaned collectively, collecting their nightgowns from underneath their pillows and running out into the hallway and downstairs to the kitchen where the rest of the girls could be found. While the younger girls were expected to set and clear the tables for each meal, the older girls were responsible for cooking and cleaning up after each meal. And since it was Saturday evening, they were also expected to keep water boiling, while everyone took turns bathing. The entire house shared a single tub, intermittently changing out the water every few baths. Bath time was a weekly event that took hours.

  Becca took a deep breath, preparing to follow the girls downstairs but first she reached out and squeezed Casey’s arm lightly. “It’ll be okay.”

  “No it won’t,” Casey replied, her voice depressed. “You know it won’t.”

  Chapter Two

  A week later Miss Hall was buried. Becca had insisted that all the girls attend the funeral and Miss Templeton had reluctantly agreed. Becca was very prou
d of the girls, they had been very well-behaved. It was always a challenge to take two dozen girls out of doors all at the same time. They usually only did it on Sundays for church and Becca would spend the rest of the day recovering from the morning outing.

  Becca knew not all of the girls felt as strongly for Miss Hall as she did. Not everyone had gotten to see the softer side of her. Perhaps it was because Becca had known her so much longer. But Becca knew that Miss Hall cared deeply about the welfare of each girl and worried for their future while remaining as detached as possible because the inevitable always happened. When the girls reached a certain age and oftentimes before, they would leave. Becca had never been as good at keeping her distance. She loved each girl individually, for their strength, resilience and the unique positive qualities each of them possessed. She could not imagine her life without them.

  The day after the funeral Miss Templeton called Becca into her tiny dark office at the end of the corridor, past the kitchen and Miss Hall’s larger, brighter, and now empty office.

  Before entering Miss Templeton’s office, Becca rubbed her damp palms down her skirt nervously. She caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Casey dallying at the end of the hallway near the kitchen. She knew that before the door was even shut, Casey would have her ear against the keyhole.

  Becca sighed and entered the office, closing the door softly behind her. A large, dark desk took up half the space of the small room. Miss Templeton was seated behind the desk, hands folded in front of her on the desktop, her posture stick-straight and she was as still as a statue. Her dark hair was pulled back tightly into a bun, not a strand out of place unlike Becca’s chignon that was already a mess even though it was barely noon. Becca’s fingers itched to smooth her hair but she forced herself to stay still under Miss Templeton’s careful inspection. Miss Templeton’s eyes were dark and emotionless as she silently observed Becca. She was still dressed in black from the funeral yesterday as was Becca, although Becca’s dress had been borrowed from Miss Hall’s closet and didn’t fit properly. But without Miss Hall’s help with the girls, Becca was even busier than usual and hadn’t found time to alter it yet.

  Becca glanced at the chair beside her, piled high with papers.

  Miss Templeton waved her hand. “No need to sit. This won’t take long. I think you know why you’re here.”

  “I’m not sure I do Miss Templeton,” Becca replied calmly, folding her hands in front of her, forcing herself to meet the other woman’s gaze. She didn’t want Miss Templeton to know how nervous she was. But Becca’s words had been a lie. She knew Miss Hall’s death had been just the beginning.

  Miss Templeton let out a dry bark of a laugh. “Oh please, I think you do. But if you want me to say it, so be it. I’m giving you notice. You will no longer be employed with Miss Hall’s Home for Girls. And unfortunately, I cannot write you a recommendation,” she added with a smirk.

  “Connie,” Becca began.

  Miss Templeton’s eyes iced over. “Miss Templeton,” she ground out the correction.

  Becca had known Constance Templeton since her arrival at the home some seventeen years before. Connie had been three years older, one of the original girls at the orphanage. She too had stayed on after coming of age. While Connie wasn’t particularly good with the children even when she was one herself, she did have a head for numbers and a mind for business that greatly eased Miss Hall’s load. For that, Becca would always be grateful, but she could never remember a time that Connie didn’t hate her.

  “You have three days to get your affairs in order and leave here, although if you can manage sooner, more the better.”

  “Three days,” Becca whispered. “I cannot possibly,” her voice tapered off.

  “I have been named Miss Hall’s replacement and I thought three days was more than adequate, generous almost,” Miss Templeton stated. “Considering I could throw you out of here right now.”

  Becca held her hands out in front of her as if she was warding off some rabid dog. She could see her fingers shaking and she was angry at herself for letting Miss Templeton see how much control and fear she had over her.

  “There’s nothing I could say? Nothing I can do?” Becca asked.

  “No. Nothing. Except…”

  “Yes,” Becca said hopefully.

  “I would appreciate it if you would not make a spectacle of yourself in front of the girls when you leave.”

  Becca’s heart sank. “I would never do that. I love them,” she replied fiercely.

  Another harsh laugh. “Then more the fool are you. I will have your final check three mornings hence. If you refuse to leave by then, I will not hesitate to call on the authorities and they can do whatever they see fit with you. You are dismissed,” she said with finality.

  Becca left the office, closing the door quietly behind her. Casey stood only a few feet away, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Becca,” she whispered brokenly.

  Becca brushed by her and ran to her room. She didn’t want anyone to see her cry. She needed to be strong for the girls. She barely made it to her tiny room before she could taste her tears and a strangled sob tore from her throat. She threw herself onto the hard mattress of her bed and muffled her sobs in her pillow.

  ∞∞∞

  Becca spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening doing something she couldn’t ever remember doing, wallowing in self-pity. She knew the girls must be worried about her, as she was rarely absent, but she couldn’t force herself to leave her room just yet. Missing Miss Hall and thinking about having to leave the orphanage, the only home she ever remembered, she cried herself to sleep. And then when she awoke and remembered that morning’s brief meeting with Miss Templeton, she began to cry again.

  There had been soft knocking on her door several times throughout the day but Becca had ignored it and even though the door had no lock, no one came in. The last time, Casey had whispered through the door, “I’m leaving a tray of food for you Becca.”

  Becca heard Casey’s soft footsteps retreat down the hall but she didn’t retrieve the tray. She knew she had to pull herself together. Thanks to spending more than half the day feeling sorry for herself, which never helped anything anyway, she lost precious time she could have been looking for another position. But who would hire her on such short notice and especially without any references? Becca’s entire world had been the orphanage, she had very few connections outside of it.

  She did have a little bit of money saved from her last three years of wages. The money may have been piddly, but since her basic comforts were met by the orphanage, and she hadn’t had many other expenses, it had added up over time. That was something at least. She forced herself out of bed. She had precious little time to start with, she needed to come up with a plan.

  Becca washed her face and was fixing her hair when the knocking started again. She pushed in her last hairpin. “You can come in now Casey,” she said, her voice husky from crying earlier.

  The knocking continued.

  Becca took a final look in the shard of the mirror on the washstand. She didn’t look her best but there was nothing to be done about it now. She set it back down with a sigh and opened the door. Casey pushed past her balancing a tray with a steaming bowl of soup, a large chunk of bread, a heel of cheese and a tall glass of water.

  “You missed lunch and supper,” Casey said accusingly.

  “I’m sorry,” Becca replied sincerely. “Are the girls okay?”

  Casey nodded. “I told them you had a headache,” she said, then she rolled her eyes. “But those girls are too smart for their own good. They know something’s wrong. Besides Miss Hall dying that is.”

  “I’ll speak with them tomorrow,” Becca said resignedly, sitting on the bed. “Thank you for supper Casey. You’re very sweet.” She drank the entire glass of water before dipping her spoon into the soup, it was a watery broth but at least it had a little bit of beef and even more vegetables.

  She was well awa
re that Casey was watching her quite impatiently from the door as Becca ate her soup and then the bread, ending with the cheese. She hadn’t realized how ravenous she was until she started eating. She was still thirsty though. Perhaps she’d dip into her small stash of tea that Miss Hall had given her on her eighteenth birthday. She had enough left to make a pot for her and Casey. She dabbed her napkin against her lips and set it aside.

  “I know you heard everything at the door Casey.”

  Casey nodded and slowly pushed away from the door, sitting across from Becca on the bed.

  “Do you know what you’re going to do?” Casey asked, fiddling with a loose string on her sleeve.

  Becca shrugged. “The only thing I can do. Find another job. I have a little money for a room until I find something.” She didn’t add that the money probably wouldn’t pay for more than a month or two of less-than-desirable lodging and some food and that’s if she stretched it. She needed to find a job tomorrow. She chastised herself again for wasting half of the day feeling sorry for herself.

  “I have a better idea,” Casey said excitedly.

  “What’s that?” Becca asked with a half-smile. Casey was always full of hare-brained schemes. It would be fun to see what she came up with this time.

  Casey pulled a scrap of newspaper from her dress pocket. “Here,” she said, handing it to Becca.

  “What is it?” Becca asked curiously, taking the carefully torn piece of newspaper. The paper looked old and worn, the ink smudged but still legible. She looked down, expecting to see an ad for employment but instead it was an advertisement for something else altogether.

  “It’s an advertisement, for a mail order bride,” Casey confirmed.

  Becca raised her eyebrows, her eyes meeting Casey’s. She had read the words, but they hadn’t quite registered yet. “A what?” She asked in disbelief.

  “An ad,” Casey persisted. “For a bride. Women are scarce in the west and men need brides for, you know, wifely stuff, so they place an ad in the newspaper and pay for them to come out west.”