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  Desperate in Delaware

  Yours Truly: The Lovelorn Series

  Book 11

  By

  Caroline Clemmons

  Cover design by Black Widow Designs

  Copyright © 2020 by Caroline Clemmons

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental because this book is fiction.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  About this Series

  About Caroline Clemmons

  Chapter One

  Delaware, Early Spring, 1880

  Mina Faye Stapleton carried the mail home. Once there, she laid the items addressed to her sister and brother-in-law on the hall table and hurried to her room. What a pleasant treat to see that a letter from her cousin Cindy had arrived on her birthday. She sat on her bed and opened it immediately.

  Dear Mina,

  Happy Birthday, dear cousin! I hope this reaches you at least close to the right day. Judging the mail is almost impossible. I wish we could be together so I could give you a party. You know how I love giving parties. Giving you one would be especially fun.

  Jamie and Jessica are growing so fast. I’ll have their photo taken soon and send you a copy. They’re walking now—and running and climbing—and what one doesn’t think of the other does. At three years old, the twins keep me on my toes constantly, but I adore them so!

  Bert got a slight promotion at work and now he’s a junior partner in the law firm. He makes light of it but there was a bit of a salary increase. I’m so proud of him for doing so well. You would laugh to see my tall, distinguished-looking husband on the floor playing with our twins. The sight never fails to fill me with joy!

  When I saw the enclosed newspaper article, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It’s as if it was written to and by you! Dear Mina, please take the advice offered. You should have your own home where you’d be doing chores for your family and not Lily’s! I know you and your sister are very close and you’re devoted to her and her children so I promise not to preach any more. (But consider what I’ve written, please!)

  Our spring weather has been glorious. I do miss the fall colors of Delaware but not the winters. I wish you would come here and visit Texas. We have our own fall colors and our county, Palo Pinto, translates to painted trees. There are no giant chestnuts or maples but the various trees are pretty in their own way. I know you’d love it here and there are many eligible men in our community. Besides, it seems ages since I saw you so we could sit and talk. What fun we used to have—and could once more!

  Happy Birthday again, dear cousin. Take care and write soon.

  Love,

  Cindy

  Her five-year-old niece, Darla, called, “Auntie Mina, Auntie Mina?”

  Mina put the letter in her pocket and rose. She’d investigate the clipping later. “I’ll be right there.”

  Darla opened the door and came into the bedroom. “What are you doing in here all by yourself? I’m hungry but Mama’s busy with Danny. Are there cookies left?”

  Mina’s three-year-old nephew, Billy, stood behind his sister. “Auntie, may I have cookies?”

  The tiny bedroom might be the size of an envelope, but it had been hers as long as she could remember. “Darla, please remember you’re supposed to knock and wait to be invited in. Thank you for asking so nicely, Billy. Let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll give each of you cookies and milk.”

  While she talked to the children over their snack, her sister, Lily, walked in from the children’s room where she’d been with the toddler, Danny.

  “Thank you for fetching the mail. Danny’s fussiness seems to be from getting a new tooth.” Lily sank onto a chair and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, Mina, I’m so worried. I gave him a sugar-tit to suckle during the night and he’s still asleep.”

  Mina hoped she hid her alarm. “How much whiskey did you put on the sugar?”

  “I was so tired from trying to soothe him that I’m not sure. I measured a tablespoon of packed raw sugar onto the linen square and then tied it as always. I dunked it in a little whiskey. It was the middle of the night and this time I didn’t measure the alcohol.” Lily was in tears. “Do you think I’ve harmed my baby boy?”

  Mina hugged her sister. “No, I’m sure he’ll be fine but I suspect he’ll wake with a hangover. Have a cookie with Darla and Billy. Danny will wake up when he’s ready.”

  She prayed she was correct. She’d volunteered to care for Danny during the night but Lily had insisted he needed his mother. Lily stood and paced the room while twisting her handkerchief and worrying.

  Mina couldn’t stand to see her sister so upset any longer and guided her sister to a chair. “You’re wearing a pattern in the floor. Sit down. I’m sure Danny will be all right.”

  A few minutes later, they were rewarded with Danny’s cry.

  Mina held a hand to stop her sister. “I’ll see about him. You go rest since you didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  Lily’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I so wanted today to be special for your birthday.”

  “I have one every year. Besides, you’ve planned on serving my favorite foods. Go to your room and lie down while I look after the children.”

  Near supper time her brother-in-law, Will Patterson, brought home a cake from the bakery to celebrate Mina’s twenty-fourth birthday. Her sister had knitted her blue gloves and a matching cap and scarf. Billy and Darla had each colored her a picture. Mina was pleased but kept busy until the dinner dishes had been washed, dried, and put away.

  Since they’d been considerate enough to celebrate her birthday, she sat in the parlor with the family. She hated getting a year older with no one special to share the event with her. Twenty-four and she still had no prospect for a beau, much less marriage.

  She was so restless she could hardly wait to be alone and read the newspaper clipping her cousin had sent. She lingered after the children had been tucked into bed. When her sister and brother-in-law conversed about his work at the bank, she excused herself and went to her room. She unfolded the clipping and read it.

  Dear Lovelorn,

  I don’t know what to do. Life is not fair or I’d be married with children by now. My parents have passed away and I live with my sister and her husband and children. Understand that I love my sister and her children. I help with the housework and cooking. Although my brother-in-law is polite, I’m sure he would prefer I were not living with them. I should be grateful I have a roof over my head, but I cannot help wishing I had my own husband and family. There are simply no eligible men in our community. What should I do?

  Yours truly,

  Desperate in Delaware

  Mina gasped. The letter writer even lived in the same state as she. Her eyes scanned to the answer.

 
Dear Desperate,

  Sadly, we are not guaranteed happiness or fairness in life. That said, why do you remain where you’re unfulfilled? Either resign yourself to remaining a trusted aunt and servant or seize the opportunity to change your life. Make a list of alternatives.

  If you cannot meet a man where you are, move to where you can. Perhaps you have a friend or relative you can visit in another area. A second choice would be for you to become a mail-order bride. The method of change is up to you.

  Yours truly

  The Lovelorn

  Mina sat frozen, holding the clipping. Change was up to her. Making a list of her options would not be any more helpful now than the last time she’d tried. She’d searched for a job in their small town but no one would hire an unmarried woman. Will didn’t have any coworkers who were single and looking for a wife. The only single men at church were elderly or too young.

  Cindy had invited her to come for a visit. Mina’s meager savings might stretch to travel expenses. Sometimes when people invited others to come for a visit they weren’t sincere. She’d ask if Cindy was serious about a visit and had room for a guest. She sat at her small desk and wrote to her cousin.

  Dear Cindy,

  Thank you for the letter which arrived on my birthday! I am also grateful for the newspaper clipping you included. How amazing that another woman in Delaware shares my dilemma! Who would believe there are two of us? Ha ha.

  I have big news! A couple of days after I last wrote, the doctor confirmed that Lily is expecting another child in about five months! With that addition, it really is best if I find somewhere else to live. We are squeezed in here now like peas in a pod.

  Lily and the children are all well. Will continues to be polite but he would like his family to himself. Lily doesn’t know but Will mentioned the house would be even more crowded when the new baby arrives. I can’t fault him for that.

  Dear cousin, if you are sincere in your invitation for me to visit, I would like to accept. I have enough saved to pay my fare there. In truth, Will and Lily should help since they are in possession of our family home and half should come to me. You know how tight Will is but I’ll ask him anyway. In the meantime, please let me know if your invitation is still open.

  Love,

  Mina

  The following morning, Mina went to the post office to collect the mail and post her letter to Cindy. She hesitated when she realized no other customers were inside. She dreaded going in without others to buffer her from the postmaster’s unwanted attentions.

  Postmaster Tom Sanders stared at her as she handed her envelope to him. He was in his fifties and his wife had died ten years earlier. For at least six or seven of those years, Mina had been fending off his advances.

  He leaned over the counter. “Miss Stapleton, what you need is a man who can make you feel like a woman. I’m that man.” He spoke in a low voice he probably thought was enticing.

  “I already feel like a woman, thank you.” She scratched between the ears of the large dog he always kept with him.

  Mr. Sanders took a long time weighing and stamping her letter. “You don’t know what you’re missing. I could teach you the many ways a man can please a woman.”

  As she picked up her change she sent him a questioning look. “You know, in the time since your wife passed away I’ve never seen you with a woman. Do the kind of comments you make to me ever succeed?”

  His face turned red. “Well, I assure you I don’t sleep alone every night.”

  She grabbed her mail. “Does that mean you have a lady friend or that your dog sleeps with you?”

  She hurried from the shop. Drat the man. She shouldn’t have let her temper cause her to be rude. But, she’d rather be alone forever than with someone like him.

  The days dragged in sameness until she received a letter from her cousin. She almost ran home so she could read it in privacy. Inside her room, she opened the correspondence.

  Dear Mina,

  I can’t wait for you to arrive! Pack everything you ever want to keep and bring as many trunks as necessary. I guarantee you will never want to leave once you’re here!

  Take the train to Fort Worth, Texas. If you decide to stay overnight to rest there, don’t stay near the train depot. Go further away where the hotels are more respectable. In Fort Worth, you have to change to a stagecoach to reach Palo Pinto. I hate that you have to ride the stage. I warn you, don’t wear a bustle for that part of your journey. The stage ride is tedious and tiring.

  You’ll be glad you tolerated the exhausting ride once you’re here and I introduce you to several eligible men. I have one in particular picked out that I think you’ll like—or maybe love! Bert told me to make introductions and not to interfere further. But, I’m so excited that I can’t help thinking of playing matchmaker.

  By the way, we have plenty of room for you! Not that it matters because I imagine you’ll be married as soon after you arrive as you wish. I hope you’ll come immediately. Send me a telegram telling your arrival day.

  Love,

  Cindy

  Chapter Two

  Austin Wright faced the two men. “There is no way you can strike gold in this place. You’ll ruin the water and kill everything with four legs for miles and miles.”

  Otto Davis rolled the cigar to the other side of his mouth. “We found flecks of gold already. You think you can keep it to yourself.”

  Austin would like to throttle these two. “Flecks. There are flecks in the dirt. You could gather all the flecks in Palo Pinto County and wouldn’t have enough to buy a meal at Betty’s Eatery.”

  Bill Ferguson stabbed a forefinger at Austin. “Bailey showed us there was gold here when he leased us the mineral rights. He said he was just too old to work the mine.”

  Austin knew he was talking to two greedy idiots. “He salted the mine. Now he gets the lease money for his retirement while you ruin a way of life for everyone around.”

  Davis took his cigar from his mouth. “Why would he do such a thing? He’s supposed to get twenty percent of the gold. You’re sore ’cause we’ll get rich and you won’t have nothin’ but your cows.”

  “I won’t have cattle or a ranch if you ruin the water. By the time you get discouraged and realize I’m right and pull out, you’ll have already ruined ranching around here and killed the wildlife. I’m trying to stop you before you do any damage.”

  Ferguson picked up his rifle. “Well, you had your say. This is private property and you’re trespassin’. You can git.”

  “I’ll be seeing you again. Count on it.” Austin got on his horse and rode for town.

  In Palo Pinto, he headed for the law office of his friend Bert Kennedy.

  Bert looked up from papers on his desk when Austin walked in. “Hey, Austin. You look upset. Still worried about those gold miners?”

  “I’ve worked too hard for too many years to let a couple of idiots ruin me.” He paced back and forth in the small office, slapping his Stetson against his leg. “I know for a fact Colin Bailey salted the cave before he showed it to them. One of my men heard Bailey laughing about it before the old coot left.”

  “Sit down and take a deep breath. I’d hate to lose a good friend to apoplexy.”

  Austin plopped down in a chair facing Bert’s desk and fought for calm. “You’ve got to look into this for me, Bert. There has to be something I can do legally. If there’s not, some of the ranchers are going to take matters into their own hands.”

  Bert held up a hand. “I didn’t hear that last part. I’ll get started on it right away. First, though, I have to go with Cindy to meet the stage. You remember I told you her cousin was coming today. She arrives in a little while so I wish you’d hang around and meet her.”

  He didn’t admit he’d remembered Cindy’s cousin arrived today or that he was curious about her. “That must mean she’ll have trunks you want me to help tote.”

  Bert grinned. “You bet. I also want you to meet her before any other bachelor does.”
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br />   Austin rubbed the back of his neck and had second thoughts. “I get your drift, but I don’t know. This isn’t a good time to take on any new responsibilities until this mine thing is settled.”

  Bert leaned back in his chair and met Austin’s gaze. “A pretty, unmarried woman is not going to sit around and wait until it’s convenient for you. Men will be buzzing around her right away. You’ll have to get in and stake your claim early.”

  As seldom as an unmarried woman showed up in town, Austin knew his attorney friend spoke the truth. “I reckon you’re right. I admire your wife and children and would like the same situation for myself.”

  The door opened and Cindy entered. “Hello, Austin. I’ve come to steal Bert to meet my cousin’s stage. Are you coming with us?”

  Bert sent him a pointed look.

  Austin clapped his hat on his head. “Might as well in case Bert needs help with trunks.”

  For one thing, his curiosity was piqued. Cindy was a lovely woman and if her cousin was like her, then he did need to get his bid in first. Men would be lining up to court her.

  Aw, who was he kidding? When he tried to talk to a woman he wanted to impress, his foot always wound up jammed into his mouth.

  ***

  Mina was certain her rear end would never recover. The stagecoach bounced and swayed with every bump and rut in the road. They had passed through several towns that appeared picturesque. As they traveled west, towns and people became scarcer. The stage seemed to go up one incline after another.

  She was amazed at the variety of landscapes she’d seen on this trip. Right now, though, she regretted thinking the train was tiring. Compared to a stagecoach, the train was pure comfort—even with all the transfers she’d had to make.

  After a harrowing ride, they arrived at Palo Pinto. When the stage stopped, she waited until the other passengers stepped out before she climbed down. There was Cindy to greet her. The tall man with Cindy must be her husband, Bert Kennedy.