Beth_Bride of Massachusetts Read online

  Beth

  Bride of Massachusetts

  Ashley Merrick

  Contents

  Copyright

  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

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Also by Ashley Merrick

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2015 by Ashley Merrick

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Chapter One

  The day started like any other. Beth Mitchell woke late and rushed around to get ready to leave for her job at the Brown Textile Mill. Fortunately, she was a fast mover and once she was up, she was out the door and on her way soon after. It was a beautiful fall morning, and the air was crisp. A cool breeze blew through her hair as she walked along Canal Street which overlooked the Merrimack River. She and her roommates, Lottie, Leora, Alice, and Judith, all worked together at the mill and shared a small apartment just a few blocks away. The girls walked quickly and mostly silently as it was early and they were all tired. The hours at the mill were long and the work was tedious. They were seamstresses and though Beth was more than grateful for the job, she dreaded each day because sewing didn’t come naturally to her— unlike her sister, India, and her mother, who both had a natural gift for it. Not that those gifts were appreciated—speed was valued above all and was the reason why their mother had been let go a year ago. Her eyesight had worsened and she had to go more slowly. If she’d kept her pace but the quality of work had suffered, she would probably still be there.

  Beth had the opposite problem. She tended to rush her work, wanting to get as much done as possible and to get it over with. Usually that was valued at the mill, but sometimes it caught up with her as her quality wasn’t stellar to begin with.

  “Miss Mitchell, the stitching on this shawl is unacceptable! Do this one over and mind yourself. If this continues to happen, you’ll be the next in your family to lose your job.” Bob Brown, the mill owner, was a vile man and he seemed to take joy in terrorizing ‘his girls’, as he called them. He stood behind Beth with his arms folded across his chest and his brow furrowed.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Brown. It won’t happen again,” Beth said quickly.

  “For your sake, it had best not.” He stayed watching for a few more moments. Her hands shook with a mixture of fear and fury as she quickly undid the stitching, lined the material up precisely and began to sew again, taking great care to make it as perfect as she was capable of. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Mr. Brown turn and walk off toward his next victim. Her eyes welled a bit as she lost her focus for a moment and almost ran her own finger over.

  “Are you all right?” Alice whispered. She sat next to Beth and was her closest friend, besides her sister, India, of course.

  “Yes. I’m fine. He’s just an awful man. I’d rather be anywhere but here.”

  “Well, keep your voice down. You know he’d be only too happy to make that wish come true.”

  “You’re right. I know you’re right. It wouldn’t be so bad if I actually was good at this. Like you.”

  Alice chuckled. “I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember. I know I’m lucky that I do enjoy the work.”

  “Oh, no. Here he comes again. We best stop talking.” Both girls resumed their focus on their work. If they’d been caught talking, they would be in trouble. Mr. Brown didn’t allow for idle chit chatter as he called it. He said it slowed production. He was probably right about that. Beth had to agree, though it was a rule she broke as often as she could get away with. The days would have been intolerable, otherwise.

  After a short lunch break, where the girls huddled outside against the side of the building and quickly ate their cold, leftover cabbage soup, they filed back inside and walked toward their work areas. As Beth passed by Roberta McDaniel’s office, she couldn’t help but notice that Roberta and Mr. Brown seemed to be having a heated discussion, perhaps even an argument. Robert was the mill manager and she was wonderful to work for, as long as Mr. Brown didn’t meddle—which he often did. Beth wondered what was going on. She knew that Mr. Brown was difficult to work for and imagined it was even worse for Roberta than it was for the girls. She had to deal with him more often and Beth didn’t envy that.

  Once they were back at their stations, Beth didn’t give it another thought and the rest of the afternoon flew by—until they suddenly heard a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass. No one knew where it had come from. Roberta turned at the sound and went off to investigate. A few minutes later, Beth felt a shift in the air and a funny shiver ran up her spine as she caught a whiff of something unusual. She looked at Alice, who was oblivious to anything other than her sewing.

  “Something’s going on. Do you smell anything?”

  Alice looked up in confusion and then glanced around the room and her eyes widened.

  “Look!” Beth followed her gaze and immediately stood up when she saw what had alarmed Alice. Just then, Roberta came running into the room.

  “Everyone, exit the building as quickly as you can. There’s a fire!”

  Chapter Two

  Six weeks later…

  “You look tired, honey. Are you feeling all right?” Beth’s mother asked as she poured three cups of tea. Beth and her younger sister, India, had stopped in for a visit. They saw each other often, as all three lived within a few blocks of each other, in tiny apartments in the factory area of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Beth shivered and pulled her wool wrap tighter around her shoulders. It was always cold in her mother’s small quarters. Her mother tried to conserve as best she could, to stretch the meager amount that Beth and India were able to give her as long as she could. Ever since the Brown Textile Mill burned down, both Beth and India had been unemployed and there were no signs of possible work elsewhere. Their mother was a widow and hadn’t been able to work in several years, But she didn’t have a choice. She’d had to slow down to make sure the work was still done to her high standards.

  Beth, as the oldest, vowed to herself that no matter what, both she and her sister would do everything that they possibly could to make sure that their mother was taken care of. They were all very close and both girls knew that their mother had gone without many times over the years to make sure her girls had what they needed. Now, it was time for them to return the favor.

  “I’m fine, truly. Just haven’t slept well the past few nights,” Beth admitted.

  “You worry too much,” her mother said as she lifted her cup of tea to take a sip.

  “Beth worries enough for all of us,” India agreed with a chuckle. Beth knew she was just trying to lighten the mood.

  “Things will work out, honey. They always do. What is meant to be will be,” her mother said calmly. Beth nodded, hoping she was right. She’d been saying that for years and so far, they had managed to get by.

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Beth agreed with a smile. She didn’t want to upset her mother or dwell on the fact that so far, none of the men she’d written to had responded, even tho
ugh she’d included what her sister said was a very flattering photograph. She’d been afraid that might happen, though. After all, most girls didn’t make the kind of demand that she had. But surely, there must be some man who would be willing to take both her and her mother in.

  “I have some promising news,” India began. “I’ve been writing to a very nice man from Indiana. We’re going to meet soon as he will be coming to Boston in a few weeks. If we like each other, we could be married soon after.”

  “That would be wonderful, honey—though Indiana is a long way from here.” Their mother looked sad at the thought of one of her daughters moving so far away.

  “I know. But what choice do I have? As you’ve said, I just have to have faith that if it’s meant to be, it will work out. And we will have to write lots of letters, because I will miss you both terribly.” India’s voice wobbled a bit as she spoke and Beth knew this was just as hard for her, too.

  They stayed another hour, chatting about all kinds of things, as if they hadn’t seen each other in weeks when it had only been a few days. That was always the way it was with the three of them, though. There was never any shortage of topics to discuss.

  When they left, India walked with Beth along the pretty Merrimack River and to the building where both girls lived. Beth had recently moved with Alice and Judith into Lessie and Josie’s apartment, when they could no longer afford to stay in their own. Times were difficult for all the girls as they were all struggling to make ends meet and what little savings they each had was rapidly disappearing.

  “Why don’t you join us for dinner?” Beth said as they walked toward their building. “It’s not much, just cabbage soup again, but I know the girls would welcome you.”

  “Thanks, maybe I will. My roommates won’t be home until later and I was wondering what we have to eat.”

  They heard their friend Lottie laughing as they walked into the cramped apartment.

  “It’s funny how things change. I never thought I’d consider being a mail-order bride, and yet here I am.”

  “What else are we supposed to do?” Alice asked practically. Ironically, Alice came from a wealthy family in Newport, Rhode Island, but far preferred working as a seamstress in the factory and even becoming a mail-order bride over returning home to where her stepfather would rule her life.

  “Are you nervous?” Beth asked. She knew Lottie was going to be leaving soon.

  “I’m terrified. But also, in a strange way, excited. It’s the start of a new adventure for me!”

  “Oh, Beth, a letter came for you today. It’s on the kitchen table,” Judith said.

  Beth walked over and picked up the letter. It was the first one she had received, and her hands shook a bit as she opened it and drew out the folded note inside.

  Dear Miss Mitchell,

  It was with pleasure that I read your note. Thank you also for sending your photograph. As I mentioned in my advertisement, I am in need of a wife rather quickly. I have business in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and will be arriving from Montana on Tuesday, the fourteenth, with my sister’s two children. I would like for us all to meet, perhaps for lunch. Then if all goes well, when my business there concludes one month from now, you and your mother would be welcome to join me on my return trip to Bozeman. We would then marry, soon after. Your mother would, of course, be our chaperone for the trip west. I am pleased that both of you are so experienced with small children. Because I am not.

  With great respect,

  George Montgomery

  “Well?” India said anxiously as Beth set the letter down. “Is it good news?”

  “I think it may be. He’s willing to take both of us. He has business here, so he must do well enough to support us and the children, too. But he lives clear across the country, in Montana.” Beth frowned at that. She had never been keen on the whole mail-order bride option to begin with, but moving so far west just made matters even less appealing. Yet, no one else had offered, so she would have to get used to the idea quickly. Assuming, of course, that he was still willing to marry her after they met.

  “That’s wonderful! And like you said earlier, we can always write letters and maybe visit at some point.” India seemed both pleased and relieved, and Beth knew that she’d been just as worried as Beth was about their mother.

  “Well, I still need to win him over when we meet. That could be a challenge.” Beth bit her lip, thinking about the meeting.

  “Why would that be an issue? You sent him your photograph, right? So he knows how pretty you are?” Alice asked.

  “He does know what I look like, yes. But, he requested someone mild-mannered and good with children. That’s not exactly me. I don’t have any experience with children and frankly, the idea of it is a bit nerve-wracking. I’m not sure I’m cut out for it. You all know that patience isn’t exactly one of my virtues.”

  “Oh, hmmm. Well, surely you can act the part when you meet him. Just long enough for him to agree to marry you. Once you’re married, it won’t matter so much,” Lottie said.

  “I’ll have to do that, yes. But it won’t be easy. We are not going to marry until we return to Montana a month after we meet.”

  “So, you’ll just have to be on your best behavior then. And your mother is wonderful with children and is the calmest person I know. Follow her lead and you’ll be fine,” Alice advised.

  “Did he include a picture?” Judith asked.

  “No, he did not. His original advertisement described him as being dark-haired and just over six feet tall.”

  “So you really have no idea what he looks like? That could be interesting.”

  “As long as he is willing to take us both, I’m fine with however he looks. It’s not like this is any kind of a love match. It’s a business transaction, for both of us.”

  “It makes me sad to think of marriage as nothing more than a business transaction,” Alice said. “I hope that it will be more than that for you.”

  “That is too much for me to begin to hope for. I just hope he is a nice person and earns enough to keep us all fed and safe.”

  “I can’t wait to meet him,” India said.

  “You won’t have to wait long. He arrives next week, on Tuesday.”

  Chapter Three

  “Uncle George, are we almost there?” Harriet, his five-year-old niece, had her forehead pressed against the train window as they sped along toward the East Coast. She’d asked the question every few hours and the answer was always the same.

  “We’re closer than we were the last you asked, but we still have a few more hours to go.”

  “Tell us about your house again. Is it really big? Is there room for us?” Genevieve, his other niece, was a bit older at almost eight and both girls were understandably curious about where they were going. Her sister’s question got Harriet’s attention. She tore herself away from the window and snuggled closer to George, resting her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

  “It’s a big enough house. Plenty of room for all of us, and you’ll like Miss Mandy, my housekeeper. She’s an excellent cook.”

  “Does she have any children?” Harriet asked.

  “No, she’s much older and never married. But she loves children.”

  “That’s good. And this lady you’re going to marry—does she like children, too?” Genevieve asked the question a bit nervously. All George had told them thus far was that they were coming with him to his home in Massachusetts, and that there was a nice lady there and he might be marrying her. He’d told them that they would be able to meet her, too, and let him know what they thought.

  He wanted to include them in his decision, but unless they all took an immediate dislike to her, he was going to move forward with the marriage. He didn’t have time to be too picky. He wanted the girls to have the stability of a mother figure and he needed the flexibility to come and go at a moment’s notice to tend to his business matters.

  The girls were doing surprisingly wel
l, considering. It couldn’t have been easy for them to lose both of their parents so suddenly. He’d had them for almost two months and the first month had been more difficult. It hadn’t really hit them right away. Harriet cried for weeks at night for her mother and Genevieve, who was usually a bright and cheerful girl, had been sullen and withdrawn.

  He knew that was to be expected. He hadn’t been himself, either, and couldn’t really imagine how much more difficult it must be for the girls. George and his sister Rebecca had been Irish twins, born just eleven months apart, and they had always been close. There were no other siblings, so when Rebecca and Tom passed, George respected her dying wish to take care of the girls.

  He would have, anyway. It was never a question. Several friends had offered to keep the girls while he made his trip east, but he insisted that they accompany him. He was fiercely protective of his nieces and was also still grieving for his sister.

  “What’s it like in Lawrence? Why do you have a house there?” Harriet asked and he snapped back to attention. He had told the girls about the house before and why they were going there, but he suspected Harriet was just curious to know more.

  “Lawrence is just north of Boston, which is one of the biggest and oldest cities in the country. The train goes all the way there and there’s a beautiful river that runs through the town. Our house is just a short walk from it and from the factory that I own. There’s another factory that recently had a fire that I may be interested in buying.” It was in a good location and George thought that he might be able to get it for a bargain price.

  “What would you want a burned down factory for?” Genevieve asked sensibly.

  “That’s a very good question. I am looking to expand my business. It is near my other building and may be less expensive to rebuild than to start from scratch.”