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Minerva Rescue Me Mail-order Bride

By Paulette D. Marshall

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Chapter One

Minerva hurried on her way to make a deposit before heading to the mercantile. There was a list of things she wanted to get done today and she was already running behind. She was just outside of the bank when a man ran out.
The man was wearing a mask and held a bag in one hand and a gun in the other. He almost ran into her but veered off at the last second. He stuck his foot into his horse’s stirrup and swung up. As he did, the handkerchief he wore as a mask slipped enough that it showed part of his face. He glanced at Minerva and then stared her down with a menacing warning.
Minerva shivered. His eyes were threatening and so very, cold. He seemed to convey so many things to her with his menacing, icy glare. She read the threat he was giving her clearly.
Someone started shouting, which saved Minerva in more ways than just her life.
The robber gave one last warning glance to her before he quickly rode away. A cloud of dust rose from the horse which choked Minerva. He almost knocked down a young woman who was holding her baby, as she tried to cross the street. The woman screamed and quickly moved back.
Minerva watched him until he rode past the saloon and quickly turned the corner. Now that he was gone, she could breathe easier. A part of her thought he would turn around.
The sheriff came running as people started yelling.
“The bank has been robbed,” someone shouted.
Minerva knew the robber, and she knew that she didn’t have much time before he would come looking for her. She needed to figure out what to do quickly. She couldn’t go to the sheriff because she had heard the last person who had identified him had turned up dead. What was she going to do? Where was she going to go? Was there anywhere safe?
“Are you hurt, Minerva?” the sheriff questioned her as he came up to her.
“No, I’m not,” she answered.
“You’re shaking,” the sheriff observed as he looked at her. He didn’t see any blood or marks on her.
“I am fine,” Minerva insisted.
“Did you see who the robber was? Did you recognize him?” he asked.
“No, he had a mask on. I don’t know who he was,” Minerva answered as she bit her bottom lip. She couldn’t look at the Sheriff in his eyes since she was lying, so she looked at his nose.
“Sheriff, look,” the Deputy said, pointing.
There, laying in the dirt, was the bandana used as a mask. The Sheriff looked back at Minerva with a question in his eyes and something else. “Are you sure you didn’t recognize him?” His left eyebrow was raised, and his tone showed he didn’t quite believe her.
What could she tell him? There was no way the sheriff could help her or save her. “No. His face was turned away from me, and he rode out of here pretty fast, with dust flying behind him. I am sorry, but I need to go. I have stew on the stove, and I don’t want it to burn,” Minerva said as she glanced away from the sheriff.
“If I have any questions, I can drop by your place,” the sheriff said. He understood. Everyone recalled the last person that had identified someone had turned up dead before they could testify. He likely had his suspicions of who had robbed the bank, but without witnesses, he would just have to round up a posse and try to catch him.
Minerva quickly left and went back to her place. She was renting the living space that was built above the mercantile. She also worked in the mercantile, which allowed the owners, the Johnsons, to work the store part-time and run their family farm. Today was Minerva’s afternoon off.
If only Billy had robbed the bank while she was working. What was she going to do? She hastily packed her carpet - bag with her two dresses and nightgown. Next, Minerva grabbed her Bible and the picture frame with her parent’s photograph in it. She couldn’t take too much with her, but Minerva picked up the quilt her mother had made for her and folded it up.
If she left town, he would follow her. Just, then, she remembered something. An office had just opened up and were looking for mail-order brides. Was she desperate enough for that? Would she be taking danger with her to a potential husband? Minerva didn’t know, but she had to do something. As she remembered the cold, deadly look in Billy’s eyes, she shivered. He was mean enough that he would hurt her. She knew it.
She wrote a note to the Johnsons:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,
An emergency came up and I had to leave quickly. I am sorry I could not give you any notice. You both have been so kind to me and helped me out after my parents died. Thank you so much for all you have done for me and please forgive me for leaving so quickly. I am sorry if this puts you in a bind, but I have no choice. Minerva.
She fit everything that meant anything to her, inside her bag. Really, she didn’t own much. She had run away from her family home with only the few things she could carry with her and some money that her parents had stashed away. Her mother had sold chicken eggs, so Minerva knew where she had kept the money. She took her mother’s wedding ring, along with her cross off of her neck, and her father’s pocket watch.
Minerva had also grabbed her grandfather’s gun that her father had kept hidden in a cabinet, along with the family Bible and her mother’s teacup and saucer.
She wanted to take time to bury her parents, but she knew the snake who killed them would be looking for her. He could come back any minute. She hated to do it, but she just ran. She knew her parents would want her to survive.
For days, Minerva kept running and only slept at night in places where she could hide. Arriving here, she had convinced the Johnsons to give her a job and rent her a room. She told them that her parents died of scarlet fever. Who would want to take in the daughter of someone murdered or who was being hunted herself?
Minerva had put a little money in the bank, but she had also kept some hidden just in case she had to flee. She had a feeling that Billy was still watching her and waiting.
Minerva left the note on the table where the Johnsons would see it when they came looking for her. She had no choice left other than to go to the mail- order bride office. Hopefully, they could send her away quickly.
Picking up her cape, she gave a look around her little room. She had forgotten her mother’s teacup and saucer. Minerva opened the carpetbag and took out her Sunday dress. She wrapped the teacup and saucer in the dress carefully, then placed it in her bag. Next, she grabbed the loaf of bread that she had baked earlier this morning and a few apples that she had bought a couple of days ago, placing them in her bag along with hard-boiled eggs and a jar of tea leaves.
Again, Minerva picked up her bag and cape and glanced around one last time. She was glad that she had kept the room tidy and that she really hadn’t started anything for dinner yet. However, she was sorry that she had to leave. She would have been able to make a life here, and had hoped for so much more. No time to think about that now. Life had taken a turn for the worse in just a couple of seconds. All because of someone who was greedy and wanted what others had.
Minerva turned and walked away from the place she had called home for a short time. A place where she dared to dream after her dreams were shredded.
As she quickly made her way to the mail-order bride office, she glanced around several times, afraid that Billy would show up. While Minerva walked, she prayed for guidance and help from the Lord. She also prayed he would provide a husband who could protect and support her. One who hopefully wouldn’t yell or hit her, and maybe she could even find love in the marriage.
Wind was blowing the dust around as she walked on the wooden boards of the sidewalk. She crossed the dusty streets and then saw it. The mail-order bride office. Minerva stopped outside the door and took a quick breath. She might have changed her mind, but she thought she saw Billy on his horse, out of the corner of her eyes. She prayed she was wrong. Surely, he was on the run.
She quickly stepped inside and shut the door. She had never entered this building before. There was a picture on the wall behind a big desk. The picture had mountains with a meadow with blooming flowers in the meadow. In front of the desk was a plush chair which sat on a big rug. The room was warm after being in the cold wind. Sitting behind the desk, was an attractive woman in a simple dark navy-blue dress. Her dark black hair was worn in a bun, and she appeared to be looking at some papers. When Minerva stepped in, the woman looked up and then stood. “Good afternoon. Please come in. That wind is quite chilly, and it is kicking up a lot of dust,” she politely said.
Minerva stood waiting since she really didn’t know what to do next. Frozen with fear of the unknown. She felt afraid and threadbare, and also very plain looking, compared to the lovely woman standing before her. Suddenly she wished she had more time to sew a new dress or even comb her hair. She was tired, dusty, and felt very unappealing.
“Please have a seat, Minerva. How may I help you today?” the lady said, she could see the fear in Minerva’s eyes.
Minerva slowly sat down and placed her bag on her lap. But before she could answer, the woman smiled, “It looks like you have finally decided to become a mail-order bride. Good for you.”
Minerva finally figured out who the woman was. “Yes, Mrs. Hopkins. I have decided it is time to find a husband,” Minerva admitted.
“Please, call me Betty. I see you brought your carpetbag with you, so I am to assume that you are ready to leave as soon as possible?” she inquired.
“Yes. My circumstances have changed very quickly, and I would like to leave as soon as possible,” Minerva said.
“Why don’t you tell me what is going on. Maybe I can help you,” Betty suggested.
“If I tell you what I have witnessed, it will put your life in danger.” She glanced down for a moment as her fingers twisted in her skirt. Minerva bit the inside of her lip. “I don’t want to do that, but I will tell you that I was close to the bank when it was robbed today. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The robber will be looking for me. I don’t want to bring trouble to my new husband. Is there any way to find a husband who can protect me? Just in case my issue should find me. Is that possible?” Minerva asked as she bit the inside of her lip.
“Let me see if I understand the situation correctly. The person who robbed the bank thinks you can identify them?” Betty quietly asked with concern.
“Yes, ma’am. But you have to promise this is just between you and me. You can’t share this information with anyone, not even your husband. I have already told you too much,” Minerva said.
“You have my word, Minerva, that I will not tell anyone,” Betty said.
“This one polecat seems bent on taking everything that I hold dear, away from me. Sorry about my language, but this man is mean and doesn’t care about anyone else. I believe he wants to eliminate me too, if he has the chance. I am hoping to find a husband far enough away that this person won’t be able to find me, and if by chance he does, I am praying my husband can protect me. Is that even possible?” Minerva asked.
“It could be possible. But what about our sheriff? Couldn’t he protect you?” Betty asked.
“No. A few people who tried to stand up and identify this person met with untimely accidents and didn’t live long enough to put this person away,” Minerva stated as she chewed on her bottom lip.
“Oh, my, that does not sound good at all. I would say you are truly in a tight spot. Luckily for you, I have a letter here that I just got yesterday, and it might be what you are looking for. I am not sure, but I will let you read his letter first, and you can tell me what you think of it. If you are interested, you can write him back. That wouldn’t work for you though, since you need to leave right away. We will have to figure something else out for you,” Betty said as she found the letter she was looking for and handed it over to Minerva.
Betty then walked over and removed the tea kettle that was on the wood burning stove. She poured hot water into a teapot and let the tea seep as she carried it over to the table and set it down. Then she added two teacups onto the saucers and four cookies on a plate. Carrying them to the table, where she set them down. Betty then sat back down in her chair. She poured the tea, then picked up a piece of paper and started filling it out. Betty sipped her tea and worked while Minerva read the letter.
When Minerva was done reading, she took a sip of her tea and lost herself in her thoughts for a moment. ‘Did I really read that he was a sheriff? Could this be an answer to prayer, or will I bring him more trouble than he can handle? That is, if Billy follows me or finds me. Will I be safe there?’ she silently wondered.
She reread the letter, but this time slowly.
I am looking for a bride. Someone who is honest, who isn’t afraid of work. I hope that my bride can cook. I am five feet seven. Some say I am not bad to look at. I have brown hair and green eyes. I run a ranch so there is always work to be done. I pray that my wife is a Christian and will want to attend church on Sunday when we can, with the exception of cattle drives and winter. I am hoping to find love in this marriage. The winters can be cold here and seem long. I hope she can handle that. I also need a woman who is strong enough to take care of herself and our stock. My other job is being the town’s sheriff and sometimes that leads me away from the ranch for short periods of time. Mostly, my deputy can handle a good portion of the duties, but I still have a lot to do as sheriff. I will be praying that God picks out the perfect wife for me. I am looking forward to hearing back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Travis Moonily.

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