Wanted: Family (Silverpines Series Book 20)
WANTED FAMILY
by George McVey
Copyright © 2019 by George H. McVey All rights reserved.
Cover design by JB Publishing
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 permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental or used fictitiously.
Introduction
Carol Brown has given up hope. She’s been widowed for seventeen months and living at Celeste’s House for nine months. No opportunity for the second chance she was told could happen. No fresh start for a woman with another man’s child. Who would want to marry a woman who had an infant anyway?
Ian MacGregor has settled in Silverpines. His new job as assistant mine manager keeps him above ground and in less dangerous working conditions. He’s impressed with Silverpines, it isn’t the typical mining town. No, here he could have the one thing he wants above all else: a family. When his friend Nathan Ryder suggests he write to a home for women needing a fresh start in life, Ian jumps at the chance to find a woman who might have children in need of a father.
Carol accepts Ian’s offer to become his wife and the two of them are surprised when the spark of mutual attraction happens between them. But not everyone in Silverpines is as thrilled with their marriage. Will Carol let the careless words of a busybody ruin her chance at true love and a fresh start? Will Ian be able to help Carol see that love is worth fighting for? Or when yet another disaster hits Silverpines, will Ian and Carol lose each other before they can declare their love to one another? All these questions will be answered in Wanted: Family.
Dedication
For Pamela McDaniel who helped me name Betsy’s babies. I hope you enjoy your role in Silverpines, Pamela.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
About the Author
Books By George
Prologue
Ian MacGregor sat in the back of the Saloon with his boss and friend, Nathan Ryder. “Ian, I expected you to be happier. You told me you wanted out from under the ground; as Assistant Mine Manager you’re above ground most of the time.”
“Aye and I’m thanking you for that, Nathan, don’t fash yourself on my behalf.”
“I’m not worried, my friend, just wondering why you still look so down.”
The big Scot sighed and shook his head. “Tis personal, lad. In the month we’ve been here in Silverpines I find I want different things than in the past. I’m almost forty. I want a family now that I’m not in danger of dying every single day in a dark wet hole.”
Nathan smiled at the big man. “Easy enough to do, you have lots of widows to choose from.”
“Aye and yet none of them are what I’m looking for. Those that haven’t already sent for husbands are either not ready for another marriage or they don’t appeal ta me. I want a woman like myself, one looking for a second chance at life and happiness. One with a bairn or two wouldn’t be half bad either.”
Nathan looked at his friend. “A second chance you say? I know a place like that with women looking to start fresh. Maybe you should write to my pastor friend, Callum Bing in Creede, Colorado. He and his wife have a place called Celeste’s House for women, it’s a place giving women in bad circumstances a chance to learn skills and start over.”
Ian leaned forward. “Aye, now that sounds like it might be what I’m lookin for. I could start a family and give one of these lassies a fresh start.”
Ian looked up at Diamond Star, the saloon girl who was headed their way. “Diamond lass, are me lads treating you right tonight?”
“Ian MacGregor, you ask me that every night. You know if you’re here we never have a single problem with the miners.”
“Aye lass, but if they know I’m gonna be asking they stay on their best behavior.”
“Can I get either of you anything?”
Nathan shook his head and downed the last of the amber whiskey in his glass before standing. “Not me, I’ve got a train to catch if I’m going to arrive home in time for the holidays. Ian, write Callum Bing in Bachelor, Colorado. It’s right outside of Creede. He’ll find you the right one.”
“Thanks Nathan, and you have a pleasant trip home. Say hi to your lass and the wee bairns for me.”
The two men shook hands and Nathan headed out calling goodbyes to several of the men in the saloon. Ian turned his attention back to Diamond Star. “Now that the boss is gone, bring me a bottle of your best whiskey, lass. Oh and some paper and a pencil if you can find them.”
The woman smiled at him. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She returned not long after with a bottle of good Scottish whiskey, a sheet of paper and a pencil stub. “That’s the best I could do on paper and pencil.”
“It’s perfect, lass, as is the whiskey. I didn’t know Mrs. Flora kept any Scottish whiskey on hand.”
The girl smiled at him. “I think it’s more Mr. McMillan who orders it.”
“Aye now, that makes sense, doesn’t it.”
The girl wandered away as another patron called for her. Ian looked down at the paper in front of him and began to write a letter he hoped would change his life yet again.
Carol Brown followed Celeste Bing into the office that both she and her husband Reverend Bing used when counseling or talking to the woman of Celeste’s House for Women. She’d not been called to the office since the day she arrived thirteen months ago belly swollen with her deceased husband’s child. Now with Collin nearing his first birthday she wondered why the Reverend had sent for her. “You needed to see me, Reverend Bing?”
The man smiled at her and pointed to the divan on one side of the room. “I did, Carol. Take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?”
She settled herself, her hands twisting at the spit cloth she seemed to always have at hand since Collin’s birth. “No thank you, sir. Am I in some sort of trouble?”
Celeste sat beside her and Callum in the seat facing her. “What? No, of course not. You are a model to the girls with less traditional backgrounds, Carol. We have an opportunity for you,” Celeste said patting her hand. Carol sat forward in anticipation; she’d begun to think that she wasn’t going to get a chance at a fresh start. She’d kind of assumed after a year that no one wanted a woman over twenty-five with a child. She was happy just being allowed to live and help train the younger girls that escaped much worse fates than hers. “An opportunity? You mean like a job?”
Callum shook his head. “No lass, we have a man looking for a wife. This would be a fresh start for you and your son.”
“A fresh start? With a husband for me and a father for Collin?”
“Yes Carol. He is a mining manager in Silverpines, Oregon. I have his letter if you’d like to read it.”
The Reverend held out a sheet of paper to her covered with small, tight pencil strokes.
The handwriting was neat and tidy. The man who wrote it had legible handwriting and it appeared some learning. Carol took time to calm her heart before she read the letter itself.
Your name and the encouragement to write to you came from my boss and long time friend, Nathan Ryder. During a talk with him about how I was wanting to settle down with a wife and family he suggested that I send this letter to you. I am told by Nathan that you and your wife run a home for women who are looking for a fresh start in life. As that is what I am doing as well, I thought that maybe we could be of service to each other.
You see, I am a forty-year-old man, a miner by trade who was recently promoted to Assistant Manager of the Pike Silver Mine in Silverpines, Oregon. Perhaps you’ve heard of Silverpines as it experienced a terrible disaster a year ago in the great earthquake. Between the mine collapse and a mud slide that killed most of the able bodied men in town there has been several news stories about this place. Since then the town has slowly started to recover and the decision was made to reopen the mine, leading to my promotion and move to Silverpines.
As a miner, I refused to take a wife as most mine towns aren’t safe places for women and the life of a miner is often short due to collapse or deadly gas or the occasional explosion. However now that my duties see me above ground and not in the mine itself, I find myself lonely and wanting the comfort of a wife and family. I’m open to a woman who may already have children. I would prefer a woman who has some years and life experience as I’m not a young man just starting out.
Unlike most mining towns, Silverpines is full of families and because of the tragedy and rebuilding that is taking place, close knit as a community. I would like a wife who wants to spend time caring for her family and becoming a part of the community. I’m not sure what else to say. Oh, I’ve been told I should tell you who I am and what I look like.
I am Ian MacGregor of the Clan MacGregor and while I’ve been in this country since I became a man, I’m still a true Scotsman at heart. I have dark hair and eyes and stand about six feet. I’m proud of my Scottish heritage. I’d love to be able to share that with a family. I am not opposed, as I have said, to a woman with bairns as I would like not just the company of a good woman but of a family as well. If one of the lasses under your care would be willing to make a fresh start with me, I’ll send funds to see to her travel and care as well as any need she may have to arrive safely in Silverpines. I await word from you, sir.
Yours in hope,
Ian MacGregor
Carol looked up from the letter and turned to Celeste. “Did you read this letter, Celeste?”
She nodded. “I did Carol, and I told Callum that I instantly felt like this was the man for you.”
“You think I should write to him then and see if he wants me to come to Silverpines?”
“I do, you know most of the men we have seeking matches want younger women because they are younger or they don’t want a woman with someone else’s child. The fact that this man is looking for both seems to me to be a Godsend.”
Callum cleared his throat. “I contacted our friend Nathan Ryder, who Mister MacGregor mentions in his letter. Reverend Ryder did know the man and vouched for him as a God-fearing man who is honest and respected by the men who work under him. Nathan also said that he talked with the man and he is serious about finding a wife and family. He told me that a woman wouldn’t find a nicer man looking for a wife that she could come to love than Ian MacGregor.”
“Then I shall write to him and tell him my situation and explain about Collin. If he is still willing to marry me then I will take this fresh start.” She put a hand on each of the Bing’s hands. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
Celeste smiled and hugged her. “I’m happy for you, Carol and I’ll pray that he responds favorably.”
Chapter One
Ian stood on the platform at the train depot watching for the morning train. Today was the day his bride and son would be arriving. He was thankful to the Good Lord that the weather had warmed up unseasonably for a week before Christmas and they hadn’t had snow so that the train could actually get into town. Otherwise he’d have had to wait until spring to marry. He’d been pleasantly surprised when a letter had come, not from Reverend Bing, but from the woman the pastor had thought would make a good match to him. He’d read that letter over and over until the creases were almost tears from unfolding and refolding.
He pulled it out of his pocket to read to help pass the time while waiting on the train that was almost always late arriving.
Dear Ian,
I hope you don’t think me forward to address you as such. My name is Carol Brown and I was given your letter by my benefactor and minister, Reverend Callum Bing. He and his dear wife took me in after my husband passed away leaving me with child. Reverend Bing and his wife thought, after reading your letter, that you and I would be well suited. I believe it was because you mentioned not wanting a young bride as well as not being opposed to a woman with a child.
I am not a young woman anymore. I was almost an old maid when I married my husband. He died seventeen months ago and I found I was in the family way after his demise. His family wanted the farm for their next oldest son and I was told to move. After some false starts and a stop to care for my sick brothers, I ended up in the care of Celeste and Callum Bing here in Bachelor. My son was born a short three months after my arrival and I’ve spent the last ten months helping to teach the younger woman how to conduct a household, and caring for my son, Collin. I’m twenty-nine-years of age now and a mother. I can cook, clean, sew and tend a garden. I’ve never lived in a city, the closest I’ve come is here in Bachelor which is a small community near a mine. So I’m familiar with mine towns, just not with city life.
You described yourself so I shall as well. I’m not nearly as tall as you but kind of tall for a woman at five’ eight”. I have hair the color of a walnut shell and eyes to match, as does my son. I don’t know what to tell you of my looks. I don’t believe myself to be a beauty, but I don’t believe myself to be uncomely either. My deceased husband called me pretty, yet his brother seemed to think I was unsightly. I believe you will have to make up your own mind about my appearance.
I know that our match, if we make one, will not be one of love; but I will say that I believe I’m usually of a pleasant demeanor and I too look forward to the companionship and company of a husband again. To be quite frank, Mister MacGregor, mostly I’m looking for a man who will be my friend and companion while being a father to my son who will never know his own.
If you find that we might make a good match then I will come to Silverpines as soon as you send for me. If you don’t think we would match, would you at least do me the courtesy of letting Reverend Bing know so that I don’t wait, wondering if you’ve chosen another?
Sincerely,
Carol Brown.
He’d been drawn to her letter, and after reading it the first time had gone straight to the bank and withdrew enough to bring her and the boy to Silverpines in a sleeper car. He couldn’t imagine having her try to travel in the common car with the wee bairn. Now in just a few more minutes he would look upon the woman he’d call his wife and hold the lad he’d teach to be a man.
The train whistle blew, and Ian looked up to see the smoke from the locomotive coming around the bend. Just minutes and Carol and Collin would be in Silverpines. Ian would be collecting his family and starting a new chapter in his life. One he had been wanting for a couple of years now. One he was about to have. Ian MacGregor, husband, father and family man. He smiled at that thought. Pretty or unsightly, she’d be a welcome sight because she was bringing with her the fulfillment of his dreams.
The train pulled up and the cloud of ash and steam billowed out around Ian. He stood still, straining to see through the fog created by the powerful engine. Straining for the first look at his bride and son. He watched as people emerged from the dwindling cloud, men who’d come to work or to meet wives of their own. A few he knew were miners he’d meet in the next few days. Women whom he recognized returning to Silverpines after time in Portland or some other city, shopping or visiting family.
Just as the last of the steam evaporated, a woman holding an infant appeared. It was like the sun had decided to shine on her and light her just for Ian’s attention. She was searching for someone or something and Ian was sure the lovely woman in a yellow day dress with little blue cornflowers had to be his Carol.
With sure steps he approached her. “Aren’t ye a sight for sore eyes, lass? Might I assume that ye be Carol Brown and that this might be Collin?” he asked, pointing to the child nestled in her arms.
She looked at him and smiled. “Yes, I’m Carol Brown, are you Mister MacGregor?”
“Aye that I am, but ye must call me Ian, lass, after all we will be husband and wife tomorrow.”
She frowned. “Tomorrow, why not today? I expected us to go straight to the church.”
Ian took her by the arm and moved her out of the pathway to the edge of the platform. “I assumed that you would be tired after your trip and in need of time to refresh and rest. I’ve arranged with the local orphanage for girls, for you and Collin to stay there tonight, and for you to get a bath and good food. Then tomorrow we will marry and you can then come home with me.”
She glanced over at him and he smiled, her face held such a look of shock and care he didn’t understand but it made his heart beat a bit faster.
“You put what you thought my and Collin’s needs would be ahead of yours?”
He frowned. “Of course, that’s what a husband and father should do, isn’t it?”
She started to cry and he stopped, worried he’d done something wrong. “What is it, Carol? What did I do? Tell me, Mo ghràidh, so I can make it right.” He took her weeping form in his arms and transferred the wee lad to his own strong right arm as he held his intended in his left, against the side of his body. “Please, Mo ghràidh, don’t fash anymore; if you want to marry today then we will marry today. I just wanted to do right by ya and the wee bairn.”