Page 1 of Mail Order Mockery

Chapter One

Jessica Moore had a skip in her step as she walked to town. Usually, she had a sibling or two tagging along, but her siblings were all at school. Thank heavens for September first!

She’d finished school a few years before, when she was just eighteen, and she’d been helping her mother with her younger siblings ever since. She was the oldest of the six Moore children, who were often compared to the demon horde, and not necessarily in a favorable manner.

Jessica was sometimes appalled at the way her younger brothers and sisters acted, but there was nothing she could do about it. Even as an unpaid mother’s helper for her mother. Never mind, though, because school was back in, and she got to run all the errands for the family while the monsters were in school.

First she stopped at the general store in town, purchasing the things her mother had put on the list she held and asking that it all be delivered. It was time to start harvesting and canning, but her mother had thankfully promised it wouldn’t need to start for a full week, giving them both some time to breathe.

As always she stopped at the back of the store to read through the advertisements there. A family she knew needed a servant, but she was aware of how little the mother did, and how much was expected of anyone working for them, so that was definitely a no.

Then she spotted the ad she saw every time she looked at the bulletin board at least once a week. “Mail-order brides wanted for men out west. Report to Elizabeth Tandy at…”

Jessica had looked at and dismissed the notion of going west as a mail-order bride dozens of times over the past few years. Now, suddenly, it seemed right. She knew Mrs. Tandy was the elder sister of the demon horde, but that didn’t bother her. Elizabeth had never been involved in her younger siblings’ shenanigans.

Jessica looked at the note again and decided to detour before going to the post office. She’d still be home in time to help with supper, which was really all that mattered to her mother. As long as school was in. They tried to divide and conquer with the younger children when school was out.

She made the short walk to Rock Creek Road and the mansion the Tandys lived in. It stood on the street in town where all the wealthiest citizens lived.

Jessica took a deep breath and walked to the door, knocking loudly before she lost her courage. A man came to the door, and Jessica recognized him as Mrs. Tandy’s one time butler and now husband. “I’m looking for Mrs. Tandy,” Jessica said softly.

Mr. Tandy nodded and smiled. “Yes, of course. Are you here to answer her advertisement for mail-order brides?”

“Yes, sir. I am.” Having Mr. Tandy act as if all was normal about her answering an ad gave Jessica fresh confidence. She wouldn’t be committed just because she answered an ad.

“Come in!” Mr. Tandy opened the door wide and led her down the hall to the last door on the left. “Elizabeth, I have someone here to talk to you about being a mail-order bride.” He looked at Jessica. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“I’m Jessica Moore. I went to school with Mrs. Tandy’s younger siblings.”

“You survived the demon horde?” Elizabeth asked, getting to her feet and smiling. “I’m impressed.”

Jessica smiled. “I’m afraid my younger siblings are often compared to the demon horde. When one of your siblings suggests frightening the teacher, my siblings come up with all the horrible ways they can possibly think of.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Come in! We’ll have to trade horror stories.”

“I have more than my share,” Jessica said.

“I do as well.” Elizabeth looked at her husband. “Lemonade and cookies?”

He nodded. “I’ll be right back with both.”

As Mr. Tandy shut the door, Elizabeth smiled. “Are you hoping to be a mail-order bride?”

Jessica nodded slowly. “I’ve been looking at your ad on the bulletin board of the store for a very long time. I go to the store, I check to see if it’s still there as I look through the other ads, praying there will be work for me that doesn’t involve my own siblings. I finished school four years ago, and I have no marriage prospects. My siblings have scared away every man who has tried to court me. So I’m throwing myself upon your mercy and begging you to find me a husband.”

Elizabeth’s smile was full-blown by the time Jessica finished. “How do you feel about children who are not your siblings?”

Jessica shrugged. “I like children.”

“Good. That gives us somewhere to start. I have a letter from a man in his late twenties, whose wife has died, leaving him with four children.” Elizabeth dug through the letters on the organized chaos of her desk, and offered one to Jessica.

Jessica read through the short letter.

To whom it may concern,

I’m twenty-nine years old, and I have four children. My wife died giving birth to our youngest child who is six months old. I’m in dire need of someone to keep house and care for the children while I work.

I’m a dairy farmer, and I live in southern Wisconsin. I’m certain I could find a bride on my own if I had the time and inclination to court someone. I have all my own teeth and have been called handsome a time or two.

---