Chapter One
Chicago, late November 1885
Augusta, Margaret, and Josie Merriweather hovered around their assistant, Valentine O’Malley. Ever since Val had come into their lives, their business, The Sisters’ Mail-Order Bride Company. had flourished. Unfortunately, Val was now leaving to escort a group of brides to Wild Rose Ridge. A town out west that, if the name was anything to go by, was probably as wild as could be.
“We have everything under control,” Augusta, the eldest sister, said. “We got along fine before you came along. We can get along fine without you.”
Val arched an eyebrow. “We both know that isn’t true.” She turned to Josie. “Now, mind ye feed Cleopatra. Ye know how that cat starts to wail if she isn’t fed on time.”
“I’ll not let the cat starve, young lady. You remember to feed your brides.” Josie, the youngest at sixty-five, eyed the group of mail-order brides huddled off to one side. They were a pretty lot, and the sisters, along with Val, hoped they were up to the rigors of a small town located in the middle of nowhere.
Val rolled her eyes. “Young ladies are not the same as cats, Josie. Of course I’ll remember to see they eat.” She huffed out a cloud of breath and eyed the three sisters. Augusta, Margaret, and Josie Merriweather weren’t the most organized. And they all knew it.
“Are ye sure ye’ll be all right without me?” Val asked, her Irish brogue thickening. “Ye remember where I left the list of instructions, right? Oh, that reminds me.” She reached into her reticule and pulled out an envelope. “Emergency instructions. Keep this in a safe place.”
“Emergency?” Margaret gasped. “What sort of emergency?”
“It’s just in case,” Val said with another huff. “If the three of ye can’t keep things in order, this list tells ye the things that must be done. The rest can wait until I return.”
The three sisters stared at their assistant as if she’d grown a third eye.
“What in heaven’s name makes you think we’ll need an emergency list?” Augusta asked, indignant.
Val gave them a lopsided smile as a train whistle blew. “Just put that in a safe place.”
Augusta stuffed it into her coat pocket and gave it a pat. “Consider it safe.”
The train approached the station and the sisters watched as Val clucked at her group of brides and got them ready to board.
“Goodbye, ladies!” Margaret called. “Fall in love quickly!
Several in the group blushed as the train pulled in.
“Take care,” Augusta shouted over the noise. “Clara, did you leave that recipe for me?”
“I did, Miss Merriweather!” Clara shouted back.
Augusta leaned toward the others. “I wish she’d have married someone local. Such an excellent baker.”
“Indeed,” Josie said. “Do you think they’ll be all right?”
“Of course they will,” Augusta said. “They’re in good hands with Val. Let’s face it, none of us could make this trip. Val was the obvious one to escort them.”
“You’re right, sister,” Margaret said. “With Val to guide them, what could possibly go wrong?”
The three smiled at each other as they watched their assistant and her charges board the train bound for Portland. From there, a steamer would take them up the Columbia River and on to Wild Rose Ridge.
Margaret dabbed at her eyes. “What are we going to do without our Val?”
Josie gasped at her. “Are you crying?”
“Yes! And you should be too,” Margaret said. “Ever since we hired Val, business has tripled. She’s so organized. How will we get along?”
Augusta slipped an arm around her. “We’ll be just fine, you’ll see.”
Back at the office, they removed their coats, hats, and gloves and stared at the four desks spread throughout the space. It was a large, cheery room with yellow-flowered wallpaper and dark wood trim. Filing cabinets lined a far wall, and a fireplace graced another. A small kitchen, parlor, and bathroom sat in the back. Four tall windows overlooked the street outside.
The office took up the building’s main floor, while upstairs held two levels of living quarters. There was a parlor, dining room, library, and kitchen on one floor, with a sewing room, three bedrooms, and a bathroom on the next. The three-story building had been in their family for years and had once housed a newspaper office.
