The situation at the ranch has become untenable. Since my father’s passing, the cowboys have grown unruly, refusing to acknowledge my command. They are loyal to George. However, I fear his intentions are not as honorable as they once seemed.
George’s influence over the men is considerable, and I suspect he seeks to undermine my position for reasons I cannot yet discern. It has become clear that I require a partner—a man of character and fortitude—to stand beside me.
Thus, I turn to you, Mrs. Tandy, with a request that carries with it the weight of my hopes and dreams. I seek a companion, a partner, not just in marriage, but in the stewardship of this land.
I yearn for a man who is used to hard work, be it through farming or ranching. His character must be strong and his spirit kind.
This man would find here not just a position of trust and respect, but a home filled with warmth. Together, we would run my ranch the way it should be run.
I place my trust in your hands, believing in your ability to find the one who would complete this picture, and who would bring balance to my life. In return, I offer my sincerest gratitude and the promise of a partnership forged in honesty and respect.
With warmest regards and in hopeful anticipation,
Elaina Walstad
Her request was unorthodox, yet necessary. Elaina needed more than just a hired hand; she needed a man who could shoulder responsibilities and share in the vision she held for her land.
Sealing the letter with wax, Elaina imprinted it with the Walstad family emblem—a lone tree standing resilient against the elements. As she turned the letter over in her hands, her mind’s eye cast forth images of a stalwart figure riding up to her homestead, a man whose eyes would meet hers with understanding and whose presence would bridge the divide between her and those who doubted her leadership.
Elaina considered having one of the ranch hands take her letter into town to mail, but she thought better of it, deciding she should take it herself. She had no idea whether or not George had told the men that all correspondence must go through him.
She allowed herself to dream but only for a moment. To imagine a man who would stand by her, who would listen and be a partner in every sense.
“Enough daydreaming, Elaina,” she murmured to herself as she turned toward the stable to saddle her gelding, her boots kicking up the earth in decisive steps. “There’s work to be done.”
“Father, I will not let our legacy crumble,” she whispered to the empty room. Her breath made the flame of the oil lamp flicker, casting dancing shadows over the walls, like spirits of the past urging her forward.
*****
STEVEN MILLER FINISHEDmucking out the stalls in the barn before heading to the farmhouse where he’d grown up. He needed lunch and a short break from his labors. It was spring, and there were new calves to look after. He and his father were planting their crops for the year.
As the youngest son in the family, and the only one left at home, it was his responsibility to help his father with all the chores around the farm. Only he and Ida Mae, the youngest of his sisters, were left at home. He missed the years when the work was lighter because of the many hands that were there to help get everything done, but he was happy to have more space to move around in the house.
Just as he reached the house, he spotted a buggy, and his sister Elizabeth was in the driver’s seat. It was strange to see her without her husband, Bernard, but it was always so good to see her. Though they lived a short distance from one another, they went to different churches, and Elizabeth was part of a different social group than the rest of the family.
He raised his hand in a wave to Elizabeth and walked to where she had stopped the buggy. “You never visit during the week!” he said. “What are you doing out here?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I came to see you.”
He frowned. “You only ever come to see your brothers if you want them to marry.”
She sighed. “I wish I had more time to spend with all of you, but you’re right. I’m here because I have a woman who I think would be ideal for you.”
Steven shook his head. “I don’t want to be one of your mail-order grooms, Lizzie. It just doesn’t seem like something I would enjoy.”
“Let’s discuss this,” Elizabeth said. “What is your dream for your life?”
Steven thought about the question for a moment. “Moving west and starting a ranch.” It had been in the back of his mind as a dream for years, but he’d never dared speak it out loud.
Elizabeth reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a letter, handing it to him. “Just read it.”
He frowned at the letter. “I don’t want to marry a stranger.”
“Please, Steven. You need to trust me.”
He sighed, unfolding the letter and reading through it. When he was finished, he looked at his sister, and he understood. “She needs not only a husband, but a manager for her ranch. Someone who will take orders from her but will also be able to give orders to the men.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said simply.
