Read Online Mercy: Bride of Idaho (American Mail-Order Bride 43) by Jacquie Rogers - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jacquie Rogers
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Family Life, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, rancher, Past Issues, Idaho, matchmaking, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Charade, groom, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, distrust, Uncle, Forty-Third In Series, Owyhee County, Seventy-Years-Old, Fireball, Mistaken
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me, and that’s not a problem at all, it seems.” She wondered why she’d confessed that, but oh well, she’d already said it.
The words hung in the air but she couldn’t take them back, so she took another sip. “I wonder if whoever made this will give me the recipe.” She handed Ike her glass. “I’d like some more, but I’m too tired to get it.”
Ike went to fetch her drink, but before he returned, another fellow, Sully again, asked her to dance, to which she happily agreed. After the song ended, she collapsed beside Ike. “Isn’t it hot in here?”
“Nope, the first of May in the desert—nice and cool. Not hot. I’d say you are, though.”
By midnight, all the families with children, except the Lawrences, had left. Jake had made beds in the hay for the baby and B.J. Other than them, only Harper’s friends and a few older gents remained. Mercy’s feet ached, but it was a good ache, for she’d never been the belle of the ball in her entire life.
She was afraid to utter a word because all that came out were giggles. Instead of conversing, she watched everyone have a good time, as she was herself, and danced a few more times. Inky tried to make himself at home on her lap and seemed insulted every time she accepted an invitation to dance, but he’d just have to pout.
Sully kept asking but she only danced with him once more. When he brought her back to Ike, she was so thirsty that she drank another half a glass of punch. After a few minutes, she felt rested enough for another spin around the dance floor, which also seemed to spin.
The night was heady. No matter who she danced with, it felt as if she were gliding across the planks, but she knew that couldn’t be possible. Still, she leaned into her dance partner for support. She wasn’t even sure which man she danced with at the moment.
The next thing she knew, two of the men started arguing over who danced with her next. “I think I’ll sit this one out,” she said, another giggle erupting, as she backed away. She stood in the middle of the dance floor, a bit confused as to where to go.
One man threw a punch and then the other fellow hit back. The fight was on.
Mercy stood, dazed and amazed at all the commotion, for in an instant, hats and hay flew as men pummeled one another with their fists.
Jake hollered, “Boston, get Henry and Teddy out of here.”
Mercy saw Jake get elbowed in the back. Jake spun around and punched the fellow in the jaw. Mercy had never seen a woman fight like that.
“My baby’s squalling,” Jake growled. “I don’t have time to mess around with you.” The man took another swing. She punched his gut with her left and his jaw with her right. When he dropped to the floor, she stepped over him and headed to Mercy who’d had the presence of mind to grab the baby.
“Ain’t nothing like a good fight to get your blood pumping.” She took her baby and cuddled him. “Hang on, Scamp. You’ll get your food just as soon as I can fetch B.J. and get us out of here in one piece.”
Mercy knew she should get out of there, too, but Jake disappeared so she couldn’t follow, and the only way out was clogged with fighting men. Someone had just dumped over the refreshment table with all that lovely pink punch.
So this was what the Wild West was all about! She could hardly wait to write to Patience and her folks back in Massachusetts.
* * *
Quill knew the party would still be on but at midnight, he reckoned Miss Mercy would have gone to bed, so he rode back home. Lanterns lit the barn bright enough that he could see the light half a mile away. He was in no hurry, but a few hundred yards from the barn he heard the unmistakable sound of a drunken brawl. The hairs on the back of his head prickled and he spurred Horse into a gallop.
He had no qualms about the cowhands having a little fun, but he couldn’t afford for any of his hands to get
The words hung in the air but she couldn’t take them back, so she took another sip. “I wonder if whoever made this will give me the recipe.” She handed Ike her glass. “I’d like some more, but I’m too tired to get it.”
Ike went to fetch her drink, but before he returned, another fellow, Sully again, asked her to dance, to which she happily agreed. After the song ended, she collapsed beside Ike. “Isn’t it hot in here?”
“Nope, the first of May in the desert—nice and cool. Not hot. I’d say you are, though.”
By midnight, all the families with children, except the Lawrences, had left. Jake had made beds in the hay for the baby and B.J. Other than them, only Harper’s friends and a few older gents remained. Mercy’s feet ached, but it was a good ache, for she’d never been the belle of the ball in her entire life.
She was afraid to utter a word because all that came out were giggles. Instead of conversing, she watched everyone have a good time, as she was herself, and danced a few more times. Inky tried to make himself at home on her lap and seemed insulted every time she accepted an invitation to dance, but he’d just have to pout.
Sully kept asking but she only danced with him once more. When he brought her back to Ike, she was so thirsty that she drank another half a glass of punch. After a few minutes, she felt rested enough for another spin around the dance floor, which also seemed to spin.
The night was heady. No matter who she danced with, it felt as if she were gliding across the planks, but she knew that couldn’t be possible. Still, she leaned into her dance partner for support. She wasn’t even sure which man she danced with at the moment.
The next thing she knew, two of the men started arguing over who danced with her next. “I think I’ll sit this one out,” she said, another giggle erupting, as she backed away. She stood in the middle of the dance floor, a bit confused as to where to go.
One man threw a punch and then the other fellow hit back. The fight was on.
Mercy stood, dazed and amazed at all the commotion, for in an instant, hats and hay flew as men pummeled one another with their fists.
Jake hollered, “Boston, get Henry and Teddy out of here.”
Mercy saw Jake get elbowed in the back. Jake spun around and punched the fellow in the jaw. Mercy had never seen a woman fight like that.
“My baby’s squalling,” Jake growled. “I don’t have time to mess around with you.” The man took another swing. She punched his gut with her left and his jaw with her right. When he dropped to the floor, she stepped over him and headed to Mercy who’d had the presence of mind to grab the baby.
“Ain’t nothing like a good fight to get your blood pumping.” She took her baby and cuddled him. “Hang on, Scamp. You’ll get your food just as soon as I can fetch B.J. and get us out of here in one piece.”
Mercy knew she should get out of there, too, but Jake disappeared so she couldn’t follow, and the only way out was clogged with fighting men. Someone had just dumped over the refreshment table with all that lovely pink punch.
So this was what the Wild West was all about! She could hardly wait to write to Patience and her folks back in Massachusetts.
* * *
Quill knew the party would still be on but at midnight, he reckoned Miss Mercy would have gone to bed, so he rode back home. Lanterns lit the barn bright enough that he could see the light half a mile away. He was in no hurry, but a few hundred yards from the barn he heard the unmistakable sound of a drunken brawl. The hairs on the back of his head prickled and he spurred Horse into a gallop.
He had no qualms about the cowhands having a little fun, but he couldn’t afford for any of his hands to get
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