Adela's Prairie Suitor (The Annex Mail-Order Brides Book 1) by Elaine Manders Page A

what. She was right about that. He’d been too willful, even to the point of selecting a bride. It was almost like he couldn’t find what he wanted in the mercantile, and ordered it out of the Montgomery Ward catalogue.
    He wanted Adela. She was sweet, intelligent, and unselfish. Beautiful, inside and out. She had a way of turning his insides to mush every time she looked at him. There was no other woman in the world he wanted to marry. But maybe he should have.
    What if he’d married Hilda Jane? Clint Lynstrum would have joined their two farms and managed them both. He was a good farmer. Every bit as good as Pa had been, and that was saying a lot. Byron could have started the ranch and given those wayward boys a home. Yes, he’d have had to deal with Hilda Jane, but maybe she’d have settled down like Ma said.
    Byron had prayed over his decision to send for Adela, but did he really listen to God’s answer? Or did he hear what he wanted to hear? God would have wanted him to be honest with Adela. Byron hadn’t been fair to her. For certain, God expected him to honor his mother.
    Adela hadn’t been here but two weeks. He’d promised her a full month to make up her mind. He’d have to give her time to fit in. Everyone fussed over Adela at church, making her feel welcome there at least. She enjoyed the service, and best of all, Hilda Jane wasn’t there to make trouble.
    He was pretty sure Adela had feelings for him, but Ma was making her life miserable. It wouldn’t get any easier after he married Adela. No way around it. He’d have to get Ma’s blessing before he asked Adela to marry him.
    Maybe Ma just needed time to get used to the situation. She liked Clint Lynstrum a lot and went over there every other day. Said it was to visit Hilda Jane, but Byron wasn't fooled. Ma was just afraid people would say she couldn’t love another man so soon after her husband’s death. Time would take care of that too.
    Byron made his way to the Soranson’s place. Dick lived with them, or at least that was where he’d last stayed. Sad to think that in the boy’s short life, he’d lived with half a dozen families. Hank Soranson was Dick’s friend and almost as much trouble as Dick. If Byron could’ve gotten the ranch started, the bunkhouse built, added a couple of cows—
    All of which cost money.
    He reined in his sorrel mare and shouted, “Hello the house.”
    Hank came out the door. “Dick ain’t here.”
    “Howdy to you too. You see him lately?”
    “No.”
    “Well, Hank, while I’m here, let’s talk. If I get the bunkhouse built, would you be willing to take care of the cattle?”
    The boy’s countenance changed. “Yeah, I said I would if you’d pay me. Nobody wants to pay a body to work around here.”
    “That is a problem. I was thinking of going into partnership with you boys, split what we make. If you work hard, you could put by enough to buy your own spread one day—or buy me out. I know you’re young now, but it’ll take a few years to make much.”
    “When you want me to start?” Dick surprised Byron with that question. Too late he realized he’d been talking as if the scheme he offered the boys could be realized instead of something hoped for.
    “Probably not until spring. I want to buy a few more head.” And it would take that long to sell some of the land. Spring was the best time to sell land.
    “Ma ran off. It’s just me and Wilber and Dick—when he’s here, but he ain’t here now.”
    “I know, but I’m willing to take on Wilber and Dick too.”
    “We have to eat now,” Hank reminded him.
    “I know you do. I’ll talk with the church about getting you boys some chores, and if I find a way to build that bunkhouse before spring, all of you can come on out.”
    Byron checked with every store keeper in town, and no one had seen Dick. Might as well give up. As he passed the dry goods store an idea hit him. Adela had been trying so hard to please him and Ma, she deserved a