Melissa And The Cowboy (Western Night Series 1) Read Free

“Essie it is.” Once she was fed, Caleb put her down, and let her doze by the fire while he fixed himself a supper of ham and beans.
    His belly full, and his calf settled, he sat back in his chair and read the book he had borrowed from the Lending Library Service. He had five books delivered to him every month. His favorite was a novel by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He enjoyed the tales of the rapscallion Tom Sawyer and his friend very much, usually borrowed one or the other book each month along with a selection of new titles. But this evening’s fare was a Dickens tale, Hard Times . He loved Dickens, was determined to read everything the illustrious man had ever written, but he found them hard sometimes after a tough day out on his land.
    “Caleb, you in there?” the harsh voice of his neighbor, Bartlett Greive called, as a loud bang rattled the door.
    “Sure Bartlett, come on in,” Caleb said, knowing it was often best to just let the insufferable man get whatever it was that was bothering him off his chest, and then usher him back on his miserable way. A tall, dirty man filled the small doorway. Caleb could smell the stench of stale garlic and beer even from the other side of the cabin.  “What can I do for you neighbor?” he asked, trying to sound friendly. He didn’t like Bartlett. He was lazy and feckless, and seemed to think that he could get away with doing the bare minimum when it came to work, yet expected huge returns. Unfortunately for Caleb this meant that he did nothing to take care of his land, and as they abutted his own it made things tough at times when things needed to be done.
    “Can you write? I mean nice writing, like if you wanted to send a letter to a woman?” he asked, blushing furiously. Caleb wanted to laugh, the man looked so uncomfortable.
    “Why, what’d you do, go and advertise for a bride?” he teased. Bartlett’s face gave him his answer. The damn fool had. No woman would ever want to marry such a man. She’d have to be more than desperate to even consider it. He doubted that even Mr. Dickens, or Mr. Twain would be able to find sufficient words to make him appear attractive.
    “The newspaper wrote the advertisement for me,” he admitted, unusually bashfully. “But, I have these letters,” he spread his hands to show Caleb at least ten envelopes. “I can’t read, and I can’t write good enough to work out who to respond to.” Caleb suddenly felt sorry for this odious man. No wonder he was so often arrogant and difficult, he had so much to hide. It must have taken him a huge amount of courage to admit of his ignorances to Caleb.
    “Here,” he took the letters and opened the first one. In turn he read each one to Bartlett who listened in unwavering silence.
    “That one,” he said suddenly, as Caleb finished reading a particularly heartfelt missive. He had to admit he agreed with Bartlett, the woman sounded perfect. She was eloquent, used language beautifully. But it wasn’t just how she said things, it was what she said. Her words had tugged at Caleb’s heart, as she sounded so unhappy in her current situation. To be so young and to have experienced so much hardship seemed wrong. She was frank and honest, and he had to admit he fell a little bit in love with her himself. “Please can you write me something to match, something that will make her want to come here, to be my wife?” he pleaded.
    Caleb wanted to say no. This woman didn’t need to trade her current dire circumstances to move here to Texas to find herself wed to a man just as bad, if not worse, than the one she seemed so desperate to escape. But, how could he say no? He had gotten this far, he may as well just write the letter. At least Bartlett wouldn’t know exactly what he wrote to her. He could pack the letter with enough suggestions that Bartlett wasn’t the man for any woman. She would never make it as far as Texas, he was sure of that. He couldn’t let such a gentle soul