Herd to Handle Read online

  Herd to Handle

  Ginny Sterling

  Contents

  Introduction

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Acknowledgments

  Remember Hope

  An Agent for Clementine

  Herd to Please by Jenna Brandt

  About the Author

  Introduction

  When a clueless man tries desperately to match up ten prospective brides- chaos is sure to follow in this sweet romantic series, The Bride Herder…

  Alice Bowen was cursed – that had to be the reason for the series of disasters that had befallen the young debutante as of late! Bold, outspoken, and outgoing- Alice was the center of attention in Baltimore, but in Bent, Colorado, her confused matchmaker was pairing the women up like prized steer. Her prospective husband didn’t need a wife, he needed a housekeeper and nanny – something she certainly had no experience with!

  Colton Farmer was widowed. He was caring for his child alone, trying to keep the farm going, and now matched up with the girl of his dreams: Alice. He was smitten with the beautiful woman the moment he’d laid eyes upon her… but dealing with a woman who has no idea how to run a homestead was something he wasn’t ready for.

  Could Alice be the answer to his prayers? Or was she more than he could handle without losing his house, his mind, or his heart forever?

  Foreword

  Disclaimer:

  No animals were hurt in the making or telling of this book

  Pure Fiction- I promise.

  Lots of Emotion? I hope so!

  Misunderstandings and laughter?

  Most definitely.

  Chapter 1

  Her life was over.

  Alice Bowen came to the realization that nothing was ever going to be like it was six months ago and this horrifying mess she was in was proof of it! The past few days were a blur of nightmarish magnitudes, something she’d never dreamt of and barely could comprehend.

  Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, her life had just begun to blossom into something she could recognize. She had a path. Alice would attend soirees and parties – eventually marrying a young man and then hosting parties for her own family someday. Family and a brilliant social life had been everything to her. She was being introduced in drawing rooms like she was something special- and it wasn’t long ago that her older sister, Abigail, was her best friend. They’d been so close, yet so different, until the fire. In one night, her whole world had fallen apart.

  Remembering fondly the swirling gowns, the laughter, and the smiles the boys tossed her way – Alice fit right into what modern society expected of her. She adored the witty banter and engaging others in conversation. The cotillion that night was her best friend’s coming out and Alice wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Abigail had joined her that night at her insistence. Rebecca would only celebrate this event one time and if things went well between Rebecca and Joel—as she’d hinted in hushed tones – Rebecca would be a bride soon! Alice was having a magnificent time under Abigail’s watchful eye when a runner interrupted the party.

  The Bowen house was razed to the ground and her parents were gone. She remembered in horror as Abigail had stood there stonily in the street, staring at the smoldering pile of ashes that once was their home. Her beloved sister had turned to her and said the words that branded her soul.

  “We should not have gone. If we’d have been here, Alice, we could have saved them.”

  Alice heard those words over and over again in her mind. Each time her sister looked at her, she felt the condemnation of her words surface. Their parent’s death had driven a wedge between them that would be hard to repair. Alice wanted to have fun and keep herself occupied to keep from breaking down, yet Abigail squashed it each time, reminding her once again of her insistence in going to Rebecca’s cotillion and the damage it caused.

  They’d tried to make a home in Baltimore on their own- yet failed miserably. They moved from home to home, unable to make any place work long-term, either over-staying their welcome or finding out that their friends didn’t have the funds to help them. On top of not having a home, the young ladies were suddenly unmarriageable because they brought nothing to the table. No dowry, no inheritance, absolutely nothing was left for the sisters. The creditors had devoured any funds their parents had in order to pay off any outstanding bills that suddenly crept up. Alice had been taken aback by the news, believing their family had been better off financially because their parents never mentioned having money issues- yet the sharks came out of nowhere the moment there was blood in the water.

  Abigail and Alice jumped at the chance Viola Redburn offered. She was placing matching brides with eligible men who needed a wife. No strings attached, no qualifications, and no catches. Upon their arrival and discovering Viola had passed away- Alice was certain that things couldn’t get much worse – yet they did.

  Longingly, Alice thought about their late-night discussions over tea. Abigail and she would stay up, talking in hushed whispers by the fireplace. It was hard to have privacy when staying with friends, but they always found time for each other. Alice thought that becoming a bride was a way for them to have an adventure together, but Abigail was a bit more hesitant. Alice knew her sister was afraid that this was just another hare-brained scheme she’d thought up.

  Since their arrival, Alice had been snapped at for being rude when the coffee was undrinkable. It looked like sludge and there were grounds floating in the murky water! The nightmare continued when people kept confusing Alice for Abigail and vice-versa. To her, they looked nothing alike… but neither seemed to relish the thought of being the other for the day.

  To add further insult, the women that were being boarded until they’d been married off had been lined up for inspection one afternoon, being asked their weight, and Mr. Redburn- their new host- had even tried to check their teeth. When he got to Alice, that was when she realized that he had absolutely no idea what he was doing.

  It turns out that whoever Miss Viola had for them, her secrets died with her. As the men came calling, they were being shuffled towards, what seemed to her, very poor choices for each of the women. One of the girls, Myrakle, was deaf and her pleas for a match with a particular young man she’d befriended were being completely set aside. In fact, any suggestions were being ignored by Mr. Redburn! All hopes of starting her destiny anew now lay with this fumbling man who treated them like cattle.

  Alice had been told that her potential groom had been too busy to come to the meeting, making her feel even more wretched. What man couldn’t make time to meet his bride? Instead, she smiled complacently and chatted with several others in the room in an effort to hide her growing depression. One of the chaperones that Alice spoke to seemed extremely kind and sympathetic, volunteering to happily escort her out to meet Mr. Farmer at his home tomorrow.

  Alice couldn’t wait. The sooner she could start her new life, the better. Sharing a room with her sister had once been a joy, but now- all it did was remind her of the relationship they’d seemed to have lost between them. She couldn’t rely on Abigail like she once did. It was up to Alice to dig herself out of the nightmare she’d been corralled into. The best way to do that was to marry a man she could handle or persuade- allowing Alice the freedom to find happiness once again.

  Chapter 2

  Colton Farmer wiped his brow and stared at the makeshift corral he’d made for his son there in the shade under the trees. The boy was smart enough and bright enough to climb out, making his job plowi
ng the fields of his farm infinitely more difficult. He had to keep an eye on the wooden crib that contained the little rascal, simply to make sure he was safe.

  At the same time, Colton was struggling to plow in straight lines – and failing. He’d tried keeping Jacob with him, but that only resulted in his son becoming sunburnt due to his fair skin. He’d asked the neighbor to watch his boy, but that was also a definitive ‘no’. Jacob bit the neighbor’s wife and she had all sorts of suggestions on how to break the habit, none of which he found acceptable.

  His wife, Grace, would have smiled and given Jacob something to teethe on, indulging their son to no end. Perhaps that was part of the problem he was having now. Jacob was spoiled by attention that was now missing – they both were. Grace had died seven months ago of influenza and Colton discovered just what a void his wife left in his life. She’d been a very sedate and calm woman, fitting easily with him in their relationship. She asked nothing of him and didn’t question his decisions. The perfect wife.

  When Jacob arrived, he hadn’t even known she was in labor because she didn’t want to interrupt him tending to the livestock they’d owned. Grace would say that each person had a place under heaven and lived by that mantra. Colton’s place was tending to their farm so he could provide. Jacob’s was to grow up into a strong man someday, but until then – the child needed looking after. This was something Colton was unused to. Both of them were struggling, but it seemed to Colton that his son was having a harder time of it. The desolate crying each night broke his heart. His son knew something was wrong and cried out for his mama.

  Meal time was an event because his son’s food had to be cut in such tiny pieces to prevent him from choking. He’d never noticed Grace doing that, but when he set down the plate in front of Jacob… his son had picked up a boiled carrot and then promptly threw the plate onto the floor, smiling happily. After the fifth time the plate was tossed, Colton simply put the food on the table and watched his son struggle to eat. He would chomp down on the food and make faces as he struggled to swallow – that was when he knew it was too much for the toddler. He’d pulled his knife and began cutting up everything.

  He had no idea parenting was so hard. None of his neighbors seemed to have the same problems Colton had. His own parents had made things appear so easy when he was a child. They found time each day to spend together, plus had time for others as well as their son. Colton could barely keep up with his own life, much less visiting others in the community.

  And how on earth did a child soil himself so very much?

  He could not keep up with the soiled clothing and didn’t remember Grace having to wash linens all the time! One of the widows in the auxiliary club had said that it was Jacob’s way of reacting to his mother being gone. He was reverting in a desperate cry for attention.

  Colton would change his son’s clothes and see Jacob smile mischievously. The pungent aroma would hit him like a brick wall. He’d change him again and watched his son wet himself, resulting in another change of clothing once again. It was not unusual to go through five or six changes a day, forcing Colton to launder the clothing every single night before bed in an effort to keep up. He’d missed a day out of sheer exhaustion and Jacob had run around naked the next day as a result.

  But where on earth did the biting come from?

  Jacob bit everything (and he meant everything!) within reach, including Colton and anyone unlucky enough to be near him. It was probably one of the reasons no one wanted to babysit him.

  In an effort to slow it down or protect his own hands, he’d whittled clean and sanded a block for his son. Jacob gnawed viciously at it and would throw it across the room, clocking Colton one time in the head unexpectedly. Their chairs had bite-marks on the legs and arms. It wasn’t that his son was teething, rather he was lashing out once again. His three-year-old son kept acting like he was a baby again, demanding more attention from Colton.

  Not knowing what else to do, Colton decided he needed help and a new mother for his son was the only answer. He’d contacted Miss Viola right away, requesting a bride. The woman had taken pity on him and suggested a young girl who could give him more children. In her eyes, if Jacob had siblings then perhaps it could fill the void and help occupy him.

  Miss Viola had said kindly, “I’ve seen concerning children grow into roles as leaders. Your boy needs to feel like he belongs. Being a big brother might be just the thing.”

  The idea of having a new wife or having another child made his heart ache with fear and dread simply because he could barely handle what he had now! No one would ever replace Grace. He’d been blessed once and knew that finding love again could be difficult. He honestly didn’t care at this point what the girl looked like, young or old, he just needed another hand around the house before he lost his senses. He needed a farmer’s wife, someone who could tend to the livestock and maintain a home while he made sure they had grains or crops enough to carry them through the winter months.

  Weeks had passed without word and then Miss Viola had passed away unexpectedly. He’d been in town getting supplies, trying to keep his son occupied to prevent him from falling off the bench of the wagon he’d rode in on, when he saw Chance Redburn. The man had lost his farm and was having to deal with the situation of the brides that had arrived.

  “Chance, I’m sorry to hear about your aunt. Miss Viola was a good woman.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’ve quite a bit on your plate, don’t you?”

  “No more than you,” Chance said, nodding at Jacob who was chewing on the leather horse straps for the wagon. “Why don’t you come by the house and meet them tomorrow. I think I’ve got a girl that will be perfect for you.”

  “No offense, Chance – but it’s an ordeal to rustle up Jacob and come into town for supplies. I’ll tell you like I told Miss Viola- I just need a healthy wife who can maintain a home. If she fits the bill, then she’ll do for me.”

  “You don’t want to meet her?”

  “I don’t think it’s necessary, do you?”

  “I suppose not,” Chance shrugged. “I’ll look them over and make sure I get you a young’un that looks like a good breeder. I think one of the Bowen girls will be your best bet. Some of the other girls are temperamental or have quirks to them- one of them is a crier and the other is deaf.”

  “That could be dangerous on a farm if the girl can’t hear or follow instructions, you know? How would she ever hear Jacob crying too? I don’t need someone who cries all the time either- I’ve got enough of that with my own son at night. What else you got to choose from?”

  “Couple of girls can read and one’s a teacher. I think one of them plays piano, but I can’t remember which one.”

  “I assure you- there is no piano on my farm,” Colton said with a chuckle, handing Jacob his wooden block to chew on and ignoring the now wet, gnawed straps in his hands. “Got any that know how to milk a cow or cook? What about canning? How about someone a little more spirited then the one that bawls all the time. Being a farmer’s wife isn’t exactly gratuitous but I’d take care of her and keep her happy.”

  “I think Alice Bowen will do nicely then. She’s a young woman and seems to have a strong will to her. I think she’d do mighty fine for your wife, Colton. I could see her on a farm with a flock of children around her.”

  Colton sat there for a moment as Miss Viola’s words replayed in his mind. That was exactly what she’d recommended to cure his son’s biting habits and fit throwing. A family. Maybe taking a bride would be better than he realized and cure the problems for them both. He needed a young lady who would be strong, healthy, and malleable with a personality like his Grace too, and Alice Bowen sounded like she fit the bill.

  “I’ll take her.”

  Chapter 3

  Alice had remained calm as Chance Redburn informed her that he’d paired her to be married. He’d also taken the liberty of matching her with a chaperone for her outings as she got to know her soon-to-be husb
and. She clenched her hands to keep them from trembling and stared down at her lap as his words made it past her turbulent mind. Who did Abigail get matched to? Would she be able to see her sister after marrying the stranger?

  “He’s a tall, strapping man that has all his teeth. Colton Farmer owns quite a bit of acreage near the river over towards Fort Lyon, so you’ll still be close to town. I think you’ll like the area and I know you will fit well with Mr. Farmer. He was quite eager to meet you…”

  “So much so that he couldn’t come out and meet me here?” Alice interrupted, looking up at the man who sat behind the desk. Mr. Redburn looked like he was awaiting her approval at his selection based off his poor description of the man.

  “You want me to just agree to this, don’t you?” Alice announced flatly at his silence and reticence to answer her question. What kind of man didn’t want to meet the woman he was going to be married to? It simply didn’t make sense. Was he an ogre? Disgusting? Diseased? The last thought made her near sick to her stomach as she instantly thought of herself catching smallpox, cholera, or fever from her prospective husband, or even if it was something less dire, would she spend all her time nursing him? The idea of that didn’t set well with Alice. She didn’t sign on to be some old man’s nurse-maid.

  “Is he ill?” she asked faintly. Her words seemed to surprise Mr. Redburn, as he was taken aback by her question.