Read Amandas's Mail Order Cowboy: The Story of A Mail Order Bride and Her Mail Order Husband (Mail Order Brides Book 14) for Free Online Page B
Authors: Susan Leigh Carlton
to see. (I might as well use her name, instead of saying the little girl, it makes it easier to talk about her.) Her name is Abigail, but I call her Abby. She is a precious girl, and when she smiles, it brightens the room. Unfortunately, she doesn’t smile very much. She is really bright, too. There is nothing special about my helping her. Out here, we take care of each other. The people here are a different lot. They are the friendliest you will find anywhere. If they have something you need, it’s yours for the asking.
Your mother’s concern for your welfare is understandable. I’ve learned so much more about parental concern since Abby came into my life. I understand some of the things my mama did that I could not understand at the time.
Life is hard on the frontier. There is a certain lawless element, but they are gradually being brought under control. We do have a public school system here now, with separate schools for elementary and high school. I went to a one-room school, where all grades were taught. I had a dedicated teacher, and mama was a stickler on education.
The ranch is about seven miles from town, and I am usually there on Sunday. We have a well-stocked general store. Anything we need and they don’t have can be ordered by telegraph, and will be available in relatively short order. We also have a clothing store, a livery stable and a doctor.
There’s talk of a hospital to be built. I think we have a fairly modern town; after all it is only about ten years old. The railroad has been here for several years. We’re on the Transcontinental Railroad line and are not too far from where the East met the West during the construction.
Oh yes, the other question. We have not progressed to the point where there is home delivery of mail, even in town. Our post office is in a corner of the general store.
I’ve run out of answers for now. I anxiously anticipate your next letter.
Sincerely, Number 9206 .
The letter was mailed Sunday.
chapter Eleven
Amanda’s Decision
They exchanged two more letters, with questions and answers about ranch life, school teaching and other things encountered in their day to day lives.
Dear Number 9206,
I have authorized the editor to release my name in this letter. My name is Amanda Taylor and I live in Elmira, New York. Elmira is an old town, compared to yours. It was created in 1788 under another name and became Elmira in 1808. It is about 230 miles from New York City. During the Civil War, there was a Confederate Prison Camp here. It did not have a sterling reputation. My ex-boyfriend worked there at one time. He turned out to not be such a sterling person either. Enough of that, and enough of the geography lesson.
Mama is more comfortable with me writing now. My allowing her to read your letter was a stroke of genius on my part. I have not afforded her that opportunity again, preferring to keep them to myself. I feel she still has the same concern, but doesn’t vocalize it. She probably senses my resolve.
I was glad to hear about the progressive nature of your town. Somehow, I had visualized your schools as all being of the one room type. As a teacher, I am simply amazed at how the teachers managed to teach anyone when all grades were in one room. How many students were there? Your description of the availability of merchandising was good news also. I would be most interested in learning about life on a ranch. Just what is involved? How in the world do you milk all of the cows, and what do you do with all of the milk? Still so many questions. Until the next time, I remain,
Sincerely yours, Amanda Taylor
* * *
Lazy K Ranch…
Amanda Taylor, now that is a nice name. Rance thought; as he sat down to compose his answer in a letter into which he had put a lot of thought.
Dear Amanda, It was a most pleasant surprise to learn you had gained enough trust to give me your name. I appreciate it. I am Rance Kendall. I live on the Lazy K ranch outside Cheyenne, Wyoming. Let
Your mother’s concern for your welfare is understandable. I’ve learned so much more about parental concern since Abby came into my life. I understand some of the things my mama did that I could not understand at the time.
Life is hard on the frontier. There is a certain lawless element, but they are gradually being brought under control. We do have a public school system here now, with separate schools for elementary and high school. I went to a one-room school, where all grades were taught. I had a dedicated teacher, and mama was a stickler on education.
The ranch is about seven miles from town, and I am usually there on Sunday. We have a well-stocked general store. Anything we need and they don’t have can be ordered by telegraph, and will be available in relatively short order. We also have a clothing store, a livery stable and a doctor.
There’s talk of a hospital to be built. I think we have a fairly modern town; after all it is only about ten years old. The railroad has been here for several years. We’re on the Transcontinental Railroad line and are not too far from where the East met the West during the construction.
Oh yes, the other question. We have not progressed to the point where there is home delivery of mail, even in town. Our post office is in a corner of the general store.
I’ve run out of answers for now. I anxiously anticipate your next letter.
Sincerely, Number 9206 .
The letter was mailed Sunday.
chapter Eleven
Amanda’s Decision
They exchanged two more letters, with questions and answers about ranch life, school teaching and other things encountered in their day to day lives.
Dear Number 9206,
I have authorized the editor to release my name in this letter. My name is Amanda Taylor and I live in Elmira, New York. Elmira is an old town, compared to yours. It was created in 1788 under another name and became Elmira in 1808. It is about 230 miles from New York City. During the Civil War, there was a Confederate Prison Camp here. It did not have a sterling reputation. My ex-boyfriend worked there at one time. He turned out to not be such a sterling person either. Enough of that, and enough of the geography lesson.
Mama is more comfortable with me writing now. My allowing her to read your letter was a stroke of genius on my part. I have not afforded her that opportunity again, preferring to keep them to myself. I feel she still has the same concern, but doesn’t vocalize it. She probably senses my resolve.
I was glad to hear about the progressive nature of your town. Somehow, I had visualized your schools as all being of the one room type. As a teacher, I am simply amazed at how the teachers managed to teach anyone when all grades were in one room. How many students were there? Your description of the availability of merchandising was good news also. I would be most interested in learning about life on a ranch. Just what is involved? How in the world do you milk all of the cows, and what do you do with all of the milk? Still so many questions. Until the next time, I remain,
Sincerely yours, Amanda Taylor
* * *
Lazy K Ranch…
Amanda Taylor, now that is a nice name. Rance thought; as he sat down to compose his answer in a letter into which he had put a lot of thought.
Dear Amanda, It was a most pleasant surprise to learn you had gained enough trust to give me your name. I appreciate it. I am Rance Kendall. I live on the Lazy K ranch outside Cheyenne, Wyoming. Let
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