A Cook for Christmas Read online

  A Cook for Christmas

  By Teresa Ives Lilly

  (Spinster Mail-Order Brides Book 28)

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  COPYRIGHT © 2020 Teresa Ives Lilly Lovely Romance Press

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Elissa Strati, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

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  Cover design and logo inset by Black Widow Books, Virginia McKevitt, cover artist.

  INTRODUCTION

  Liliana Riggs set a small valise on the porch. With a deep sigh, she closed the front door of the large, old boardinghouse, and then looked at the envelope clasped in her hand.

  It’s the only thing I can think of to do, Lord. Please help me to find a good life in Colorado.

  “Yoo-Hoo, Liliana, are you ready to go?” A sweet voice caught her attention.

  She looked up and smiled. Susan Cane, her best friend, was sitting in the driver’s seat of a small surrey. “Your train will leave without you if we don’t hurry.”

  Liliana hesitated another moment, then turned with determination and made her way down the pathway. When she reached the picket fence’s gate, she turned to gaze at the house one last time. It will only be a memory now. She couldn’t help but allow another heavy sigh to escape.

  The letter in her hand made a crinkling noise as a cold breeze blew over it, and pulled her thoughts back to the task at hand. Go to the station, board the train, get to Colorado, switch to a stagecoach headed into Sweet Water, meet Barkley Maynard, work for a month, get married.

  It all sounded simple, but the reality of going through with the whole thing was terrifying. Ever since her best friend Becky had shown her the ad in the newspaper posted by a man in Colorado who was looking for a mail order bride, her life had been turned upside down. Her plans were made, although there was still so much of the unknown to face.

  There’s no going back. I have nothing left here. If only grandmother had prepared me for the time when she would be gone. I always thought I would be able to stay here forever.

  Liliana turned, pushed open the gate and moved toward the surrey. She handed her valise up to Alice and clambered into the front beside her friend, glad she’d sent her trunk ahead to the station. She settled onto the hard seat and took a gulp of air to press down the fear and sorrow that gripped her heart. After squeezing her eyes shut for several seconds, she looked up and met her friend’s sympathetic eyes.

  “You don’t have to go, Liliana. If we put our minds together, we can come up with a different answer.” Alice reached out and patted Liliana’s hand. “Jon assured me last night. You are welcome to stay with us.”

  “You’re newlyweds. You don’t need an old maid like me in the house.”

  Her friend frowned. “You’re not an old maid. You have never given yourself a chance, never mingled with the young people, never attended church socials. You just kept yourself locked up in the kitchen of the boardinghouse. There was never an opportunity for you to meet anyone.”

  “I loved the boardinghouse. Grandmother was kind enough to take me in when I was nine years old. She taught me to cook. I love cooking and I loved the boarders. I have no regrets.”

  “Except, now you’re twenty-nine years old, your grandmother is gone, the boardinghouse is closed up and you have no husband.”

  The words sounded harsh, but Liliana knew her friend meant well. Hadn’t she told herself the same things repeatedly over the last several weeks?

  I always thought there would be time for suiters later on. I should have taken advantage of the invitations from some of our boarders who asked me to go on walks, or to plays…

  Lilianna shook off the thoughts. It was too late now to worry about such things. She’d made the choices she’d made and now she would pay the price and the price for a spinster was to accept being a mail-order bride.

  “You don’t have to go all the way to Colorado. If you stay with us, Jon and I can introduce you to several eligible bachelors.”

  Liliana shook her head, straightened and laughed. “I’ve already committed to marrying Barkley Maynard. Besides, we both know the mail order bride ad was a Godsend for me. I’m just feeling nostalgic. It’s hard to say goodbye to a house. It’s not like a person who you can write letters to, or see in heaven someday. A house is just…well, it’s just a house. But I have so many wonderful memories here…” Her voice faded.

  “Are you ready?” Alice asked.

  Liliana fought back the forming tears and nodded.

  Alice clicked the reins and the horse moved.

  The last of the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle was only a memory now since the cold October air had set in. As the sound of the horses plodding steps filled her ears, she could feel her heart being tugged by the old house.

  It’s time for a new life. Lilian squeezed the letter once more. She did not look back again.

  CHAPTER 1

  Liliana sat ramrod straight as the stagecoach driver turned the team of horses toward Sweet Water. Her body ached and cried out each time the stage bumped over a rut. It seemed as if they had traveled for endless hours since stepping off the train. She was told that Sweet Water was a mere twenty-five miles from the railroad spur head, but it felt more like one hundred miles.

  As they crossed a creaky, old covered bridge, Liliana clasped her hands together. When the horses pulled the stage to the other side of the covered bridge, she squinted, trying to see the town. From her vantage point, she could make out a dirt road, and a row of wooden buildings all standing in a straight line.

  Liliana could see her breath form a small cloud in front of her. She pulled her thin shawl closer and shivered. The late October air cut through her.

  If it’s this frigid in October, how cold it will get in the December? I will need warmer clothes, boots, mittens. The winters in Maine are cold and wet, but living with Grandmother I hardly ever had to step outside. I’m not prepared clothing-wise for Colorado weather.

  Liliana noted the other two passengers began to point out the windows at the town. Everyone was excited for the trip to be over. She trembled.

  Lord, please let Barkley be kind. I know he isn’t looking for love. He just wants someone to help take care of his home, to cook and clean for he and his father. It doesn’t matter that he isn’t rich, or prince charming. I’m an old maid, so I can’t ask for much. A small home, a kind husband…

  Her shoulder’s shrugged. At least until Barkley and I marry, I’ll be a cook. Maybe not in my own restaurant as I’ve always dreamed of, but I’ll be able to continue doing what I love.

  Her eyes strained, searching the row of buildings for a sign to indicate the location of the Sweet Water Eating House. In his most recent letter, Barkley assured her th
e new Eating House needed a cook and was holding the job for her. She was thankful because she wanted to be able to make money and pay her own way during the months before she and Barkley married.

  Aside from a whole new winter wardrobe, there were things she would need. One trunk of clothes and a small valise of personal items were all she brought with her. Everything else had been sold off at the end with the boarding house.

  Barkley had written that he needed help keeping up with his house and his father. Barkley and his father owned a small mine and he assured her they made enough money to provide a comfortable life for her. He told her not to expect anything extravagant.

  As they drew closer to the town, Liliana began to notice the poor condition of the buildings which made her wonder what his idea of a comfortable life meant. If he were used to such primitive living arrangements, there may not be anywhere decent for her to live. The name, Sweet Water had filled her with such hope. She’d imagined things so different then what she was seeing all around.

  The road leading into town was nothing more than an old oxen trail and the short row of buildings was unimpressive. They passed the blacksmith shop across from the row of buildings. She noted a sheriff’s office next to a small legal office.

  At least there is some law and order here. Blakley told me the sheriff is married. I wonder how she can live, always worried about him getting killed?

  At the end of the street, Liliana noted unfortunately, a saloon called the Golden Nugget. She bit her bottom lip. Barkley never mentioned if he is a drinking man. He claims to be a Christian, but… Her stomach twisted as more thoughts surfaced. There were many unanswered questions beginning to surface.

  The driver clicked and pulled on the reins. The horses stopped in front of the mercantile. “Welcome to Sweet Water,” the mercantile owner’s voice rang out.

  With a huge gulp, Liliana glanced up. Several men stood on the boardwalk in front of the store. Her eyes searched each man’s face until she found the one that matched the tintype Barkley had sent her. For a moment their eyes locked.

  Liliana’s lips twitched into a small smile. He was as handsome as she’d hoped.

  The stagecoach stopped and the driver jumped off the seat. He pulled open the stage door and Lilianna and the other passengers clambered out onto the wooden boardwalk. Before she knew what was going on, the driver dropped her suitcase on the ground. She looked at her pitiful belongings and sighed. Not much to bring into a marriage, Lord. I have no money, no dowry, hardly enough clothes to last out a year. I only hope I can please Barkley in other ways; cooking, cleaning, sewing. That’s all he wants.

  “Liliana?” a deep voice startled her reverie.

  She turned too quickly. Barkley was standing so close, she had to step back, but as she did, her foot caught on the edge of the suitcase and she tumbled backward, landing on the hard, dirt ground, in a sitting position.

  She could feel the red heat of embarrassment seep into her cheeks. She covered them with her hands and looked up at him. She was pleased to see a spark of amusement in his eyes.

  “Well, I’ve never fallen for a man before.” She giggled.

  Barkley’s eyes registered shock at her comment, but almost immediately a huge grin spread across his face. He took her outstretched hand in his and pulled her to her feet with such power, she fell against his muscular chest. Liliana placed her hands on his chest and pushed away. When she was finally standing on her own two feet, their eyes locked and they both burst out laughing.

  “I’m glad you have a sense of humor, Barkley. I’m afraid with me around, you will need one.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Barkley stood on the boardwalk waiting for the stage, from time to time slapping his arms to keep them warm. It was a good thing his mail order bride was coming to town now. If she’d waited any longer, they could be completely snowed in.

  The sheriff stood beside him, just idling. He and Sheriff Calloway had chatted for a few moments, then the man drifted away to do his afternoon rounds.

  Barkley ran a hand through his hair and sighed. What was I thinking, Lord? I don’t need a wife. Sure, for a while I thought having someone to help me and my Pa was a good idea, but now things are different. Besides, I haven’t even told her the truth about me. Was I just plain crazy to write that ad? Who in their right mind orders a woman through the mail, like ordering a pair of shoes from a catalog?

  Barkley knew he no longer needed someone to help him with his home and with his father. He could now afford to hire a maid, a cook, anything he needed. Since their first correspondence, Barkley and his Pa had hit gold and he’d become wealthy overnight. However, they kept it a secret in Sweet Water so far because he knew if it became known every woman within fifty miles would try to get him to marry her and Barkley surely didn’t want a wife who married him just for his money. No other miners were finding much gold, so, by keeping the information quiet they hadn’t aroused any suspicion in town.

  The last thing this town needed were a hoard of new gold miners. There were already enough lone men in the area.

  Barkley wondered exactly what this Liliana would look like. One couldn’t really tell from a small tintype.

  Hmm, I had no problem ordering a wife of convenience before I was wealthy and now, I’m being picky! Barkley actually berated himself.

  His attitude about a wife had changed too. He was no longer interested in just having someone to cook and clean for he and his Pa. Now he wanted a real wife. Someone who could enjoy the life he could provide, but if everyone knew about his gold strike, it would be hard to tell if a woman loved him or his money and he wanted a woman who would love him for himself.

  That is why I’m not going to tell Liliana about my wealth. I promised to marry her. She promised to cook and clean for me, but now I don’t want to marry her unless I love her. And I don’t want to have her say she loves me, unless I know it’s me she loves and not the money.

  Barkley could see the dust in the distance. The stage was coming into town.

  I want her to know me as a Christian man and a hard worker. We agreed to wait until Christmas to get married, but will that give either of us enough time to decide if we love one another?

  No one in Sweet Water knew about his wealth, except the local assayer who was his best friend. And no one knew Barkley was the one who had recently bought the corner building and opened the Sweet Water Eating House. It had all been done privately.

  This Barkley had done on a whim. In one of the few letters from Liliana, she’d revealed her dream of owning her own boarding house or restaurant someday. It had sparked an idea in his mind. He could buy the building, open the Eating House, and provide a job for her as a cook, eventually deeding the business to her. That way, if things didn’t work out between them, she would have a place of her own and her willingness to come to Sweet Water would not have been in vain.

  The Eating House was a good investment. The town was overrun with hungry men. If things worked out between them and he finally revealed he was the owner of the Sweet River Eating House, they could run it together. He no longer needed to work the mine; he had all the money he needed although he could hire some men to work it for him. He didn’t need to suffer the elements and drudgery of the mining lifestyle any longer but for now he would allow Liliana to believe he still worked the small mine with his Pa.

  Barkley watched as the stagecoach driver pulled on the reins and brought the horses to a stop. He waited as the three passengers stepped down from the stage. His eyes landed on a lovely blonde. He gulped. She was more beautiful than she had appeared in the small tintype she’d sent. Even travel-worn, he could see she was a proper, east coast woman. For a twenty-nine-year-old, she had the fresh look of a much younger woman.

  For a second his heart plummeted.

  What was I thinking, Lord? This is no place for a woman like her. I thought she was going to be… different, older looking, stronger, like an old maid should look. I only wanted a cook…

  Shak
ing away his thoughts, Barkley quickly made his way toward Liliana. She was standing on the boardwalk looking straight at him.

  She must be contemplating running away already. I don’t blame her. Barkley scanned the sad looking town. There was little here to appeal to a woman from the east. There were no dress makers and no haberdasheries. Perhaps, the jewelry store might be of some interest. However, for now, he wouldn’t let on that he could afford to buy her even a small piece of jewelry.

  “Liliana.” He spoke her name. Her head twisted, she turned and immediately took a step back, but as she did, her foot caught on the edge of a suitcase and she tumbled backward, landing on the hard, dirt ground, in a sitting position.

  Barkley was enthralled as a pink hue flushed her cheeks. When she spoke, he was amazed.

  “Well, I’ve never fallen for a man before.” He heard her songlike giggle.

  Barkley stared at her for a long moment, not sure how to react to her statement. Finally. his lips split into a huge grin. He reached over and took her outstretched hand in his and pulled her to her feet with such power, she fell against his chest. He felt her hands as she tried to push away. Their warmth caused boiling heat to rush through his blood. When she was finally standing on her own two feet, his grey eyes locked with her blue eyes and they both burst out laughing.

  ***

  After several moments, Barkley asked which cases were hers. Liliana pointed to a rather old, shabby trunk and a small valise. He grabbed the valise and memorized the look of her trunk, so when they reached the Boarding House, he would be able to get to it right away.

  “Anything else?” He handed her the valise.

  She grasped the small bag and shook her head.

  “That’s all you brought?” His voice sounded incredulous. He’d never met a woman who could have traveled all the way to Colorado with such a small amount of luggage. Not that it bothered him. He could buy her anything she would want or need in time, it just seemed curious.