Lawfully Matched Read online

  Lawfully Matched

  A Texas Lawkeeper Romance

  Lorana Hoopes

  Contents

  Copyright

  Note from the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  14. Author’s Note

  15. Not ready to say Goodbye yet?

  16. Lawfully Justified preview

  17. A Free Story For You

  18. The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet Preview

  The Story Doesn’t End!

  About The Author

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2018 by Lorana Hoopes

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is dedicated to all the hardworking law enforcement officers out there. Our world would not be as safe without all of you.

  * * *

  And to my family who lets me sacrifice time with them to write these stories in my head.

  Note from the Author

  Thank you so much for picking up this book. I hope you enjoy the story and the characters as they are dear to my heart. If you do, please leave a review at your retailer. It really does make a difference because it lets people make an informed decision about books. Below are the other books in this series. I would love for you to check them out. I’d also like to offer you a sample of my newest book. Free Sample!

  Sign up for Lorana Hoopes’s newsletter and get her book, The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet, as a welcome gift. Get Started Now!

  Chapter One

  Boston, Massachusetts 1883

  * * *

  Mary Katherine Whidby grabbed the local paper and strolled to a corner to read in private. While she hated to leave her beloved Boston, she was quickly approaching the spinster age, and all the surrounding men seemed intimidated by her brains or more likely her strong-willed spirit as her brother Robert liked to remind her.

  Mary Katherine, or Kate as her family called her, had always held a grand notion of love, so agreeing to marry a complete stranger caused distaste in her mouth every time she thought about it, but her options had run out when her parents died.

  She opened the paper and scanned the offerings:

  ‘Forty-year-old widowed rancher looking for wife who can be a mother to three kids.’

  Three kids? Kate shook her head and drew a line through that one. While she wanted kids one day, she did not feel confident stepping into the role immediately.

  ‘Fifty-year-old Pastor seeks wife for companionship and to lead women's socials at local church.’

  A pastor's wife wouldn't be too bad, but the age difference was more than Kate could stomach. After all, she was barely twenty-five, which would make this man twice her age, and wasn't the lifespan shorter in the west? Knowing her luck, he would die shortly after she arrived, and she’d be left all alone.

  ‘Thirty-year-old saloon owner seeks wife and possible waitress.’

  While this one was closer in age, Kate had no desire, or skills for that matter, to work in a saloon.

  The pickings were slim this month it seemed. Just one ad left.

  ‘Thirty-two-year-old farmer in search of brave woman to help on homestead.’

  Well, she didn't know much about farming, but no one would say Kate wasn't brave. She had even taken shooting lessons with her brother and father.

  Crossing her fingers this man would not be a con man or an abuser, she made her way to the counter.

  “Hello Miss Kate, what can I help you with today?” Mr. Gaines, the elderly owner of the newspaper asked. He wore a black vest over his shirt and a pair of old spectacles sat on the bridge of his nose.

  Kate cleared her throat, still embarrassed to be doing this. “I wanted to inquire how I might go about answering an ad.”

  “Hmm, let me see,” he said, pushing up his glasses as he read the ad. “Mail-order bride?” He looked up at Kate. “Does that mean we’re losing you?”

  A heated flush flared across Kate’s face. “Well, there isn't much left for me here with mother and father gone.”

  “Don't you still have a brother?” Mr. Gaines asked kindly.

  Kate nodded. “I do, but Robert just married, and he's trying to get his practice up and running. I would just be in the way.” She didn’t add the fact that his wife Abigail appeared to despise her, and the thought of staying in their house much longer held little appeal.

  “Well, if you're sure,” he said, though the tone of his voice told her he wasn't convinced. He reached below the cabinet and pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil. “Generally, you write the man back and see if it’s a good fit.”

  “Oh,” Kate stammered. She had not realized she would need to reply. “Thank you,” she said taking the paper and pencil. “I will return this shortly.”

  Kate headed back to the corner and sat down at the table, thinking for a moment. She placed the pencil on the paper and scribbled out:

  * * *

  Dear Mr. Easterly,

  My name is Kate Whidby. I am a brave twenty-five-year-old woman with dark hair and blue eyes. I am looking for love and adventure in a new area. I saw your ad in my paper, and although I do not know much about farming, I am a quick study and think I could be the woman you are looking for. Please advise if this is acceptable. I would like to travel as soon as possible.

  Kate Whidby

  * * *

  She folded the letter and returned to Mr. Gaines. “Do you have an envelope I could use to send this?”

  Mr. Gaines supplied one from under the counter and handed it to her. Kate quickly jotted her name and address down and sealed the envelope. She held it out to Mr. Gaines, but he shook his head.

  “Take it to the post office. They will send it out and your response will come back through them.”

  “How long do you think it will take to get a reply?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but my guess would be about two weeks.”

  Kate’s jaw dropped open. “Two weeks?”

  Mr. Gaines nodded and scratched the side of his bald head with the back of the pencil. “Yes ma’am, unless you’d like to telegraph it. That costs considerably more though.”

  Kate fingered the few coins she had managed to find in her parent’s bedroom as she was packing up the last items she’d been able to take. No, she had better be frugal and spend only a little.

  “No, two weeks is fine.” Perhaps, she could find a temporary job. It would be nice to have some money for the trip.

  Kate paid the small fee and left with the letter in hand. After a quick stop in the post office to drop it off, she continued on to the mercantile to pick up a few items.

  Once inside the store, she loaded the basket with the necessities—flour, sugar, teas—and then picked up a few pieces of penny candy. Kate felt guilty for imposing on Robert and Abigail by staying with them at their house, especially so early in their marriage, but her parents had rented their house. Kate took care for her parents but had no money to continue the payments after their death, and so she had been forced to give up her home.

  “Morning, Miss Kate,” Sally, the plump owner of the Mercantile, smiled at her.

  Kate had often wondered how Sally had married before she did, but then she would remember the two marriage propo
sals she had turned down. Funny how she had rebuffed those proposals because she felt she didn't know the men well enough, yet now she was planning to travel across the country and marry a man she'd never met.

  “Hello, Sally,” she said, laying the items on the counter. “How is business?”

  “It is not too bad,” Sally said. Then she glanced behind her and leaned forward. “Tell you the truth, it has been a little slow the last few months. John is stressed about it,” she whispered.

  Kate smiled and leaned in to reply. “Well, I will keep praying it will pick up.”

  “That is mighty kind of you, Kate. Will I see you at church on Sunday?”

  Kate nodded, but the question sent her mind spinning. God was an important part of her life. Would there be proper churches in Texas?

  Sage Creek, Texas 1883

  * * *

  Jesse Jennings removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. Finally, the last fence post was in. With his cattle safe once again, he would now be able to focus on putting the finishing touches on his homestead, so he could marry Pauline.

  As he replaced his hat, Sheriff Johnson rode up. Jesse sighed and lifted his gaze to the lawman.

  “What can I do for you, Sheriff?” he asked, though he knew the answer to the question. Sheriff Johnson had come around once every few days like clockwork over the past month, trying to enlist Jessie as a deputy sheriff.

  Jesse enjoyed the protection the law provided as much as the next person, but he was just a simple rancher, and all he wanted to do was marry his sweetheart and raise cattle.

  Unfortunately, time and money had dwindled after some rough winter weather and the previous summer’s drought, extending the finishing of the homestead.

  “You know why I'm here, Jesse,” the older man said as he dismounted his chocolate brown stallion. “There was another robbery last night. This time at Doc Moore’s office. No one was hurt, but they took a lot of his supplies. We need more men to help patrol. At least until we catch these varmints.” He removed his hat and ran his leathery hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.

  “I'm sorry to hear that Sheriff, but as I've told you before, I’m not a lawman, and I need to finish this homestead.”

  Sheriff Johnson planted his hands on his slim hips and donned his hat again. “Well, I can set with that, but the attacks appear to be becoming more frequent. I just hope you still have a home when all is said and done.”

  With that, Sheriff Johnson tipped the brim of his black Stetson before re-mounting his horse.

  Jesse lifted a hand in a loose wave and watched the sheriff recede from view. Maybe Sheriff Johnson was right. He was young, in shape, and not half bad with a gun.

  Once he finished the homestead he’d be able to think about it. Right now, thoughts of Pauline with her long blonde hair consumed his thoughts.

  Jesse checked the sun on the horizon. It had sunk low, leaving the sky a brilliant orange and pink color. He had lost track of time and needed to wash up before dinner with his fiancée.

  Chapter Two

  “You did what?” Robert asked over dinner that night.

  “I answered a mail-order bride ad,” Kate repeated as she scooped mashed potatoes on her plate.

  “You cannot go halfway across the country to marry a man you’ve never met,” Robert said, slamming his hand against the table with enough force to send the cutlery dancing.

  Kate bit the inside of her lip to calm her words before speaking. Robert was a year younger than she was, but he had tried to step into her father’s role since their parents’ death.

  “I do not have much choice,” Kate said. “I turned down the few marriage proposals I had, and there have not been any more.”

  “And what was wrong with those men?” Robert asked.

  “Well, one was a lecherous man nearly twice my age, and the other was not a Christian,” Kate returned.

  “Perhaps if you engaged in proper activities like other women do, there might be more,” Robert said with a pointed look in her direction.

  “I think it is a wonderful idea,” Abigail said with fake sincerity from the end of the table. “Goodness knows we can barely afford to feed another mouth around here.” Her disingenuous smile melted away as she shot Kate a disapproving look.

  “I don’t like it,” Robert said, ignoring the insult his wife had sent Kate’s direction. “What if this man turns out to be a lecher or some other kind of ruffian?”

  “I seriously doubt that type of man would advertise in the newspaper,” Kate said, taking a sip of her tea, “but as for the rest, I will have to leave that in God’s hands.”

  Robert opened his mouth to argue further, but Kate had stopped him with her trusting God comment. It was something neither of them were very good at, but which Kate had resolved to be better.

  “When will you know?” Robert asked with resignation in his voice.

  “Mr. Gaines said it would take about two weeks to get a reply,” Kate said.

  “Well, then I will use that time to pray this isn’t God’s will, and that the man will find someone else,” Robert said as he reached for another piece of chicken.

  “Fine,” Kate agreed. “But if he answers yes, you will have to let me go.”

  “Agreed.” Robert ended the conversation with a curt nod.

  Kate dropped her hands to her lap and folded them together in a nervous gesture. “Do you know of anyone looking for short term work?” she asked, glancing up at him before returning her eyes to her lap. “I would like to save up a little more before making the trip.”

  “For a trip you are not even sure you are making yet?” Robert’s volume had risen again and the vein at the base of his neck bulged as it often did when he grew angry.

  “The school is looking for someone,” Abigail spoke up. The quick suggestion wasn’t surprising since Kate was certain the other woman would be grateful to get rid of her during the day. “One of the regular teachers was forced to take a few weeks to visit an ailing family member. I am sure even you could handle teaching for a couple of weeks.”

  It wasn’t surprising Abigail ended her suggestion with a jab at Kate’s capability. Her sister-in-law took every opportunity to shine a light on her shortcomings—real or imagined.

  Even though she had her misgivings about Abigail’s motives, Kate mulled the prospect over in her mind. While she wasn’t formally educated, she had pored over Robert’s books and taught herself a great deal. Surely, teaching a few students wouldn’t be too hard for a week or so.

  “I think you should think about it,” Pauline said as she spooned soup into Jesse’s bowl. “I’ve heard the robberies have been getting more frequent, and the sheriff could use more good men.”

  “I agree,” her mother, Iris, said from the stove where she was pulling out bread to go with dinner. “Your father said he heard tell of another stagecoach getting robbed in Opdyke West. That’s not far from here, and the whole business makes me nervous.”

  Jesse grabbed Pauline’s hand as her mother turned back to the stove. “If I become a deputy, it will mean delaying the homestead even more. I want it to be finished for when we marry, and I have a hankering to be married already.”

  Pauline brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. “We’ve waited this long, Jesse Jennings. We can wait a little longer. Besides, I would feel guilty moving into our nice, new home while other people’s houses and businesses are still being attacked.”

  Jesse smiled and shook his head. “That is why I love you, Pauline Masterson. You have such a good heart.” Jesse tugged on her hand to bring her closer, so he could take in her sweet smell, but she pushed him away and crossed to her chair.

  “We are not going to let this soup get cold, Jesse,” she said playfully. “I worked too hard on it.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Jesse said, nodding his head and placing his napkin on his lap. “I would sure hate for anything you make to go to waste.”

  A soft pink color tinged Pauline’s fair cheek as she sat ac
ross from him.

  “Well, it should just be another minute,” Iris said as she placed the bread on the table.

  The cabin door banged open and Pauline’s father, Caleb, and her brother, James, entered.

  “You weren’t about to start without us, were you?” James was tall and beefy, and his frame filled the doorway. Pauline’s father was slightly shorter, but nearly as broad shouldered.

  “No, we were waiting,” Pauline said. “I just dished the stew, so it should still be warm.”

  “Yes, come and sit,” her mother said.

  “I’m sorry we’re late,” James said, limping into the large room that served as the main living space. “It takes me longer to finish chores now since my accident.” James had the habit of frequenting the saloon a little too often, and a skirmish one night had ended with shots fired. One had hit his foot, shattering the bone.

  “It looks as though your foot is healing though,” Jesse said as James made it to the table and fell into the chair to his right. Her father took the chair to Jesse’s left.

  “Humph,” James mumbled through a mouthful of soup. He had not waited to pray but had simply dug into the meal.

  “Well, let’s not let the food get cold,” Pauline’s mother said, ignoring James’s slurping and picking up her own spoon.

  Jesse lowered his head to say a silent prayer and then smiled at Pauline, who had done the same. The rest of her family often forgot to pray at meals, but he and Pauline never missed the opportunity.