Chapter One
Early June 1887
Omaha, Nebraska
On the train, the heat pressed in all around Angela Frank. The veil covering her face from the nose on down only made things worse. Being squished between other passengers didn’t help, either.
She had so little money for this trip that she had to sit in third class, which put her with a couple of unsavory men who kept glancing at her large breasts. She had to hold her carpetbag to her chest to get them to stop. Had it not been for the other women and several children around her, the trip would have been unbearable.
Her parents had wished to put her in second class, but they were doing good just to make ends meet. Knowing she had saved what little she could with a cheaper ticket made the discomfort in third class worth it.
Besides, it wasn’t always going to be this way. They were almost in Omaha. And then she could get off and marry the man who had posted the mail-order bride ad she’d answered. In his missive, Mac Dodson said he owned his own clothing store. It sounded like he had more money than most men in the area, but the truth was, she didn’t require a lot. Not like some women did back in her Indiana hometown. All she wanted was not to be reminded of the scars on the lower right side of her face every time her husband looked at her. If he could overlook her imperfections, she’d be just fine.
Tucking the carpetbag to her chest, she made sure the veil was secure. She wouldn’t take it off until she was married. She knew it was deceptive. She hadn’t taken the time to warn Mac Dodson that she wasn’t pretty, but she’d made the mistake of doing it to the other man whose ad she’d answered. That man hadn’t written back. Just like all the young men in her hometown, they wanted a woman who was perfect. All she could do was marry the man expecting her today and hope he wouldn’t hate her for hiding the truth.
The train started to slow, a signal that she was about to get off. She breathed a sigh of relief. Good. She could finally get away from the creepy men.
As she stood up, one of the men also rose to his feet and pushed up against her. His hand slipped to her rear end. She tried to get away from him, but several people were in front of her, also waiting to get off the train in Omaha. There was only one way she could think of to get him to back off. She turned to the man and lifted the right side of her veil so he could see the scars running from her ear down to her neck. As she hoped, he recoiled from her.
The train came to a stop. She set the veil back down and got off the train as fast as she could. When she reached the platform, she exhaled and lowered her carpetbag from her chest. It wasn’t that she had an enormous breast size, but her breasts were large enough to attract those unsavory men on the train. Fortunately, now that she was off the train, no one was paying attention to her chest. They were, instead, staring at her veil. But that was fine. She’d rather have someone stare at the veil than her breasts.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her carpetbag, realizing her hands were shaking. Now that she was here to meet the man she’d come to marry, her nervousness was starting to come over her. What if he didn’t like what he saw once she removed her veil? Should she really hide her face from him until the vows were exchanged? Shouldn’t she warn him about what he’d be getting himself into when he married her?
But if she showed him what she looked like, then he might not marry her. Then what? She’d have to return to Indiana in shame. She would be doomed to be a spinster forever. Then there would be no home that was her own to decorate. There would be no child to carry in her womb and then hold in her arms. She wouldn’t have a family to care for.
Her parents and siblings were good people. But it wasn’t the same as being a wife and mother. She could only hope the man she married was the kind who could overlook her imperfections.
From the crowd of people around her, a tall, thin man approached her. “Are you Miss Frank?”
She straightened up. “Yes. Are you Mr. Dodson?”
“No, ma’am,” he said. “I’m Sammy. I thought you were Miss Frank because you’re the only woman wearing a veil.” He chuckled and adjusted his hat. “I work for Mac. He asked me to come and get you.”
He gestured for her to follow him, but she wasn’t sure she should. He didn’t seem like the sort who could be trusted.
“Oh, I forgot to show you this.” Sammy pulled out a letter from his pocket. “This is the letter you mailed to my boss.”
Her gaze went to the missive with the familiar writing on it. It was her letter alright. She returned her gaze to his. “You said you work for Mr. Dodson?”
He nodded. “He’s the finest salesman in the area.”
“What does he sell?” she asked, just to make sure he actually knew Mr. Dodson.
“Clothes. He owns Dodson’s Fine Clothing. It’s for the wealthier segment in society. Just because we live out west, it doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice the finer things in life. I’m wearing one of his suits.” He gestured to the nice suit jacket and trousers he had on.
She glanced at the letter Mr. Dodson had written her. Sure enough Dodson’s Fine Clothing was written on it. She released her breath. He seemed to be telling her the truth.
“He wanted to come and meet you himself, but he can’t leave his store during business hours,” Sammy added.
Well, that made sense. Clearing her throat, she nodded and renewed her grip on the carpetbag. “Alright. I’ll follow you.”
His gaze went to her skirt and then to the veil. She held her breath. Would he ask about the veil? Would he ask her to show him what her face looked like? Thankfully, he didn’t ask. He turned and headed down the busy platform.
Sammy led her toward the cart where a young worker at the station was giving luggage to the passengers.
“There’s no need for that,” she told him. “I only brought the carpetbag that I’m carrying.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Alright.” He waved for her to keep following him. “I’ll take you to the buggy. It’s real nice. Mr. Dodson wanted you to have the very best.”
She wasn’t sure what to make of that comment. He said it as if she was lucky to get a ride in the buggy. Once again, the nagging sensation that she might not like where this was heading came back to her. He started walking from the cart, but she didn’t go with him.
Was she making a mistake? Should she get back on the train? But where would she go? And with what money? She only had enough for a couple of meals. She’d risked everything to come out here to marry Mr. Dodson. As much as she tried to reason that she was overreacting, the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach wouldn’t go away. And the more she followed Sammy, the worse it was getting.
She examined the crowd of people all around her. They were so busy talking to one another that they didn’t seem to notice her, even if she did stand out like a sore thumb with the veil over her face. Was there anyone—anyone at all—who might help her? Would anyone even want to? And if so, who could she trust?
Sammy came back over to her. “Are you feeling alright? You look like you’re about to faint.”
“I feel fine,” she told him.
“Are you sure? It’s awful hot out here, and it can’t be easy to breathe through that thing.” He motioned to her veil.
“I’m alright,” she insisted. “I just…I just…”
Just what? Didn’t trust him? Thought it was a bad idea to go with him? Had decided she wouldn’t go anywhere until Mr. Dodson came and got her himself? She’d grown up in a small town where the worst thing that had ever happened was little Jimmy sneaking off with some candy from the general store. She’d had no reason to mistrust anyone up to now. How was she supposed to get out of this without arousing Sammy’s suspicions? And even if she did escape, where would she go? What would she do?
“Miss Frank,” Sammy began, “you really don’t look like you’re feeling well. Maybe I should take the veil off so you can breathe easier.”
With a gasp, she put her hand to her veil, realizing too late that he had put his hand up to her mouth first. And worse, he had something damp in the rag he’d put to her veil. She didn’t have time to remove his hand because everything around her went dark as she lost consciousness.
***
September Wilson, better known as Sep, finished fixing the doctor’s office door. He opened it and then shut it. Yep, it worked just fine.
He went into the office and called out, “You’re all set to go.”
Joel Larson came out from his examining room in the back. “You fixed it already?”
“There wasn’t anything to it,” Sep told his brother-in-law. “The door was off balance. That’s why you had trouble shutting it all the way. It’ll work fine now, though. Normal wear and tear can do that sometimes. The wind doesn’t help, either, and it’s worse when one of the children forgets to shut the door all the way.”
“You can’t blame children for that. They don’t know any better.”
“They won’t know any better unless you tell them.” Noting the reluctant expression on Joel’s face, Sep shook his head as he closed his toolbox. “Ever since you and my sister had all those kids, you’ve gotten soft. You had no trouble telling me what to do when you two were living in my house.”
“For your information, April had as much right to live in that house as you did. You two inherited it from your parents. It’s only because I wanted to move to town that you got it all to yourself. Besides, you weren’t the most pleasant person to be around when I first married her. All you did was insist that everyone do what you wanted.”
Sep shot him a pointed look. “You weren’t all that pleasant, either. Even today, the moment I hear someone sigh in despair, I think of you. I never heard anyone moan and groan as much as you did.”
“And how would you act if a fourteen-year-old kid stuck a shotgun in your face and wouldn’t let you leave the house?” Joel asked.
“That was nine years ago. You need to let the past go.”
“I need to let the past go? You’re the one who thinks of me any time someone sighs.”
“I’m not the only one. April says she hates listening to it, too. You made a lasting impression on both of us.”
Smirking, Joel crossed his arms. “Great. So when are you going to be at our house for dinner so I can sigh again?”
Sep snorted in amusement. “I’ll skip. All of those kids you got are loud and obnoxious.”
“Those are your nieces and nephew you’re talking about.”
“Which is why I blame all of their bad traits on you. I’m sure you were the same way when you were little. In fact, I heard you were so lazy you’d hide so you could get out of work.”
“Who told you that?”
“Your brother Tom.”
Sep got ready to add the rest of the people who’d said it, but Joel interrupted with, “Tom has nothing better to do than to spread all kinds of rumors about me.”
“It’s not just Tom who says it. All of your brothers and sisters say it, too. Even your parents have admitted it. They say if you hadn’t become a doctor, you would have wound up in their attic collecting dust like an old useless trunk.”
Joel let out a sigh.
Sep snapped his fingers and pointed at him. “There it is. That infamous sigh.”
“Well, you better find a time to come over to dinner because your sister has been worried about you. She’s afraid you’re lonely all by yourself on the farm.”
“I don’t get lonely.”
“Yeah, well, she doesn’t believe it.”
“Only because she loves to be around people. Not everyone is like that.”
“Will you at least come to dinner before the month is over so that she can stop worrying about you?”
“It’s June. I’m busy. You’re lucky you happened to catch me in town today.”
“It’s just one evening of your life.” When Sep rolled his eyes, Joel added, “Think of it as getting a meal you don’t have to cook.”
“I don’t mind cooking.”
“Then come over for your sister’s, Nora’s, Hannah’s, and Levi’s sakes.”
Joel made a good point. He should see April and his nieces and nephew. “Alright. I’ll come by for dinner.”
“When?”
“You’re going to make me pick a day?”
“Would you rather I go out to the farm and bother you there?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll come by tomorrow evening.”
“Good.”
Sep, relieved to finally be getting out of the building, opened the door and shook his head. “You are as persistent as always. It’s nice to know some things never change.”
Joel chuckled at the sarcasm in Sep’s tone. “It’s the only way to get you to do anything.”
A woman and child came up to the door, and Sep hurried to open it for them. “It looks like you finally got some work to do,” he told Joel, thankful that the conversation was over.
It wasn’t that Sep didn’t like Joel. He did. But he didn’t like being reminded that he was alone on the farm. When he was out at the farm, it didn’t bother him, but when he had dinner at Joel’s, he was surrounded by a close family. It wasn’t that he hadn’t experienced that firsthand. The very fact that he had enjoyed a nice childhood made the emptiness that much more profound because he knew what he was missing.
And watching Joel and April smile at each other and exchange those little kisses or touches from time to time only reminded him he would probably never get to experience the same thing. Joel couldn’t understand it, but Sep had a difficult time with people. He was not at all social like April was. April could get along with anyone because of her sweet disposition.
Sep left the building and went to his wagon. As he was putting his toolbox under his seat, a man came up to him. “You a bachelor?” the man asked.
Surprised by the question, Sep studied him. The man looked to be middle-aged and was on the heavier side. “Who wants to know?” Sep replied.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What does matter is you.” The man pointed to him. “You’re a young and good looking man.” He scanned the wagon. “Judging by the condition of the wagon and,” he glanced at Sep’s clothes, “what you’re wearing, I bet you don’t have a little woman in your life. Am I right?”
Sep shook his head in irritation. “Get away from me. I have no time to waste with the likes of you.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
Just as Sep was ready to get into the wagon, the man jumped in front of him. “I have three young women waiting to get married.”
Sep blinked. “You have what?”
“I thought that would get your attention.” He chuckled. “You heard me right. Three women. All single and all lookers.” He shrugged. “I can’t go into detail. All I can say is that they are all alone here in Omaha, and they need a husband. If you come with enough money, you can get one.”
“Enough money?”
“There’s going to be a bidding for them. He who has the highest bid gets the woman of his choice. Two are blondes and one is a brunette. One of the blondes has a nice figure, if you know what I mean.” The man made the shape of large breasts. “She’s a little coy, too, since she has a veil. She might be the best looking one of the three. The modest ones are always the best looking.”
“Are you selling women?”
The man gasped as if offended. “I wouldn’t say I’m selling women. That’s such an ugly word. All I’m doing is providing a service. Single women need single men. If anything, you can consider me a matchmaker.”
“A matchmaker who is auctioning off women to the highest bidder.”
“Come now. You can’t tell me you’re not intrigued. Don’t you want to see what these women look like?”
Sep was ready to say no when it occurred to him that if he said yes, he could rescue them. “Maybe I would.”
“I thought so. A young man like you has needs. A warm body to keep you company in bed, a hot meal on the kitchen table when you come home from work, and someone to wash your clothes. I’m telling you, every man needs a wife. My advice is that you gather as much money as you can and come on down to the edge of the river across from Council Bluffs. The bidding will be at the abandoned livery stable just south of Clark’s Saloon. You know where that is?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”
“Good. Be there tomorrow afternoon at three. That’s when we start the bidding. Now, don’t tell any of the lawmen. We don’t want to ruin a good thing. If you bring enough money, you can go home with your very own wife tomorrow evening.” He winked. Then he hopped on down the street until he found another man who looked to be about Sep’s age.
So that was what the man was doing. Recruiting as many young men as he could for the bidding. It made sense. The more men he could talk into going to the old livery stable, the more money he’d walk away with. That was, of course, if the plan he had put together was going to be a success. Which Sep wasn’t going to allow.
If there was one thing Sep hated, it was watching men use women for their own selfish gain. It was bad enough he’d had to watch April go through it with her first husband. Even though Harvey had been dead for a long time, Sep could still hear him yelling at her from the other room during one of his drunken rages. A couple of times, he’d even hit her.
Sep’s jaw clenched. What kind of man would bid on a woman? Would there be any honorable ones? And if there were, would they have enough to win? It seemed to him that only men like Harvey would get a wife through an auction.
He couldn’t let those poor women end up with men like Harvey. He didn’t want to see anyone go through the same abuse April did. For a moment, he thought he’d go down there tomorrow and make sure he had the most money to bid on a woman. He’d need to get a loan, but if he got one large enough, then there was no reason why he couldn’t win.
But that didn’t fit because the man had just told him there were three women. Three innocent women. And he could only save one.
He had to do something to rescue them. But he couldn’t do it by himself.
He hopped into the seat of the wagon and released the brake. He had hoped to go to the mercantile and then head on home, but he was going to have to see the sheriff first. As luck had it, Owen Russell was Joel’s brother-in-law, and that meant he was a part of Sep’s family. Which meant Owen would be more inclined to listen to him than he would someone he didn’t know.
Decision made, Sep lifted the reins and directed the horses to take him to the jailhouse.