RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties)(32)

“Good morning, Miss Hazel. Have you heard anything from Theodore or Jess? We’re not happy with you for taking her away from us, you know!” JoAnn glared at the older woman, determined that she know how JoAnn felt about Miss Hazel taking the third of their trio away from them to marry her son out West.

“I know, dear, I know. I want to talk to you about that actually. Do you have a moment?” Miss Hazel asked.

JoAnn looked at the watched pinned to the bodice of her dress. It was the watch she’d been given by her parents when she’d started teaching four years before. She loved being a teacher—most of the time. “I think we have a few minutes before the service starts. What can I help you with?”

Miss Hazel seemed to debate something for a moment as her gaze shifted to Lisa, who was standing behind her. Finally, she said, “I want you to marry a Mountie as well. One of the men that’s stationed with Teddy is a musician, and he needs a wife. You’re the one I want to send out to him.”

JoAnn frowned. She was no longer teaching a regular class, because her music lessons had really taken over. She taught piano, violin, and guitar. She preferred the violin, but so many mothers wanted her to teach piano. “Why me?”

Miss Hazel shrugged. “More of a feeling than anything else. I believe that Kendall is the right man for you, but more importantly, that you’re the right woman to marry Kendall. Think about it. I’m going to start some classes for the four women who I will send out to the Mounties there. I’d like for you to be one of those students.”

“But…when would you start classes?” JoAnn’s mind was spinning. She wanted to marry, but more importantly, she loved the idea of living close to Jess again. She missed her friend more than she could express.

“A week from Monday. I’d like the five of us to be headed West on the first of October.”

“That’s soon. I—I’ll have to think about it!” JoAnn looked over her shoulder at Lisa, who would be the last of their trio left if she went to British Columbia. “How do you feel?”

Lisa looked sad, but she shrugged. “If you would be happy there, you should go. I’ll be fine. Just remember that you and Jess have to write at least once per week.”

JoAnn patted her friend’s hand. “We will.” And in that moment, her mind was made up. She was going to marry a Mountie. Never in her life had she made a decision so quickly or confidently. It felt right.

*****

Just over a week later, JoAnn took all of her belongings to Miss Hazel’s house and waited in the parlor for the other three girls. She sure hoped they were women she liked, because she couldn’t imagine living as closely as they would need to live, if the women couldn’t be bosom buddies of hers.

The first girl, Evelyn, hurried in looking ready to take on the world. JoAnn knew her from church, but it was a casual acquaintance. They’d never spent any real time together. Evelyn sat beside her, and JoAnn smiled. “I’ve seen you around church. I’m JoAnn.”

“I’m Evelyn. I’m going out West to marry a Mountie!”

JoAnn couldn’t help but smile. “I am too. My Mountie is musical, and that’s all I really know about him. I hope he’s a good man.”

Evelyn waved her concerns away. “He’s a Mountie. Of course, he’s a good man. Mounties can fight off bears with one hand tied behind their backs. Of course, no man would have to do that for me. I’d do it myself.”

“I don’t know a lot about fighting off bears, to be totally honest with you. I’m more of a scholar than a fighter.”

“Oh, well, I’ll defend us both then.”

JoAnn shrugged. “If you can do it, I’ll let you. If not, I’ll throw a book at the bear!”

Evelyn laughed. “I think I’m going to like you, JoAnn. Why didn’t we ever get to know each other before?”

“Because I’m too shy to talk to strangers, probably. I’ve been friends with Jess and Lisa since we were small, and we always stuck together.”

The door opened and another girl JoAnn knew from church stepped in. Well, fell in was a bit more accurate. Rose was known for being a bit less than graceful. “Rose, who are you going to marry?” JoAnn asked. She knew a bit about each of the men because Jess had written to her about all of them. She’d decided not to write Jess that she was coming. She’d rather surprise her.

Miss Hazel walked into the room then. “Where’s our last girl? She’s late?” She stuck her head out into the hallway as if that would make the mystery girl suddenly appear, but then she shook her head. “No matter. We’re going to get to work anyway. The reason I brought you all here is because I want to make sure you know how to cook and clean properly before you go off to be a Mountie’s wife in the West. You won’t have a housekeeper out there.” At that Miss Hazel pinned JoAnn with her eyes.

It was well known in Ottawa that her parents were the most well-off in town. They were odd in that they always expected their children to work for a living, though. Her two brothers were currently working their way up through their parents’ furniture factory, which meant they were learning to make the furniture themselves. Both of them knew that they would end up running the company together some day, but their father needed them to know every level of the business…from the bottom up.