Mrs. Grey Read online

  Mrs. Grey

  Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Book 12

  Rachel Wesson

  With special thanks to Meisje for her friendship and help with the tricky chapter!

  Contents

  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

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rachel Wesson

  Chapter 1

  Mrs. Grey was thrilled Carmel Doherty, her new friend, had come out of town to visit with her. Annie, her maid, showed them into the library before going to fetch refreshments. Cook had baked that morning so she would be able to give Carmel some fresh cookies with her drink. They had elected to sit inside due to the heat of the sun.

  “I know I haven’t lived in this town long, but I reckon we will see trouble soon,” Carmel said, easing herself into one of the chairs beside the unlit fireplace.

  Mrs. Grey handed her a cup of tea, a cookie, and a plate before taking her own seat opposite.

  “The town sure seems busier than ever. Clover Springs must think the whole of New York has moved in,” Carmel said, smiling.

  Mrs. Grey smiled back. She had taken to the Irish woman from their first meeting. She liked her as much as she’d hoped she would, having got to know her daughter Nora when the girl and her fiancé Robbie had returned with Doc Erin from New York.

  While in New York, Alicia had met up with an old family friend, a rich man by the name of Mr. Prentice. Mr. Prentice had forged ahead with his plan for a hotel for Clover Springs. Robbie had secured several laborers from the Irish community, many of whom had been working on the railways. Charlie Doherty, his soon to be brother-in-law, Carmel’s grandson, had helpful contacts. But there hadn’t been enough men to work on the library and building the seamstress shop too.

  “Seems the blizzard in New York had a silver lining?” Mrs. Grey observed as she drank her tea. “At least for those living there.”

  Carmel nodded before saying, “It has resulted in lots of jobs which will help the poor who suffered so badly during the storm. It’s all those jobs being available that has led us to this trouble.”

  “Robbie mentioned that was why he had difficulties finding as many laborers as he needed. Until Wilma’s Zack stepped in.”

  Wilma’s Zack and Robbie had got on very well together from the first time they met. With Robbie’s encouragement, Zack had sent for men from his community who needed work. The former slaves and their families had been having a hard time in Denver and welcomed the chance to come to Clover Springs. The two groups of men had set up camp just outside of town. Unfortunately, the two groups didn’t get on as well as their respective representatives.

  “Sheriff Willis has his work cut out for him with that setup. I think Robbie may have made a mistake,” Carmel said, her face twisted in concern for her granddaughter’s husband-to-be.

  “Why?” She knew many were upset at the increasing numbers of blacks around Clover Springs. Mrs. Shaw and her friends had been very vocal in their disapproval of both groups, saying the Irish were drunkards and the blacks would murder them in their beds. Lorena wondered if David ever looked down on them from Heaven above to despair over what he, and the other men who had died in the war, had given their lives for.

  “You know as well as I do, there is no love lost between the Blacks and the Irish. It makes no sense if you think about it. Both communities were treated badly.”

  At Mrs. Grey’s raised eyebrows, Carmel quickly corrected herself. “I am not saying for a second the Irish had it as hard as those poor people. We may have been under the yoke of the English, but our children were free. But if you ever spent time in New York you would have seen the signs for yourself. No dogs, no blacks, and no Irish.”

  She’d been to New York but not seen posters like that. But then she hadn’t been looking for employment. She’d eaten in the best restaurants, went to the theater, and bought too many dresses in the fashionable sewing houses. Although her marriage had been lacking in love, Mr. Grey had insisted they be seen as a respectable well-off couple. That meant being seen in the right places, with the right people, wearing the correct clothes. All the effort and money he had spent on trying to make their lives look perfect and where had it got him. He’d been a miserable lonely man by the time he died, despised and hated by his own children. What a legacy. She shook her head not wanting to think about her husband.

  “Was it like this back in Ireland?” she asked curiously. Carmel was older than she was. Katie, Mary, and the other Irish girls were many years younger, and she had never felt comfortable discussing this type of issue with them.

  “Sure, we had enough problems with Catholics and Protestants. We had no black people, well, maybe a few around the ports but, to be honest, most Irish had never set eyes on a black until they came to America.”

  “Yet, they are just as, if not more, prejudiced than the people living here.” Mrs. Grey had seen firsthand how vicious the Irish laborers could be to those they considered beneath them. Katie, Mary, and the other Irish girls had little time for some of the Irish newcomers to Clover Springs and she could understand why.

  “Exactly, what does your sheriff have to say about it?” asked Carmel.

  “He is not my sheriff!”

  “I am only teasing ya, woman.” Carmel’s twinkling eyes showed a complete lack of apology. “Well?”

  “He is worried. Obviously, it can’t continue like it is. Little Beaver finds it hard to keep order too,” she admitted. She was worried about the sheriff, even if he wasn’t hers.

  “The Irish don’t like taking orders from the Indian,” Carmel confirmed, dunking her cookie into her tea before blushing as she caught Mrs. Grey’s eye.

  “No, they don’t, but it’s not just the Irish. Quite a few of the blacks were soldiers in the Indian wars. They believe the only good Indian is a dead one.”

  “How can people who have been so badly treated themselves harbor such hatred for others in a similar position? You would think they would join forces.” Carmel fell silent for a while. “Do you think it’s a man thing? Women seem to get over the color and race issues easier.”

  “I don’t know about that. If an Irish man had wanted to marry my Olivia, I would have had a problem with it.” She shifted in her seat at the look Carmel gave her. “Not now, but back then I was a racist and a snob.”

  Carmel didn’t make a comment.

  “Mick Quinn said he thought it was something to do with survival. If people are pi
cking on the Blacks, they were not bothering the Irish and vice versa”

  “Mr. Prentice won’t be pleased if the hotel isn’t finished when he arrives. Where will he stay?” Carmel asked. “I guess with Alicia and her family.”

  “Wonder how he will treat the delays,” Mrs. Grey asked.

  “I think he will bang some heads together. He mixed just as easily with me and my family as he did with those rich folks who came to Lily’s fund-raising events. He gave my grandson Charlie a chance, I don’t think he would have a job in a lawyer’s office if it wasn’t for Mr. Prentice.”

  Mrs. Grey was quick to refute that statement. Erin had told her how wonderful Carmel had been at bringing up and protecting her family.

  “From what Erin says, your grandson got that chance all by himself by rescuing that man and his wife in the blizzard.” She took a drink before probing, curious to see what Carmel thought of her grandson’s new fiancée. “He is a lucky man. Lily is a rare young lady.”

  “She is, but sure, you know how it is with men. I had to almost batter him into seeing what a good woman she is.”

  Relieved to hear Carmel held similar opinions to herself, she probed further.

  “You didn’t mind her background?” she asked tentatively, but curiosity won.

  “Me? Sure, what type of Christian woman would I be to hold that against her? The poor child had no choice. I just hope she succeeds in her venture to save other children and women from the life she was forced into.”

  “Carmel Doherty, you are an amazing woman.” She meant every word of what she said. Having met some of the Irish who came out from New York, she didn’t think they would have been so accepting of Lily. She had heard from Father Molloy and Katie about how the girls who had fallen from grace in the eyes of the church were often treated by their families and loved ones.

  “Lorena, it takes one to know one. I heard from Lily how you stood up for her to those horrible women. Mrs. Shaw and her cronies. I don’t know how they can show their faces at church services. I know they aren’t Catholics but still. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

  She couldn’t agree more but, having lived a long time in Clover Springs, she knew there was no chance of those people changing. Charlie Staunton would grow wings and fly above them before that happened.

  Chapter 2

  She got up to ring for more tea. Annie appeared almost as soon as she put the bell back on the mantlepiece.

  “Annie, you look lovely today,” Carmel said as the girl came into the room.

  Mrs. Grey turned to look at the maid, a young girl who had arrived at Wilma’s orphanage a few years back. She wondered how old she was. Her coffee-colored skin made it more difficult to tell her age. Annie had blossomed since she first arrived in Clover Springs. Back then she hadn’t been able to put a whole sentence together. She still hadn’t learned to trust people. She was nervous in company particularly if it was a man. She was thrilled Carmel was interacting with Annie.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Doherty. Mrs. Grey insisted I wear a dress rather than a uniform.” Annie darted a look at her, she tried to reassure the girl with a smile.

  “Are you going to come to our restaurant on opening night?” the Irish woman asked Annie.

  Annie shot her a look before answering Carmel.

  “No, sorry, ma’am, but it wouldn’t be seemly for me to be there.”

  “Annie, you can come with me if you wish,” she offered, exchanging a look with Carmel.

  “No, thank you, Mrs. Grey. Excuse me, I will get some more tea.”

  “So, what do you have planned for opening night? I am sure you will be packed to the rafters,” she asked, changing the subject.

  “I hope so. This is Ruth’s chance to shine and I want it to go well for her. My darling daughter-in-law hasn’t had it easy. She is a fine woman.”

  Mrs. Grey agreed. She didn’t know Ruth very well, but she liked her. “She is a lovely woman. I don’t know how she does it with her younger children and all. She has a good helper in Nora though.”

  “Yes, she does and young Sadie. Lizzie would help more if she wasn’t so caught up with her own business.”

  “I think Erin is worried young Sadie is overdoing it. I have seen her working without her crutches. I don’t think Tommy will be too happy when he comes in from the ranch.”

  Tommy Carpenter had come to Clover Springs shortly after Erin had got back. With the help of a loan from Mr. Prentice, he had set up a sheep farm. He was building a house for his soon-to-be wife.

  “He’s so busy setting things up with the sheep and getting the house ready for Sadie. He wants everything to be perfect for her. She would be happy in a hovel so long as Tommy is by her side. “

  “His sheep farming rattled more than a few people,” Mrs. Grey commented, although rattled was an understatement. There had nearly been a riot when some of the cattle ranchers had heard about the sheep. “Good job he had Davy Sullivan on his side or there could have been trouble.”

  “With the cattle ranchers. I know, but sure why can’t the two get on together? They rear sheep and cattle in Ireland with few issues. Sheep are more suited to the hills anyway. Tommy’s claim wouldn’t be suited to raising cattle, at least not in any great numbers. “

  “Between the sheep and cattle issues and the problems with the laborers in town, I fear Clover Springs is going to face a few uncertain months.”

  “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Nothing we can do about it or yesterday. Today is all we can hope to control and, speaking of which, I better get back to the restaurant.” Carmel stood, placing her cup back on the tray.

  “So soon?” Mrs. Grey asked, as she also stood.

  “Lorena Grey, I have to get back to work. Don’t tempt me to stay here in your lovely home.” Carmel tried to smile but her eyes were full of worry, “I don’t know if you know but Alicia helped us to start the restaurant. It doesn’t sit well with either Ruth or me that we are already behind on payments.”

  “Take that worried look off your face at once, Carmel. For one thing, Alicia doesn’t need the money but, more to the point, the delays in the restaurant weren’t your fault. Who was to know the blizzards would have had such a catastrophic effect on everything from supplies to transport.”

  “That blizzard was months ago.”

  “Yes, but the country is still trying to come to grips with the aftereffects so no more worrying about that. Alicia knows you are all working really hard to repay her. She isn’t worried.”

  “She is a lovely young woman. I was impressed with her from the moment we met. No airs and graces on her. You should have seen how she dealt with some of the pompous idiots her uncle had employed in his hotel.”

  “The man Lily replaced. Yes, Doc Erin filled me in. Her stories made me laugh.” She smiled at Carmel but saw the woman was still worried.

  Lorena leaned forward and patted Carmel on the arm.

  “I know you are worried about your son. I can see it. But he will come around in time. It’s a lot for a man to get used to. Losing his home in New York and now having his wife as the breadwinner. Some men find it harder to deal with such issues.”

  “Mick Quinn manages okay, doesn’t he?” Carmel answered tartly.

  She kept her tone calm, wanting to help her friend. She knew Carmel was only lashing out as she was worried “Yes, he does, but he doesn’t have much choice. He married Doc Erin knowing she would always be a doctor first and a wife second. Your Joe didn’t have that with his wife. It is only now Ruth has become a little independent. That combined with his eye operation… Well, it’s a lot for a man to take.”

  “He would do better if he didn’t have his own stool reserved in that bar. Charlie Stanton has become his best friend and I might not have lived here long but I know a bad egg when I see one.”

  She had no answer to that. Charlie was a horrible man. It saddened her to see that a man who had three wonderful women in his life, his mother Carmel, wife Ruth and daughter Nora, could become
friends with that man.

  “I best get back. Thank you, Lorena, for being a friend.”

  “Do you want a lift back into town?”

  “No, thank you, a walk will clear my head. I don’t want Ruth to think I have been worrying about Joe again. See you tomorrow?”

  She nodded and watched as Carmel walked out the gate and set off in the direction of Clover Springs. She hoped her friend was wrong about Joe and that he would find his answers but, like Carmel, she doubted they were at the bottom of a bottle.

  Chapter 3

  Sheriff Willis stood outside Mrs. Grey's door asking himself repeatedly what he would say if she was in. He passed the plant he had grown from some cuttings from the rose tree she had admired. The voice in his head kept telling him a genteel lady like Mrs. Grey wouldn’t have any interest in an overweight small-town sheriff. Yet she had danced with him at Wilma’s wedding and had actually complimented him on his dancing. The lessons Mike Quinn had organized had helped a lot.

  The door opened. He whipped the hat off his head.

  “Good afternoon, Sheriff. Is something wrong?”

  “No, not at all Mrs. Grey. I just... Well, I had a few minutes to spare and thought I would...” He stammered like a young fool. This was worse than he had anticipated. He looked up. She was staring at him, her lip turning up as if she was trying her best not to laugh. Her eyes looked violet in this light, her dress had been chosen, he imagined, to highlight her best features. She was a fine-looking woman. A real lady.