Mail-Order Husband: The Millionaire's Debt by Rebecca Tilley

Chapter 1
    Daphne Haynes
scurried about her three room farmhouse tidying up and making the final
arrangements for the guest that was to arrive shortly.  She could not
believe how fast everything had moved from the time she placed the small ad in
the Texas newspaper until now.  She could not afford to be picky; she
needed a husband, and fast.  Everything was moving along so smoothly she
was afraid it was too good to be true, but there was no room for doubt at this
point.  Her small farm had fallen into disrepair since her late husband
had passed, and the bank was closing in on her property.  If things did
not work out between her and the man that was on his way, she would lose the
farm for sure and she had no place to go.
    Daphne and her
husband had moved to Colorado to start a better life for themselves.  They
were so young then, with so many dreams.  They wanted lots of kids,
cattle, and corn.  Hank had the perfect plan, “If we can just lay claim on
some property out west, everything will turn out,” he would say with excitement
glinting in his eye.  That was what she had loved best about Hank, his
infectious optimism.  She allowed herself to be dragged half-way across the
country with no more than twenty-five dollars to their names.  “When we
get there we will buy seed to plant corn, claim our land, and watch the money
roll in.  When we have enough we will buy some head of cattle and before ya ’ know it,” he would always pause at this point and start
to daydream.
    Daphne had trusted
that he had a plan beyond that point, though she never heard one, and they
started out.  They got to Colorado and were kicked off the train because
that was as far as they could afford.  They didn’t know anyone in town and
were forced to burn some of their money on lodging and food the first
night.  “Don’t worry baby,” Hank reassured, “this is all part of the
plan.”  She had her doubts, but his confidence was still in high gear.
    The next morning
Hank had gotten up to check on getting a claim, but there was nothing
left.  They were stranded in the middle of Colorado; no money for return
fare; no land to work and make a new life; no hope.  Hank was not yet
broken, however, and he began making inquiries for land to purchase, but
fifteen dollars doesn’t exactly get prime real estate.  They needed money,
the bank needed collateral, and the only valuables the two had were a pair of
heirloom silver candlesticks that had been given to Daphne by her grandmother. 
She was reluctant to part with them, but Hank told her she would have them back
in a few short months and she would be able to set them on top of her brand new
mantle.  She was so excited she handed them over without a second thought.
    That had been eight
years ago and Daphne was now a widow, eight years poorer, childless, and cattle-less.   Hank had fallen into a bottle of whiskey
after the first crop of corn failed, and he ended up drowning in it. 
Daphne had tried her best to keep the place afloat, but the learning curve was
too steep.  She fell further and further behind with the bank, and this
month was the last chance she had to get current before they took the farm and
her grandmother’s candlesticks with it.  That is why she had resorted to
looking for a mail-order husband.  She needed someone that knew farming
and had money.  This was simply a business contract, and she made that
clear to all of her prospective suitors.  She had nothing to offer other
than the candlesticks, and if someone would get them out of hock, and pay off
the farm, she would gladly give them to that person.  She just didn’t want
Mr. Gantry, the bank’s assistant manager, to end up with them.
    Mr. Gantry had been
bullying Daphne for the last two years; threatening to sell the candlesticks to
pay the debt her and her husband owed.  He said he had a buyer lined up
and he would be glad to have them out of the bank.  She didn’t think this
was true, however,