Mail Order Menage
April 1885
Chapter One
Marina stood in front of the glass, smoothing her hair, until Jasmine finally dragged her away from it, and made her sit down.
“Oh Jas, it’s just…I’m sure this is it. I’m sure it is.” Jasmine sat next to her, and patted her hand.
“Marina, dear, are you sure? Please, tell me who has you all in a flutter?”
“Well, you know how I got that factory job?”
“Oh, I thought only women worked there, how on earth did you meet a man there?”
Marina clapped her hands together in delight. She’d been holding out on Jasmine for just ages. She never got to surprise her.
“Oh, only women work on the floor, but of course management is men, no, gentlemen.”
Jasmine’s face fell.
“Are you…I mean, did you, one of the managers?”
Marina didn’t notice the ashen tone of Jasmine’s face, she was too caught up in the moment.
“Oh Jasmine, he’s perfect! We’ve been having lunch together, once a week.”
“Which day?”
“Oh, Mondays.”
“Why haven’t you told me about him?”
“He said he’d get in terrible trouble for courting a floor girl, so until we’re ready, we can’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to him to lose his job, well then, how would he support us!”
“Did he ask you to marry him?”
“Well, no, not in so many words. He’s courting me still, silly.”
“And yet, he’s never asked to be introduced to your family?”
“Don’t be silly, he knows you’re my only family. We’ve only just started courting.”
Jasmine stood and walked to the window and looked out. She looked around the shabby room and then looked back at her sister.
“What is this man’s name?”
“You can’t tell anyone; I was sworn to secrecy.”
“Oh, of course not.”
“Michael. Micheal Parry.”
“The manager, Michael Parry, wants you to keep your relationship with him secret? From all the girls on the floor? What about your lunch meetings?”
“Oh, he has different girls visit him every day for lunch. Says it helps keep him fresh about what is happening on the factory floor.”
Jasmine looked up at the ceiling, clearly choosing her words carefully.
“Please, Marina, be careful. There are plenty of men who would take advantage of a sweet woman like you who desires marriage.”
Marina stood up and frowned at her sister.
“Why are you being so sour! You’ve talked nonstop about me finding and getting a good man, and now that I have a chance, you’re cutting sharp at me? Just because you lost your husband, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to find myself one!”
“Marina, please, I didn’t mean it like that. I just…I’ve had more experience than you, and I’d hate for you to be hurt.”
Marina walked over to Jasmine, and took her hand in hers.
“It’s just that he makes me so happy.”
Jasmine clutched her hands.
“Then I’m sure everything will be just fine. Go to work, we’ll talk when you get back.”
Marina swept out of the apartment and Jasmine settled at the table, flipping through the paper. There was a whole section of advertisements for mail order brides. One caught her eye: “Rancher in Montana seeking a mail order bride. Must be openminded and at least eighteen years old. Adventerous widows only. Send letter to George Maddix, General Delivery Hope Springs, Montana.” She looked down at the advertisement in the paper again, grabbed her writing supplies and began writing.
“Dear George, My name is Marina Miller. I’m nineteen years old and I work in a factory in New York City, but grew up on a farm. I love the idea of moving out west to be a mail order bride. I’m very open-minded. I have red hair and green eyes. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Marina.”
Jasmine chewed her lip, but knew that if it worked out, she just wouldn’t tell Marina what she’d done. And if Michael was still a cad, then Marina would have an escape. Jasmine thought she’d make a good
April 1885
Chapter One
Marina stood in front of the glass, smoothing her hair, until Jasmine finally dragged her away from it, and made her sit down.
“Oh Jas, it’s just…I’m sure this is it. I’m sure it is.” Jasmine sat next to her, and patted her hand.
“Marina, dear, are you sure? Please, tell me who has you all in a flutter?”
“Well, you know how I got that factory job?”
“Oh, I thought only women worked there, how on earth did you meet a man there?”
Marina clapped her hands together in delight. She’d been holding out on Jasmine for just ages. She never got to surprise her.
“Oh, only women work on the floor, but of course management is men, no, gentlemen.”
Jasmine’s face fell.
“Are you…I mean, did you, one of the managers?”
Marina didn’t notice the ashen tone of Jasmine’s face, she was too caught up in the moment.
“Oh Jasmine, he’s perfect! We’ve been having lunch together, once a week.”
“Which day?”
“Oh, Mondays.”
“Why haven’t you told me about him?”
“He said he’d get in terrible trouble for courting a floor girl, so until we’re ready, we can’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to him to lose his job, well then, how would he support us!”
“Did he ask you to marry him?”
“Well, no, not in so many words. He’s courting me still, silly.”
“And yet, he’s never asked to be introduced to your family?”
“Don’t be silly, he knows you’re my only family. We’ve only just started courting.”
Jasmine stood and walked to the window and looked out. She looked around the shabby room and then looked back at her sister.
“What is this man’s name?”
“You can’t tell anyone; I was sworn to secrecy.”
“Oh, of course not.”
“Michael. Micheal Parry.”
“The manager, Michael Parry, wants you to keep your relationship with him secret? From all the girls on the floor? What about your lunch meetings?”
“Oh, he has different girls visit him every day for lunch. Says it helps keep him fresh about what is happening on the factory floor.”
Jasmine looked up at the ceiling, clearly choosing her words carefully.
“Please, Marina, be careful. There are plenty of men who would take advantage of a sweet woman like you who desires marriage.”
Marina stood up and frowned at her sister.
“Why are you being so sour! You’ve talked nonstop about me finding and getting a good man, and now that I have a chance, you’re cutting sharp at me? Just because you lost your husband, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to find myself one!”
“Marina, please, I didn’t mean it like that. I just…I’ve had more experience than you, and I’d hate for you to be hurt.”
Marina walked over to Jasmine, and took her hand in hers.
“It’s just that he makes me so happy.”
Jasmine clutched her hands.
“Then I’m sure everything will be just fine. Go to work, we’ll talk when you get back.”
Marina swept out of the apartment and Jasmine settled at the table, flipping through the paper. There was a whole section of advertisements for mail order brides. One caught her eye: “Rancher in Montana seeking a mail order bride. Must be openminded and at least eighteen years old. Adventerous widows only. Send letter to George Maddix, General Delivery Hope Springs, Montana.” She looked down at the advertisement in the paper again, grabbed her writing supplies and began writing.
“Dear George, My name is Marina Miller. I’m nineteen years old and I work in a factory in New York City, but grew up on a farm. I love the idea of moving out west to be a mail order bride. I’m very open-minded. I have red hair and green eyes. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Marina.”
Jasmine chewed her lip, but knew that if it worked out, she just wouldn’t tell Marina what she’d done. And if Michael was still a cad, then Marina would have an escape. Jasmine thought she’d make a good
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