Chapter 1

Walking along the boardwalk, Elizabeth didn't really pay attention to her surroundings. She needed to get to the mercantile before her Mama noticed she was gone. She finally reached her destination and entered the little establishment. Walking over to the bulletin board, she found what she was looking for.

The store clerk, Mr. Jacobs had posted all of the ads of men looking for wives. Reaching up she grabbed the one closest to her. It read: I am in need of a wife. Must be at least twenty years of age and must be a Christian. Needs to know how to cook, clean, and look after children.

She noticed it was only signed Will Darcy and there was an address on the bottom to write back to. Clutching it to her chest, she hurriedly made her way out of the store and back home. A few minutes later, Elizabeth burst in to her older sister's bedroom, and jumped on the bed.

"Elizabeth, what has gotten you all excited?" Jane curiously asked her sister.

"I have found an ad for a mail order bride and I am going to answer it."

"No, you can't do that. Mama and Papa are never going to let you travel to meet a stranger. There are many young men here in town that are eligible for marriage." Jane announced and sat on the bed next to her sister.

"Jane, I have already spoken to all of the young men and none of them are interested in me. I am too outspoken and unladylike for them. I am going to answer it and if he wants me to be his wife then I will talk to Mama and Papa." Elizabeth said and stubbornly set her jaw.

Jane looked in to her sister's hazel eyes and knew there was no way she would be able to convince her otherwise. Her sister didn't always act ladylike and was quite outspoken, but she didn't want to lose her. "Are you sure this is what is best?"

"Yes I am sure. I will leave you now. I need to answer his ad and get the letter sent out today." She pressed a kiss to her sister's cheek and scrambled off the bed. Making her way down the hall, she passed her three other sister's bedrooms and finally reached hers. Shutting the door so none of her sister's would interrupt her, Elizabeth found a pencil and paper.

I am writing to answer your ad for a wife. I know how to cook, clean, and I have three younger sisters, so I have spent time taking care of them since they were babies. I just turned twenty years old and have been a Christian my whole life.

She signed it simply Elizabeth Bennet. Folding it up, she stuffed it in an envelope and sealed it. For the second time that day, she ran out of the house towards the post office. Once that was sent away, Elizabeth found herself slowly walking back home.

If Will Darcy decided she was what he wanted for a wife, then she needed to find a way to tell her parents. Elizabeth had grown up in the little town of Meeker, Massachusetts. Her parents had five daughters and her mother was desperately trying to find them all husbands. At twenty she was the only daughter, her mother was giving up on.

No man in Meeker wanted to marry a young woman who spoke up for herself when she was angry or when someone tried to order her around. They all wanted a wife who was soft spoken and only worried about the house hold chores. Elizabeth wanted to find a different man, who appreciated who she was, and maybe being a mail order bride was the answer.

A reply to the letter came a few days ago. You are exactly what I am looking for Miss Bennet. I have enclosed train fare and a stagecoach ticket. I hope to see you in Texas in two weeks. Will Darcy.

Elizabeth folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. She safely put the money in her reticule, along with the stagecoach ticket. Now all she had to do was tell her parents. Walking down the stairs, she found her Papa sitting in his study, a newspaper held in front of his face. "Papa, may I speak to you?"

Mr. Bennet lowered a corner of the paper and raised a brow at his daughter, "Of course, Elizabeth. Come in and sit down."

She perched on the edge of one of the chairs and fingered the letter in her hand. "I found an ad in the mercantile for a gentleman out west in search of a wife. I wrote him back a few days ago and reserved a reply."

He set his paper on the desk. "What are you talking about?"

"I have decided to become a mail order bride. I leave for Texas in four days."

Raising his hand, he ran it through his graying hair. Of all the ideas his daughter has come up with, this one was the worse. "Elizabeth, why did you decide to become a mail order bride? There are plenty of young gentlemen here in town. You don't have to leave to marry a complete stranger."

"Papa, you know that I am too outspoken and unladylike for the men in town. I want to live an adventure and maybe have a husband who doesn't mind how I act sometimes."

He sighed when he saw the familiar stubborn set of her jaw and the determination in her eyes. "I suppose if I say no, you are still going to go?"

"Yes, I am twenty years old Papa and I want to have a family of my own. I know I won't be able to have that here, but I will find that out in Texas."

"Do you want to tell your mother, or should I?" he asked and she saw that familiar twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Would you tell her? I am afraid she would throw me out or lock me in my room until I came to my senses." She said and knew her mother was not going to take the news well. Mrs. Bennet was set on marrying her five daughters to handsome rich gentlemen in town.

Her father stood to his feet and held out his hand for his daughter. "I think it would be best if we told the whole family together, but I am sure Jane already knows."

She sheepishly hung her head, "I went to Jane first with the idea. She was against it to start with, but once she saw I wasn't backing down or changing my mind, and then she finally agreed to it."

They made their way to the parlor and Mr. Bennet got everyone's attention. Mrs. Bennet's eyes went round as he made his announcement, before she fell back in her chair. Jane and Mary jumped out of their chairs and ran to give her a hug, while Kate and Lydia whined that they wanted to get married.

Elizabeth escaped a few minutes later and went up to her room. She had just fallen on the bed when a knock sounded on her door. "Come in Jane."

Her sister stuck her head in and frowned. "How did you know it was me?"

"I knew you would be the only one who would come looking for me. How is Mama?" she asked as Jane walked further in to the room and fell on the bed beside her.

"She is currently ranting about you going away to the wilderness and never seeing you again. I think she also said something about Indians, robbers, and them taking you captive." She muttered and rolled her eyes.

"None of that is going to happen. Mama will see me again, if any of my sister's decides to marry. I wouldn't miss your weddings."

Jane wrapped an arm around her sister. "Are you sure about this Elizabeth? You can always write him back and say you had a change of heart."

"I can't do that Jane and I won't. I have already made up my mind."

"When do you leave?"

"In four days. I need to start packing."

Jane wiped a tear from her eye, "I will help you pack."

Elizabeth pushed herself to a sitting position. In two weeks I will be meeting the man I am to marry.