Minnie's Mail Order Joy (Home For Christmas Book 3) by Bethany Rose

Author:Bethany Rose [Rose, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Frontier-Pioneer Era, The Ellis Sisters, Christmas Holidays & Celebration, Christmas Time, Holiday Whimsy, Festive Season, Winter Weather, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Cowboy & Western Romance, Hearts Desire, American West, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Home For Christmas
Publisher: Bethany Rose
Published: 2019-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

“The Ellerbees are still here. Mr. Ellerbee is out; looking for investment opportunities, I expect,” the clerk said as if he were privy to confidential information. “Mrs. Ellerbee is in the parlor.”

As Minnie had guessed, the Ellerbees were special customers, which would explain why Mrs. Ellerbee could claim the parlor for her own use. But that served Minnie’s purposes too.

“Why, child, look at you,” Mrs. Ellerbee rose in greeting when Minnie walked into the parlor. “It looks like being a wife agrees with you. You’ve got roses in your cheeks. You’re taking care of your skin in the sun, I hope? I learned my lesson in my girlhood and now, I never go out without my hat. That’s a fine bonnet,” Mrs. Ellerbee said.

Minnie thanked Mrs. Ellerbee for the compliment, and for being tactful enough not to mention that it was past its season. Even in Chicago, they likely knew what were the latest fashions in millinery.

Mrs. Ellerbee directed the maid to bring them coffee. “I never developed a taste for tea,” the woman said. “It thins the blood.”

At home, the family had followed their grand mama,Lady Georgiana’s, habit of taking tea in the afternoon, a custom she had brought with her from her British upbringing. But she agreed to coffee with enthusiasm, and while waiting for it to arrive, she engaged Mrs. Ellerbee in general conversation.

“Oh, we won’t be on our way back to Chicago for another two or three weeks,” Mrs. Ellerbee said. “Mr. Ellerbee is still exploring opportunities for investment and we won’t leave until he’s satisfied that he’s made a good deal.”

“Are there many opportunities for investment here? Is he investing in mines? I suppose he invests in the sort of enterprises that will bring great profit.”

“Great profit often requires great expense,” Mrs. Ellerbee said drily. “Mr. Ellerbee is content to find opportunities where the cost will not be so high as to invite ruin. He’s a very cautious man, Mr. Ellerbee.”

“What sort of businesses does he invest in?”

Mrs. Ellerbee chuckled. “Mr. Ellerbee likes safe, reliable businesses with folks who ain’t afraid of hard work. He’d rather finance a small shop run by a man and his wife than a grand operation.”

It was now or never. “I know of one such venture,” Minnie said impulsively. “I know a man who works harder than anyone you’ve ever seen.”

Mrs. Ellerbee’s eyes scanned the young wife in front of her. “Do you now,” she said. “And who might this man be?”

“Gavin Clifford,” Minnie said. “He doesn’t know I’m here. He lost everything in the storm and it just tore him up inside when he’s worked so hard to prosper. But he’s thinking about raising sheep instead; they’re not as costly, for one thing, and they take up less land. They can graze anywhere, not like cattle, and they don’t just provide meat and milk and cheese, but wool. In five years, twelve sheep can be a herd of thirty. Maybe more.”

“Do tell,” Mrs. Ellerbee remarked. “It sounds like you’re mighty interested in this sheepherding idea as well.

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