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Prologue
Paul Reynolds
This meeting is…interesting, I think as I listen to my boss and new friend, Lloyd Hollow, lay out his plans to revive the town. Interestingly, he thinks he can do it by pairing off the bachelors, eligible or not, with mail-order brides. What’s also interesting is that I was just thinking about how much I want a wife. In the last three years, my two oldest brothers have gotten married. Jensen, a professional gamer, married Jessica, a college student, three years ago in our hometown of Wesley Chapel, Florida. I was still at home then. I had just finished college and joined the police academy when they got married. Earlier this year, Logan, a professional rugby player, married Patience Winters, an actress. We all went to London for that wedding, which took place in their private regency-era club. We had to dress up like we were in 1813. It was pretty fun; I’ll admit that I had a blast and seeing my brother so happy meant a lot.
So the timing of Lloyd’s decree is perfect. I want what my brothers have. I want a life that is idyllic. I want to continue to be the sheriff of this small town with my wife and children by my side. I had a rough start in life. When I was five years old, my parents were murdered in our home by drug addicts. My oldest brother Jensen was just eighteen at the time. He raised all six of us without complaint, granted he makes a lot of money doing what he was doing, but I couldn’t imagine being in charge of the wellbeing of six little kids when I was barely old enough to vote. He did it, though. We’ve all made it to adulthood and are thriving. I have no doubt that it’s because of him.
The detective that night, Detective Newell, made everything seem so easy. Like there wasn’t blood and guts all over our house. I decided then and there that I would be a police officer. It was late when it happened, and the next morning this country changed with the events of 9/11. Needless to say, it was not a good time for the Reynolds Boys, but we survived because of Jensen. I’ll never be able to repay him for the sacrifice he made for us, though he’d say it wasn’t a sacrifice.
“You’re wrong, Sutton. A woman bred for a simple life would be more than fine with it.” I can’t help laughing at Jasper as he looks so out of his element with this. I’m laughing so hard I have to hold my stomach. Jasper looks at me like I’m crazy, so I sober up. I’ll admit that I laughed earlier in this conversation when Greyson, the town’s lawyer, told me this is how men in this town have found wives since 1850. Lloyd’s dad stopped the practice as there were enough men and women not related to pair off naturally.
“Look, I have been out there far longer than I have been here and trust me when I tell you, women like that don’t exist,” I say because I’m curious to know where he’s going to find girls like that and enough girls who think like that for all of us.
“I assure you they do, and I am going to find them for you, if you let me. So what do you all say?”
I listen as the other men in town grumble about their fates, but that won’t be me.
Lloyd ends the meeting, and I head back to the station. I’m the only sheriff in town at present. There is room for a deputy in the budget, but it hasn’t been necessary. It might become necessary, though, once I take a wife. I remind myself to start the search. The crime rate in this town is non-existent. The occasional DUI or horseback riding while intoxicated is expected in small towns. I don’t think the people of this town even know what drugs are, which I am glad of. I’ve seen enough drug overdoses to last a lifetime. There hasn’t been a murder since 1902, and the last theft was in 1979 when Peabody Mitchell, the previous saloon owner and Toby’s now retired dad, accused Orion Picard, Greyson’s grandfather, of stealing his wife’s virginity before he could take it. I kid you not; those are the last entries in the town blotter. In case you were wondering, Old Man Picard did sleep with Toby’s mama. His older sister, Tisha, is the result of that affair. Small towns ain't got nothing on reality TV. In the end, Peabody and Denise fell in love, but it wasn’t a mail-order bride situation, as Lloyd’s dad had been the mayor for a bit at that point.
The next morning, I run into Lloyd on the street as he walks from his house to town hall, where his office is.
“Paul? How are you?” he asks, shaking my hand.
“Good. I saw you were busy last night with questions from the others, but what do you need from me to get this started?”
“You’re excited about this?” he asks, quirking an eyebrow at me.
“I am, actually. I’ve been thinking about settling down for a while now and didn’t know how I was going to accomplish that here. I don’t like going out and scouring for a woman; you know what I mean?”
“I do. Okay, write me a list of things that that you are looking for in a wife. Whatever it is, I’ll be sure to take those things in account when I shift through the responses.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“Email it to me.”
“Will do. Thanks. I really think this a great idea, even if I am not sure how you will accomplish it.”
“Thanks. It worked for generations, and I see no reason it won’t now.”
After saying our goodbyes, I head back into the sheriff’s station and grab a cup of coffee before sitting down at my desk.
I’ve never thought to compile a list of what I’m looking for in a wife. I’ve already decided that looks don’t matter to me in the slightest, so I make no mention of that at all. Besides, all pussy looks the same, I guess. It’s about more than that for me. I want a connection with a woman before I fuck her, which is why I never have before. It wasn’t a conscious decision; I just knew what I wanted and what I didn’t want. Since I never found it, it wasn’t a big deal to me. However, seeing my brothers so happy, I knew I wanted that kind of happiness for myself.
The list of things I want in a woman isn’t long; I word the list in a way that Lloyd can show it to my potential bride if necessary.
Kind and caring
Wants children, lots of children, with me. I expect to be man and wife in every way.
Wants to be married to a man who doesn’t make much in the way of a salary; I’m comfortable but not rolling in it.
Loyal: I won’t stray from my vows and expect the same from my wife.
Knowing how to cook would be nice, but certainly not required, though I’m sick of eating at the saloon every night. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in years.
Team player: I am looking for a wife who is on my side as I will be on her side, whether we are right or wrong.
I am looking for a wife who will be my best friend and lover. I want love and not a marriage of convenience. I plan on getting married only once, and I want love to be an option.
