Mail Order Nanny (Book 3 of the Amory's) Read online

  Mail Order Nanny

  Rita Hestand

  Smashwords Edition

  Mail Order Nanny (Book 3 of the Amory's)

  Copyright © 2012-2013 Rita Hestand

  ISBN # 9781301926596

  Edited by: Joshua R. Shinn

  Cover Design by: Laura Shinn

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. If you did not purchase this book or it was not purchased for your use, please go to Smashwords.com to purchase your personal copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Mail Order Nanny is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns actually exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental.

  Books in this series "The Amory's"

  Heart of the Wild – Book 1

  Sweeter Than Wine – Book 2

  Mail Order Nanny – Book 3

  Dedication:

  A long time ago, mail order brides were commonplace in the United States. Women were scarce and in order to bring more westward, they began to advertise for mail order brides. Mail Order Nanny came about when three young girls decided they needed some help and their father was grieving too much to notice.

  For those that have lost spouses, this book is dedicated to you, so that you may see that true love can come more than once. Good luck and God bless

  Rita Hestand

  Chapter One

  Something was wrong, very wrong.

  One end of the newspaper curled forward as Tanka Amory eyed his brother and sister-in-law suspiciously. He folded the paper.

  "We think you should sit down," Chayton was saying as Kasie's concerned frown confirmed Tanka's worst fears. This was no routine visit, there was something going on.

  He plopped down in his easy chair, watching them closely as his hands clenched against the chair arms. Controlling the tension was not an easy task. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.

  Tanka's three daughters stood beside him, all of them frowning too. This wasn't good.

  "Okay, I'm sitting; want to tell me what this is all about?" He gazed at his children first, then his brother and sister-in-law. Casually he opened the newspaper again and tried for a relaxed atmosphere. He wasn't ready for bad news, no matter what it was.

  "Well Dad, I have something to confess…" Katie, his oldest said, backing away just a bit.

  Tanka nodded, one brow going up with question. "Okay, I'm listening…what kind of bad news is it?"

  Katie, who was eleven, adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat. Pushing back her dark hair from her face, she gulped hard. The way her eyes refused to meet his told him all he needed to know.

  "We have to go to the airport," all three girls yelled at him at once.

  This particular announcement didn't seem too bad; Tanka glanced from one to the other. "Okay, so why do we have to go to the airport? We have some kind of company coming, is that it?"

  "To pick up our Nanny," Katie announced boldly, her cheeks crimsoned.

  "Our…Nanny?" The way he pronounced the word Nanny had the girls backing up, his brow knitting as he tried to piece this bit of news together. Trying to control his reactions, he swallowed hard, and took a minute to reflect. His expression bore confusion. Silently he thought about the word, Nanny. Strange, Mary Poppins popped into his head. He certainly hadn't thought of that one in a few years, not since his youngest begged him to watch it with her one snowy evening.

  "Our Nanny…." the girls chorused.

  "We don't have a Nanny…" Tanka looked at them with a slight smile, as though it were some kind of joke.

  "Yes we do, daddy…now…" Katie admitted.

  Tanka put his evening paper down slowly, turned to look at his brother and then Kasie, who shrugged as Katie came closer, taking her dad's hand and holding it. "Daddy…I did something, maybe I shouldn't have but as the oldest, I felt it was something I had to do. For you, daddy, and for us."

  Tanka studied his precocious oldest daughter for a long moment, and then looked at her hand in his. He loved the delicate feel of her soft hand in his and for a moment he wanted to savor that feeling and forget this discussion. He wanted to concentrate on how pretty she was, and how much she'd grown, but it wasn't possible. The word "nanny" had sounded like something foreign to him. Like an itch in the middle of his back that he couldn't quite reach. He was nearly positive he wasn't going to like what she was about to admit. A cold breeze feathered his neck. He'd missed holding her hand, he suddenly realized. He used to do it all the time. But that was before…their mother died. Before all the hurt, and guilt riddled him, guilt that his wife died and he was alive.

  He glanced around the place, his eyes riveting on his girls. He had fallen down on the job, lately. Perhaps nothing drummed it into his head as much as the word…Nanny.

  His voice took on a strange quality, as though measuring his words and response. "Okay, tell me slowly, what exactly did you do?"

  "Daddy, you know the house sorta needs more than we can do. I mean, sometimes I don't have time to do it. Jewel helps but Tara is too young, of course. Well…we got together and well…I invited a Nanny to come live with us…"

  Tanka moved her hand away slowly as his expression changed first to shock, then to anger. He wanted to bit his tongue, and yet he didn't. Could it be possible that his darling children did something without even telling him? Katie was still a child, he told himself, trying to get control of a temper that was seldom if ever aimed at his children, he twisted about to look at all their faces.

  Something told him in the back of his mind, she couldn't possibly have done such a thing. Not without talking to him about it. But with the growing silence in the room, he looked at his daughter, his brother, and then Kasie. "Please…tell me she didn't do this…"

  His brother stared at him and hung his head.

  "Sorry Tanka, we sort of thought it was a good decision, I mean look at this place…" Chayton glanced in the kitchen where dishes were piled up dirty, and Kasie took her finger over the TV and drew a picture with the dust.

  Point taken, he could use a part time housekeeper. Housekeeper was a far cry from the word, Nanny. Nanny sounded much too intimate, like someone else was about to take over his household, his kids.

  "Okay, you're right, so we hire a maid to come up once and a while to clean, so what. Where'd this Nanny idea come from? Maybe you've been watching too much television. What do you mean you have a Nanny coming to live with us? You couldn't possibly have hired someone yourself. You're too young…"

  "I did it, Daddy…" Katie blurted, then seeing his tight expression, she firmed her lips.

  "Why?" The word hung in the air like a gauntlet. Tanka shot to his feet and turned on his daughter as though she'd grown two heads and was spitting fire. He knew his temper was out of place, but his reaction was pure rage.

  Katie didn't back up, instead she straightened herself to her full height and glared at her father. Tears were held in check. Fear was not part of Katie's makeup.

  Tanka had to be proud. He'd never seen such bravery in her. Obviously he didn't have the edge on her as he used to.

  "Daddy, I'm only eleven," she exclaimed dramatically. "I can't do all the housework, cook supper every night and take care of the younger kids all the time. I have a ton of homework now. I've told you I needed help, but you always ignore me when I say it. And besides, I'm n
ot fully grown yet. Aunt Kasie…she helps when she can, but she has a full time job with her kids and working part time as the book keeper for your business…"

  When had his daughter grown up?

  "I fully realize your age, and that it burdens you at times…but…but a Nanny…" His face screwed up in a huge frown. "And you did this without consulting me about it first? That hurts. I can't believe you would know where to start."

  "I couldn't tell you, Daddy. I wanted to. I even tried once, but you had your head buried in some manuals and I couldn't get your attention. Besides…you'd have just said no, like I've asked you before about stuff and you would say, 'Yeah, someday, maybe'."

  Katie stood her ground, this time, not backing away, but facing him. She was growing up! He knew the storm he created with his temper, and he was proud his oldest had learned to meet that anger head on. It made him proud as a parent, but angry as the receiver of this news. But to go behind his back, that was unthinkable!

  Chayton stepped forward and met his brother, eye to eye. "Look bro, since Gina died, you've been moping around feeling sorry for yourself and haven't realized that your girls need a woman around. They need a woman's touch, a woman who is here most of the time, Tanka. And frankly Kasie is just spread too thin. She can't take care of two households all the time."

  "A woman's touch? Look, I appreciate that Kasie is great with the girls," Tanka croaked unable to accept this. "She's here when they need her! And I've appreciated her too."

  "Yes, you have, but I have four kids of my own Tanka, and a cabin of my own to worry about, not to mention my job. Even though I love the girls, I don't have time to spend like they need. I mean, look at them; they are growing up under your nose. And you haven't been paying attention to that either. They need a woman who can help them pick out their clothes to wear each day, and see their hair is done and help them with homework, to cook a decent meal. I mean come on Tanka, Tater Tots and chicken nuggets are not what they need full time. Sometimes Tara doesn't even have her hair combed before she goes to Kindergarten. If they were boys, it wouldn't matter so much, but they aren't. This might not seem like the end of the world to you, but they are girls, Tanka. In case you haven't noticed your daughters are growing into beautiful young women…and they do need a Nanny, or mother or something…" Kasie argued. "And the younger ones need constant attention. Katie can't give it all the time. She has homework and a life to live too. And it certainly doesn't look as though you might remarry."

  "A life to live? Marry?" he repeated. "…Oh come on, she plays soccer in the fall, she takes piano in the summer. They all have their activities. What more can I do for them? I don't believe this…" Tanka walked about the cabin now like some caged tiger his shoulders bunching into a knot and releasing. They were ganging up on him. "You've all ganged up on me, and already done the damage and now you come announcing it, as though I have no choice in the matter. Why bother now? Why not just bring her in and let her take over the place?"

  Kasie smiled and patted her brother-in-law on the shoulder. "Katie worked hard on this Tanka and it's something she really wants. I think you should listen…with an open heart and an open mind."

  "Do I have a choice?" Tanka barked.

  "Not really, we are meeting her this evening at the airport. And Daddy…you can't send her away," Katie announced.

  "And why can't I?" Tanka frowned at his daughter unaware his voice boomed.

  "We want her here."

  "Oh you do, huh? Why? Haven't we all been closer since Mom died? Haven't I provided well, and been there for you?"

  "Daddy, that was okay before, but…we need a woman. And you don't know how to be a woman. There are things I'm going to need from the store and you are not going to want to buy for me. There are things that I need to talk to a woman about that you don't know anything about."

  "This is about becoming a woman?" he shrieked.

  "Sort of…look daddy, we need a woman."

  "And why can't I send her packing?"

  "Because this lady sold her house and her car and is moving up here to do this. We all three picked her out of twenty other ladies. We all liked her and we wrote and told her she would have a home with us, as long as she wanted," Katie announced. "Besides, her mother just died and she's all alone now. We can't turn her out."

  "Oh you did…without even discussing it with me?" he demanded. "I can't believe you'd do such a thing, behind my back. I live here too, you know?"

  "We are discussing it, now…" Katie's voice lowered at her father's anger.

  "You two knew about this? How long?" Tanka turned on his brother and sister-in-law.

  "A month…"

  Tanka could feel the blood boiling in his face.

  "Who is she?" Tanka smirked and moved about not bothering to look at any of the guilty faces. "What kind of woman would sell her house and car and move on a kid's invitation?"

  Now Katie bowed her head. He had her where he wanted her, but for some reason he was sure he wouldn't like the reason. "She didn't know it was from a kid, none of them did, they thought it was from you."

  "They….thought it was from me? You impersonated me? You lied to this woman…do you realize the chaos you've caused?" Tanka's anger lit the room. He never yelled at his kids, but this took the cake and he was livid trying to figure out what to do about it. Not only that but his own brother knew about it and didn't tell him, a brother that never kept secrets from him.

  "Where did you get this idea….?" Tanka suddenly asked.

  "From D.J.," Katie blurted, her face turning a bright red.

  Tanka looked at his brother. "Where'd D.J. get all this information? He's only a year older than Katie, how could he know about this kind of thing?"

  Chayton cleared his throat. "These days a kid can learn anything on the TV I'm sure, but that's beside the point. Tanka, Katie's been miserable for some time. Katie was telling him her troubles, one day as they walked to the spot where we pick them up from school, and D.J. told her he'd try to help her. You know how close they are. He meant well. One day he was reading my paper and found an ad, for a Nanny, so he called around and together they found an agency and I have to admit, he was as much to blame as Katie, that's why he has chores to do until he's grown practically. However, in their defense, I don't think this is such a bad idea. Let's face it, you aren't much good at being a mother, Kasie doesn't have time to manage both households, and Katie is frankly too young to be stuck with it. You need this woman. Despite the fact that they did wrong, they did a bang up job of finding out about these people and locating a reputable company. They went online and explored several agencies. Fortunately for you, they picked the youngest lady available. She's arriving from Texas tonight. I thought we'd all go together to meet her and welcome her. It'll make it a little easier on you if we are all there."

  Tanka knew deep down in his heart that his kids were right, his brother was right, but admitting it came hard. And the fact that they left him in the dark until now ate at him. Naturally, if he'd have known he'd have rejected the idea. No one could ever clean a home or raise a kid like his Gina. And he didn't want some woman moving into his home either.

  But how could he stop her, she was already on her way?

  Stubborn to the bone, Tanka shrugged, put his knit cap on his head and turned to look at them all. "You all invited her…you all go get her."

  "Tanka…" Chayton called, but Kasie staid her husband.

  "Let him get used to the idea. We did sort of spring it on him." Kasie smiled sadly.

  Chayton shook his head. "It's time he quit feeling sorry for himself and realized the girls need this…"

  "You are right my love, but he needs to figure that out for himself," Kasie reminded him.

  Chayton eyed his wife and nodded. "I guess you are right…well, come on girls, let's go get her and bring her home…"

  Feeling as though they'd won the first battle the girls all screeched and hollered and got their coats on. It was freezing outside and they n
eeded to bundle up if they were going for a long drive to the airport.

  ***

  Annie Mae Cartwright stood staring out at the crowd of greeters looking composed and confident, but inside she was shaking like the dickens. What was she thinking, coming all the way to Oregon to be a Nanny to three little girls she'd never met? She'd worked for the agency for three years, off and on until her mother died and never once set foot out of the suburbs of Houston. But the letters she'd received from Tanka Amory explained his dire need of help. And Annie was always a sucker for someone in need. Besides, since her mother's death she felt a real need herself to get away.

  The air was nippy even in the airport and Annie was glad she'd thought to wear her sweats and tennis shoes. She certainly didn't look like anyone who just stepped out of a magazine, but she was comfortable with herself and knew the weather would be colder here.

  Yet something niggled in the back of her mind. What if this didn't work out? Where would she go? What would she do?

  Suddenly, a party of five walked up to her with smiles as big as Texas itself. Annie couldn't stop the smile on her lips although she was shocked to find that Mr. Amory was married. So if he was married, why did he need her? She decided to be quiet and let that mystery unfold.

  "Hello, you must be Annie." The woman extended her hand and her smile.

  Annie grasped it firmly and returned the warm welcome. "Yes…and you're Mrs. Amory?"

  "That's right, Mrs. Chayton Amory." Kasie chuckled as she turned to the man next to her. "This is my husband, Chayton…and these are the girls, Katie, Jewel, and Tara."

  Annie wasted no time at all in greeting them. "I'm so pleased to meet you. I'm Annie Cartwright."

  Katie walked up to her and wrapping her arms around her, she hugged her. "We are so glad you are here."

  Touched by the instant affection, Annie responded by wrapping her arms around her. "Thank you, what a lovely greeting."