Bodie as a rancher and Doyle as a mail-order husband?

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for a long story set in the Old West where Doyle answers a newspaper ad for a mail-order husband for rancher Bodie who wants someone to help run his homestead but doesn't want to get emotionally involved with them. Does this ring a bell with anyone please?

Comments

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's Nothing Left to Lose by Jane, but if you want to check it out http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/4/nothingleft.html

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

No, it's not that one, but ta muchly for the link anyway as I did enjoy the story. :-)

[murphybabe]

This may not help, but is it something to do with Doyle's brother-in-law (?) being in financial trouble, so Doyle takes this job so that he frees up money for his sister? The story I'm thinking of has something to do with Doyle going to an abusive chap first, then ending up with Bodie, and then ending up as a schoolteacher. He and Bodie get outed and Doyle has to quit his job (?) but then he is so popular that he is forgiven and asked back (??)

Not that I can remember what that story is at all, sorry.

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

No, that's not the story I was after, but it certainly sounds like one I'd like to read. :-)

I remember that Bodie sends Doyle a train ticket, and spends one night with him when he arrives. This makes Ray very happy, but then very confused when Bodie makes it clear that that was only to seal their 'contract' and it won't be repeated. Doyle works on the ranch and makes friends with the townsfolk, and I think sells something he carved in the local store, so he can save up to pay Bodie back for the train ticket and leave. Then he gets kicked by a cow and Bodie is very concerned (which makes his insistence that they not get emotionally involved even more puzzling for poor Ray) and eventually a gang of outlaws rides into town and there's a big gunfight, followed by a happy ending. And I really, really wish I could remember the title of this story, and where I originally found it.... *sigh*

[murphybabe]

Oh, sorry :(

I like the sound of your story though, so I'll keep checking back here to see if it's been found! Good luck!

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

Thank you for trying! If I find the story, I'll definitely post a link.