Brenna is determined to do what she needs to survive, for her son's sake. Marriage isn't in her plans but neither is giving up. Her happiness doesn't matter, providing for her son's future does - if only he would stop fighting her every step of the way.
When she discovers her dead husband has left their little family lacking, she decides to seek employment. The only problem is that jobs are scarce but men are plentiful in Freedom. Marriage may be the only way out of her situation.
What will happen when two people are forced together to save a child? Can a man run away from trouble only to find his future in Freedom? Matthew & Brenna must come together to save the one person trying to tear them apart.
EXCERPT:
“Heads
up!” The shout went out on the docks of yet another mishap as Matthew felt
something slam into the left side of his head and he went down. Stars danced in
front of him as he lay there, trying to clear his vision. He felt blood gushing
from his left temple and he pulled his shirt up to put pressure on the flow.
He
saw two pair of feet come up next to him. “You hurt bad, kid?” He recognized
that voice.
“You
should be more careful. Accidents can happen in a moment around here. You
should probably pay closer attention.” The other man’s voice mocked him,
reminding him of their promise.
“We
been watching you. Heard you been asking some questions that don’t need
asking.” The first man’s voice hinted of the unspoken threat. “You should get
that head looked at and take the rest of the day off. Boss will probably want
to check in with you tomorrow morning to make sure you ain’t permanently hurt.”
“Let
us help you up.” Matthew felt hands haul him to his feet. They gave him a wet
rag to press against the wound. The two men leaned in closer to him and the
first man quietly said, “I knew your father. A good man. We’re gonna give you a
choice. Take this and disappear tonight. Disappear before the boss man can talk
to you and don’t come back. We ain’t seen you and we don’t know where you
went.” The man pressed a crumpled up wad of paper in his hand.
“If
you show up tomorrow morning, kid, it means you made the wrong choice. Mr.
Anthony won’t be as forgiving as we been.” The second man sneered at him. “Now,
leave.”
***
Brenna
Jo Wayne sat at the table in her kitchen, with her head buried in her hands.
Since Amos had passed, life had become a challenge. The money Amos had brought
in from his mining was gone. She remembered the day after his death when she’d
gone to the bank to withdraw a few funds to pay the bill at the mercantile.
“What
do you mean it’s all gone?” she whispered in a barely controlled voice that was
laced with shock. “Where did it go?”
The
poor teller looked at her in pity. “Well, unfortunately, your husband came in
s-s-several weeks ag-g-go,” he stuttered. “He said that he had an investment
opportunity. He withdrew the entire amount.”
She
had turned and walked out of the building in a stupor, not sure where to turn.
She and Silas had nothing. Absolutely nothing.
***
“Ma,
what’s for breakfast?”
Brenna
lifted her head at the sound of her son’s voice. She quickly wiped her eyes and
turned. “Charlie gave me some strawberry jam yesterday when I left work, so I
thought it would taste good on some bread this morning.”
Silas
stomped into the kitchen and scowled as he sat. “Bread and jam again? Can’t you
cook anything else?”
“I’m
sorry, son. With your Pa gone, money is scarce and we’re barely surviving off
the mercy of others. You know that.” Brenna spoke softly but firmly. Silas had
been going through a rough time since Amos passed. Silas regretted he couldn’t
do more to keep the place running, but twelve years old was too young to be the
man of the house.
“What
did you pack me for lunch?” Silas inquired. “Oh, wait, don’t tell me. Bread and
jam.” He glared at her as she nodded.
“I’ll
see if Charlie has anything extra she can spare when I go to work today. It’s
not easy asking for help but it’s what I’ll have to do.” Her voice trailed off
as Silas rolled his eyes.
“If
Pa was here, he’d make sure we had plenty of food. Maybe you ain’t trying hard
enough.”
Brenna
took a deep breath and willed herself to stay calm. “Well, he’s not here and
I’m doing my best. And the word is ‘aren’t.’ Maybe you aren’t trying hard
enough.”
Silas
stood, his hands clutched into fists. “I hate school. I want to work and try my
hand at mining, like Pa. If he was here, he’d let me.” He grabbed his lunch
from the end of the table and stormed out of the house.
Brenna
shook her head as he left. She didn’t know what to do with him. Maybe she
should let him get a job. Education was important but so was being able to
survive. She’d turned down two offers of marriage since Amos died, feeling that
she would be tarnishing his memory if she remarried so quickly. Neither man
interested her in any way but Silas was in great need of a father. Perhaps she
should accept what she could get and tolerate whomever God sent her way. After
all, she hadn’t loved Amos when they’d married but after thirteen years of marriage,
she’d been comfortable with their arrangement. Only, she hadn’t expected to be
a widow at thirty years old.
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