Katherine Parnell, owner of Maggie’s Baked Goods, is alone to run the family business and raise her four-year old son.
The Civil War snuffed out the lives of countless soldiers, many which were husbands and fathers, leaving Meadow Creek, Kansas, with very few marrying age men. A few women that find themselves in Katherine’s same situation, decide to meet men from other states whose lives have also been ripped apart and are ready to start anew. Reverend Strong is the one who came up with the idea. Meadow Creek needed men to help the town grow and heal.
When the good reverend approaches Katherine with his idea she tells him, in no uncertain terms, marriage is something she won’t do again. Her torment had been over for several years now, but the nightmares haven’t gone away. “I may need a man, but I don’t ever want another husband!”
Jim Sutton was new in Meadow Creek. He had inherited some land and was hoping to make this small town his home. He is also fighting demons of his own and has no desire to get close to anybody.
He lands in jail, coming to Katherine’s aid, and his only way out is with the help of this woman whose green eyes haunt his dreams.
Can they find happiness together or will ghosts from the past keep their love at arm’s length?
Excerpt
Katherine remained seated until everybody had left the church. Reverend Strong reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pennies. “If you mother says it’s okay why don’t you run over to Milly’s for a piece of candy.” Her stomach cramped, now knowing what this conversation would be about.
“Can I, Mama? Please!” She nodded and Timmy ran out.
“Reverend, if this is about…” she started.
“Just hear me out, Katherine, please,” he interrupted. She folded her hands tightly and placed them in her lap. “Next week, a few gentleman are coming to meet some of our womenfolk. Steps have already been taken to arrange marriages.”
Her head shot up to look at him, a look of disbelief written all over her face. “It’s true, Katherine. Milly Walker can’t run the general store much longer by herself while trying to raise her eight-year old daughter and Rebecca Nyst
is talking about moving back east because the hotel is just too much for her to handle.”
“Milly and Becky? We’re friends and…I mean, I know they are having a hard time, but they said nothing.”
“They are nervous and not sure they are doing the right thing,” he explained. “There’s also Margaret Sullivan. She and her two young boys can’t keep up their farm without help. And I’ll tell you something else. Lately she has been finding things missing in her barn. Lord knows who is lurking around outside of town and what they might have in mind when they find out there are no menfolk around.”
Katherine jumped up and walked to the door. Her gut was in knots. Reverend Strong gently took her arm and turned her to face him. “You and Timmy are a mile from town. You drive in most everyday before the sun is even up. If you’ll just listen to me…”
She had heard enough. She held up her hand and her voice quivered. “I can take care of my son on my own.” She closed her emerald green eyes to settle her nerves. “Reverend, I may need a man’s help but I don’t need or want a husband!” She started to turn but threw one more comment before leaving. “Besides that, no man wants a cripple for a wife!”
She turned quickly, stumbling on the first step and fell into the arms of a man she had never seen in Meadow Creek. He steadied her, his hands spanning her tiny waist. “Are you alright, miss?”
She looked into hazel eyes that were inches from her own. Dark eyebrows sloped downwards, his expression serious. His mouth was drawn into a hard line and she was close enough to see a tick in his chiseled cheek from gritting his teeth together. His strong, calloused hands held her.
“Mama?” That one word brought Katherine back to her senses, blushing and stepping away. Strands of her thick auburn hair had come loose and hung down, framing her face.
“Thank you, sir. I…I’m fine,” she mumbled. The blush turned scarlet when a smile etched its way across his face.
“Mama, your face is so red!”
At that minute Katherine prayed the ground would open up and swallow her right then and there. She took her son’s hand and with as much dignity as she could muster, walked away.
Bio
Hi everybody! My name Is Penny Estelle. I write for all ages, from the early reader to adults. My books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy, time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13.
I also write romance adult stories in many genres. These include contemporaries, paranormal and historical westerns. These are written under P. A. Estelle.
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