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    Hometown Love
    Hometown Love
    Hometown Love
    Ebook112 pages1 hour

    Hometown Love

    By Mildred Colvin

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    About this ebook

    Book Two in the Birthstone Brides series—A Sweet Historical Small-town Romance

    February 1873, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas—A Clean and Wholesome Love Story

    Casey Walker is a woman who enjoys life, loves children, but longs for love and a family of her own. She devotes herself to teaching in a country school. When a widowed father shares his frustration of being unable to read well enough to correspond with a potential mail-order bride, Casey volunteers to teach him, knowing her lessons will ruin any hope of a relationship between them.

    Adam Morgan reluctantly accepts Casey’s help, not dreaming he might fall in love with his teacher. Casey is smart and beautiful. She'd never be interested in an uneducated farmer like him, but in spite of his determination to find a wife who won’t be able to hurt him, his daughter, and his heart, keep drawing him to the teacher.

    Can two people, still hurting from the past, find love in their own hometown?

    Excerpt from Hometown Love, Book Two of the Birthstone Brides series—Heartwarming Christian Romance!

    Seeing her with the flower held to her nose had caused his heart to leap in a way it hadn’t since ... well, maybe never. He couldn’t fall in love with her. An educated woman, a teacher of all things, but why else did he feel this way? He’d been surprised finding her so far from her home. Did all women act so irresponsibly? Or was it only the ones he cared about?

    “I’d rather you’d stay closer to home. I’m sure you feel capable of taking care of yourself, and in most cases that’s probably true, but not out here.” He looked around them, able to see across the prairie for miles. “It looks peaceful, doesn’t it?”

    The expression on her face softened as she followed his gaze. He was sure she’d been about to defend her right to walk where she wanted. And that he had no say in her life. “I know you are your own boss. I don’t have the right to tell you what to do, but there’re a lot of people depending on you. Your students and their parents. None of them want you laid up, or worse.”

    Again, her expression changed. This time she appeared to come to a decision of some sort. Her lashes lowered before lifting as her beautiful brown eyes locked with his, revealing a hidden hurt deep inside. “I see.”

    The house where she rented a room loomed in the distance. Adam slowed to a stop and faced her. “No, I don’t think you do.”

    He looked from her eyes to her lips. “Things happen out here where it looks so peaceful. If anything happened to you—” He shrugged. “Well, let’s just say I care.”

    As he talked, he leaned toward her, his gaze never leaving her lips.

    The lower one trembled ever so slightly, beckoning him.

    He shifted closer.

    A whisper of sound escaped as her face lifted toward his. Was it a whimper?

    No matter. Reason returned, and he jerked upright. “I’m sorry. I need to get back. Brant’s waiting for me to help.” He almost fell over his feet backing up.

    Please look for Castles in the Sky, Book One of Birthstone Brides series by Linda Cushman.

    Other heartwarming Christian romance with a focus on faith, family, and love see Texas Brides, Mail-Order Style series:

    Mail-Order Shotgun Wedding - Book One - by Mildred Colvin
    Corralling the Cowboy - Book Two - by Jamie Adams
    A Bride for Christmas - Book Three - by Linda Cushman
    The Substitute Groom - Book Four - by Regina Tittel
    December Love - Book Five - by the above authors.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMildred Colvin
    Release dateJan 31, 2017
    ISBN9781370587001
    Hometown Love
    Author

    Mildred Colvin

    Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

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      Book preview

      Hometown Love - Mildred Colvin

      Hometown Love

      Mildred Colvin

      Historical Christian Romance

      Hometown Love

      Copyright ©2017 by Mildred Colvin

      All Rights Reserved

      Smashwords Edition

      Cover photo copyright © Lenor | Dreamstime.com

      Scripture portions are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

      No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

      DEDICATION

      To the Lord Jesus above all, for without Him I would not be able to write anything. He is all in all!

      And to my crit partners who help more than they realize. Especially Linda Cushman who wrote the poem at the beginning of Chapter One. And to both Linda and Regina Tittel who helped me write the description of this book. Your changes always make my writing better.

      February’s birthstone is amethyst.

      A winter jewel so delicate and rare,

      Lavender graces the lady true and fair,

      With calmness and courage she faces life,

      A treasure to the man who wins her as wife.

      Chapter 1

      Country school just north of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, February 1873

      "I don’t like you!" A child’s voice rang out.

      Well, maybe I don’t like you, either. Another taunted.

      Cassaundra Walker, better known as Casey to her friends and Miss Walker to her students, twirled toward the younger girls who’d been playing nicely not two minutes before. One broke away from the others and ran behind a grouping of three trees which made a wonderful place to hide from the other children in the schoolyard.

      Whatever is wrong? Casey approached the remaining two little girls and chided them gently. Did I hear angry words? Janie? Alice?

      No, Miss Walker. Janie answered for both. We were just playing.

      Hmm, I see. Casey pointed toward a section of grass where some of the children played a running game. Maybe you need to play tag with the others. All right?

      Yes, Miss Walker. The two girls started away.

      Casey called after them. And, girls, remember to keep your words nice. We don’t want to hurt anyone feelings, do we?

      No, ma’am. Janie grabbed Alice’s hand and broke into a run.

      Casey watched them and shook her head. She had twenty-three students. Most of the younger ones were playing tag while the older boys played old cats with their ball and bat. Some of the older girls strolled about talking while they pretended to get exercise. And occasionally an older boy and girl would try to slip off alone. Something she couldn’t permit. She smiled. Keeping track of so many children kept her busy, but she loved every minute of it. Today was a beautiful day for early February, and they were all taking advantage of the sunshine and moderate winter temperatures.

      Casey turned toward the trees hiding one hurt little girl, her youngest student at only five years of age, and lifted her eyes to the beautiful blue sky above as she whispered, Lord, help me soothe whatever hurt has been inflicted. Little Emmie is sensitive, and without a mother … Well, You know better than I what her needs are.

      Emmie Morgan sat hugging her knees against her chest while she blinked and wiped at her eyes. No tears fell, but they appeared very close to the surface.

      Casey’s heart melted at the sight. She squatted beside the tiny girl, careful to keep her skirt off the damp ground. I know Janie and Alice hurt your feelings, and I’m sorry, Emmie. Can you tell me what is wrong?

      Emmie shook her head back and forth then buried her face against her knees.

      Casey placed a gentle hand against her small shoulder, her fingers touching the long, tangled strands of hair hanging down the child’s back. Sometimes, it feels better to talk about what hurts.

      Emmie lifted her head and looked at Casey with large, blue eyes swimming with tears. My hair looks like a rat’s nest.

      Involuntarily, Casey’s eyes were drawn to the long matted hair. She couldn’t honestly argue with that statement. Even though the child’s dark brown hair appeared clean, it was tangled beyond belief. When was the last time her hair had been combed? Casey’s heart ached for the motherless little girl while her fingers itched to run a brush through those tangled curls. What was her father’s problem? Didn’t he know little girls had to have their hair combed as well as washed?

      Maybe she could comb Emmie’s hair. She opened her mouth to suggest that very thing and stopped. Just the thought of Emmie’s father set her heart pounding. Adam Morgan had caught her attention for the first time last month at the sacred harp singing she’d started at the church in town. He had a wonderful baritone voice, had been gentle and sweet with Emmie every time she’d seen them together, and his thick black hair was never tangled. But no matter how much Emmie seemed to like her, or how attracted she might be to Adam, he never showed any interest beyond common courtesy.

      She sighed. Emmie, we have to go inside now, but I’ll talk to Janie and make sure she doesn’t say anything mean to you again. All right?

      No. Emmie shook her head, her lower lip sticking out. It’s not her fault, Miss Walker. My hair does look like a rat’s nest.

      A lone tear rolled down the little girl’s cheek breaking Casey’s heart.

      ~*~

      Whoa. Adam Morgan tightened the reins bringing Bolt to a stop. We’ve got a problem in the making.

      He dismounted and walked over to take a closer look. One fence post leaned out toward the other pasture. Reckon the grass tastes better on the other side. From the looks of it, the cattle had been pushing through the strands of barbed wire until they’d loosened the post. If he could straighten it, he might get by until he could do a better job when he had more time.

      He grabbed hold with both hands and leaned back, letting his weight help pull the post upright. Crack! He staggered back, catching himself before he landed in a pile of fresh manure. His boot heel sank in the soft pungent mud pile instead.

      Mooo! One of the cows voiced her displeasure. She was probably the one responsible for the damage and his filthy boot which he didn’t have time to clean. Why’d this have to happen now?

      He scraped his feet on a stiff, brown clump of grass, hoping to get most of the mess off. Not that there was much need. He’d have to replace the post now. If he hurried, he wouldn’t be too late. Settling back in the saddle, Adam turned Bolt toward the barn. He’d bought extra posts last time he was in Vincent’s Feed and Seed, knowing some were ready to be replaced, so this shouldn’t take too long. At least he hoped not.

      Seems to always be something to cause a delay. He muttered under his breath. Everything takes twice as long to do as it should.

      If he had a wife, it wouldn’t be so bad. She could be responsible for seeing to Emmie’s needs while he took care of the farm. He loved his daughter more than anything in his life, but sometimes he wondered if he was doing her any favors by remaining unmarried. When his wife died, he thought that part of his life was over. He’d never take another wife. But recently, he’d been thinking about the advantages of marriage. Not that he had a line of women to pick from. There were a few from church, but none he deemed suitable for one reason or another.

      He hauled a new post out to the pasture and set to work as he allowed the women he could think of to run through his mind. There was Icy Liston and her sister Missy. Amy Johnson wasn’t bad looking. He shook his head. They never gave him the time of day. If there was no interest on either side, there was no point in pursuing. Seemed so many of the other unmarried women were already spoken for.

      Thinking of women while he set the post and drove staples in to secure the wire gave his mind exercise, but accomplished nothing. He

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