The Sweetgrass Bride (Chance Creek Brides Book 2)

By Mary L. Briggs

Strong willed and independent, Frankie McGregor is determined to make a new life for herself and six year old Charlie. Working for her uncle in Chance, Texas, she will be able to support Charlie and give him the life he deserves. And saying goodbye to her home in the mountains means leaving behind painful memories of the past.

Seth Murphy has his heart set on Violet Summers, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of the local banker. When a careless accident forces him to work for Frankie’s uncle, his first meeting with his employer’s stubborn niece barely catches his attention, much less his heart. But working with Frankie side by side everyday, a friendship begins to bloom. Or is it more than that?

Can Frankie come to terms with her past and allow herself to be honest with the man she loves? Will Seth unlock his heart to God’s will for his life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary L. Briggs
• Release date: May 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301139194

Mary L. Briggs

Mary L. Briggs is a wife, mother, and registered nurse. She enjoys writing inspirational fiction and is also a free-lance writer. She has had two romance stories and one mini-mystery published in Woman's World Magazine. She enjoys reading, writing, studying American history, cooking, quilting, herb gardening, and crafting. Mary lives in a cordwood home in the Ouachita Mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys the company of five cats, a German Shepherd/Border Collie dog, and a flock of chickens.

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The Sweetgrass Bride (Chance Creek Brides Book 2)

By Mary L. Briggs

Smashwords Edition

COPYRIGHT © 2013 Mary L. Briggs

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter 1

Frankie shifted her right foot, putting more weight forward in her body. Holding the shotgun up for so long was more tiring than she would have guessed. Now are you gonna get out of here, Lat? He had held his ground longer than she had supposed the cowardly creature was capable of doing. With every fidget she was sure he would turn and run.

She watched Latimer Wilson’s Adam’s apple bob up and down as he stared at her through the thin stringy, greasy strands of hair that fell over his face. The greenish tinge around his eyes betrayed his fear. And probably the fact that he’d swallowed the plug of tobacco he‘d had wedged in his cheek. He blinked hard.

I don't think there's any call for the rifle, girl. I'm here on friendly terms. I’m declaring my love for you. Give up this nonsense and come on home with me. After we stop by the preacher’s house, that is. He offered a tentative grin.

She shook her head and ignored the itch in her thumb. Pulling back on the hammer was tempting. But she didn't want him to faint right there in front of the cabin. The thought of having to touch him while she dragged him away sent a shiver down her back. "I've had about enough of you, Lat. This is the third time you've been around here wanting to get hitched. This is my last friendly 'no'. Now you get on home before I run out of patience and put some of this bird shot in your back side."

The man dropped the straggly bouquet of wildflowers in his hand and started to turn. You'll live to regret this, girl. I'm the best offer you're ever gonna have.

Tension ease from her limbs as he disappeared among the brush and trees. Good riddance to you. And don’t you come back, she shouted to his retreating back. If he was the best offer she'd ever have, then she was thankful to send him on his way. A woman could do better on her own than having something like him tied to her apron strings.

***

Frankie! Frankie! Look what Mr. Woods gave me! Charlie came running from behind, waving a white envelope in his hand.

Her heart dropped to her boots. She’d sent him into the store to pick up a couple of pounds of cornmeal. If the postmaster handed a letter to Charlie, it could only mean one thing. Uncle Wally, way down in Texas somewhere, had answered the note Mrs. Brown had sent to him almost three months ago.

Frankie sucked in her cheeks and chewed her upper lip. From its perch above the fireplace, the ticking of a shelf clock echoed against the log walls of the reverend’s cabin, beating in time with the chant of ‘hurry, hurry’ going round in her head. She scooted forward on the wooden bench as Mrs. Brown carefully sliced along the edge of the envelope with her letter opener. Sunlight from the window caught on the silver blade and sent a flash of brightness through the room.

Frankie squelched the cry of impatience that threatened to escape her throat. Maybe she should have tried to read it herself. But it would have taken too long to sound the words out. And she was in a hurry.

Every fiber in her being yearned for the reverend’s wife to just read Uncle Wally‘s answer. But there would be no hastening Mildred Brown. She was a good, steadfast woman who had her own ways. Patience is a virtue, she always said.

Frankie sighed as she watched her take time to give another look at the front of the envelope, as if the postmaster might have handed Charlie the wrong piece of mail.

Envelope open, note unfolded, her eyes followed Mrs. Brown’s chubby finger as it trailed under toe lines of pencil scribbling scattered across the lined piece of paper.

Mrs. Brown looked up, her faded brown eyes soft and sweet. He’s been sick. That’s why it’s taken so long to answer. Frankie, he wants you and Charlie to come! He wants to give you a job in his store. And send Charlie to school!

Frankie swallowed hard. She had been sure he would write that he had no interest in meeting his niece and nephew. In fact, she’d been positive he would never answer the letter, much less send an invitation. Mrs. Brown must have read wrong. She folded her arms, putting a barrier between herself and the words she hadn’t wanted to hear. It can’t be.

Mrs. Brown’s brow creased in uncertainty. Why do you say that, honey? He’s written it all out, plain as can be.

Wally Stoner had never taken the time to contact them all these years, and Mama was his only sister. If he’d had any real concern, he would have helped her and the two children she desperately needed to support. Instead, he left them to fend for themselves. Frankie cleared her throat and unclenched her jaw. Angry words spewed from her throat. If he ever cared about my mother, he would have written her years ago to find out if there was anything he could do for us. Instead, to survive, she tied herself to that sorry Harlo Wright. The last three years of her life were wasted on that mangy. . .no good. . .and she wouldn’t have died!

Mrs. Brown‘s kind face puckered in a frown. Now, Frankie. We’ve discussed all of this. It was God’s will that your momma went on home to Him. You know–

The words burned hot in her mouth. What I know is that if it had been God’s will for Harlo Wright to get drunk and fall off his mule in the creek a few years ago instead of last year, none of this would have ever happened! Momma wouldn’t have had the baby. She wouldn’t. . . the rest of the words stuck in her throat.

Silence filled the room. Frankie steadied her watery eyes on the shelf clock, letting the steady rhythm calm her raging thoughts. She would not cry. The time for tears was over when it came to the past. At last she cleared her throat. Are you certain he wants us to come?

Mrs. Brown‘s voice was soft and quiet. Well, of course I am. And I don’t know why you had any doubts about what his answer would be. You and Charlie are his family. The only family he has left, according to this letter, she said, her fingers searching the lines until she found the passage. "They’re all I have left, is what he wrote. He says that he owns a general store and a barber shop right there in the town. And he wants you to work in the store. A real job with pay, honey.

Frankie stood and walked to the window, staring through the wavy glass. The Brown’s were the only people in all of Jasper Creek that had such a window and she made sure to peer through it with every visit. Someday she would have a home with glass windows. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of Charlie.

He was always tagging along after the pastor. This afternoon, he had followed the man outdoors, unaware that his own future might be affected by the letter he’d brought home from the post office. The boy’s silky blond hair shone bright in the late afternoon sun as he knelt on his knees, digging with his fingers through the rocky dirt that was piled near a stack of firewood, waiting to be split. Probably looking for worms so he and Frankie could fish for their supper.

A warm hand touched hers and she turned to look at the woman who had loved her, prayed with her, and guided her for the last year. She owed a lot to this gentle soul, and arguing with her would be wrong. With no words to truly explain her feelings, silence on the matter might be best.

This really is a wonderful thing for you and your brother, Frankie. God’s given you an opportunity to get out of this. . .this. . .. She cleared her throat as she seemed to search for the right words. And you’ll have a good job at your uncle’s store. Just think about it, Frankie…

Frankie bit her lip as Mrs. Brown’s voice faltered. It was no secret that the Brown’s found Jasper Creek to be a rough and backwoods kind of place. Only Frankie’s love for the couple prevented her from resenting the comment that bored deep into her heart. They had been there for her and Charlie whenever they needed someone to help make a decision. . .or make soap,