An Unlikely Love

Irresistible Adversary

With her focus firmly on spreading her message of temperance, Marissa Bradley is taken by surprise when she meets Grant Winston. Still in mourning for her brother, whose tragic death due to strong drink drives her to speak out on the subject, Marissa cannot think of romance. Yet Grant’s charm draws her in.

Intrigued by the pensive young woman, Grant determines he must learn more about her. But he never expected to find her protesting his family’s vineyard! When he learns her reasons, he’s sympathetic, but Grant can’t walk away from the business that supports his family and provides his mother a home. How can he choose between his and Marissa’s growing love and his family’s very livelihood?

“I—I think it’s best if we say goodbye, Grant.”

The words took him like a punch to the gut. He stiffened, stared at her rigid back. “You mean, for us to go our separate ways?”

She flinched, nodded.

“Then turn around and look at me and tell me that’s what you want.”

She shook her head. Her hand, pale against her dark gown, fisted. “I can’t.”

His heart jolted. He sucked in air. “Why not? It should be easy enough if it’s what you want.”

“But it’s not!” She whipped around, her eyes anguished, wet tracks of tears glistening on her cheeks. “It’s what has to be. And I’m not—not strong enough to do what I must, when you—when I’m— I have to go.” She spun back around toward the dock.

He caught her hand, took her into his arms. She pushed against him, then grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, buried her face against his chest and burst into tears.

Award-winning author DOROTHY CLARK lives in rural New York. Dorothy enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the United States doing research and gaining inspiration for future books. Dorothy believes in God, love, family and happy endings, which explains why she feels so at home writing stories for Love Inspired Books. Dorothy enjoys hearing from her readers and may be contacted at [email protected].

An Unlikely Love

Dorothy Clark

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

—Romans 14:13

This book is dedicated with affection and deep appreciation to all of the talented Love Inspired Historical authors who graciously, unfailingly rush to cheer for, help, commiserate with or pray for each other as the occasion demands. You ladies are the best!

And Sam.

This is the tenth book since we joined forces as critique partners and you’ve stuck with me through them all. Ten books, Sam! How do I thank you for that?

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Your Word is truth. Thank You, Jesus.

To God be the glory

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

August 1874 Chautauqua Lake, New York

The steamer lurched, vibrated. The whistle blew. They were under way. It wouldn’t be long now. Marissa caught her balance and pressed her hand hard over her stomach. Laughter and excited chatter rose around her. It seemed as if everyone on the boat was talking about the Chautauqua Assembly program. Snippets of conversations about the Bible studies, teacher training classes, musical entertainments, recreational activities and lectures the assembly offered swelled to an uncomfortable din.

The lectures. She squeezed the small velvet purse dangling from her wrist, felt the stiffness of the two letters inside and took another breath against the roiling in her stomach. The hum of voices drowned out the patter of the rain against the window at her back. She swept her gaze over the people crowded onto benches or standing shoulder to shoulder in the large cabin and gauged her chances of making it to the door.

“Excuse me.” She turned sideways, edged through the crowd and slipped outside. The hubbub of the other passengers aboard the Colonel Phillips faded to a low murmur. A cool mist from the falling rain swept under the floor of the upper deck and peppered her face. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and looked around. Lantern light from the windows spread a golden gleam across the wet deck, glistened on the railing. She pulled the hood of her waterproof coat forward, took a cautious step toward the front of the ship, another, then stopped.

“Are you all right, miss?”

A man strode toward her out of the darkness. Obviously, he had no problem walking aboard a moving vessel. She nodded, wiped the moisture from her face. “I’m fine. It’s only that I’m unaccustomed to walking on a floor that quivers beneath my feet. It’s a little unnerving.”