Romance Blooms in the Midst of a Rocky Mountain Winter
Winter of Dreams by Cheryl St. John
If Violet Kristofferson had known that her new employer was the town undertaker, she might never have come to Carson Springs as his cook. Yet she needs a fresh start away from scandal. And Ben Charles’s unflinching faith could be her path to something truly precious—a new family.
The Rancher’s Sweetheart by Debra Ullrick
The cowboys on her uncle’s ranch show Sunny Weston no respect—except for foreman Jed Cooper. A riding and roping contest is Sunny’s chance to prove herself. But now that she’s falling for Jed, will she find courage to take the biggest risk of all, and trust her heart?
Praise for Cheryl St.John
“The characters are delightful and
inspire anticipation for the next story.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Wedding Journey
“This well-written, sweet love story
has lots of romance and adventure.”
—RT Book Reviews on “Mountain Rose”
in To Be a Mother
“St.John’s books are emotionally charged
and her characters are well rounded.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Preacher’s Wife
Praise for Debra Ullrick
“Ullrick skillfully uses her heroine’s dilemma to prove the power of moving on from the past
in this delightful story.”
—RT Book Reviews on Groom Wanted
“The hero’s journey from what he thinks he wants to God’s revelation of what he really wants and needs makes for a lovely story.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Unlikely Wife
“Ullrick pens a wonderful, sweet romance
with memorable characters.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Unexpected Bride
CHERYL ST.JOHN’s
love for reading started as a child. She wrote her own stories, designed covers and stapled them to form books. She credits many hours of creating scenarios for her paper dolls and Barbies as the start of her fascination with fictional characters. At one time Westerns were her preferred reading—until she happened upon LaVyrle Spencer’s Hummingbird in her local store. After that she couldn’t read enough romance, and the desire to create stories of hope and forgiveness was born.
Cheryl loves hearing from readers. Visit her website at www.cherylstjohn.net or email her at [email protected].
DEBRA ULLRICK
is an award-winning author who is happily married to her husband of thirty-six years. For more than twenty-five years she and her husband and their only daughter lived and worked on cattle ranches in the Colorado mountains. The last ranch Debra lived on was also where a famous movie star and her screenwriter husband chose to purchase property. She now lives in the flatlands, where she’s dealing with cultural whiplash. Debra loves animals, classic cars, mud-bog racing and monster trucks. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drawing Western art, feeding wild birds and watching Jane Austen movies, COPS or Castle.
Debra loves hearing from her readers. You can contact her through her website, www.debraullrick.com.
Winter of Dreams
Cheryl St. John
This story is dedicated to my beautiful grandmother, Sarah Mellissa St.John, who by example taught me to call on the name of Jesus in times of trouble, to love unconditionally, to laugh a lot, to cry a little
and to always see the good in others.
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Corinthians 15:55–57
Chapter One
Colorado, January 1899
Mr. Hammond’s telegram had assured her, due to the mild winter, that the train would have no problem reaching Carson Springs mid-January. Violet Kristofferson unfolded his message and read it again, her gaze stumbling first over the name she’d chosen. She would have to remember. Bennett. Violet Bennett.
She’d barely been able to eat the entire way, even though train stations between Ohio and Colorado often had decent restaurants or a nice café next door.
Her stomach tightened now at the prospect of living and working among strangers in a place she’d never been, but she’d had little choice—her situation in Ohio had forced her to take action.
The heavy gray sky outside the steamed-over windows didn’t bolster her mood or her confidence, but some time ago the conductor had announced their destination only an hour hence. A single stove glowed in an attempt to heat the railcar, but all day her feet had been numb from the cold. Absently she checked the delicate gold watch that hung on a chain around her neck and discreetly adjusted one leg, then the other, eager to stretch. She would sleep like a baby once she was finally able to lie down with a comfortable mattress beneath her.