An Unexpected Partnership
After arriving in Minnesota Territory with her sisters to claim their late fatherâs hotel, Elizabeth Bell is shocked to learn her inheritance comes with a handsome co-owner. After too long working for a domineering boss, Elizabeth yearns to be in controlâof the hotel and her life. But Jude Allen wonât sell his share, and Elizabeth refuses to leave.
Rescuing soiled doves and giving them hotel jobs is Judeâs way of redeeming his past. Heâs counting on rough frontier life driving his new business partner away before she learns the scandalous truth and demands he stop his mission. But he may have underestimated Elizabeth...and the power of love to turn a complication into a bright new beginning.
âI could make you leave right now, if I wanted.â
Elizabethâs face grew still as she studied him.
âI wonât do that,â Jude said a bit quieter. âI wouldnât turn any woman out on the street, especially Clarenceâs daughters.â
âThank you for that.â
âBut I have no interest in having a business partner.â Especially a woman. âSo my proposition still stands. You and your sisters may stay at the Northern, and if you make it until January I will put your name on the deedâand no more talk of buying my share. Itâs not for sale and it wonât be for sale. Are you amenable to my proposition?â
âI agree. My sisters and I will live and work at the Northern until January, when you will add us to the deed. At that time, we will address the terms of our partnership.â She held out her hand to shake his.
He took her hand and was surprised at the strength in her grip. She was a confident woman, heâd give her that.
The only thing that worried him was keeping his rescue work hidden. He wasnât ashamed of his work, but most people didnât understand why he did what he did. If she learned the truth, heâd have to explain to her about his past, and that was something that he was ashamed of.
Dear Reader,
The Little Falls War was an important moment in the history of my hometown, yet few people are familiar with the story. Since this is a work of fiction, some of the information was condensed or combined, and some of the people involved are a work of my imagination, but many of the people and events I wrote about are true. For more about the real history behind this story (and the others in the Little Falls Legacy miniseries), please visit my website at www.gabriellemeyer.com.
As always, thank you for spending time with me in Little Falls. It is my prayer that this story has entertained, educated and inspired you to dig deeper into the history of your own hometown.
In His name,
Gabrielle Meyer
GABRIELLE MEYER lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four young children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events. Gabrielle can be found at www.gabriellemeyer.com, where she writes about her passion for history, Minnesota and her faith.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, âEvery kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.â
âMatthew 12:25
To my dear writer friends, Lindsay Harrel, Alena Tauriainen and Melissa Tagg. Thank you for the countless hours of brainstorming, critiquing and encouragement. I canât imagine walking this journey without you.
Chapter One
Minnesota Territory
June 26, 1857
There was no telling what awaited Elizabeth Bell and her two sisters when they reached the Northern Hotel. Elizabeth inhaled the humid air, wishing for a breeze as the stagecoach lurched and swayed over the Woodâs Tail. They had left St. Paul early that morning and her anticipation had mounted with each passing mile. By nightâs end she would know how much work lay ahead before they could open the hotel. Maybe, just maybe, they would finally have the lives they had dreamed about since Papa abandoned them four years ago.
The last vestiges of daylight streaked across the sky, casting long shadows over Grace, who sat across from Elizabeth. A sudden bump forced Elizabeth to dig her feet into the floor to stay seated. She clutched Rose tighter on her lap so her little sister wouldnât fall.
âGrace?â Elizabeth spoke quietly so she wouldnât wake Rose.
Grace, just barely nineteen, stared out the window with thinly veiled hostility, unwilling to acknowledge Elizabeth. She had not wanted to leave their home in Rockford, Illinois, and had made the weeklong trip unbearable. âCould you hold Rose for a bit? Iâd like to look at Papaâs letter one more time to make sure weâre going to the right place.â