Rescuer Turned Husband?
Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widowerâs heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivyâbeautiful, adventurous and good-heartedâbut he already lost love once and doesnât dare try again.
When Turnaboutâs gossips target Mitch and Ivyâs friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesnât want to marry for honor, and she doesnât need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for loveâs sakeâbut will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?
Texas Grooms: In search of their bridesâ¦
âOh, you have a tree swing!â
Ivy turned back to Mitch with a teasing grin. âIt appears thereâs a bit of playfulness in you after all.â
âI hate to disappoint you, but that swing was already there when I moved in.â He regretted the words as soon as he saw the disappointment flash across her face.
She fisted a hand on her hip, looking quite severe. âYou mean to tell me that youâve never once even sat in that swing.â
âGuilty.â
âWell, thatâs downright wasteful.â
He waved a hand toward the swing. âFeel free.â
âWell, thereâs no time like the present.â With a saucy smile she started across the lawn. Ivy set the swing in motion, soaring high and laughing aloud.
Mitch leaned against a porch support, crossing his arms and enjoying the view.
As he watched her it occurred to him that perhaps her presence in his once quiet household was going to change his life more than heâd considered.
But it was too late to go back now.
What troubled him more was that he didnât want to.
WINNIE GRIGGS
is a city girl born and raised in southeast Louisianaâs Cajun Country, who grew up to marry a country boy from the hills of northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living their own happily-ever-after for thirty-plus years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.
Winnie retired from her âday jobâ and now, in addition to her reading and writing, happily spends her time doing the things she loves bestâspending time with her family, cooking and exploring flea markets.
Readers can contact Winnie at P.O. Box 14, Plain Dealing, LA 71064, or email her at [email protected].
He shall choose our inheritance for us.
âPsalms 47:4
To my awesome agent Michelle and my fabulous critique partners Connie and Amy, who all, at various points, helped me talk through some of the tough spots I encountered while writing this story. Thanks for your willingness to listen, offer terrific suggestions and most of all your belief in and enthusiasm for this story.
Chapter One
Texas
June 1896
âThis doesnât look good.â
Ivy gently set the hoof back down on the grassy road and patted the muleâs side. âNo wonder youâre limping, Jubalâit âpears like youâve picked up a honey of a stone bruise.â
The mule turned around to nip at her, but she avoided him easily enough. Although Jubal might be ornery at times, he usually wasnât mean. Unfortunately, these werenât usual circumstances.
Maybe she shouldnât have set such a demanding pace this past day and a half, but sheâd hoped to make it to Turnabout in two daysâ time. A woman traveling alone for this distance, even if she was dressed as a boy, was vulnerable to gossip and worse.
But it looked as if she was doomed to spend another night on the trail.
âNot that anyoneâs gonna notice weâre late,â she told Jubal, âsince no one is expecting us exactly. Iâm just anxious to find out what the mysterious inheritance is that this Drum Mosley fellow is holding for me.â
Ivy gave the muleâs side another pat as he brayed out a complaint. âI wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.â They were a day-and-a-halfâs ride from home and headed in the opposite direction. It had been several hours since theyâd seen signs of people or habitation, so she figured theyâd be better off pressing forward. âGuess weâll just have to get by as best we can.â
She turned to her other traveling companion, also of the four-legged variety. âWell, Rufus, I guess Iâll be walking the rest of the way alongside you.â
The dog barked in response and she rubbed his head, comforted by the feel of his shaggy coat and the trusting look in his eyes.