Wagon Train Reunion
Second-Chance CourtshipAbigail Black had no choice but to break Ben Hewitt's heart years ago. Her parents had picked another, wealthier groom. Now widowed and destitute, she's desperate to leave her old life behind. The wagon-train journey to Oregon is full of dangers, but she'll face anything–even Ben–for a fresh start.Ben knows better than to trust Abby again. Between her family's snobbery and his family's protectiveness, avoiding her should be easy. Yet he's still moved by Abby's sweetness and beauty…along with a sadness and strength he never noticed in her before. Forgiving past wrongs would be a struggle–but the hardest struggle would be letting Abby go once more.Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
Читать Wagon Train Reunion онлайн беплатно
Second-Chance Courtship
Abigail Black had no choice but to break Ben Hewittâs heart years ago. Her parents had picked another, wealthier groom. Now widowed and destitute, sheâs desperate to leave her old life behind. The wagon-train journey to Oregon is full of dangers, but sheâll face anythingâeven Benâfor a fresh start.
Ben knows better than to trust Abby again. Between her familyâs snobbery and his familyâs protectiveness, avoiding her should be easy. Yet heâs still moved by Abbyâs sweetness and beautyâ¦along with a sadness and strength he never noticed in her before. Forgiving past wrongs would be a struggleâbut the hardest struggle would be letting Abby go once more.
Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
âI will learn to do this,â Abby said through gritted teeth.
Ben thought of all the things heâd observed her doâhow she helped her father with the oxen, how sheâd learned to use the reflector oven, how she walked many miles every day. âI think youâll do just about anything you set your mind to.â
She slowly brought her attention to him. âYes?â
âI enjoy hearing you sing.â His tongue grew heavy. âI appreciate the way you help Emma with the sick ones.â So many things sprang to his mind. How patient she was with her demanding motherâ
A mother who exerted such tight control over Abby. That was her problem, and he did not intend to let it become his.
âThank you.â She seemed uncertain as to how to respond.
He had run out of things to say. Or at least, things he thought he could safely say. âWell, then, good night.â
He strode back to the Hewitt wagon as if a wild animal was on his tail. He still had to endure miles and months of traveling in Abbyâs company. But after six years he should be good at ignoring his feelings for her.
There was no future possible between himself and Abby.
* * *
Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail
Wagon Train Reunionâ
Linda Ford, April 2015
Wagon Train Sweetheartâ
Lacy Williams, May 2015
Wagon Train Proposalâ
Renee Ryan, June 2015
LINDA FORD lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, near enough to the Rocky Mountains that she can enjoy them on a daily basis. She and her husband raised fourteen childrenâfour homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids, and assorted friends and relatives.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
âIsaiah 43:2
I personally know many who have suffered losses and events that have left them hurting, broken and filled with doubt and guilt. You know who you are. Through the love of God may you find healing and wholeness. This story is dedicated to you.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Linda Ford for her contribution to the Journey West miniseries.
Contents
Independence, Missouri May 1843
Benjamin Hewitt stared. It wasnât possible.
He blinked to clear his vision. If the man struggling with his oxen didnât look like Abigailâs father, he didnât know a cow from a chicken. But it couldnât be Mr. Bingham. He would never subject himself and his wife to the trials of this journey. Why Mrs. Bingham would look mighty strange fluttering a lace hankie and expecting someone to serve her tea in a covered wagon.
The man must have given the wrong command because the oxen jerked hard to the right, yanking the wagon after them. The rear wheel broke free and wobbled across the ground, coming to rest against another wagon. The first wagon leaned drunkenly on one corner. A chest toppled out the back, followed by a wooden table. When it hit the ground the legs snapped and flew in four different directions. A woman followed amid a cascade of smaller items, shrieking, her arms flailing. Ben chuckled. She looked like a chicken trying to fly and she landed with a startled squawk on pillows and bedding.
Benâs amusement ended abruptly. He liked the idea of moving West but there had been times he felt as out of control as that woman.
âMother, are you injured?â A young woman ran toward her mother. Making the comparison sparked by the wagon driver worse, she even sounded just like Abigail. At least as near as he could recall. Heâd succeeded in putting that young woman from his mind many years ago.
