by Ciara Knight
“Does that mean you’ll stay?”
“Sure, I’ll be the cook.”
Jeb’s gut twisted. “No, I meant—”
She smiled, one of her winning, teasing smiles.
Jeb slid his fingers into her hair and tugged her lips to his. In that moment, he knew no matter what came their way, they’d be able to face it together. He nearly forgot himself, lost in the honey aroma and all that was Elizabeth McKinnie, but he pulled away when he remembered her difficulty breathing. To his surprise, he realized he was panting more than her.
Now hand in hand, they headed outside to meet his mother’s betrothed and face what came next. Ma and Frederick stood in the garden, holding hands and facing away from them.
Jeb and Elizabeth walked quietly up behind them. “I’m not sure why you’re working so hard on a garden that you won’t be living here to tend to for much longer since you’re getting married.”
His mother threw her arms around him. “Oh, you’ve made me so happy, son.”
Frederick offered his hand. “You’ll come for dinner and meet my daughter and my sister and my new grandson, then?”
“Yes, as long as Elizabeth can come, too.”
“Yes.” Frederick shook his hand with a finger-crunching grip.
Jeb reached for Elizabeth, but she was on her knees in front of the plants. His pulse raced to the speed of river rapids. “What’s wrong?” With his heart pounding, he placed a hand on the center of her back and squatted beside her.
“Nothing,” she said, the biggest smile on her face. “Everything is great, because I know why the cows are dying.” She picked a flower out of the garden and held it up to Jeb. “I know this. It’s from Europe. It’s poisonous to cattle. I brought it home once, and Mammy told me to burn it. That if I planted it the flower would multiply and kill the livestock. If it’s spread anywhere the cattle are grazing, then it would kill them.”
“I didn’t know,” Frederick said, truly sorry. “I brought it over from Europe for my wife. She liked the white flowers, said it reminded her of her childhood home. It’s spread around our home near the creek. Your ma wanted it for her garden, so I gave her some.”
“It’s not your fault. Most people wouldn’t know. It’s a pretty flowering plant.”
“What do we do?” Ma asked.
Elizabeth smiled. “We get rid of it and no more cows will die. It’s most likely grown around the creek or other water sources.”
“You are brilliant.” Jeb kissed her cheek and helped her off the ground. He knew at that moment there was no way he’d ever let anything happen to her. She’d become more important than his land or his money or anything else he could own. Because she owned his heart.
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Click here if you would like to read HIS HOLIDAY PROMISE, a Christmas novella about Jeb’s mother, Mary!
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Reader Letter
Dear Reader,
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Thank you for joining me on an adventure to a Texas ranch in 1866. It has been a joy researching and learning about the various cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances of pioneer life, and I hope you have enjoyed living with Elizabeth and Jeb for this short time.
While writing this story, I couldn’t help but reflect on how women’s lives must’ve been during that 19th century, where laws were not made to protect a woman. Their rights were few when it came to land ownership, employment, and life decisions. I am so grateful to the women who fought so hard to make a difference so that we have the freedom of choice today. I know there are still people who abuse their power today, but I am thankful for the strides and leaps we’ve made in our judicial system toward protecting people in our country.
I hope that this story touched your heart and you are walking away with a smile and a desire to read on to find out what will happen when Francine reaches Washington. A woman who sacrificed what she believed to be a good and easy life to a cattle baron for an uncertain future. Will Francine’s sacrifice for her sister be too great?
I look forward to having you join me on the next book adventure, Love on the Sound, coming in 2019.
Sincerely,
Ciara Knight
Also by Ciara Knight
For a complete list of my books, please visit my website at www.ciaraknight.com. A great way to keep up to date on all releases, sales and prizes subscribe to my Newsletter. I’m extremely sociable, so feel free to chat with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
For your convenience please see my complete title list below, in reading order:
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HISTORICAL WESTERNS:
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McKinnie Mail Order Brides Series
Love on the Prairie
(USA Today Bestselling Novel)
Love in the Rockies
Love on the Plains
Love on the Ranch
His Holiday Promise
(A Love on the Ranch Novella)
Love on the Sound
(coming 2019)
Love at the Coast
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A Prospectors Novel
Fools Rush
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Bride of America
Adelaide: Bride of Maryland
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CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
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Winter in Sweetwater County
Spring in Sweetwater County
Summer in Sweetwater County
Fall in Sweetwater County
Christmas in Sweetwater County
Valentines in Sweet-water County
Fourth of July in Sweetwater County
Thanksgiving in Sweetwater County
Grace in Sweetwater County
Faith in Sweetwater County
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Riverbend
In All My Wishes
In All My Years
In All My Dreams
In All My Life
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A Christmas Spark
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A Miracle Mountain Christmas
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YOUNG ADULT:
Battle for Souls Series
Rise From Darkness
Fall From Grace
Ascension of Evil
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The Neumarian Chronicles
Weighted
Escapement
Pendulum
Balance
