Why was Iva Mae still single? Mack's question summed it up. Probably because people thought he'd get around to marrying her so they thought she was off limits.
"Mark my words, one of these days she's either going to ask for your hand in marriage or leave town."
"How about you worry about your love life instead of mine, Mack? Who you going to have in your arms at midnight?"
"I plan to go down the line of old widow ladies on that far wall and give each of them a kiss to remember their youth." Mack waved his hand at the women across the room and several of them waved back.
Typical answer from Mack. The fourth-in-line Reagan brother was everyone’s friend, always cracking a joke and putting people at ease.
“I suppose you have some New Year’s resolutions?” Gabe asked after he sipped another swallow of the now lukewarm coffee.
“Not really except for my work schedule. First, I’m finishing the office and apartment for the new doctor who will be moving into town this spring. Got a couple of house additions to do since the families are adding more ‘additions’ to their families.” Mack shrugged his shoulders. “A carpenter never runs out of work, so I’ll go from one project to the next.
“What about you, Gabe? Any big changes you want to make in your life?”
What was ahead for him in 1887? Another year of making saddles, living with his father and stepmother, another year the same as last year he supposed.
“No changes that I know of and I’d prefer to keep it that way.” He’d never forget when he was fourteen and found out the man who he thought was his father wasn’t. Of course this was after the man’s death so he couldn’t ask any questions of why. It changed Gabe’s world so fast he never wanted to go through something that dramatic again.
Gabe moved from a nice brick mansion in New York to the Bar E Ranch in Kansas when his real father showed up to check on him. It turned out for the best even though his mother abandoned his sister, Mary, to live with his father Reuben Shepard, plus his new wife, Darcie and her two young children, Tate and Amelia.
Since growing up, Mary had married, moved to Chicago, widowed, and then moved back to Clear Creek with her two children. She owned the dress shop in town, even though her banker husband left her generous funds to live on.
But Gabe was still living with his family, the same as thirteen years ago. Maybe it was time he at least moved out to live on his own. He had funds to move into his own place, but then he’d have to do his own cooking, cleaning, and clothes washing. Or eat at the café…or get married.
Gabe continued to track Iva Mae across the room as she drifted to the table to refill her punch cup. As people stopped her to say a word, she responded with a smile and a touch. But Gabe felt a tinge of heat rise up the back of his neck when Adolf started walking towards Iva Mae.
“Maybe Adolf will ask for Ida Mae’s hand in marriage.” Mack remarked as they watched Adolf walking through the crowd as if he was on a mission. “He could provide for her and a family since he owns the butcher shop and a house in town.”
Adolf Bjorkman was a shy man, but Kaitlyn Reagan was trying her best to set him up with someone. He was always invited at the Reagan dinner table when there was a new woman in town.
“He would have asked Iva Mae by now if he was going to,” But Gabe hoped Adolf never got up his nerve to ask the schoolteacher for her hand in marriage.
“You never know. It might be his resolution to marry this next year. It’s almost midnight. Better get close to who you want to kiss at the top of the hour.”
Mack sauntered away, greeting people as he wandered through the crowd.
So, whom did he want to kiss at midnight? He was embarrassed to say the woman who was talking to another man. Maybe if he went to talk to Adolf and Iva Mae, Adolf would back away.
~*~*~*~
Pre-order Gabe’s Pledge now on Amazon.
Montana Sky Kindle World
Montana Sky: Nolan’s Vow (Nolan and Holly)
Montana Sky: Elof’s Mission (Elof and Linnea)
Montana Sky: Jasper’s Wish (Jasper and Julip) Nov. 9, 2017 release
Grooms with Honor Series (available and future titles)
Angus’ Trust (Angus and Daisy)
Fergus’ Honor (Fergus and Iris)
Gabe’s Pledge (Gabe and Iva Mae)
Mack’s Care (Mack and Pansy)
Cullen’s Love (Cullen and Rose)
Seth’s Promise (Seth and Lilly)
Tully’s Faith (Tully and Violet)
Brides with Grit Series in order:
Rania Ropes a Rancher (Rania and Jacob) FREE
Millie Marries a Marshal (Millie and Adam)
Hilda Hogties a Horseman (Hilda and Noah)
Cora Captures a Cowboy (Cora and Dagmar)
Sarah Snares a Soldier (Sarah and Marcus)
Cate Corrals a Cattleman (Cate and Isaac)
Darcie Desires a Drover (Darcie and Reuben)
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss (Tina and Leif)
Lorna Loves a Lawyer (Lorna and Lyle)
Helen Heals a Hotelier (Helen and Ethan)
Also, read Lilly: Bride of Illinois, a spin-off book in the American Mail-Order Brides Series.
~*~*~*~
Historical Fiction Books by Linda K. Hubalek
Trail of Thread Series
Trail of Thread
Thimble of Soil
Stitch of Courage
Strong Women: The Complete Trail of Thread Series
Butter in the Well Series
Butter in the Well
Prairie Bloomin’
Egg Gravy
Looking Back
Planting Dreams Series
Planting Dreams
Cultivating Hope
Harvesting Faith
Kansas Dreams: The Complete Planting Dreams Series
Kansas Quilter Series
Tying the Knot
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About the Author
Linda Hubalek grew up on the Kansas prairie, always wanting to be a farmer like her parents and ancestors. After earning a college degree in Agriculture, marriage took Linda away from Kansas as her husband worked in engineering jobs in several states.
Meanwhile, Linda wrote historical fiction books about pioneer women who homesteaded in Kansas between 1854 to the early 1900s, especially her Swedish immigrant ancestors.
Linda Hubalek and her husband eventually moved back home to Kansas, where they raised American buffalo (bison) for a dozen years.
Linda is currently writing sweet historical western romances set in the 1800s.
Her plans include a contemporary romance series, starting in Melissa Storm’s First Street Church Romances Kindle World in November 2017.
Look for two books, Love’s Blessing on November 15th, and Love’s Double Blessing on November 27th.
Fergus' Honor (Grooms With Honor Book 2) Page 13
