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A Baby of Her Own
Maude Harkey is resigned to a loveless life until a baby is born—and orphaned—at her boardinghouse home. She'll never be a wife…but she can still be a mother. Yet a boardinghouse is no place for a newborn. Enter Jonas MacLaren—a handsome, exasperating rancher with an offer too good to refuse.
Jonas can handle running a ranch—but handling his cantankerous mother is another matter. Maude matches his mother's stubbornness so she'll be a perfect live-in companion. But she's there for his mother, not for him. He'll just have to keep his wounded heart closed to her beauty, her humor, her warmth and strength—and her irresistibly adorable baby.
Brides of Simpson Creek: Small-town Texas spinsters find love with mail-order grooms!
- Sales Rank: #1110276 in Books
- Published on: 2015-03-03
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 6.61" h x .76" w x 4.21" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Mass Market Paperback
- 288 pages
About the Author
Laurie Kingery is the author of twenty-three historical romances. She won the Reader's Choice Award for THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN in 1994,and has been nominated for an ACFW Carol Award. Laurie lives in Ohio with her husband Tom (whom she met on eHarmony!). She has two children, seven grandchildren, and two dogs. She is a veteran RN of an inner-city emergency room. A Christian since her teenage years, she is a member of Quest Community Church of New Albany.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Simpson Creek, Texas, November 1869
Gilmore House
At the ripe old age of twenty-five, Maude Harkey had begun to resign herself to being an old maid. So it didn't bother her, that November afternoon at the Spinsters' Club Fall Barbecue and Social, that none of the male guests particularly singled her out for attention.
As president of the Spinsters' Club, all that mattered to her was that plenty of eligible bachelors had come from the ranches outside Simpson Creek and from nearby counties to meet the others in the club. No one was misbehaving—either from having stopped at the town saloon before arriving at the party or becoming overfamiliar with any of her ladies. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.
Her friend Ella Justiss, who was due to be married next Saturday, was having a particularly good time, radiant with the joy of new love. Nate Bohannan, the devoted groom-to-be, couldn't have been more attentive, fetching her punch and barbecued chicken, seemingly unwilling to be anywhere but by her side. By the time one of them decided it was time to have a party again, Ella would be happily serving refreshments at the party, as the Spinster "graduates" usually did, and possibly already expecting their first child.
Maude was happy for them. It wouldn't have occurred to her to be jealous of her friend's good fortune. And, indeed, with all the challenges that Ella had faced in her life, she richly deserved the happiness she was blessed with now. Though Maude had to wonder from time to time why she, the daughter of the late town doctor, was still unwed while so many others in the club had found their matches. And she did wonder how she was going to be able to stand continuing to live at Mrs. Meyer's boardinghouse without her good friend Ella.
After Maude's father's death, it had been difficult to leave her house behind and move into a rented room. The home she'd shared with her father had been quiet and peaceful, with Maude fully in control of all household matters. The boardinghouse was noisy and chaotic, and she'd struggled to settle in. Losing the comfort of her routines and the security of her position as mistress in her home had been heavy blows to a heart already burdened by the loss of her dear father.
But Ella had made it much easier to bear with her friendship and support. Maude had come to count on Ella to keep her company and chuckle with her over the quirks of some of the boardinghouse's other residents. Now she would be the only female occupant of the boardinghouse, not counting old Mrs. Meyer, the proprietress.
Mrs. Meyer had hinted only yesterday that she intended to pass along ownership of the boardinghouse to Maude when she died. Was that to be her fate, then? Running the town's only boardinghouse, with its eight rooms and mostly male occupants, with three meals a day to cook, and forever having to listen to grousing from the tenants that the beef was too tough, the chicken drumsticks too few, or that one of the traveling drummers took more than his fair share of the apple dumplings?
Her father had certainly expected a brighter future for her than that. He'd once told her he pictured her with a houseful of children with hair as red as her own and a husband whose greatest pleasure was satisfying his wife's slightest whim. Maude felt she was easy to please, so she didn't need an overindulgent husband, but the thought of living her whole life without any husband or children made her sad. She enjoyed caring for others, had cherished her role as nurse in her father's medical practice. She'd always hoped that one day she'd have a family of her own to whom she could devote her time and loving attention. But apparently that wasn't meant to be.
Pull yourself together, Maude Harkey, she told herself sternly. No one needs to see a melancholy face at a party. And if the Lord wants you to remain single, then there's a reason, no doubt.
"Who's that?"
She hadn't noticed Violet Masterson and Caroline Collier, two of the other ex-Spinsters, coming to stand beside her, but now she followed the former's discreetly pointed finger.
A man stood at the edge of the throng, hat in hand as was polite in the presence of ladies, but there was nothing humble about his bearing. Rather, he reminded her of a golden eagle perched high above a flock of sheep, looking for the tastiest lamb to pluck from the herd. The red-gold hair that he raked back from his forehead just then only served to further the image.
"I don't know, but goodness, he's a late arriver," Maude said, glancing over her shoulder at the long table that had been heaped with food before the party. "I hope there's enough barbecued chicken and potato salad left to feed him." The male guests had gone through the food like a plague of locusts, and it would be a wonder if there was a sufficient amount to fill even one more plate.
"Oh, that's Jonas MacLaren," Caroline Collier said, following her friends' gazes. "He's the man who bought Five Mile Hill Ranch, out past Collier's Roost. I heard he bargained hard with Mr. Avery at the bank and ended up getting it for next to nothing."
"Since he's here at our social, are we to assume there's no Mrs. MacLaren?" Violet asked with a sidelong glance at Maude.
Maude did her best to hide her wince. She ought to come right out and tell her friends she'd decided to stop looking for a husband in hopes that they would stop looking for one for her. She knew her friends only wanted her to be happy—as happy as they were with their husbands—but she'd grown weary of the endless attempts to match her with men who clearly had no interest. Perhaps if she resigned the presidency of the Spinsters' Club, it would make the message clear that she no longer considered herself in the market for a husband. Besides, if she was still looking, she wouldn't look in Jonas MacLaren's direction. The man looked positively fierce.
"There is a Mrs. MacLaren," Caroline informed them, and Violet gave a disappointed sniff.
"What's he doing here, then?" Violet said, indignation sparking in her well-bred English voice. "Doesn't he know this is a party for eligible bachelors to meet the ladies of the Spinsters' Club?"
Caroline chuckled. "Ah, but the Mrs. MacLaren in question isn't his wife, she's his mother," she said with the triumphant smile of one who has withheld vital information until just the right moment. "She's from Scotland, I hear, and quite a Tartar."
Maude stared at Caroline, confused. "A what?"
"A Tartar," Caroline repeated, then explained. "A person of irritable or violent temper." Caroline had been a schoolteacher before she'd married Jack Collier. Her time spent running the schoolhouse and finding answers for the children's endless questions had left her with a wealth of unusual facts at her disposal—along with an extensive vocabulary.
"I see," Maude said, giving a little shiver. "Have you met her?"
Caroline shook her head. "No one has. She doesn't leave the ranch house, I've heard. Very few have met her son, for that matter," she added, nodding toward MacLaren, who was still studying the attendees. "I wouldn't know it was him, but he came to Collier's Roost to ask Jack something about the area. When Jack invited him inside for coffee, he declined, saying he had to get back to his ranch."
"Perhaps she's an invalid," Violet suggested.
"Well," Maude said, squaring her shoulders, "I suppose I should go and introduce myself and try to make sure he gets refreshments."
It was a scary prospect. Something in the man's gaze told her he might devour maiden ladies for breakfast.
A Harkey does not shirk her duty, Maude told herself, and forced her steps in Jonas MacLaren's direction.
She saw the moment that he noticed her approaching, the way his tall frame stilled, though his eyes—hazel eyes shot through with gold, she noted, which further enhanced his golden eagle-like appearance—remained vigilant and guarded.
"Welcome to our party, Mr. MacLaren," she called out as she drew near. "I'm Maude Harkey, current president of the Spinsters' Club. Won't you come have something to eat and drink?"
He studied her from head to toe as if sizing her up. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Harkey." The Scottish burr of his voice was pleasant to the ear, though it took a little careful listening for her to figure out what he'd said. "I will," he continued, "but I can't stay long."
Maude blinked in surprise. "But there are several young ladies here who'd love to make your acquaintance," she said, forcing her lips into an appealing smile. She wasn't the only Spinster who hadn't yet made a match. Of the original group, Jane Jeffries was also still single, as were Louisa Wheeler, Daisy Henderson and a handful of newer ladies. "Why don't I show you to the refreshment table, then invite a few of them over to meet you?" With any luck, he'd be so charmed that he'd stay long enough for the dancing to begin inside Gilmore House, the home of the mayor. The mayor was a strong supporter of their club, for he was the father of Prissy, the sheriff's wife and former Spinster Club member. If Mr. MacLaren stayed through that, he might develop a fondness for one lucky girl. "I think you'd enjoy talking to Louisa, for example, or Jane—both ladies happen to be standing right over there, under the grape arbor."
She gestured in their direction, but Jonah Mac-Laren's gaze didn't leave hers. "Why don't you sit down with me, Miss Harkey, and I can explain why I'm here."
He was direct, she'd give him that. Was it possible that he had decided at first glance that she was the one for him? The idea gave her a pleasant little tingle. The man was attractive, though a little intimidating, and it was always nice to feel wanted. But she didn't believe in lightning-fast attraction. He'd have to prove to her that he was worthy of her consideration, after all, if he was going to ask to court her.
"All right," she murmured, and ushered him toward the food table.
To her relief, there was still a respectable amount of barbecued chicken, green beans, buttered rice and pecan pie left, as well as cold tea and lemonade, and within moments she was sitting down with him at a long table under one of Gilmore House's venerable live oaks. They were alone at the table, since most of the guests had arrived earlier and already eaten their fill before becoming part of standing conversational groups.
She took a sip of the cold tea he'd poured for her. "I understand you bought Five Mile Hill Ranch, Mr. MacLaren," she said, silently blessing Caroline for furnishing her with an opening. She wondered for a moment if he knew that his ranch had been owned by the infamous Drew Allbright, who'd been jailed for the attempted murder of Raleigh Masterson, Violet's husband. It seemed wisest not to bring it up.
He finished chewing the chicken he'd just gnawed from the drumstick. "That's right," he said, but didn't elaborate.
"Where are you from?" she inquired, hoping her question sounded as if she was merely interested rather than prying, so he might open up a little when he answered it. His replies weren't long or drawled, the way she was used to from Texas-raised men, but maybe that was due to his Scottish heritage. "I mean, it's obvious you're Scottish, but did you come directly to Texas from Scotland?"
"My mother and I last lived in Missouri, but only for a time. Before that it was New York. That was where we first arrived when we came to this country."
Missouri had been a border state in the War Between the States. It made her wonder which side he had fought for, if he had fought for either. The war had been over only four years ago, so it was still a consideration in whether a man was respectable or not. Doctor Nolan Walker, her friend Sarah's husband, was the only Yankee who had successfully joined the Simpson Creek community. And even for Nolan, acceptance—particularly from Sarah herself—had taken time and persistence. But if Mr. MacLaren had been in the country for less than four years, then perhaps he had missed the war entirely.
"Then may I welcome you to San Saba County? We're glad you've decided to settle here."
He lifted a brow, and she suddenly felt her remark had been pretentious. She had no right to speak for everyone, especially when she didn't know yet if his coming was a good thing or not—or how much a part of the community he'd be. Especially if, as Caroline said, he preferred to keep to himself. With the location of his ranch somewhat distant from town, he would need to be determined to socialize in order to truly become part of the community.
"Thank you," he said, after a long moment.
His direct gaze left her flustered. "How did you hear of the party, if I may ask? Did Mr. Collier invite you?" Oh, dear, did it sound as if she was prying again? Glory, it was hard to talk to such a closemouthed man. She tried to recall every suggestion she'd ever learned about conversational gambits, but she was drawing a blank.
He finished chewing, then said, "My segundo, Hector Gonsalvo, heard of it from one of Collier's hands."
Segundo, she knew, was a Spanish term Texans sometimes used for foreman, or second-in-command, especially when the foreman was a Tejano, a Texan of Hispanic heritage. She wondered if the Spanish term sounded as strange to Mr. Gonsalvo in a Scottish accent as it did to her.
"He thought it might be the answer to my needs," MacLaren went on, then maddeningly left it at that.
The answer to his needs? She could only assume the man referred to his need for a wife. Goodness, the man was too plainspoken! She felt a flush rising above the neck of her royal blue dress.
Stalling to gather her wits, she sipped her tea. Land sakes, she might as well be as frank as he was. "So you've decided it's time to settle down and raise a family, and you're looking to find a wife. Well, a Spinsters' Club party is certainly the right place to begin, Mr. MacLaren."
He drew back, and his intent gaze was now shuttered. "The last thing I'm looking for is a wife, Miss Harkey."
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic Story awith Dynamic Characters!
By NinerFan
Despite Maude Harkey's valiant efforts in helping a young teenage mother with her difficult childbirth, it ends in tragedy. Taking care of the infant until the no-account father of the baby shows up is a dream come true for the spinster. Her path intersects with Jonas MacLaren who is in desperate need to find a companion for his grouchy mother. Jonas is a tormented man. Escaping to another continent from Scotland has not buried his sins. He's bitter about love, marriage, and faith in God- all of the things that Maude desires in her life.
The author has created a strong character in Maude. Not only is Maude kind and loyal to her friends, but she kept a level head when performing a couple of emergency high-risk childbirth (I was impressed with the author's medical research). When danger threatens her dreams of motherhood, she is stalwart and brave. The dialogue between Jonas, his mother, and Maude was high-spirited and engaging. Although Jonas was curt and arrogant with Maude initially, she becomes the guiding spiritual influence that he has unknowingly craved. The combination of a good plot, well-developed characters, interesting morsels of information about Scottish culture, and a nice romance really kept this story flowing! I truly enjoyed this book!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
There wasn't really anything I liked about this story
By A Customer
There wasn't really anything I liked about this story. I have enjoyed some of the other books of this series, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I didn't connect at all with the characters, the story did not hold my attention. I kept pushing myself to finish and finally made it through all but the last 20-30 pages before finally giving up. If I can put down the book and not even care about the ending, you know it's bad. I'll continue reading this author, but can't recommend this book.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
A Wonderful Book
By Amazon Customer
“Hill Country Courtship” by Laurie Kingery is another wonderful book in her 'Brides of Simpson Creek'. Though this book is part of the series it is a great stand alone book, though there are characters from the prior books there is no series story line that makes reading the other books important. Instead with the prior characters who are a part of this story, are secondary but it felt as if the reader is catching up with a few friends.
This is Maude's story and what a story. A story of redemption and grace. There are surprises along the way for when I would think things were going to go one way, things when another way. There are surprises right up to the very of the story as well. No matter what is happening in the story grace and mercy are shown to all who are needing it. There is no overt preaching in the book but wow what a powerful message is given throughout the whole story with the fact that things are shown not preached. When words are needed they are right to the point and just what needed to be said without anything extra.
Maude is a young woman who has found her life totally different then she expected yet she has constantly shown her spirit by the way she acts throughout it all. When things present themselves to her, she faces them with grace and a bit of fear at times, but never does she walk away. She agrees to do what she must for those who are in her charge. Her spirit is there throughout the story and so her is her temper. I have to say it was interesting to see when the young lady might loose the tight control on her tongue and show her temper.
Jonas is a young man who has a secret that affects him deeply. Yet it is this secret that has made him into the man that he is in the story. A man who is guarded but will do what ever is needed to protect those in his care. A man who knows hard work yet knows what is important in life. There are things about Jonas that touches ones heart but at the same time really irritated me for he just seemed like a cold hearted man at times. Really glad that there was so much more to this man.
I have to say this is a story that was wonderful to read on a rainy, cold spring day. There was just enough interesting twists and turns that kept the book so interesting that I just couldn't put the book down. I couldn't help but laugh there at the end of the book, for I seriously thought that things had settled down when things suddenly took a twist that just kept the ending even more interesting.
I would recommend this book to all of those who enjoy historical romances that is light yet interesting to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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