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  A FAMILY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY—AGNES ALEXANDER

  Samantha Whitener delivers the children of her deceased friend to their grandmother, Nellie Jenson, in Wyoming. She likes Nellie, and the children thrive under her influence. But Nellie’s son, Russ, is another matter. Samantha is attracted to the rugged, handsome rancher. But when she overhears him tell his mother that Samantha is the least useful woman he’s ever met, she knows she must return to Philadelphia before it’s too late—and she loses her heart to him completely.

  A VALENTINE PROMISE—B.J. BETTS

  Brady Wells, a half-Sioux orphan, finds work on the Triple C Ranch. The ranch owner’s young daughter, Kitty, befriends Brady, and through the years, she never misses giving him a card on Valentine’s Day. When Kitty is sixteen, Brady promises her if she’s not married by the time she’s twenty-one, he will marry her—but how can that happen when he’s set on leaving the Triple C? Even though he rides away, Kitty is determined to hold him to the promise he made so long ago…and she sets out to track him down. She’s in love with Brady Wells, and he’s made her A VALENTINE PROMISE…

  BETWEEN THE LINES—LINDA CARROLL-BRADD

  Dance hall girl Daisy Shaddock and her miner brother, Perry, work toward a mutual dream of owning a book shop. Perry’s partner, Walt Renfrid, arrives in town, dreading the promise he must fulfill—delivery of a fateful letter. Recognizing Daisy, Walt can’t resist delaying his purpose for a few stolen moments in her company. Will the news he must deliver push her away, or draw the couple closer?

  HE IS A GOOD MAN—ZINA ABBOTT

  Convinced he won’t make it out of the Civil War alive, Joshua persuades his best friend, Hal, to promise to deliver a letter. Joshua’s childhood sweetheart, Malinda, waits for him to return to her in California when the war ends—but Josh won’t be coming back. Instead, he asks Hal to deliver his last letter to Malinda—in person.

  HEARTS IN HARMONY—PATTI SHERRY-CREWS

  It seems like Harmony and Alice have been best friends forever. They are of a same mind, and he can talk to her about anything—anything except the fact that he's fallen in love with the young woman she's become. He's so in love, he's speechless in her presence. But his sister, Melody, has a plan. Harmony sends Alice an anonymous declaration of his love, promising to reveal himself at the Valentine's Day dance. What could go wrong?

  A RESPECTABLE WOMAN—GAIL L. JENNER

  A letter brings Chance Riebold to Lone Pine. Having been released from jail after being framed by his former girlfriend and her accomplice, he is ready for a second chance. As sheriff of the mining town, he’s tough enough for the job—but he’s in for a few surprises. Katherine Whitworth, aka “Kitty,” runs her down-and-out father's saloon, but has every intention of leaving Lone Pine to start a new life. The sparks fly as Chance comes to see that Kitty—far from being a loose woman—is indeed, a most respectable woman.

  CHANTILLY’S CHOICE—NIKI MITCHELL

  When Chantilly Walsh’s older brother is gunned down outside a Carson City saloon, she’s determined to save her younger brother from the same fate. Adventurous Pony Express rider Blaze Steele gallops into town and captivates her heart and soul. Wealthy rancher Daniel Braddock sets his sights on her as well, offering stability and security. There’s been a terrible misunderstanding that could change everything. Set to marry on Valentine’s Day, who will Chantilly choose?

  MAIL-ORDER MIX UP—KAYE SPENCER

  Remarrying isn’t on widower Dale Forbes’s mind, but his granddaughters want a grandma. Widow Irene Maxon yearns for something more than the disappointments life has handed her. A mail-order bride catalog, a secret letter, and a blizzard combine to strike up a well-made match for Dale and Irene. However, another man expects Irene to fulfill their marriage agreement, and he isn’t going to take no for an answer.

  Lariats, Letters, and Lace

  Agnes Alexander

  B. J. Betts

  Linda Carroll-Bradd

  Zina Abbott

  Patti Sherry-Crews

  Gail L. Jenner

  Niki Mitchell

  Kaye Spencer

  Lariats, Letters, and Lace

  Copyright© 2016 Prairie Rose Publications

  Cover Design Livia Reasoner

  Prairie Rose Publications

  www.prairierosepublications.com

  All rights reserved.

  “A Family for Valentine's Day” copyright© 2016 Agnes Alexander

  “A Valentine Promise” copyright© 2016 B. J. Betts

  “Between the Lines” copyright© 2016 Linda Carroll-Bradd

  “He is a Good Man” copyright© 2016 Robyn Echols W/A Zina Abbott

  “Hearts in Harmony” copyright© 2016 Patti Sherry-Crews

  “A Respectable Woman” copyright© 2016 Gail L. Jenner

  “Chantilly's Choice” copyright© 2016 Niki Mitchell

  “Mail-Order Mix Up” copyright© 2016 Kaye Spencer

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Table of Contents

  A Family for Valentine’s Day

  Agnes Alexander

  A Valentine Promise

  B. J. Betts

  Between the Lines

  Linda Carroll-Bradd

  He is a Good Man

  Zina Abbott

  Hearts in Harmony

  Patti Sherry-Crews

  A Respectable Woman

  Gail L. Jenner

  Chantilly’s Choice

  Niki Mitchell

  Mail-Order Mix Up

  Kaye Spencer

  A Family for Valentine’s Day

  Agnes Alexander

  Dreams of love come true when a rancher realizes a city woman is what he wants for Valentine’s Day.

  Chapter 1

  Samantha Whitener tried for at least the hundredth time to make herself comfortable on the lightly padded seat as the stage rattled across the snow covered prairie. It wasn’t so bad on the train when they first started out, though it was awfully dirty and shaky. But this stagecoach was almost unbearable. When they arrived in Cheyenne, she was shocked to learn there was no train station in Bellhaven, and the only way to get there was by stage. They told her it would take only two days to reach Bellhaven, but if the next day was as uncomfortable as this one, she wasn’t sure she could make it.

  Samantha wasn’t used to being uncomfortable. Though the Philadelphia home she shared with her aunt was one of the more prestigious and elaborately furnished on the street where the elite of the city lived, she often felt confined and restricted there. Now, she longed for the comfort of her aunt’s lavish—but warm—sitting room. She could see the chairs and settees in the downstairs area, their plush padding and the polished tables holding delicate figurines and crystal lamps.

  Her mind wandered to her second floor bedroom with its four poster bed. It had a soft mattress and an abundance of pillows so stuffed with goose down and feathers she could get lost in them. The chairs surrounding the table at her window were covered in a silk pink fabric. She had soft carpets and satin curtains and bed covers that matched. When it was cold, as it was now, the maid always had a fire laid in her fireplace.

  She missed it more than she ever imagined she would. Oh, how she longed to be back where it was warm, even if she was bored at times. But, at this moment, she sat in the cramped stage seat bouncing across the desert with little Abby next to her right side where she’d snuggled and cried herself to sleep. Young
Jamie lay on the opposite side of Samantha with his head in her lap. He was restless and kept moving about, but never came fully awake.

  The man sitting across the aisle dozed with his chin on his ample chest. Every few minutes, he let out a loud snore. She didn’t understand how the children could sleep through it.

  Samantha looked at the children and shook her head. How did it come to this?

  Oh, she knew how, but it was hard to reconcile it with the actual event. It started with a letter from her cousin, Milly, asking her to come to Baltimore. Samantha couldn’t say no. She and Milly were not only cousins, they had been best friends since they were children.

  Samantha closed her eyes and recalled the last conversation with her friend. At first, she’d denied the facts, but Milly insisted everything was true.

  “I know you don’t want to believe it, Samantha, but I’m dying—and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to stop it.”

  “I don’t want to accept that, Milly.”

  “I have accepted it…and so must you.”

  “But—”

  “I want you to do something for me, my dear friend. One last favor.”

  “I’ll do anything I can. You know that.”

  “When I’m gone I want you to take my children to Oliver’s mother in Wyoming.”

  Samantha looked at Milly in disbelief. “Don’t you want your children to go live with your parents in Washington?”

  “No, Samantha. My parents aren’t in Washington most of the time. They’re always traveling because of my father’s government job. In fact, they left last week for Europe, even knowing I was sick. The doctor told them I probably wouldn’t last until Christmas, but they didn’t believe him. Besides, they hated Oliver—and they never had anything to do with the children until he died. Then, they insisted I move to Baltimore because it was closer to Washington.”

  When Samantha started to say something, Millicent shook her head. “I’m afraid when I’m gone, they’ll send the children away to a school or let them be raised by servants. Nellie Jenson has been more of a grandmother to them than my parents ever were, though she has never seen the children. I want her to raise them.”

  “But all the way to Wyoming? I hear there are still wild Indians in the area. You know it’s nothing like Baltimore. Your children will be lost.”

  “I don’t think so. They always loved the stories their father told about the things he and his brother did on their ranch. Oliver promised to take them there for a visit someday.” A tear came into her eye. “Of course, the accident took him away from us before he could.” Reaching for Samantha’s hand, she went on, “Please, Samantha. Promise me you’ll do it. You’re the only one in the world I can trust.”

  Samantha teared up. “I promise, but I hope and pray it’ll be a long time before I have to make a trek to the wilds of Wyoming.”

  Two days after Christmas, Millicent was laid to rest in the church cemetery beside her husband. Her uncle handled the arrangements because her parents sent word that they wouldn’t be able to come back from Europe because of some diplomatic obligations. The uncle seemed relieved to learn he didn’t have to handle the children as he turned them over to Samantha without question.

  That had all happened three weeks ago. Now, they were headed to Wyoming, or maybe they were in the Territory already. She wasn’t sure. She only hoped and prayed they’d get to the Jenson ranch soon. She didn’t think she could stand much more of this.

  I only hope Nellie Jenson got my letter telling her of our impending visit and will be expecting us. It’d be awful to arrive at her ranch and she not know we were coming, though Millicent assured me she’d welcome her grandchildren under any circumstance.

  The sun was setting when they pulled into what the driver called a waystation. To Samantha, it was a shack by the side of the road. Did they really expect her and the children to eat and sleep in a place like this? Couldn’t they at least go to a town with a hotel?

  When the stage stopped, she roused the children.

  “Are we at Grandma’s yet?” Jamie rubbed his eyes and sat up.

  “Where’s Grandma?” Abby asked.

  “She’s not here, honey. This is a place where we are going to eat something. Are you hungry?”

  “No. I want Grandma.”

  “She may not be hungry, but I am, Aunt Samantha,” Jamie said.

  The stage door opened and the driver said, “Climb out, folks. This is our stop for the night. Come on in and get some grub. Then you need to get some rest, because we’ll be pulling out at dawn.”

  “Set here in the stage all day if you want to, woman. I’m hungry, and I’m getting out of here.” The man across from them scrambled out the door.

  Samantha didn’t think she’d ever met anyone as rude, but she didn’t say anything to him. Instead, she turned to the children. “Jamie is hungry, so let’s go see what they have to eat.”

  “I bet it’ll be funny,” Jamie said.

  “What do you mean, ‘funny’?”

  “All the food we’ve had to eat is funny.”

  “I admit it’s not like the good meat and vegetables you had in Baltimore, but we must be thankful that we have something to eat.”

  Samantha was surprised to see the driver waiting for her to exit. He offered his hand and she took it. “Thank you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He then reached in and lifted the children to the ground. As soon as Abby’s feet touched soil, she ran into Samantha’s arms. Jamie acted more grown up, walking over to her.

  After taking the children to the privy, they went inside. Samantha asked for a pan of water to wash the children’s hands. The rotund woman showed her where they could wash up and then began dishing out food to the passengers, the driver, and his helper.

  Samantha sat the children on each side of her on the long bench at the rough wooden table.

  Abby slipped as close to Samantha’s side as she could.

  Jamie eyed the bowl of stew the waystation manager’s wife sat in front of him. “Aunt Samantha, what is that?”

  Samantha smiled at him, though her stomach turned over and she swallowed to keep the bile from rising to her mouth. “It’s a stew, Jamie. I’m sure it’s very good. Let’s try it.”

  He was hesitant, but he finally took a small amount into his mouth. When he took a second bite, Samantha knew he was going to eat every bit of the meal. She wasn’t so sure about herself and Abby.

  Surprisingly, Samantha found it tasted better than it looked. Abby didn’t complain, either. It gave Samantha hope that the sleeping arrangements wouldn’t be as bad as she had thought.

  She was wrong. The beds consisted of small bunks built against the wall. The cover was sparse and didn’t look very clean. She was glad they’d brought their blankets inside with them. But that wasn’t their main problem. It was the thin straw mattresses that were thrown on each bunk. Samantha had never been subjected to such crude accommodations. She was sure she wouldn’t sleep well at all tonight, and knew she’d be delighted to get up before daylight to head out of here.

  Her prediction was right. She didn’t sleep much, and when the call to get up came, she was glad to put her feet on the floor. They were served a sparse breakfast of jam and toast before they climbed aboard the stage to begin the last leg of their journey.

  Chapter 2

  Russ Jenson came into the ranch house by way of the kitchen. “Something smells good, Ma.”

  “I’m not surprised you think so. It’s your favorite.”

  “Beef roast?”

  “Of course. It should be done soon. You about ready to eat?”

  “Got a little more work to do in the barn. Just came in to get that horse liniment Gabby picked up in town when he went for supplies this morning. Unless you got it out, he said it was still in the box with your order.”

  “Is something wrong with one of the horses?”

  “The one you called Sadie is limping.”

  “Oh, no, son. No
t Sadie. She’s just a baby. Is it bad?”

  “I think she’ll be alright.”

  “How’d she hurt her leg?”

  “I’m not sure, but she probably stepped in a prairie dog hole in the pasture.”

  “I didn’t put up the supplies yet, so the liniment is probably still there. The box is in the pantry.”

  Russ went into the storeroom on the side of the kitchen. It didn’t take him long to find the horse remedy. He was about to shove the box back on the shelf when he saw a paper sticking in the corner. He grabbed it and looked at an unopened letter.

  “Where’d this come from?” Frowning, he walked back into the kitchen. “There was a letter in the box with your supplies. Didn’t you see it, Ma?”

  “Nope. Didn’t look.”

  He glanced at it. “It’s addressed to you.”

  She reached for it and read the return address. “It says it’s from S. Whitener. I don’t know nobody named Whitener.” She stuck the letter in her apron pocket. “I don’t have time to read it now. I’ll do it when I finish supper.”

  “I’ll be back in a half hour or so. It shouldn’t take longer than that to tend Sophie and finish up in the barn.”

  “The food will be ready, so don’t dally.”

  Russ went out the door, and Nellie Jenson went back to the stove. She wondered who had written her a letter, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to read it. If it’d had Millicent Jenson’s name on it, she’d have ripped it open right away. But she really didn’t know anyone with the strange name of Whitener, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. It could be from some man. A Samuel or a Stanly, or even Steven, and right now, she didn’t want to know who he was.

  A while back, Millicent had written to her and told her that she had something important to tell her. But she hadn’t given her any clue at the time about what it was. That worried her a little. She knew Millicent was a beautiful young widow with two children. Children Nellie thought were probably as beautiful as their mother. She would love to see them, but if the news Millicent was going to send her was that Abby and Jamie had a new father, she didn’t want to read about it from some strange man. On top of that, she’d probably never get to see her grandchildren—and that made her sadder than anyone could ever know.