Hannah's Dream by Linda Ford

Author:Linda Ford [Ford, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Honesty & Trust, Romantic Schemes, Christian Stories, Wild Rose Country Series, historical romance, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Beautiful & Feisty, Women's Fiction, Clean & Wholesome, Faith Based, Love Inspired, Forever Love, Lifetime Love, 19th Century, second chances, Bachelor, American West, Single Woman, Western & Cowboy Romance, Inspirational Reads, Love-Family & Forever, Frontier & Pioneer, Home & Family
Amazon: B075RRM5B8
Publisher: Crocus Mountain Publishing
Published: 2017-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Jake held the chair as Hannah took her place in the Regal’s dining room. She'd cleaned up really nicely. She'd brushed her hair until it shone enough to make him think of a mink he'd once seen. He fought an urge to touch it to see if it were as smooth and soft as the animal's fur.

She wore a snowy white blouse with a narrow clip at the neck with some sort of clear stone that caught the light and shafted it into a rainbow of colors. Could it be a diamond? He hardly thought so. A woman who owned diamonds wouldn't be scrubbing smoke-damaged walls.

She nodded her thanks as he pushed the chair in for her. He took his place across from the table, hoping he'd cleaned up as nicely as she. He'd chosen a white shirt with a black string tie and his best black trousers. He'd even cleaned and polished his boots until they gleamed.

She leaned forward, smiling. "This is as nice as I imagined. All the white linen and sparkling white china." She took her time looking around the room. "Maybe someday my dining room will be as pleasant."

The waitress handed them menus, sparing him from speaking the words springing to his mind—that he doubted she would ever get her dining room useable let along fancied up like this one.

"Roast turkey. Sounds good." He hoped they provided large servings. He was starving.

"Sounds good to me, too," Hannah said.

The waitress filled the crystal water goblets and took their orders. Jake wished for something a little sturdier for his big hands but gingerly took the glass and sipped his water, unable to think of anything to say.

Hannah leaned forward. "See that old couple over there. He's so sweet. Look at the way he tries to please her." She watched them.

Jake kept his gaze on Hannah wondering about her observation. "The old gentleman is taking care of his wife," he said. "Seems contrary to your stand on independence."

She slowly brought her gaze back to him. "Not at all. A person can be thoughtful and gentle and caring without robbing another of the right to make their own decisions. My father taught me that. There wasn't a more thoughtful man." She turned back to watching the older couple. "In fact, if he'd lived I can imagine him and Mother like that."

He waited for their meals to be placed in front of them and inhaled the rich aroma of turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a mound of peas and carrots. "A dead father, idealized, makes for stiff competition for any man." He knew he could never measure up to the standard her father set. Not that he wanted to. A woman like Hannah would be constantly challenging him. Life was complicated enough without asking for more trouble.

She concentrated on her meal for a moment. "I would never want anyone who didn’t make me feel special like my father did." He thought he saw sadness, regret even, in her eyes

"How did he do that?"

"He encouraged my independence.

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