Wildflower Harvest: Includes Bonus Story of Desert Rose by Colleen L. Reece

Author:Colleen L. Reece [Reece, Colleen L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781683221371
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 1994-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

For several days Nate put aside his own weighty considerations and plotted. Over two thousand miles lay between Wyoming and Massachusetts. Besides, if Rose were allowed to go to school back East, what guarantee had anyone that she wouldn’t follow her headstrong ways and fall in love with some rotter? Living in a so-called civilized part of the country didn’t ensure ideals and morality. Nate had found as many scoundrels in his year in Concord as in Antelope. They wore finer clothes and looked down their haughty noses at westerners, but Nate’s keen vision penetrated to their core. He couldn’t take a chance on a bedazzled Rose getting tangled up with a skunk in Harvard clothing!

Perhaps he should go back with her. Yet not even for Rosy would he endure another year in a strange land. He had studied hard and proved himself, but he had counted the months, weeks, and days until he could come home. The same restless, seeking spirit that had lured his father and uncle to the frontier more than twenty years earlier ran strong in Nate’s veins.

Did he dare to pray about his scheme? If he prayed and God said no, that would be it. Better to simply set the stage and let God take over at that point, he assured his conscience. He did relent enough to say, “Dear God, You know how much I think of Rose and I do have her best interests at heart. All I want her to do is have the chance to meet him. Then it will be up to You.” No lightning flash or thunderclap came, so Nate quickly added, “Amen,” and rode off to find Rose, determined to wait and watch for the perfect opportunity.

He almost missed it when it presented itself the next day. He came down the stairs of the Double B to find Columbine and Rose giggling over a magazine they hastily stuffed under a pillow when he entered.

“What’s this?” Nate pounced and withdrew a copy of Hand and Heart. He disgustedly tossed it aside. “What are you two doing reading this, anyway?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Columbine defended in her haughtiest Southern belle fashion. “Why shouldn’t people advertise for wives and husbands?” She dissolved in laughter again.

“Some of them are hilarious.” Rose wiped her eyes and snatched the magazine back. “Listen to this. ‘Wanted: Wife to cook, bake, and sew. No ridin’, ropin’, or brandin’.’”

“That’s not in there!” Nate peered over her shoulder.

“It sure is. This one’s even better. ‘You kin have yore own stove, you kin have yore own pony. Wyomin’ winters git mighty lonely.’ Here’s another. ‘Young, healthy female wants to keep company with strong, healthy rancher. Object: matrimony.’ Oh dear, do you think anyone ever answers these?”

“You bet they do.” Columbine suddenly dropped her affected air. “Mrs. Hardwick said her own sister answered an ad in a magazine like this only it was called Heart and Ring, and she married the advertiser and they’ve been happy for over twenty years!” She shivered and the mischief faded from her pretty face.

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