Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins
Authors: Johanna Jenkins
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stew, and Kale had stuffed himself with the homemade meal, he stood and asked Alicia, “If you’re ready, Miss Meyers, I can show you to Clara’s boarding house now.”
“Alright,” Alicia replied. “So tell me more about your ranch. Do you have hands to work for you?”
“I have a couple. Jose, my foreman, handles the more delicate tasks and he works with a young man from a neighboring town, showing him the ropes so to speak.”
“So what do you do for fun here?”
“My ranch takes up most of my free time, but occasionally I attend a social function at the church.”
“Oh,” Alicia smiled. “Well, maybe we can do something about finding a life here.”
“I don’t mind my life,” Kale said. “I like raising cattle and using the Earth to do it right. I’m blessed to have so much and I try hard to remember to be thankful every day.”
Kale showed Alicia into Clara’s boarding house and set her luggage down at the door. It smelled of apples and cinnamon as they stepped into the sitting room. It wasn’t the most modern place in Westin, but Kale knew Clara’s prices and services couldn’t be beat. Her rooms were spacious, always clean, and Clara still cooked three meals a day for her guests. Clara had taken over the boarding house when her mother had passed away. Kale looked around at the furniture, marveling at the pristine couches and pretty floor rugs. Older and well-worn they still seemed to work well for visitors and such.
He’d never taken the liberty of a tour, but had no doubt that Clara ran a tight ship. With her black hair just going gray, she was still spry for a woman of fifty. Her soft and welcoming attitude reassured her customers that nothing would go amiss at her place. If that didn’t do it, her steely gray eyes surely would. Thankfully she’d never had much trouble over the years she had run the boarding house.
“If you’ll excuse the early hour Miss Clara,” Kale smiled. “This is Miss Alicia Meyers. Alicia, this is Ms. Clara Caulburn. She’s run this boarding house since before I came to town.”
“It’s lovely to meet you dear. You come with me while we let Kale put your things in your room. Just so you know, we don’t allow male visitors after five on weeknights, three on the weekends. Sundays are reserved for worship time. Also, breakfast is served promptly at eight. Lunch is at noon, with a snack between two and three, and dinner at six p.m. If you’re not going to be here, please let me know. If you’re going to be late, please let me know. Other than that I’ll expect you to be here for meals. No male visitors may enter your room upstairs for any reason, outside a life threatening emergency.”
Kale felt a pang of irritation even as he lugged Alicia’s luggage up to her room. Had the young woman even read his letter? It didn’t appear as if she knew anything about hard work. He needed someone who could work beside him, not someone he needed to pamper and smother with attention.
He saw her settled and then told Alicia, “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon to take you out to the ranch, if that suits you. We’ll see how you and the cattle get along.” He smiled and reached out his hand to shake hers. Alicia looked down at his rough gloved hand, and smiled at Kale as she kept her hand at her side. “Alright.”
“Goodnight Miss Meyers.”
“Night Kale,” Alicia returned.
*****
Unexpected Blessing
Mercy woke on Tuesday morning with a shiver of anticipation. Kale had written late last week to say that she was one of two women he had invited to Westin. Still, she knew that God had laid her path straight. No matter what he had planned, she was certain He had it all figured out for her good.
“Next stop, Westin, Texas!” the conductor called. Mercy realized that anticipation could turn to nervousness as Westin drew nearer. Her first impression was that it was certainly a small town. When the train called for all passengers to disembark, she grabbed her
“Alright,” Alicia replied. “So tell me more about your ranch. Do you have hands to work for you?”
“I have a couple. Jose, my foreman, handles the more delicate tasks and he works with a young man from a neighboring town, showing him the ropes so to speak.”
“So what do you do for fun here?”
“My ranch takes up most of my free time, but occasionally I attend a social function at the church.”
“Oh,” Alicia smiled. “Well, maybe we can do something about finding a life here.”
“I don’t mind my life,” Kale said. “I like raising cattle and using the Earth to do it right. I’m blessed to have so much and I try hard to remember to be thankful every day.”
Kale showed Alicia into Clara’s boarding house and set her luggage down at the door. It smelled of apples and cinnamon as they stepped into the sitting room. It wasn’t the most modern place in Westin, but Kale knew Clara’s prices and services couldn’t be beat. Her rooms were spacious, always clean, and Clara still cooked three meals a day for her guests. Clara had taken over the boarding house when her mother had passed away. Kale looked around at the furniture, marveling at the pristine couches and pretty floor rugs. Older and well-worn they still seemed to work well for visitors and such.
He’d never taken the liberty of a tour, but had no doubt that Clara ran a tight ship. With her black hair just going gray, she was still spry for a woman of fifty. Her soft and welcoming attitude reassured her customers that nothing would go amiss at her place. If that didn’t do it, her steely gray eyes surely would. Thankfully she’d never had much trouble over the years she had run the boarding house.
“If you’ll excuse the early hour Miss Clara,” Kale smiled. “This is Miss Alicia Meyers. Alicia, this is Ms. Clara Caulburn. She’s run this boarding house since before I came to town.”
“It’s lovely to meet you dear. You come with me while we let Kale put your things in your room. Just so you know, we don’t allow male visitors after five on weeknights, three on the weekends. Sundays are reserved for worship time. Also, breakfast is served promptly at eight. Lunch is at noon, with a snack between two and three, and dinner at six p.m. If you’re not going to be here, please let me know. If you’re going to be late, please let me know. Other than that I’ll expect you to be here for meals. No male visitors may enter your room upstairs for any reason, outside a life threatening emergency.”
Kale felt a pang of irritation even as he lugged Alicia’s luggage up to her room. Had the young woman even read his letter? It didn’t appear as if she knew anything about hard work. He needed someone who could work beside him, not someone he needed to pamper and smother with attention.
He saw her settled and then told Alicia, “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon to take you out to the ranch, if that suits you. We’ll see how you and the cattle get along.” He smiled and reached out his hand to shake hers. Alicia looked down at his rough gloved hand, and smiled at Kale as she kept her hand at her side. “Alright.”
“Goodnight Miss Meyers.”
“Night Kale,” Alicia returned.
*****
Unexpected Blessing
Mercy woke on Tuesday morning with a shiver of anticipation. Kale had written late last week to say that she was one of two women he had invited to Westin. Still, she knew that God had laid her path straight. No matter what he had planned, she was certain He had it all figured out for her good.
“Next stop, Westin, Texas!” the conductor called. Mercy realized that anticipation could turn to nervousness as Westin drew nearer. Her first impression was that it was certainly a small town. When the train called for all passengers to disembark, she grabbed her
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