Read Online 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 - Free Book Online
Authors: Johanna Jenkins
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to be a lumberjack. I idolized Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, Babe.”
Mercy laughed, enjoying the way Kale showed interest in her life and painted colorful visions of his own. “When did you know that ranching was your lifelong dream?”
“Truth be told, I didn’t. Jack wanted to be a rancher. We pooled our money. Those first few years were lean ones. I remember a time when I’d go two or three days without eating just to make sure we got our herd to market on time. First come, first served with the best price per head.
“What a hard-working man you are Kale. Amazing,” Mercy smiled. She reached across the table and laid her hand over his. Then she immediately drew back, her cheeks growing warm when his breathtaking blue eyes met hers. His smile assured her he hadn’t been offended. “Can I see the calves one more time before we have to head back to Clara’s?”
Kale smiled. “Sure Mercy.” Mercy smiled at his use of her name. They headed outside. Kale took her hand in his, leading her out to the barn where the babies were bedded down. He lit an oil lamp and held it over the stall while Mercy sat down with the twin calves and their mother. She showed them equal affection, even petting the mooing mother. After ten minutes of playtime, Kale helped her up and together they walked back to his buggy.
“I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but I’m already sad to leave. You have such a beautiful place here Kale.”
“I don’t mind and thank you. Jack and I worked hard to make this place what it is and I’m proud that you like it.”
Mercy felt at peace on the farm. She wanted to soak up as much of the spectacular environment before she had to leave. She turned to Kale, and asked, “Can I come back tomorrow morning and help you with the chores?”
***
Kale didn’t have to be told the difference between Mercy and Alicia, because it was as plain as the nose on his face. Alicia, while a lovely young woman, just didn’t have the qualities he was looking for in a wife. One afternoon with Mercy had shown him the stark difference. He knew, taking Mercy back to the boarding house, that he would take Alicia to lunch and tell her that while he enjoyed having her, she just wasn’t the right woman for him.
“What do you think of Westin so far?” Kale asked Mercy on the drive back to town.
She sighed and smiled. “Oh, It’s lovely Kale. I have really enjoyed myself. People are so friendly and outgoing. And you, have been a most generous host.”
“I have to admit that I’m impressed with your level of faith.”
“Don’t be,” Mercy grinned. “I haven’t always been this confident. After my dad passed, I struggled. I was angry for losing my father, for being shunned by my stepmother. I resented having to work at the shelter just so I had a place to sleep. It took me a long time to see that God knew what He was doing. Even then, I’m not sure I truly understood, not until I saw your ad in the paper. Your ad in the newspaper felt like a sign. I couldn’t pass it up.”
“Hm,” Kale replied.
Mercy smiled, hesitantly. She hoped she wasn’t reading all of this wrong. “I’m here and I’d like to believe that we are becoming friends.”
“That we are Mercy,” Kale smiled. “That we are.” Mercy smiled back.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he smiled. “Have a great night Mercy.”
“Night Kale,” Mercy smiled. She turned and headed upstairs and Kale waited until he could no longer see her.
“It’s certainly none of my business.” Clara sighed. “But if I were a betting woman, I’d lay money on Miss Thompson being a better match for you than Miss Meyers. The fact that Miss Meyers would rather tour around the city than spend time with you, speaks volumes.”
Kale took Clara’s words to heart, thinking about the vast sea of differences between the two young women he’d invited here. Both were beautiful, but that’s pretty much where the similarities ended. Alicia wasn’t
Mercy laughed, enjoying the way Kale showed interest in her life and painted colorful visions of his own. “When did you know that ranching was your lifelong dream?”
“Truth be told, I didn’t. Jack wanted to be a rancher. We pooled our money. Those first few years were lean ones. I remember a time when I’d go two or three days without eating just to make sure we got our herd to market on time. First come, first served with the best price per head.
“What a hard-working man you are Kale. Amazing,” Mercy smiled. She reached across the table and laid her hand over his. Then she immediately drew back, her cheeks growing warm when his breathtaking blue eyes met hers. His smile assured her he hadn’t been offended. “Can I see the calves one more time before we have to head back to Clara’s?”
Kale smiled. “Sure Mercy.” Mercy smiled at his use of her name. They headed outside. Kale took her hand in his, leading her out to the barn where the babies were bedded down. He lit an oil lamp and held it over the stall while Mercy sat down with the twin calves and their mother. She showed them equal affection, even petting the mooing mother. After ten minutes of playtime, Kale helped her up and together they walked back to his buggy.
“I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but I’m already sad to leave. You have such a beautiful place here Kale.”
“I don’t mind and thank you. Jack and I worked hard to make this place what it is and I’m proud that you like it.”
Mercy felt at peace on the farm. She wanted to soak up as much of the spectacular environment before she had to leave. She turned to Kale, and asked, “Can I come back tomorrow morning and help you with the chores?”
***
Kale didn’t have to be told the difference between Mercy and Alicia, because it was as plain as the nose on his face. Alicia, while a lovely young woman, just didn’t have the qualities he was looking for in a wife. One afternoon with Mercy had shown him the stark difference. He knew, taking Mercy back to the boarding house, that he would take Alicia to lunch and tell her that while he enjoyed having her, she just wasn’t the right woman for him.
“What do you think of Westin so far?” Kale asked Mercy on the drive back to town.
She sighed and smiled. “Oh, It’s lovely Kale. I have really enjoyed myself. People are so friendly and outgoing. And you, have been a most generous host.”
“I have to admit that I’m impressed with your level of faith.”
“Don’t be,” Mercy grinned. “I haven’t always been this confident. After my dad passed, I struggled. I was angry for losing my father, for being shunned by my stepmother. I resented having to work at the shelter just so I had a place to sleep. It took me a long time to see that God knew what He was doing. Even then, I’m not sure I truly understood, not until I saw your ad in the paper. Your ad in the newspaper felt like a sign. I couldn’t pass it up.”
“Hm,” Kale replied.
Mercy smiled, hesitantly. She hoped she wasn’t reading all of this wrong. “I’m here and I’d like to believe that we are becoming friends.”
“That we are Mercy,” Kale smiled. “That we are.” Mercy smiled back.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he smiled. “Have a great night Mercy.”
“Night Kale,” Mercy smiled. She turned and headed upstairs and Kale waited until he could no longer see her.
“It’s certainly none of my business.” Clara sighed. “But if I were a betting woman, I’d lay money on Miss Thompson being a better match for you than Miss Meyers. The fact that Miss Meyers would rather tour around the city than spend time with you, speaks volumes.”
Kale took Clara’s words to heart, thinking about the vast sea of differences between the two young women he’d invited here. Both were beautiful, but that’s pretty much where the similarities ended. Alicia wasn’t
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