Faith and the Foreman
By Marsha Ward
()
About this ebook
Faith and the Foreman first apppeared in OLD WEST COLLECTION, volume nine of the bestselling and RONE Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology series, and is now available as a standalone novella.
New Yorker Faith Bannister's circumstances force her to become a school teacher in faraway Arizona Territory. Harsh conditions don't seem so overwhelming when Faith meets lanky Slim McHenry. But menacing Rance Hunter stands in the way of Faith and Slim's happiness. Both must rally all their resources and act to overcome evil before it spreads.
Marsha Ward
Marsha Ward was born in the sleepy little town of Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up with chickens, citrus trees, and lots of room to roam. She began telling stories at a very early age, regaling neighborhood chums with her tales over homemade sugar cookies and milk. Her love of 19th Century Western history was reinforced by visits to her cousins on their ranch and listening to her father's stories of homesteading in Old Mexico and in the Tucson area.Over the years, Marsha became an award-winning poet, writer and editor, with over 900 pieces of published work. She is the founder of American Night Writers Association and a member of Western Writers of America, Indie Author Hub, and Arizona Professional Writers. She makes her home in a tiny forest hamlet in Arizona. When she is not writing, she loves to give talks, meet readers, and sign books.
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Faith and the Foreman - Marsha Ward
Faith and the Foreman
New Yorker Faith Bannister finds herself in tight financial circumstances that force her to take employment as a school teacher in faraway Arizona Territory. Harsh conditions don't seem so overwhelming when Faith meets lanky Slim McHenry. But menacing Rance Hunter stands in the way of Faith and Slim's happiness. Both must rally all their resources and act to overcome evil before it spreads.
Faith and the Foreman first appeared in OLD WEST COLLECTION, volume nine of the bestselling and RONE Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology series, and is now available as a standalone novella.
Faith and the Foreman
A Novella
Marsha Ward
Copyright © 2016 Marsha Ward
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in reviews and articles.
WestWard Books
P O Box 53
Payson, Arizona 85547
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are represented fictitiously. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/FrinaArt
Ebook ISBN 978-0-9961463-0-2
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights and hard work is appreciated.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Books by Marsha Ward
About the Author
Thank you for reading
Chapter 1
A bell jangled on the horse-drawn street car outside as Faith Bannister folded the letter she’d been reading and rose to pace the room. After two circuits, she stopped before her cousin. I am ruined.
Clarissa Pembroke looked up from the bandage she was knitting and shook her head. The news can’t be all that bad, dear. We’ve managed to survive the bank crisis fairly well thus far.
Faith waved the letter. The interest on my stocks is practically zero.
You should have told me. I must try harder to find employment.
Clarissa breathed heavily. I can’t believe my usefulness as a nurse is over because of a few gray hairs.
She straightened her back as though in denial of her age. I’m going to Doctor Harley’s lecture tonight on treating poisons. It could be useful to learn about medical advances.
You shouldn’t have to support me,
Faith said. I’ll sell the house to that fat banker, Mr. Spencer. He has wanted it ever since Poppa and Mama got killed.
She bit a fingernail, then, at Clarissa’s continuing reproachful look, removed her finger from her teeth. I know. Mama tried so hard to break me of that.
She brushed a curl out of her misty eye and whispered, Stocks and bonds are no replacement for one’s family. I’m most grateful for your companionship.
Clarissa wiped her own tearing eyes.
Faith turned away. Perhaps I can enter the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital. Mr. Spencer offered a price sufficient for me to pay tuition and rent us an apartment.
She shrugged. I’ll have to let the servants go. If it appears I don’t have time to train as a nurse before we’re destitute, I’ll become a governess or a shop clerk.
Clarissa shook herself as though to restore a cheerful outlook. Let’s not fret about finances now, dear. Come with me tonight and enjoy the lecture.
She held up her knitting. This bandage will be finished by then, and I have another eleven for the good doctor.
~*~*~
Slim! Slim McHenry!
When Amos Ramsey bellowed his name, Slim changed direction from going toward the bunkhouse to heading for the boss. What did he do to make Mr. Ramsey so angry? He couldn’t recall any slip-up today. Yes, sir?
he said, hoping he still had a job.
Dan Crowley is leaving. After ten years!
Amos glowered at Slim. His wife claims he’s too busted up to cowboy anymore. She’s taking him off to Tucson.
That’s bad news, boss. He’s a good foreman.
You’re takin’ his place. Ask Dan what to do.
Mr. Ramsey walked off, leaving Slim with his jaw hanging open. Foreman! He wants me to be foreman? He whistled in surprise, struck by the man’s abrupt manner. Usually Ol’ Amos enjoyed conversing with his cowhands, but not tonight. Could be he’s upset about Dan quitting, but he could’ve been