Promises Forgotten

By Stephanie Payne Hurt

After a hasty marriage, Joy had never expected to fall in love with Nash, but she had. Soon after, he was called away to do his duty as the negotiator between the army and the northern Indian tribes. It was dangerous and Nash only hoped that he could soon return to his beautiful young wife. Joy lay every night, waiting for her love to return.
Then word came of his capture, which made Joy wonder if he'd ever return to her. After months of waiting, he did return, but as a broken man. Joy didn't know if she'd ever get her husband back. Love can work in strange ways and the simplest surprises can make everything right or tear them apart forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Payne Hurt
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370362318

Stephanie Payne Hurt

Stephanie Payne Hurt has been writing stories since she was a teenager, but only started publishing her work in 2012, 30 years later. The romance genre drew her in at an early age. Since 2012 she's published over 35 Romance novels/novellas.Stephanie is a busy lady. She's a Children's Minister, Accountant, wife, and mother along with a blogger and writer, along with starting a publishing service called Horseshoe Publishing alongside her publisher. It's been an exciting ride and she looks forward to what the future holds for her writing.Currently, she writes romance ranging from Christian, Contemporary, Suspense and Cowboy. Her work is available at many online retailers, on her website, and in a bookstore in Zebulon, Georgia near her home.Come by and visit her at http://www.stephaniehurtauthor.com/ and subscribe to get updates and release dates, also her monthly newsletter!

Book preview

Chapter 1

Nash had been gone for three days and Joy was already miserable. She cleaned, washed, and anything else she could think of to keep her mind occupied. At every turn, there was something to remind her of Nash. So, Joy decided to get to work on the garden she’d discussed with Nash. He’d thought it was a great idea. Although there were field of corn, beans, wheat, virtually all she’d ever need in her kitchen, she wanted a small garden beside the house.

As she walked outside that morning, the air was clear and crisp. After taking a deep breath, Joy walked toward the barn where she heard Nicholas and Charles working on the buggy. The day after Nash left, one of the wheels broke off and Nicholas said that it could be fixed in no time.

Nicholas looked up with a smile as she walked into the dimly lit barn. Charles was making a face that told her it wasn’t going as smooth as they’d hoped.

Good morning Joy. I hope that you are well this fine morning. Nicholas said, before he went back to work on the wheel.

Good morning. It’s beautiful this morning. She knew they were busy and hated to ask for any help, but she’d need someone to help her hook up the plow to the horse.

Charles grumbled, raising his eyebrows steeply when Nicholas fell backwards, holding part of the wheel. As you can see, it’s not a fine morning here in the barn. I do believe my brother has bitten off more than he can handle.

Joy hid her giggle behind her hand as she looked at her brother in law. Nash and I had discussed making a small garden near the house. Could I bother one of you to show me how to hook up the plow to the horse?

Both men stopped what they were doing and looked up at her. Nicholas scratched his head, then looked over at Charles. Joy, there’s several fields of vegetables here on the ranch. What do you intend to plant?

I’d like some herbs for cooking and medicine. At home, I always had a small herb garden. Also, I’d plant at least a couple of tomatoes and peppers. Joy began to think that they wouldn’t help by the strange looks they were giving her.

Charles walked over and placed a brotherly hand on her shoulder. If you would like a garden plowed, then I’d be only too happy to leave this chore of fixing the wheel to Nicholas. He seems to have everything here under control.

Nicholas gave his brother a hard look, That’s fine with me, you were in my way anyhow. Then he bent back over the tire, looking as though it might bite him.

Then let’s get the plow from the back barn and find you a suitable spot for a small garden. Charles said with a determined look.

Together, Charles and Joy plowed the small area just beyond the back door. It would be in sight of the back door. Once the fertile ground was turned over a couple of times, Charles went home for lunch.

Joy stood looking at her little garden spot. She couldn’t wait to go into town and purchase the necessary plants from Mr. Harlow at the feed and seed. Nash had an account there. With an excited giggle, she walked inside to eat lunch.

After her lunch of cold chicken and biscuits, she picked up the laundry basket and started outside to pull the dry laundry off the line. One look at her garden, then she moved to where the sheets and clothes softly billowed from the afternoon breeze. She even hummed a lively tune as she placed the basket on the grass.

There were no sounds from the barn, so Nicholas must have gone home for lunch also. She smiled thinking of his look when the wheel let go and he fell over on the ground. Her new family gave her a lot to smile about. They were kind and always making her laugh. She’d not had much interaction with their wives, but they seemed nice. Maybe she’d invite them to dinner one evening this week.

As she pulled the laundry from the line and folded it, something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She shielded her eyes from the sun to get a better look at who was coming down the road that led to the house. A smile crossed her lips as she saw her friend Lori.

Lori pulled the buggy up to the side of the house and climbed down, placing her parasol on the seat before she turned to her friend.

Good afternoon. It’s so good to see you. Joy said as she hugged her friend.

I thought you might be getting a little lonely out here, so I got Dirk to hitch up the buggy and here I am. She turned back to her buggy and pulled out a basket. And, I thought maybe we could go down to sit by the lake and have cake. I baked a lemon pound cake this morning and it’s still warm.

Oh, that sounds wonderful. Let me put the laundry in the house and grab my bonnet. Joy felt such a happiness