Frannie's Thanksgiving Blessing

By Cia Leah

Clean and wholesome Thanksgiving novella.

Frannie Baker's life was a hard one, but her faith in God kept her strong. When her ma passed away before Thanksgiving, she swore she'd work harder to take care of herself and her little brother, Lynn.

When Jake Coulder arrived at her house to help dig her ma's grave, and give her the puppy for Lynn for his birthday, she was thankful for good friends.

Jake Coulder fell in love with Frannie at first sight. Having lost his wife and son a couple years before in a stage accident and his ma a year ago, he was lonesome. With the help of his ma's friends who owned the restaurant where Frannie worked, he prayed Frannie would fall in love with him and they could build a life together and be a family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cia Leah
• Release date: Sep 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386745020

Cia Leah

Cia Leah is a multi-published author written in a variety of genres. Her favorite genre to read and write are westerns and historical romances. She successfully completed the Writer's Digest Short Story Course and a creative writing course. She is a member of Romance Divas and highly recommends it and the wealth of knowledge provided on the site for readers and writers. Semi-retired, she writes as time allows due to real life and thanks her readers for their support. At present time, she is writing western short stories, novelettes, and novellas.

Book preview

DEDICATION:

Thanksgiving will never be the same without my husband, son, and my precious little mini-pin, Jacky. I miss and love you so much. Until we meet again.

To my readers. Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving. I love you all.

Chapter 1

Frannie Baker rode home on her old mule, Bethel. She was so tired, she thought she might fall off the mule, land in the snow, fall right to sleep, and freeze to death before anyone found her. She straightened up a little in the saddle that had seen better days. Life sure was hard, but she had to stay strong to take care of her ma and her little brother.

Her body ached and her hands were so sore. Washing dishes at the restaurant in town, the outside work at home, taking care of the old milk cow and Bethel was wearing her down. She needed the job to make enough money to feed them. She was grateful that Connie and Sam, the owners of the restaurant were good, kind people. She had a picnic basket across the saddle horn filled with roast beef, baked potatoes, and an apple pie. Their kindness sure did help so they wouldn't starve to death.

Frannie sighed when she saw the lights of the cabin up ahead. She nudged Bethel in the sides. She’d get her bedded down for the night, milk the cow, and head into the house.

As she worked, she thought of how it had been when pa had been alive. The place always looked good, the repairs done, and there was always enough food on the table. Since he passed a year ago, things had gone downhill fast. The money her ma had saved up didn’t last long, so Frannie got the job at the restaurant. Her ma became sickly and her little brother, Lynn, stayed home and kept an eye on her. She knew he wanted to go to school and play with friends, but there couldn’t be no helping what had to be done.

She grabbed the picnic basket, picked up the pail of milk, and headed to the house. She stepped inside and saw Lynn playing a game of marbles on the floor in front of the fireplace. How's ma?

She hasn't woke up since you left this morning.

Frannie set the picnic basket and milk on the table and ran to her ma’s room at the back of the house. She stepped inside the room, felt how cold it was, and walked over to the bed. Ma? She shook her and felt how cold she was and then realized her ma was dead. She fell to the floor and cried. When Lynn came up beside her and knelt down, she threw her arms around him and held on tight. Ma’s gone.

You mean she’s dead?

Yes. Frannie felt like her heart was broken in two.

What are we going to do now? I’m scared, Sis!

We got to bury her come morning. Don't you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of you. I always have, haven’t I?

How are we going to bury ma? It's freezing out there and that ground will be rock hard.

I know, but you and I gotta do it. There’s isn’t anyone else.

You not going to work tomorrow?

I’ll send you to town with a note for Connie and Sam while I start digging the grave.

I'll get there and back as fast as I can so I can help you.

She hugged him, rose to her feet, and placed the quilt over her ma’s face. She shut the bedroom door behind her. What little heat seeped into the room wasn’t needed now. Come into the kitchen. Have you eaten today?

I had some cornbread and milk.

Well wash up. I brought roast beef, baked potatoes, and an apple pie. I’ll warm up the food while you set the table. She didn’t feel like eating, but she wanted Lynn to eat. The only thing he had today was the leftover cornbread and milk.

I can get a job now I don’t have to sit with ma.

She turned around from the stove and watched him sit at the table. Tears fell down his cheeks and she knew he was scared losing their ma. She quickly heated up the food, set it on the table, and sat down opposite him. "You go back to school. Now dry those eyes and lets