Huckleberry Happiness

By Judy Ann Davis

In 1885, Emelia Stone and her sister must learn to operate their deceased parents' bakery in a small town in Pennsylvania. A large mortgage looms on their family home. When her sister leaves town, Emelia is forced to handle the bakery and burden alone.

The Pennsylvania Railroad is searching for the perfect dessert for its passengers. Joe Sawicki, owner of Sawicki Brothers Ice Company, is certain Emelia can win the contest and the hundred- dollar bonus if she creates a special ice cream to accompany her popular huckleberry pies. He has loved her since they played hooky in grade school to explore the company's ice cave.



Can Emelia find courage to stand up to the town's bully to win the competition? And will Joe have the mettle to express his undying love and win first place in Emelia's heart?

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jun 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781509231690

Judy Ann Davis

Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. Throughout her career, Davis has written for industry and education. Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines, and anthologies, and have received numerous awards. UP ON THE ROOF AND OTHER SHORT STORIES, is a collection of nineteen of her short works. Her first novel, RED FOX WOMAN, published in 2010, is a western, mystery and romance and was a finalist in the International Book Awards and USA Book News Best Book Awards. KEY TO LOVE was her second fictional work, and UNDER STARRY SKIES was her third fictional work, a sequel to RED FOX WOMAN. Her novel, KEY TO LOVE, is a contemporary romantic suspense. Her latest novel, FOUR WHITE ROSE, is romantic suspense with a hint of paranormal and was a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards and Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Awards. Her only novella,"Sweet Kiss," is part of the Candy Hearts Series. She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and divides her time between Central Pennsylvania and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visit her at: www.judyanndavis.com and www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com You can find her on Facebook: Judy Ann Davis and on Twitter: @JudyAnnDavis4

Book preview

Inc.

He walked up beside her and took his usual spot, leaning against the counter. He smelled wonderful, like a blend of pine and fresh air. She jabbed furiously at the mixture inside the bowl with her pastry cutter. How could her very own sister abandon her without an ounce of misgiving? Couldn’t she have waited until the end of the month and, at the very least, earned her pay before leaving?

Joe watched her work, his hands shoved in his pockets. Are you trying to kill the lard…or is it the flour that has you so riled? He peered over the rim of the bowl.

Be careful, she shot back and gave him a lethal glare that would stop a rattlesnake from making a fuss. This place is armed with sharp knives. She dropped the cutter into the bowl and turned toward him. She flung out her arms in desperation and her hands came flying down to slap at her sides. What am I going to do? There is no way I can run this shop alone.

No, you can’t, he agreed. You need help. You need someone who’s familiar with baking and who can run the counter out front. You need someone with more skills than just being able to turn a crank on an ice cream maker.

Praise for Judy Ann Davis

Storyteller Judy Ann Davis weaves her award-winning tales to make her readers laugh, maybe cry, but always able to relate to the unique characters and dilemmas they encounter.

~Long and Short Reviews

~*~

RED FOX WOMAN, a western mystery, won a finalist place in the Best Book Awards and the International Book Awards.

~*~

FOUR WHITE ROSES, a contemporary romantic suspense, was a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards, American Fiction Awards, and the Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Awards.

~*~

Some other books by Judy Ann Davis you might enjoy, also published by the Wild Rose Press:

FOUR WHITE ROSES

KEY TO LOVE

UNDER STARRY SKIES

SWEET KISS

Find other books available on her blog

https://judyanndavis.blogspot.com/

Huckleberry Happiness

by

Judy Ann Davis

One Scoop or Two

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Huckleberry Happiness

COPYRIGHT © 2020 by Judy Ann Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Jennifer Greeff

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Tea Rose Edition, 2020

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3169-0

One Scoop or Two

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

Five scoops of ice cream and heartfelt thanks

to my husband Scott for all his patience and support,

to my lifelong friend Suzanne Webster, who is

the Sherlock Holmes of detecting grammar blunders,

and to all my readers, friends, and community members

for their kind patronage.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

Clear Blue Lake, Pennsylvania, 1885

Before the blazing summer sun had a chance to beat down on the tiny town of Clear Blue Lake, Pennsylvania, Emilia Stone turned the closed sign on her bakery shop to open and trudged to the kitchen in the back. Sleepy-eyed, she gazed about the room. A terrible sense of bewilderment and despair overwhelmed her.

Her younger sister, Alice, had assured her she’d sweep the floors, finish the dishes, clean the counters, and set the kitchen right before she closed the shop on Saturday evening. But nothing had been done. Flour, sugar, and spilled spices still dusted the sticky countertops, and crumbs and bits of dried pie crust covered the floor. Heaving a sigh, Emilia lit the kindling in the stove, added more wood, and placed a kettle of water on the front burner to heat. She often served tea and coffee to her customers when they stopped in to purchase baked goods or decided to sit for a few minutes to have a quick treat, like a piece of her famous huckleberry pie.

She picked up a broom in the corner and began to sweep up last week’s debris. As she worked, she fumed even