Cowboy Surprise: A Pair of Historical Romances

By Vanessa Carvo

Jake’s Grace On The Road West, is about a Canadian Amish family’s decision to move out West where they feel they will have more freedom to express themselves. Along the way and after they join up with a wagon train, the young man of the family--Jake--does indeed, find Grace. This is a gentle and sweet love story suitable for any age and it contains a few inspirational passages of scripture.

The Identical Twin Switch - A woman’s twin sister becomes widowed so she arranges for her to go to Kansas with her, where she’s to be married to a mail ordered husband. Unknowingly, they are roped into playing a game they’ve had long practice at when the one engaged woman’s fiancé switches with his twin brother because the ‘real’ one had to stay on their ranch and build a new house for he and his soon to be bride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365301599

Book preview

Cowboy Surprise: A Pair of Historical Romances

Cowboy Surprise: A Pair of Historical Romances

By

Vanessa Carvo

© 2016 Quietly Blessed and Loved Press

Jake’s Grace on the Road West

Synopsis: Jake’s Grace On The Road West, is about a Canadian Amish family’s decision to move out West where they feel they will have more freedom to express themselves. Along the way and after they join up with a wagon train, the young man of the family--Jake--does indeed, find Grace. This is a gentle and sweet love story suitable for any age and it contains a few inspirational passages of scripture.

THIS ISN’T THE way he had imagined things would go. She was out there somewhere, holding his heart in her hands – and now the path that he is forced to embark on might very well lead him away from her.

Jake picked up one of the suitcases and carried it over to the wagon where his father was busy tying down a wooden table – one of the few pieces of furniture that the family possessed. He avoided looking his father in the eyes in fear that he would be able to see his heartache and frustration. His parents have been through enough lately without him having to add to it today.

Life for Amish folk was hard enough as it is, but his parents had been dealing with even more than that these last few days.

Jacob! his mother called, always insisting on calling him on his baptized name. Don't forget the Bible.

Jake walked back to the house and smiled at his mother, Of course mother. Give it to me, I'll take it to father.

His mother gave him a brief glance, which made Jake quite uncomfortable. He never was able to hide his feelings from his mother, especially in this case when she knows so well the desires that plague his dreams.

Oh Jacob, his mother sighed, I know it is hard on you too. But you know we have no choice, right?

I know mother, Jake answered resignedly. Don't worry about me, I'll come around, he assured her.

His mother smiled at him in relief. Yes you will son she said, then pointed with her head to the family Bible that was waiting in the corner of the room.

Yes mother, Jake answered and walked over to the table. With a grunt he heaved the big family bible off the table and carried it to the waiting wagon where his father was just finishing up with loading the luggage. Jake braced himself and then hefted the bulky bible high above his shoulders so that his father could grab hold of it.

Thank you my son, his father smiled at him after settling the bible down on top of the luggage. Your great-grandmother would be very happy to see her precious Bible still being treated with so much respect by her descendants he said, winking at Jake.

Jake chuckled. He loved sharing a peculiar sense of humor with his father that nobody really ever seemed to get, but it was a cherished thing to him that they seemed to be able to converse in subtleties that only they understood.

At eighteen years of age, Jake was almost a grown man and cherished the fact that his father treated him as an equal, albeit with discipline. It made him feel right in the world, knowing that he was loved – both through acts of tenderness and in being disciplined as a son in the home without ever being broken down.

Even now, when he was certainly not happy with the way they have to leave Western Ontario for the distant West, he knew that his parents were leaving their home because of love for their two children.

As if she knew that Jake was thinking of her right at that moment, little Emily came running to him, wrapping her small arms around his legs. Jake laughed as he looked down at his sister and ruffled her hair. Smiling up at him with her little freckled face and two missing front teeth, Jake felt like he was going to burst with love for her.

Hey you little rascal! Where have you been hiding while we were loading the wagon? he teased her.

Trying to find Mithter Bickelth! she said, frowning up at him in exasperation, her little lisp making Jake smile even more.

Oh really? And where had he been hiding? he laughed. Where she got the name for her rag doll, which was modeled after a farmer, he never had been able to figure out, but it certainly suited the rumpled-looking thing.

At the back, under the thtairth, she said, smiling with mischief in her eyes. Jake just laughed and hugged his sister with his one arm.

Are you ready Josiah? his mother asked their father.

I am, Mary. Here, let me give you a hand onto the wagon my love, he said and climbed down to assist her.

Watching his father help his mother, Jake was once again struck by the tenderness with which he treated her. He loved her in a thousand ways, leaving Jake with a yearning in his heart that had been building these past few months until he thought it would consume him.

He longed to have what they have and watching the love between his parents gave Jake a lump in his throat.

He pushed those thoughts down into the depths of his heart for the time being, knowing that he needed to help his parents on this trip. He didn't want to have his longing for a soul mate interfere with any of that.

Somehow, he knew that his longing for a partner was a natural thing and that the time would come when the Lord would give answer to it. For now, he needed to focus.

Jake picked up his little sister and handed her to his father, who placed her gently on the front seat between himself and Mary. She snuggled up to her mother in no time, her little head resting contently on Mary's shoulder. Mary smiled at her and then turned to Jake: Thank you my son.

Jake smiled back at her and then jumped onto the back of the wagon. His father glanced backwards to make sure everyone was ready. Satisfied that everything was in order, he turned forwards and gave the oxen a gentle swat with the whip.

With a collective grunt and a few bleats, the oxen began to pull their wagon forward.

Jake was sitting in the back of the wagon. He had his back propped up against