Big Hearts Full of Love: A Pair of Historical Romances

By Vanessa Carvo

Lucas Running Deer & His Prairie Flower, Leotie - An overweight woman and her sick sister travel west to a mail ordered husband for one of them. When she meets the handsome and kind cattle rancher the fact that he’s half Native American fades into the background. His cousin appears interested in her sister, too. Many things happen after that, not the least of which is the rancher calling Lily ‘Leotie’ -- his Prairie Flower.

Two Sisters From England Travel To Twin Cowboy Brothers With A Big Secret In Colorado - Two sisters from England travel to Colorado to become mail order brides to twin brothers. All goes well to start with, however, mysterious happenings around their home make them believe the brothers are hiding a huge secret, and it’s one they appear unable to talk about.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365425646

Book preview

Big Hearts Full of Love: A Pair of Historical Romances

Big Hearts Full of Love: A Pair of Historical Romances

By

Vanessa Carvo

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

Lucas Running Deer & His Prairie Flower, Leotie

Synopsis: Lucas Running Deer & His Prairie Flower, Leotie - An overweight woman and her sick sister travel west to a mail ordered husband for one of them. When she meets the handsome and kind cattle rancher the fact that he’s half Native American fades into the background. His cousin appears interested in her sister, too. Many things happen after that, not the least of which is the rancher calling Lily ‘Leotie’ -- his Prairie Flower.

Lily watched her sister, Willow, cough again. The raspy sounds made Willow’s whole body spasm and her thin frame shook with the effort. Lily patted her sister’s back and gave her a drink of water to help her breathe. Years of working in the cotton mill and breathing in the fluff that floated through the air gave Willow a cough that never quite went away. Lily knew as long as Willow worked there, it would eventually be a death sentence.

Willow laid back on the bed and Lily let her gaze float out of the dingy window, set high on the wall of their apartment, and watched the coal smoke thicken the horizon. She felt the walls closing in and knew they needed to get far, far away from here or this place would be their coffin. Lily had been able to find somewhat comfortable work, cooking and tutoring children of the upper class, but Willow could only find work at the cotton mill.

Lily felt guilty that her work paid a little better and came with abundant meals and Willow’s came with sickness and death’s scythe over her head. She frequently brought home food for her sister who was often too exhausted to do much more than shovel a few bites in her mouth before trudging off to bed. More determined to find a way out of here, Lily opened the paper that one of her students gave her.

Not knowing what she was looking for, she began scanning randomly. Tales of violence and yet another factory burned to the ground from little more than a spark in the air filled the headlines. Lily’s throat closed knowing that was just another danger Willow faced going to work everyday. Lily wished they could afford to live without Willow’s income, but they were barely squeaking by as it was. She refused to spin her wheels here and just survive to die. Lily returned her focus to the papers and one of the letters of the men seeking wives caught her eye.

‘Wife needed for woman’s touch on cattle ranch. Some cooking and cleaning for cowboys required, but only a little, they can mostly clean up after themselves; since it’s mostly men. Patience and sense of humor a must. Lucas R.’

Lily couldn’t help but chuckle to herself and wonder about the man behind those words. She felt drawn to find out more about the person behind the few words in his ad. The thought arose to write to him but she dismissed the idea with a shake of her head and flipped the page to read on for other options.

The thought of living out West, in wide open spaces where there was clean air was alluring. As was the pleasure of being able to see sunlight in your window and not just the dim glow that came down between the buildings as it fought past the coal haze on the glass. Even though her eyes continued to scan the paper for other opportunities, her mind kept wandering back to her funny little cowboy.

After two days of being unable to shake the thought from her mind, she wrote to the contact information given from the paper that named him only as Lucas R.

Dear Lucas R.,

My name is Lily and I am answering the ad you put in the paper for a wife. I have been a tutor and housekeeper for much of my adult life, I can cook for large families or small groups with ease, and have no trouble cleaning up after children of all ages, even if they are men. I read, write, and can add numbers and keep books. I have never been on a cattle ranch but I am an incredibly fast learner.

My sister is ill from breathing in dust at the cotton mill and I would have to insist she come with me. I didn’t want to approach you with demands but my sister’s presence is not negotiable. I don’t want to waste your time if this is something you cannot accept. She is an accomplished seamstress and could do much of the mending for your men. We would both earn our keep, or more than.

Sincerely,

Lily McAdams

Lily went to the post office and sent the letter while Willow slept. When she told Willow what she had done, she was shocked. She could not believe Lily would do something so rash. It was completely unlike her. Lily had to admit that it was, but something rash had to be done or they would waste away in this cesspool.

Willow than began voicing every tumultuous thought Lily had bouncing around in her own head. What if he’s cruel? What if he’s ugly? What if he’s disgustingly smelly or is constantly under a whiskey jar? The problem was she didn’t know. What she did know was this place was killing them. Wouldn’t anything be better than that?

Lucas Running Deer flipped the letter between his fingers for the hundredth time. There had been a handful of answers to his ad for a wife but none of them struck his interest. None of them save this one. This one woman, Lily McAdams, stood out. She came across as forthright, honest, and, if the man-child comment counted, had a sense of humor as well. She was focused on her sister’s health and maybe with that kind of motivation, she wouldn’t run away when she realized he was half Indian.

Many people still took issue with his heritage. Relations were still tense between the town folk and surrounding tribes and occasional skirmishes still erupted here and there. Luke had good relationships with his father’s tribe but his mother’s people, not so much.

This unknown woman was working hard to care for her sister and that spoke of a strong spirit, maybe the thoughtless words of a few wouldn’t scare her away. Luke couldn’t stop his mind from wandering back to Lily’s letter so he picked up his pencil and wrote her a reply.

Ms. McAdams,

I appreciate your honesty about your situation with your sister and feel I must return the favor. While I would like you to come here to be my bride, you should know some things first. My father is an Indian. I am considered a half-breed, and therefore less, among many in town. There will be many who will dislike you simply because of your relationship with me. It can be difficult at times and I would not wish