Have my Word: Rancher's Word, #4

By Linda K. Hubalek

An American historical romance about trusting others to form a new family.

Kansas Rancher Asher Brenner was relieved to escort Alva Wilerson to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair instead of continuing on the planned train trip to Texas with his brothers and her cousins.

Shy and reserved, Asher had secretly admired Alva for years but was hesitant to court her. This trip together was the perfect opportunity to explore a budding relationship and the possible dream of a future together, raising sheep and a family on Asher's grandfather's ranch.

Alva has always wished Asher would look her way because they had so many common interests, from their mutual love of books to lambs and sheepdogs. But instead of exploring the fair exhibits, Alva and Asher find themselves trying to solve a mystery in the back alleys of Chicago.

Can they find the abandoned children and save them from harm before returning to Kansas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Butterfield Books Inc.
• Release date: Mar 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201022471

Linda K. Hubalek

Linda Hubalek has written over fifty books about strong women and honorable men, with a touch of humor, despair, and drama woven into the stories. The setting for all the series is the Kansas prairie which Linda enjoys daily, be it being outside or looking at it through her office window. Her historical romance series include Brides with Grit, Grooms with Honor, Mismatched Mail-order Brides, and the Rancher's Word. Linda's historical fiction series, based on her ancestors' pioneer lives include, Butter in the Well, Trail of Thread, and Planting Dreams. When not writing, Linda is reading (usually with dark chocolate within reach), gardening (channeling her degree in Horticulture), or traveling with her husband to explore the world. Linda loves to hear from her readers, so visit her website to contact her, or browse the site to read about her books. www.LindaHubalek.com www.Facebook.com/lindahubalekbooks

Book preview

Also by Linda K. Hubalek

Brides with Grit

Rania Ropes a Rancher

Millie Marries a Marshal

Hilda Hogties a Horseman

Cora Captures a Cowboy

Sarah Snares a Soldier

Cullen's Love

Cate Corrals a Cattleman

Darcie Desires a Drover

Tina Tracks a Trail Boss

Lorna Loves a Lawyer

Helen Heals a Hotelier

Faye Favors a Foreman

Amy admires an Amish Man

Butter in the Well

Butter in the Well

Prairie Bloomin'

Egg Gravy

Looking Back

Grooms with Honor

Angus' Trust

Fergus' Honor

Gabe's Pledge

Mack's Care

Seth's Promise

Adolph's Choice

Nolan's Vow

Elof's Mission

Jasper's Wish

Tully's Faith

Kiowa's Oath

Nicht Unübertroffene Versandhandel-Bräute

Der Plan der Peashooter Society

Amelia wechselt ihren Gefährten

Avalee tauscht ihren Verlobten

Maggie verschiebt ihren Gent

Molly wechselt ihren Mann

Nadine tauscht ihren Partner

Der Weihnachtsplan

Planting Dreams

Cultivating Hope

Harvesting Faith

Planting Dreams

Rancher's Word

Have my Word

Honor my Word

Spur des Fadens

Spur des Fadens

Fingerhut des Bodens

Stich des Mutes

The Mismatched Mail-Order Brides

The Peashooter Society's Plan

Amelia changes her fellow

Avalee Exchanges her Fiancé

Maggie Shifts her Gent

Maisie swaps her groom

Molly Switches her Man

Nadine Trades Her Partner

The Christmas Plan

Trail of Thread

Trail of Thread

Thimble of Soil

Stitch of Courage

Watch for more at Linda K. Hubalek’s site.

Have my Word

Rancher’s Word Series, Book 4

Copyright © 2021 by Linda K. Hubalek

Published by Butterfield Books Inc.

This ebook is licensed for your enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only, please return it to the retailer and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Except for Kansas’s and the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair history mentioned in the book, the names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Contents

Have My Word

Family Trees

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Honor my Word, Book 5 in series

Books by Linda K. Hubalek

About the Author

Have My Word

AN AMERICAN HISTORICAL romance about trusting others to form a new family.

Kansas Rancher Asher Brenner was relieved to escort Alva Wilerson to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair instead of continuing on the planned train trip to Texas with his brothers and her cousins.

Shy and reserved, Asher had secretly admired Alva for years but was hesitant to court her. This trip together was the perfect opportunity to explore a budding relationship and the possible dream of a future together, raising sheep and a family on Asher’s grandfather’s ranch.

Alva has always wished Asher would look her way because they had so many common interests, from their mutual love of books to lambs and sheepdogs. But instead of exploring the fair exhibits, Alva and Asher find themselves trying to solve a mystery in the back alleys of Chicago.

Can they find the abandoned children and save them from harm before returning to Kansas?

Family Trees

Look at the end of this story to match the couples and their book titles.

Connely-Brenner-Wilerson Families

GRANDPARENTS: Isaac Connely married Cate Wilerson.

Cate Wilerson Connely’s children:

Jacob Wilerson married Rania Hamner.

Children: Alva (married Asher Brenner), Harry, Felix, Juliana.

Adam Wilerson married Millie Donovan.

Children: Ben and Beth.

Noah Wilerson married Hilda Hamner.

Children: Greta (marries Jeb Stein), Inga, Karin, Justina, Kirstin.

Sarah Wilerson married Marcus Brenner, Isaac Connely’s nephew.

Adopted eight children in 1873.

Marty Brenner married Lucy Smith.

Maggie Brenner married Peter Gehring, adopted Christian, Bonita, and Alice.

Molly Brenner married Tobin Billings, adopted Tim and Tom.

Moses Brenner married Faith Geller.

Maisie Brenner married Squires Miller.

Matthew Asher Brenner married Alva Hamner.

Mark Beckett Brenner married Willa Foster

Micah Carsten Brenner married Emma Hamner.

Faye Longoria, Isaac’s step-niece, married Rusty Tucker.

Children: Violet (married Tully Reagan), Luther, Anton.

Hamner Family

Parents: Oskar and Annalina Hamner.

Leif Hamner, first wife, Britta, deceased. Second wife, Tina Martin.

Children: Robby, Emma (married Carsten Brenner), Oliver, Finn, Saul.

Dagmar Hamner married Cora Elison.

Children: Nils, Theo, Pernilla, Sigrid, Abner, Baldwin, Ebba, Hadwig, Inga, Taddeus, Walt, Gottfrid.

Rania Hamner married Jacob Wilerson.

Children: Alva (married Asher Brenner), Harry, Felix, Juliana.

Hilda Hamner married Noah Wilerson.

Children: Greta (married Jeb Stein), Inga, Karin, Justina, Kirstin.

Chapter 1

"OH! WHAT? No! Wait!" Alva Wilerson yelled as she turned around and started running away from Asher Brenner and the umbrella he held over Alva to protect her from the downpour of cold rain.

Alva? Asher called as he fumbled to close the umbrella as he ran after her. Who was she chasing, and why?

"Stop right now, young man!" she yelled at the top of her lungs as she picked up her skirt and ran, dodging water puddles as best she could. They were both going to be soaked to the skin before they got back to their hotel.

Asher dashed after Alva, not yet seeing who she was chasing as she zig-zagged down the narrow alleyway.

It was his idea to cut down the alley in hopes of reaching their hotel quicker. The rain had been light during their first day at the Chicago World’s Fair. They managed without an umbrella as they moved from building to building.

It wasn't until they left that they realized they were going to be walking in heavy rain. They had ducked into a small store just off the fairgrounds, purchased an umbrella to share, and prepared to quickly walk to the hotel, staying under as many storefront awnings as possible.

Asher thought this alley would save them from walking around a block, but they were still getting soaked anyway.

"Drop my reticule now!" Alva yelled again as she lunged toward someone, but the little boy, who Asher could now see, dodged swiftly out of the way.

Now, knowing who he was up against and not wanting to be outwitted by a child, Asher pushed himself faster, pumping his arms and legs to propel himself past Alva.

The boy had to be under six or seven years of age, but he was a fast little squirt. And drenching wet, muddy, and gasping for air as he ran for all he was worth.

Asher hated to tackle the child, but Alva's reticule was tightly clutched in the boy’s right hand.

The boy ran into a big water puddle, splashing out muddy water just as Asher dove for the boy. Both of them landed face first in the cold water, but the child slipped out of Asher's grip, got back on his feet, and took off again.

I got it! Asher yelled as he rose to his knees, holding the wet reticule up in the air. He had felt the bag strings break as he grabbed the reticule from where it had slipped down the boy's arm and was able to jerk it away.

Alva caught up, then leaned over to catch her breath. Her light blue skirt's bottom edge was gray-brown from splashing through the puddles and the downpour of rain.

Are you all right? Alva asked as she reached for his hand to help him stand.

Just muddy and embarrassed that boy could run faster than me, Asher told her as he reached for his wet hat and plopped it back on his head.

Asher leaned over to rub his right knee as there must have been some rocky gravel in the hole where he landed. He hoped he hadn’t torn a hole in his good trousers.

I think I damaged your reticule, Asher said as he handed it back to Alva. She held it away from her and watched the dirty water drip off the bag.

I can mend it. Thanks for retrieving it for me, Alva said as she searched the alley.

Asher opened the umbrella and held it above them as they stood in the middle of the alley, looking for the boy or any other dangers lurking in the alley.

I'm sorry. This didn't turn out to be a good shortcut after all.

We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, Alva shrugged. I hate to see a boy that young need to steal, though. He looked scared instead of devious.

We're not used to seeing children, or anyone for that matter, living on the streets. I'm sure it's a common occurrence in Chicago.

I think he ducked under that set of stairs up on the right, Alva said as she walked in that direction. Asher followed since he had the umbrella and was trying to shield Alva from getting any wetter if that was possible.

Water had run down their faces, and their hair was plastered to their head when they had been running after the boy. Alva's bright blonde curls sagged below her wet hat of soggy ribbons and feathers.

A chill was going to set in fast, and they needed to get back to their hotel.

I think he’s gone, Alva. Nothing we can do for him now.

Asher wished they could have helped the boy, though. The kid had to be as cold as they were, and Asher bet the boy didn’t have a home to go to, living on the streets. Where did the homeless go for shelter? Was the little boy old enough to be on his own, or was there an adult observing the incident the whole time? Asher quickly turned around to see if there was someone else in the alley with them, but it seemed deserted.

Alva, we need to get out of here. I don’t feel safe now, Asher said as he took Alva’s elbow to steer her back to the middle of the alley. They shouldn’t be walking near the buildings if someone jumped out from the buildings' back doors. It seemed to be the back entrances of businesses, but he didn’t know the area.

I want to look under those steps, Asher, Alva said as she pulled him toward a short set of steps going into the back of a business. "Looks like it’s filled with trash under the steps, but I’m sure I saw the