Embraced by Love: Bachelor's Club Book 1

By Lisa Vanoni

In 1890, The Bachelor’s Club is a group of men who love God, poker, and their small town of Raven Crest. It’s promising to be a good year, and these men are ready for anything. Together, The Bachelor's Club can conquer any problem, until it is overtaken by a very unexpected adversary: love.

Ben Hammond is the Defense Attorney for the county of Raven Crest and a devoted bachelor. He is confident he can handle everything life throws at him, until he meets Erin, the judge’s daughter. How can he work with Erin’s father and court her at the same time? Then, his attention is drawn to the hardest case of his career. Courting Erin is now impossible … or is it?

Erin is learning to put God first. When her mentor dies, she is thrust into the challenging world of business. All she wants is the love of a good husband, and it could be Ben. What she gets instead are hard life lessons. Is the love she so longs for out of reach? For their relationship to work, Ben and Erin must have faith that love, even in the darkest of times, conquers all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664297234

Lisa Vanoni

Lisa Vanoni has been married to her high school sweetheart for thirty-three years. They have two sons and one daughter-in-law. Lisa enjoys ministering in Sunday school and on an intercessory prayer team. During the pandemic, Lisa began writing the stories she had imagined for many years. Now, she prays that they bless you.

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Copyright © 2023 Lisa Vanoni.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, King James Version

(Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic

Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9724-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9725-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9723-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023906485

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/18/2023

To Terry, my loving husband. I couldn’t have done this without

you. Your love wraps around me like a warm embrace.

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

and obtaineth favor of the Lord.

—Proverbs 18:22

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1   The Bachelors Club

Chapter 2   Erin

Chapter 3   Miss Burns

Chapter 4   Stretched

Chapter 5   Conquered Fears

Chapter 6   Independence

Chapter 7   The Trial

Chapter 8   The Dinner Party

Discussion Questions

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you, Shelly Sanders, my sister, whose support was priceless. And Connie Young, your advice was invaluable.

CHAPTER 1

The Bachelors Club

Raven Crest, Idaho

Friday, April 15, 1890

R emember, Ben said as he scanned the jury, demanding their attention, Mr. Welsh has to prove that Mr. Jurgens intended to steal the horse. Mr. Jurgens claims he lost track of time during the spring planting. We all know how easy it is to lose track of time while working the fields. Ben offered a winning smile to the jury, hoping to remind them of the farm boy they once knew. He allowed his smile to fade into a near frown. Mr. Jurgens did pay the livery for two days. Two just turned into ten. And there was no written agreement between these two upstanding men about how the horse would be used. Now is not the time to think about other indiscretions of my client—only this incident.

Confidently, Ben walked back toward his seat. Confident, not cocky, he thought. They smiled back. Good.

This was promising to be a good year for Raven Crest. Statehood was a possibility, the town was growing slowly, and crime was staying low, which made jury trials few and far between. Ben enjoyed the challenge that trials brought but praised God for peace in the town he loved so much.

Ben flashed a smile at Mr. Jurgens, trying to reassure his client. Paul O’Reilly, the sheriff, sat behind the accused, watching for any questionable actions. Paul grinned at Ben, shaking his head. Ben knew this would be a hard case to win, and it looked like Paul knew that too. Mr. Jurgens often stretched or bent rules to his advantage. Now he was accused of stealing a horse from the livery to use for planting crops instead of driving to fetch his wife from a nearby town as he had claimed.

Ben’s gaze drifted past Paul to Erin, the judge’s daughter. Erin smiled sheepishly, her green eyes glistening brightly. Her auburn ringlets bounced softly as she motioned to the pan in her lap. The delicious aroma of ham casserole drifted through the air, hinting at the tasty meal under the cloth.

Catching his breath, Ben stumbled the last step to his seat. His palms dampened, his heart pounded hard, and breathing became difficult. How could he go from confident lawyer to fumbling boy with one glance at that beautiful woman?

Judge Ashburn gave instructions to the court. Sheriff, take the accused back, and then I want to see you in my chambers. Mr. Welsh, Mr. Hammond, I would like to see you in my chambers also. Jury, you are dismissed for lunch. Court will resume at one o’clock.

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Erin’s heart beat just a little faster. There he was, and he would be tasting her casserole! After all, the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, wasn’t it? She had noticed Ben at church a few weeks earlier. He had been helping an elderly couple into the building and urging others to help the folks outside. After that, she seemed to notice him all over town—at church, at the mercantile, and at other shops in town. Often, he was helping someone, especially elderly people, children, and mothers. Whenever someone was in need, he was there and helping.

Now she was hoping to gain his attention. She had dreamed of those bright blue eyes and blond hair. Watching him in front of the jury, where he was so confident and so willing to listen and help those accused, added to the attraction. He was more than handsome; he was God loving and caring.

Once the jury left, Erin glided past the courtroom doors and into her father’s office. As she was taught in finishing school, Erin gave her hips a small twitch creating a soft rustle of her petticoats as she prepared a plate of casserole for each man. Nanna, the house cook, had finally declared her cooking good enough for others to try. Now she could put her planning in place. After one bite of the casserole, Ben would notice her. Then courtship could begin.

She handed him a plate, her heart racing wildly. Ben took the plate and sat down without a glance in her direction.

Her smile faded. I just want a look, a smile, anything! Just give me some hope, some hint that you are interested in me.

Smells better than my attempts! Paul laughed as he entered the room.

Burn anything lately? Erin’s father asked, chuckling at the bachelor.

Nope. Mrs. Simmons, at the boarding house, hasn’t let me near her stove since I torched the bread. Paul gratefully accepted the plate of casserole, sniffing deeply.

Jeremy Welsh finished his piece, declaring it better than his wife’s cooking, but he added, I’ll deny ever saying that if she finds out.

Scraping the last bit into a small pile for one last bite, Ben mumbled, It’s good. He tried to set the plate on the table near him, but his fingers caught the fork, flipping it into the air and onto the floor.

Erin reached down to pick up the dropped fork. His hand wrapped over hers, forcing her to glance up. Their eyes locked at the touch. Erin’s eyes widened, and her breath quickened.

Ben pulled his hand back as if he had touched a hot kettle. Sorry, he apologized quickly. He stood to leave, and Paul rolled his eyes. Erin glanced in the mirror and saw Ben mouth, Hush up. Why would he do that?

Father came around and kissed the top of her head. The best my baby has ever made, he declared.

Thank you, Father. Erin smiled weakly, trying to cover the disappointment. What will it take to get him to notice me? Lord, help me, please!

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Raven Crest main street

Ben’s house

Later that evening, Ben sat down at the table with his friends, a bowl of chili, and a large hunk of cornbread. Marcy said that no matter what, we are getting stew next week. She insists she will get some vegetables in us somehow, he told the group. He chuckled at the friendly warning from the café’s owner, who was closer to a mother than a friend.

Paul dipped his cornbread in his bowl of chili. Her stew is good too. Chili has just become a habit for us, I think. He bit into the cornbread and groaned with satisfaction. This chili beats my ma’s and Mrs. Simmons’s. Then he glared playfully at the cards. I haven’t won a game since there was snow on the ground. Now there are blossoms on the trees. But this can’t get any better. Good food, good friends, cards, and no women.

Ben, Corbin, Paul, and Jonah had begun their poker nights years ago, when their other friends were courting or getting married. Ben had left to go to college and then returned to Raven Crest as the county defense attorney, quickly rejoining the group that called themselves the Bachelors Club. When Jared, the new, single pastor, came to town, they made sure to invite him to their games, informing him that they played for scripture verses, not money.

The chips were handed out. Everyone started with the same amount. Instead of getting money, the night’s winner would pick a verse for everyone to learn by next week.

So who goes first? Paul asked, fingering the chips in front of him.

Jonah won last week. He starts, Jared said as he elbowed Jonah.

Deuteronomy 31:6, Jonah began. ‘Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ Then he added, Even in crowds.

Jared leaned back. You have a tough time with people. What happens?

Holding his hand out, Jonah showed a tremble. Then he tapped his chest fast and took