Blessed With a New Beginning: An Inspirational Historical Romance Book

by Lilah Rivers

  But maybe he really was the sort of fellow who would allow a woman’s beauty to be the thing that interested him the most.

  He looked back at Hank and considered the fact that he had been so fortunate to end up here. Already, things were getting interesting. Already, he was finding himself enjoying life again.

  After only a few weeks of his heart aching, was there a chance that this ranch could be the very thing that might cure him of his woes?

  He was truly beginning to believe that there was a chance.

  “Anyway, let’s get back to work. Do you want to work the horses?” Hank asked, dragging that leg as they went towards the field.

  “That sounds like an ideal job for me,” David said, feeling his rising excitement.

  “Good. Sometimes I can’t quite keep up with them. It’ll be perfect having someone around who can get it done,” he said.

  Hank led one of the horses, a thoroughbred that he called Mr. Longshanks, over to the pen where David could get him running some circles.

  David got the beast going and watched his mane fly as he went. It was a sight that reminded him of the home that he had left behind.

  But David had come for a reason. The very issue of being so unlucky in love had brought him to the region of Montana, and now he was going to do his very best to keep the ranch owner happy.

  After a while, Hank came and collected him again so they could go in for lunch. David was disappointed to see that Clementine and Mrs. Roberta were planning to eat later, and Mrs. Roberta had instructed Clementine to take a bit more rest.

  He had overheard a few brief protestations. Claims that she didn’t want to be lazy and that she had to be of help around the ranch were met with Mrs. Roberta’s stark insistence that she care for Clementine for a little while longer.

  So, it seemed as though Clementine was a hard worker and the sort of young woman who did not expect everyone else to do things for her. She cared enough to make her own efforts.

  Even more than before, David was intrigued. But he had plenty of other things to focus on.

  It was only fools who got distracted by love.

  Chapter 5

  “And this is Feldey Chapel,” Aunt Roberta said, leading Clementine to the church doors.

  It was a relief to be in a place that she knew she could be at ease. Any time Clementine found herself at church, she was happy and relieved to know that the Lord was with her.

  Hank and David followed behind and Clementine tried to ignore the fact that David had smelled so fresh and clean that morning when she had walked past him out the door of the farmhouse. He looked quite nice, as well.

  Everyone was in their Sunday best as they reached the chapel, and it was clear that the whole town must have shown up.

  “I take it everyone comes here?” she asked.

  “Aside from a couple of people who tend to still be nursing their drink from the night before,” Aunt Roberta said.

  Clementine understood that. In the city, there were often those who would not attend church because of how they spent their Saturday evenings. But at least here, it appeared as though most people wanted to be in the presence of God.

  They went inside and sat in a pew, grabbing the hymnals that were shared between them.

  Before the Reverend made his way to the front, Aunt Roberta greeted a few of the people seated around them. She introduced them all to Clementine and to David as well.

  “It’s very nice to meet you,” Clementine said, smiling at each of them in turn.

  There were quite a few families and by the time the service began, she estimated there were a total of about two hundred in the congregation. The building was completely full.

  “Good morning, Beloved,” the Reverend greeted as he took his place. What followed was a beautiful liturgy of truth and hope. By the end, Clementine was feeling very refreshed and so much better about the fact that her mother and father were in Heaven.

  “And now, in the love of the Father, by the obedience of the Son, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, go and be blessed,” he said, pronouncing the benediction over them.

  The congregants began to stand, readying to leave, but Aunt Roberta was a socialite and Clementine was glad to be with her.

  Nearly everyone they passed had something to say to Aunt Roberta.

  “Good morning, Eleanor!” “Oh, sweet Mildred, how are you today? Still have that flu?” “Theodore, that must be a new shirt,” she said, one by one. It appeared as though she knew each person, inside and out. Not only that, but each of them knew her in return.

  Everybody was thrilled to hear about the hiring of David Brown and the fact that it was going to make Aunt Roberta’s life easier. Most of them had even heard of Clementine before and she was honored that her Aunt had spoken of her so highly.

  “And this here is Miss Chelsea St. Claire. She’s about your age, aren’t you Miss Chelsea?” Aunt Roberta asked.

  “I should think so,” Chelsea said. “It is very nice to meet you, Clementine. Your Aunt has spoken of you often, how she had a niece my age. I’m glad to finally know you in person. I hope you enjoy life here in Feldey.”

  “So far, it has been a delight to be here. It is different from the city, but I find that it is just what my soul needs. Everyone here has been so welcoming and kind,” she said.

  “Yes, your Aunt’s ranch is a good place for meeting good people,” Chelsea said, her eyes trailing over to Hank.

  Clementine noticed that the look passed between them equally. Chelsea and Hank did not move their gaze from one another before they had to. As if there was some beautiful link that held them captive to one another.

  She did not wish to disrupt it, but also felt that she ought to continue the conversation and not stare at them in their moment of quiet, shared appreciation.

  “I have been deeply impressed by the ranch,” Clementine said. “And those who work it.”

  When she added the last little bit, her own gaze found David who was standing beside Hank, very near to them and being introduced to someone else.

  “Yes, and I have seen that there is a new gentleman there,” Chelsea said, bringing her attention back to Clementine.

  “There is. I believe Mr. Guthrie was the one who found him. It was very good of him to do that for my aunt’s sake,” Clementine said.

  “Oh yes, Hank is always looking after her. He really is a good man,” Chelsea said.

  Clementine felt as though she continuously heard that statement. It warmed her heart to know that someone like Hank was looking after Aunt Roberta and had been doing so during her time of loss. She also felt like it meant that she should show her appreciation to him.

  But it was more than evident that Chelsea had feelings for Hank, and Clementine hoped for the best to happen between them even if she knew so little about either one of them.

  “So what is there to do for a young woman in town?” Clementine asked.

  Chelsea considered the question.

  “Well, there is teaching, which many of the young women aspire to do. But in a small town like this, there are not many opportunities to become a teacher. Others marry right away,” she said.

  “What about you? What do you wish to do?” Clementine asked.

  “I will not be doing much until I marry. My father is very insistent that I stay at home and strive to learn how to be the very best I can be as a young lady and a wife. And ever since the death of my own mother, I have looked after him,” she said.

  “Oh, I am so sorry,” Clementine said.

  “It’s okay. It has been nearly four years. I miss her, but we have grown into this new time of life,” Chelsea said.

  “Yes, I hope to find that normalcy after some time,” Clementine said.

  “It is difficult to come by, and you may often feel guilty once the pain settles. But it is good to learn to accept that God has called our loved ones home,” Chelsea said.

  Clementine noticed then that the Reverend was coming over to greet t
hem. He was a handsome man for his age, and was perhaps a little bit older than Aunt Roberta. He gave her a strange look as he drew near.

  “Good morning, you must be Roberta’s niece,” he greeted, somewhat suspiciously.

  “Yes, Reverend. My name is Clementine Rogers. It is nice to meet you,” she said.

  “And you as well. I was happy to hear that Roberta has a bit of company now. And who is this gentleman?” he asked, garnering the attention of David from where he stood with Hank.

  “Good morning, Reverend. David Brown, I am the new hand at Mrs. Roberta’s ranch,” he said.

  Clementine realized that the Reverend had little more to say to her, but that he was deeply intrigued by David. She could not say why, but for some reason there was an interest in him despite the fact that he was also new in town, just as she was.

  “Very nice to meet you, David Brown. Have you met my daughter, Miss Chelsea St. Claire?” he asked.

  So Chelsea was the Reverend’s daughter? Clementine understood now why her father might try to shelter her a bit. After all, he was a man of faith who would be remiss to allow his daughter to do anything that would jeopardize her heart.

  “Very nice to meet you, Miss St. Claire,” David greeted.

  “And you,” she replied with all manner of friendliness.

  Clementine had never been the jealous type. Not even when she thought that she had fallen in love with Cotton Middleton a few years back and then he went and married Elspeth Chalmers.

  But sadness stirred within her heart to see David meet this beautiful young Reverend’s daughter. It was not bitterness or resentment, just a curiosity as to whether or not there was any sort of attraction between them.

  Although she had seen that Chelsea’s eyes strayed to Hank, what did David think of her? At least he was meeting her looking her very best. Not thinking that she might be a maid.

  But Clementine was caught off guard when David’s eyes found her instead, smiling with a warmth that filled her from head to toe.

  “Chelsea has the most beautiful singing voice of anyone in Feldey, don’t you?” the Reverend said, as if trying to show her off.

  “Oh, that is doubtful,” she said with a humility that was rather lovely.

  But it was the look in Hank’s eye that was truly telling. Yes, Chelsea certainly must have had a lovely voice for he was looking at her with anticipation, as if longing to hear that voice again.

  Aunt Roberta was still chatting amiably with other friends, leaving the five of them with a bit of awkwardness in their wake. It still felt to Clementine that the Reverend was not so friendly with her as he was with David and she couldn’t understand if she had done something wrong.

  “Well, you are both welcome in our town. And Mr. Brown, I should very much like to get to know you better. Perhaps we may speak at length sometime soon?” the Reverend asked.

  “Yes, of course,” he replied politely.

  Just then, a severe looking young lady came over in a hurry. The Reverend made to greet her, although Clementine observed that he did so painfully, but the young lady rebuffed him.

  “David, how lovely to see you again,” she said with great familiarity.

  His eyes went wide and Clementine bit a lip in curiosity as to what this was all about.

  “A-and you as well,” he said, leaning away from her subconsciously.

  “I was glad that you were at church today. It is always good to see you. How are you liking Feldey?” she asked.

  “V-very well,” he replied, stuttering every time he spoke to her.

  “Tabitha, have you met Miss Clementine?” Hank asked, evidently trying to get the young woman’s attention off David and onto another young lady with whom she might interact.

  The young woman, Tabitha, turned to Clementine and looked her up and down with disinterest.

  “You’re new here as well?” she asked.

  “Yes, I am. It is very nice to meet you,” Clementine said in as friendly a manner as she could muster.

  “So we have two newcomers? That is strange. One is quite nice, but two? It appears that our little town is changing,” Tabitha said.

  Clementine understood that this was meant as a slight against her, but she chose not to take it to heart. Whatever this young lady wanted, it was evident that she was unimpressed by Clementine.

  The whole group was tense for a moment, waiting for an ease to come.

  “Well, it was very nice meeting you both,” Chelsea said to Clementine and to David. Her eyes landed on Hank and Clementine saw the invisible message between them before he took charge in getting her and David back to Aunt Roberta.

  “Yeah, we had best get back to the ranch. Those cattle aren’t going to feed themselves,” he said. “Well, actually…”

  Clementine laughed. Hank smiled at his little joke and everyone departed their own ways. She followed the two men back to Aunt Roberta and the four of them headed home where she was finally allowed to make lunch for everybody.

  It had been a full few days, but Clementine was still more excited than ever to make a life in Feldey.

  She hoped that Chelsea might prove to be a friend, and also hoped that Tabitha would not be around too much. This latter thought, of course, made her feel a bit guilty, but Clementine wanted a fresh start in a place where she was welcomed.

  If life continued as it was going, this was exactly the place for her.

  Chapter 6

  Mr. Longshanks needed a good brushing and David got to it. He didn’t want any of the horses suffering under his care or growing less than their best.

  He pulled out the best brush that he could find and combed through Mr. Longshanks’ mane and then his tail. There was quite a bit of dust from the summer that was now coming to an end and it appeared as though the horse was long overdue for this sort of treatment.

  David had greatly admired how Hank had been working so diligently to take care of the ranch in previous days. It was far too much work for one man. It was too much for even the two of them.

  But, happily, they were figuring out a rhythm just a few days in and David was thankful that he had so much experience in tending to a ranch in times past. It meant that he was more than capable of jumping on tasks without having to be told what to do or taught how to do it.

  When he thought about the life that he had left behind, there was still an ache in his chest. He wondered what Georgia was doing in that moment and if she ever thought about him in return.

  Then again, he hoped that she did not. If she was thinking about him, it was an affront to her new husband.

  Whatever was happening back home, he wanted to know nothing about it. There was too much sadness for him that lingered in that place.

  David scrubbed the horse’s hooves and tried to get her face out of his mind. There was no time to think about a woman that was not his. The woman he needed to think of now was Mrs. Roberta and the tasks that he had to complete for her.

  “Hey, David, are you ready for lunch?” Hank called after a few hours.

  “I sure am,” he replied.

  The meals that he had eaten since Sunday’s lunch had all been prepared by Clementine and were all delicious. And although he and Hank often ate at different times from the two women, he had been passing by her quite a bit and exchanging simple greetings whenever he could.