She didn’t look as harsh as she did when Ellie first met her. The years hadn’t been kind, but Ellie could see that Marmee was correct. If Ellie understood Ma’s experiences, she would see that there was an honorable woman beneath all the hurt and anger.
One person who was delighted to see them was Annamae. She and Alice were best friends during school.
Annamae appeared to be a frail girl, even though she was nineteen. Her face was clean, revealing small features, Ellie likened her to elves and woodland fairies from stories her mother would read to her.
Small pleasantries were exchanged over a pot of coffee and some cookies, still warm from the oven.
“I’m going to go sit outside for a bit,” Chat said after finishing the small snack. “Would you like to join me, Alice?”
Alice’s eyes grew wide and she nodded, following Chat out the door.
“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Hartman,” Ellie said looking around. Although it wasn’t as grand as the Chapman’s, it was warm and cozy. The furniture was functional. The only decorations were a round table with a lace doily on it and a few framed lithographs. Ellie walked over and admired the display. She picked one up a framed picture of a young woman. It almost looked like Annamae, except the hair was darker. The woman was beautiful, but her eyes looked sad in the photograph. Almost as if all the joy of life was stolen from her. “Is this Sarah?” Ellie asked.
Ma Hartman rushed and snatched the picture out of Ellie’s hands. She ran her fingers down the face beneath the glass before holding it to her chest. “This was taken the day before she was supposed to get married.”
“To Owen?” Ellie watched the older woman’s eyes open in surprise.
“How did you know?”
“Owen told me.”
“Wasn’t no love match. Was strictly business. Was going to tie our families together. Then that no good Duke Richards came along.”
“Duke Richards?”
“Dirtiest, thievingest thing you ever saw. Took my Sarah away.”
“Where is she now, if I may ask?”
“Gone. That’s all I know.” Ma Hartman’s voice went softer as she placed the picture back on the table. “We don’t talk about her. Like she was never here. I only have this picture to remind me.” Suddenly she snapped her head up and narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t come here to admire my home, Miss Brooks, or talk about ghosts. Why don’t you just tell me why you are here?”
Ellie reached into the small bag she brought with her, removing the letters and ribbon.
“I want you to have these,” Ellie said, placing the bundle of letters in Ma Hartman’s hands.
“What are these?”
“Those are the letters Frank wrote to me during our courtship. I want you to have them.”
“I can’t hav’em. They was writ to you.”
“I will always remember his words, but in order for me to move on and find a new life, I have to let go of these memories. It felt only proper to give them to you.”
“I can’t read very well.”
“I’m sure that you can get someone to read them to you.”
“What’s they about?”
“Frank told me stories about you and your family. How he had great plans for the future. He wanted to settle down here on your ranch and have a future generation of Hartmans. He loved his family; you were his lifeblood. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“You wasn’t taking him?”
Ellie shook her head. “Not at all. Frank brought me out here to be a part of your family, not start a new one.” She curled Ma Hartman’s fingers around the stack of letters. “You’ll learn that when you read these.”
“It was such a shock. I know I behaved badly, causing him to run off. It cost me, my son. I had already lost so much. I just couldn’t bear to lose him too.”
Ellie wrapped her arm around the older woman. Ma’s shoulders felt frail beneath Ellie’s touch. “I know,” she whispered. “But don’t let it cost you any others.”
Ellie looked out the window where Chat and Alice sat on a bench under a tree. Alice wasn’t sure about chaperoning Ellie, especially given she thought it would hurt Owen, but when Ellie told her the truth, Alice jumped at the chance to get out of the house for a bit.
“Thank you,” Ma Hartman said, squeezing Ellie’s hand.
Ellie nodded and stood. “Thank you for a lovely hour. I enjoyed spending time with you. We should probably be getting back home.”
She turned to leave, but Ma Hartman quickly grabbed her in a hug. Ellie could feel the older woman’s shoulders shake, but she knew Ma wouldn’t cry in front of her. Ellie returned the hug and then broke away to go find Chat and Alice.
“What are you going to do now?” Ma Hartman asked.
Ellie smiled. “I’m going to go back to the Chapmans and write a letter.”
Owen and Ellie’s story hasn’t ended. It resumes in Oliver’s story releasing on July 15, 2020. I hope you continue the adventure with the Chapmans. Turn the page to see the rest of the Chapman Saga books by Christine Sterling.
Meet the Chapmans
Releasing July 15 - OLIVER
Working with his twin brother on their ranch is the best life Oliver can imagine. That is until a frightened and bruised woman shows up on his doorstep. What is she running from and can Oliver protect her?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing August 12 - Caleb
Caleb has never recovered from his brother’s death. He blames himself since he wasn’t there to protect his brother in a gunfight. On a cattle drive from Texas, he finds a woman and her son on the trail. She doesn’t remember who she is or where she was going. Caleb wonders if this is his chance for redemption, or will bringing her home pull two families further apart?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing September 16 - Everett
Everett is the peacemaker. Even though his family has been fighting with the ranch closest to them for years, Everett has always had a sweet spot for the daughter who lives there. When he comes up with a crazy idea to get their families to listen, will it bring the families closer together or tear them apart?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing October 14 - Alice
Tired of four older brothers scaring off every suitor, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands. What she didn’t expect was the family’s childhood friend to notice how grownup she was, and vow to protect her; even if it is from her own family.
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Leave a Review
If you enjoyed this story, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review, as it helps me reach new readers and continue to write stories that appeal to you.
Tap here to leave a review.
Join the CSR newsletter here.
Tap here to see all of Christine’s books.
Click here to join the Chat, Sip & Read Readers Community.
Read all of Christine’s Books
The Silverpines Series:
1. Wanted: Medicine Man
2. Wanted: Gravedigger
3. Wanted: Redemption
The Silverpines Companion Tales:
1. The Coffin Maker
2. Snowbound
3. Changing Seasons
North and South Series:
1. His Civil War Bride
2. New York Bride
3. Virginia Bride
4. Maryland Bride
5. West Virginia Bride
6. Pennsylvania Bride
The Proxy Bride Romances:
1. A Bride for Jeremiah
2. A Bride for Elijah
3. A Bride for Benjamin
The Pinkerton Matchmaker Romances:
1. The Pinkerton Matchmaker
2. An Agent for Claudette
3. An Agent for Penelope
4. An Agent for Marianne
5. An Agent for Pearl
The Cowboys and Angels Romances:
> 1. Bride in Blue
2. Beauty and the Baker
3. Tempting the Tailor
4. Married by Midnight
The Belles of Wyoming Romances:
1. Wynter's Bride
2. The Homecoming
3. A Matter of Marriage
4. The Barn Raising
The Black Hills Brides Books:
1. Her Secret Past
2. Her Secret Baby
3. Her Secret Shame
4. Her Secret Love
The Christmas Books:
1. A Cozy Mitten Christmas
2. A Cowboy for Christmas
3. A Mother for Christmas
Read Christine’s Other Books:
1. Gwyneth (Widows of Wildcat Ridge)
2. Moving from Maryland (Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge)
3. Dancing to the Altar (Holliday Islands Resort #2)
Please visit Christine’s Amazon page at:
www.christinesterling.com
About Christine Sterling
Christine Sterling independently published her first book in 2017. She writes sweet and wholesome historical westerns and sweet contemporary romance novels. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, a spoiled Shih Tzu, two German Shepherds and an energetic Border Collie, that keep her on her toes.
She spends her time writing, thinking about writing, and dreaming about writing. Her favorite things are a good cup of tea, puppy snuggles, a movie that will make you cry and hearing from her readers.
If you like this book, please take a few minutes to leave a review now! Christine appreciates it and you may help a reader find their next favorite book!
Owen (the Chapmans #1)
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
The book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. All rights are reserved with the exceptions of quotes used in reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.
Scriptures quoted from the King James Holy Bible.
Owen (The Chapmans #1) ©2020 Christine Sterling
Cover Design by Virginia McKevitt, Black Widow Books
Editing by Carolyn Leggo and Amy Petrowich
www.christinesterling.com
1st Ed, 6/2020
Owen Page 12