Do you enjoy short stories? In The Damsel’s Intent, which just released June 1, the main character Nicole’s grandfather is mentioned often, but we never see him. I thought it would be fun to meet him and his soon-to-be wife. Not having known anything about Nicole’s grandmother before writing this, I see where Nicole got her tenacity from to get her man:
California, 1855
A knock on the door of Isaac Waterby’s den interrupted his thoughts. “Come in.”
His cook and manservant, Qing Li, entered. “Miss Bertha Fletcher here. I tell her you busy?”
For most people, he would have Qing do just that, but Miss Fletcher always brightened his day. Why was this young lady paying him a visit? He would take any excuse. “Send her in.”
“Very well.” Qing Li backed out of the room and returned a moment later with the elegant Miss Fletcher. His manservant slipped out.
Isaac rounded his desk. “Miss Fletcher, what a pleasant surprise.”
The delightful beauty gifted him with a smile. “I certainly hope so.” Though not among the social elite, she came from a family of moderate means. She strolled around the room, tugging at the fingertips of her gloves.
What was she up to?
After freeing her hand, she waved an arm to encompass his den. “You have a lovely home. May I ask you a question about it?”
“Of course.”
She ran her hand along the back of his favorite chair.
He hadn’t noticed how worn the leather had become, but still serviceable.
“So many of the young miners can’t wait to build a big home. Why haven’t you? You could certainly afford to with the revenue your mine generates.”
As well as other assets he held. “Any business comes with many expenses.”
She nodded. “Still, you could afford more.”
“I see no need to waste a lot of space when it is only me. A larger house would demand more staff to tend to it. Qing Li knows how I like things.”
Miss Fletcher faced him directly and proceeded to tug on the glove fingers of her other hand. “I’ve always appreciate pragmatism. No need to be wasteful.”
What was this lovely young lady fishing for? Why was she dancing around her specific purpose in coming? Certainly not to comment on his choice of housing.
She crossed the room and stood directly in front of him. “I have a proposal for you.”
He enjoyed a good business venture. Mining had become tedious. “Go on.”
She drew open her tiny handbag and produced a delicate ruby ring. “This belonged to my grandmother.” She handed it to him.
He studied the artistry of the forged piece. “This is good quality.” He offered it back to her.
She didn’t take it. “Does it give you any ideas?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Like what?”
She held out her left hand, palm down, and wiggled her finger.
Her actions weren’t difficult to interpret. His heartbeat sped up. “You want me to propose to you with this ring?”
“Unless you have your own heirloom.”
She couldn’t be serious but did intrigue him, so he played along. “I must be at least a decade and a half older than you. Why not someone closer to your age?” She could certainly have her choice of suitors.
“Young men are so capricious.”
“Why would you want an old man set in his ways like me?”
She pinned him with her deep blue gaze. “Exactly because you’re set in your ways. You’ve already gotten frivolity out of your system and grown into the person you will be. Young men might turn into someone different. I want to know who I’m getting.”
Compelling argument. He’d long ago fancied her but never dreamt such a young woman would return his affection. So when she’d said she had a proposal, she’d meant an actual proposal.
She nodded toward her grandmother’s ring. “Are you going to put that on my finger?”
This enchanting lady was one of a kind. Bold. Bright. Beautiful.
He took her dainty hand. “Shouldn’t I ask your father first?”
“I already have on your behalf.”
The Damsel’s Intent
The Quilting Circle # 3
by Mary Davis
Can Nicole learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher?
Washington State 1893
Now that Nicole Waterby’s grandfather has passed away, Nicole is left to care for her two younger cousins. Feeling inadequate to handle the responsibility, she heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband. She doesn’t realize women don’t wear trousers, buckskins, or carry a gun. She has a lot to learn about being a lady if she’s going to catch a husband.
Rancher Shane Keegan has drifted from one location to another to find a place to belong. He longs to have a family of his own but feels doomed to live a life alone. When Nicole crosses his path, he wonders if he can have love, but he soon realizes she’s destined for someone better than a saddle tramp. Even though he knows there’s no future for him with the intriguing mountain girl, he still steps in to help her at every opportunity.
Will love stand a chance while both Nicole and Shane try to be people they are not?
Bestselling, award-winning novelist MARY DAVIS has over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She is a member of ACFW and has led critique groups for more than two decades. Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-five years and two cats. She has three adult children and two adorable grandchildren. She enjoys playing board and card games, rain, and cats. She would enjoy gardening if she didn’t have a black thumb. Her hobbies are quilting, porcelain doll making, sewing, crafts, crocheting, and knitting.
MIRALEE FERRELL