I love to read, quilt, work with digital images on my photo editing program, and work on my own family history.
I am a blogger. In addition to my own blog, I blog for several group blogs including the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog, which I started and administer.
Kendrick Denham left his family farm back east, fought in the war with Mexico, then answered gold’s call after it was discovered in California. In late 1852, when he reached Columbia, known as “The Gem of the Southern Mines,” he realized the easy-to-find placer gold was no longer that easy to find. He decided he would do better providing fresh meat to the townspeople. With extremely few women in the region, and most of the respectable ones already married, Kendrick entertains no ambitions for a wife and family. Then the county sheriff rides over from Sonora. With a cryptic expression, he hands Kendrick a six-month-old baby girl. “The mother named you as the father.”
Now her late husband’s stepson, whom she finished raising, is of age to inherit the farm left to him by his birth father, Lydia Meyer and her two young sons have been forced out of her home of over ten years. She leaves Pennsylvania headed for the wild gold fields of Columbia, California. She dreads living off the charity of her older sister who is just as disagreeable and overbearing as their late mother had been. Warned that most of the miners in California, many of whom left families back east to seek their fortunes, tend to be unsettled, uncouth, and prone to drinking and gambling, she worries it may be impossible to find a good father for her children. Even if she weds again, will it be another loveless marriage like her first?
Then there is baby Madeline, who is cast adrift in the world, all alone, with no one to love her. What will become of her?
KENDRICK is a stand-alone sweet American historical romance that is part of the multi-author series, Bachelors & Babies. Under the sub-title, “Too Old for Babies,” it is also part of the author’s own series, Too Old in Columbia.“
Realizing the identity of the woman to whom the twins referred, Kendrick stepped back and threw his hands in the air to ward of the suggestion. “No, no! Not your aunt.” The last thing I want is to be around another fractious woman as disagreeable and contentious as Dorcas Thompson.
Their hands on their hips, both girls turned to face him and spoke at the same time. “Why not?”
He cleared his throat as he searched his mind for an excuse that did not sound too insulting. “There are enough problems that have arisen between your mother and me. I hope you realize how much I appreciate your help today. As nice as it’s been, you girls are courting trouble with the way you are skirting around the rules your mother has set for you. In case you don’t know, she was in my shop yesterday.”
The two turned and gazed at each other and nodding their heads, again sharing an unspoken communication.
Her lips pursed, Charlotte turned to face Kendrick. “Oh, we know.”
Caroline clasped her hands together and offered him a winsome smile. “That’s why we came to visit you this morning. We overheard her tell Papa about the baby.”
Kendrick cleared his throat. “Yes, well, at that time, she warned me in no uncertain terms that your aunt will soon be busy becoming acquainted with a select few men in town with the intent she will remarry soon. My name has been stricken from the list of potential suitors.” Dodged that bullet. “I am not to approach her in any manner.”
Both girls stared at him for a few seconds before Caroline shrugged and responded for them both. “Oh, you don’t have to approach Aunt Lydia. We’ll bring her to you.”
