Her Heart’s Inevitable Fate (Preview)

Chapter One

“We should have a good supply to help the orphanage,” Annie Mayfield said to her friend Shannon Pembroke. Shannon nodded but waved her hand to a man crossing the main street. “Shannon,” Annie said but shook her head at the same time. “He’s already spoken for, that one.”

“I know that. Just being a friendly person, that’s all.” Shannon grinned at her as she said it. “The collection for the orphanage is doing really well.” The girls were on the front porch of Shannon’s dad’s house and had been to the church to take the last offerings that had been donated.

“Your dad is very long suffering to let folk leave what they can at the sheriff’s office.” Annie settled on a slatted wooden chair as she spoke.

“He says it helps if people see him as somebody they can talk to. He picks up a lot of information that way.”

“The town is always quiet under his watchful eye,” Annie said.

“And he has young and single deputies,” Shannon quipped.

“You are so naughty, Shannon Pembroke.” Annie smiled at her friend.

“And you are nowhere near naughty enough, Annie Mayfield.”

“I like doing things that help. If young men come to assist, that is pleasant, but that is all. I have so many things that I want to do that flirting has to take a back seat.”

“And keeping your dad happy is another thing you have to think about. I know that.” Shannon reached across and patted her friend’s arm. “What sort of things have you got planned to do?”

Annie talked about helping with the orphanage donations and then thought about what she really liked to do.

“You know I enjoy pottering in the yard and growing pretty flowers in pots? The elderly lady in the end house needs help with hers as she cannot get up and down anymore. I said I would help her out.”

“Missus Carstairs? She is a sweetie. Her family is so far away.”

“Then I am making a large tapestry of a flower garden. It is restful to sit sometimes and see how much the picture comes to life.”

“You really like flowers.”

“When I was away at school, they had a lovely garden where you could sit and read or talk, but we were encouraged to learn how to make a beautiful garden as well.”

“I wish you had been at school here. We could have been friends right from the start.”

 Annie pulled a face and said that her family thought she had to have the best.

“The school was fine, but it was a long way away.” Shannon hesitated and then opened and closed her mouth. “Just say whatever it is, Shannon. You won’t insult me.”

“You are nothing like your parents.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Annie answered with a smile. “My mom is always dressed well and runs a dinner party as if she was still living in the high society of Boston. Let’s face it; she would be happier in that sort of world. My dad wants to marry me off to an old man so that when he dies, I get the money and bring it back to him.”

Shannon gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

“Did he actually say that?”

“Not all at once, but I got the message loud and clear.”

“Oh, my Lord, Annie. That is just dreadful. What will you do?”

“I am not sure really. I am keeping busy and out of his way. He will forget about it for a while.”

Shannon was actually shocked to the core. She knew, as all the girls did, that a good marriage was the best thing for a woman. It gave you a place in the town, and it gave you protection. This deliberately forcing someone into a situation they did not want was just horrifying.

“My dad would never do that,” she said. “I am sorry that yours is doing this to you.”

“You help me, Shannon. Just by being here and talking to me, you are my escape.”

“Then whatever you need me to do, just ask. We have this orphanage donation to deal with and lots of other things.”

“Walk down and see Missus Carstairs with me.”

The two young women linked arms and strolled down the main street. The place was small but had some stores where the girls paused and looked at what was for sale. The wooden church with the minister’s house set back from it had people dropping off gifts as the minister had requested. There was a hotel and several saloons with the essential services for a cattle town behind the main buildings. 

There was a blacksmith, a livery stable, and the property of Jake Gordon, who made most things that folk needed in the way of leather goods. He was also the man who worked as the nearest thing the town had to a veterinarian.

“Stop by and see if Jake has mended my reins,” Annie suggested, and they crossed the road and went down the side of the grocery store. The small carriage that Annie had used to come into town was standing to one side, but there was no horse in the shafts.

“Mornin’ girls,” Jake said and stopped what he was doing. “Had to put the horse in the corral to get to the reins. Be finished shortly. I am stitching a new piece of leather into it. I cut out the frayed part.”

“Thanks, Jake. We will go to see Missus Carstairs and come back for it.”

“You girls are helping with this work to help the orphanage, aren’t you?” They nodded. “I wondered if the minister was interested in putting things up for sale that folk donated. I have a saddle that came with a horse that nobody wanted. I have polished it up and mended it, and he could sell it to make some funds.”

“That is a brilliant idea,” Jake,” Annie exclaimed. “Nobody has suggested that before. I bet people have lots of little things that could be sold. We’ll see what the minister says.”

“That is the saddle there,” the man said and pointed to where the now polished leather saddle was hanging.

“That is a pretty saddle,” Shannon said. “I bet it was used by a woman.”

“It has decorations on the edges,” Annie said as she ran a finger over the edge.

“Been done with a fine point, heated in a forge, I would think,” Jake responded.

“When I come back for the carriage, will we put it in and take it to the church?”

“Why not?” Jake agreed. “The people running the orphanage desperately need help.”

The two girls went on to the end of the main street and turned off to a pretty wooden bungalow with a neat fence around the garden. The owner was sitting on a wooden seat and reaching down with a small garden fork to try and take up some weeds.

“Hello, girls,” she exclaimed. “What a lovely surprise.”

“Hello, Missus Carstairs,” Shannon replied. “Annie says you need some extra helping hands in this garden.”

“Oh, I do. I love my garden and my plants, but I just cannot bend anymore, and if I kneel down, I am stuck there.”

“I love gardening,” Annie told her. “Can I do the bending and kneeling for you. The school I went to had a lovely garden, and the girls helped to keep it beautiful. I enjoyed it.”

“Will your mother think it is not good enough for her daughter to be working in my garden?” Carrie Carstairs knew like everyone else, that Missus Mayfield was a terrible snob about who she mixed with.

“What she does not know will not hurt her,” Annie replied with a grin. “I will tell her that the orphanage fund will benefit from the plants we sell.” Then she looked at Shannon. “That just came out but is it another idea like the saddle?”

Shannon smiled and nodded.

“I think Jake started something here.”

“Started what?” Carrie Carstairs asked. They told her about the saddle.

“Are there spare plants that we could sell?” Annie queried, and the older woman pushed herself to her feet.

“Come and walk around and see what you think. I can walk okay once I am on my feet. It is the getting up and down that hurts.” The girls enjoyed the viewing of Missus Carstairs pride and joy. “Don’t look at the weeds,” she apologized.

“I will work on the weeds a part at a time,” Annie told her. “I will do the ones at the front gate first and pot up these extra seedling plants that have put themselves around.”

“There are spare pots at the back, and the potted-up plants can go under the veranda to keep them out of the full sun. I can water them because I can do that standing up,” Missus Carstairs said. “I can see you can tell the difference between weeds and new seedlings. I was worried about that.”

“You will have to let me help with something where I won’t get rid of the wrong things,” Shannon added.

“I will have something to eat at the hotel and come back to do some weeding for you. We can go and see what Reverend McPhee says about the idea on the way.” 

“No need for the hotel. Come back and have something to eat with me. I don’t have a lot of company these days.” Carrie Carstairs had brightened up considerably at the thought of her garden being useful to the fundraising.

“Thank you. We can talk plants. I have a small garden at home. Maybe we can swap some of the plants.”

“I will have to go home because I left a pot of stew for Dad and the two deputies on duty,” Shannon said, “but I will come back and help.”

The two girls went off, leaving the older woman to hurry inside and rustle up a meal for her unexpected visitor.

“Oh, look,” Shannon said as they went back for the carriage and the saddle. “Hello Luke,” she added to the young man with the horse. She gave him her most brilliant smile and patted the horse. “Is he poorly?” Jake Gordon was the man everyone came to if they had animals that were ill. He had a magic touch in his hands.

“Lame,” Jake said. He ran his hand down the front leg, and the horse pulled away.  

He ran his hand gently over the leg again and found the knotted lump. “It will take some time to mend, but if you keep him in a stall for a few days and restrict his exercise in the corral for a few days after that, it should mend. I can feel the strain where the damage has been done. Maybe he put his foot in a hole in the ground.”

“I didn’t ride him in. Just had him on a leading rein,” Luke said. “Will he get back okay? I could walk both horses if that is better? I just led him behind me coming in.”

“A gentle walk should be okay. You are not that far away.”

Luke paid Jake and mounted his horse. Shannon handed him the leading rein.

“Thinking of having a barn dance, girls. You interested?” Luke asked as he started to head away.

“Love it. I’ll be there.” Shannon beamed at him. He walked the two horses away as Jake brought Annie’s horse for the carriage. Then he lifted the saddle inside for them.

“I’ll bill your dad for the repair,” he told Annie. “Let me know what the minister says.” She sat up on the driving seat, and Shannon climbed into the carriage beside the saddle. She waved graciously to people she passed and caused much laughter. They turned into the church gates and found Reverend McPhee surrounded by folk bringing gifts.

“What kind people you are. Thank you so much,” the minister told them.

“Before you go,” Shannon called from her position, standing up in the carriage, we have another idea.” The visitors came around the carriage.

Annie took over and explained about Jake and the saddle.

“Since then, we have seen Missus Carstairs, and she has spare plants. What about selling all sorts of things to buy what the orphanage needs?”

Chapter 2

“That is a great idea,” Julie Anders called out. “I would sell cakes.”

“And I have knitted lots of scarves and things,” her friend added.

“Where would we sell them, though?” another person asked, and that made them stop and think.

“It is a great idea,” Reverend McPhee told them, but I cannot take on anything else at the moment.”

“What about you two doing it. I would help,” Julie said. Annie and Shannon looked at each other, and Shannon’s eyes lit up.

“We need all sorts of things. Can everyone think about what would sell? Sell to men and boys as well as women and girls.”

“We will try and think of somewhere to have maybe once a week, and folk could bring their things to sell,” Annie suggested. “This saddle is so pretty, and we need to know what a sensible price would be for something like that.”

“Take it back to Jake for the time being in case it gets damaged,” Missus McPhee suggested. “We will make sure these gifts make it to the orphanage.”

“We will let the reverend know when we have somewhere to hold the sale,” Shannon said and sat down suddenly as Annie spurred the horse into action. They went away hearing the laughter as Shannon just grinned and found a seat.

“I’ll drop you at home and go to Missus Carstairs.”

“I’ll come up there when the men have eaten,” Shannon said. “They might have ideas as well.”

Annie dropped off her friend at the sheriff’s office and walked the horse around the buildings towards the leatherworker’s house. As she turned the horse around in the main street, she noticed a stranger in town. The place was small enough for everyone to recognize everyone, and this man was not a local. He was dressed as a cowboy with a Stetson pushed back off his head to reveal a shock of straight blond hair. The man was a big, strong-looking character, and she smiled to herself as she thought that his horse would have to be a really solid one. 

“Good looking, though,” she thought and then told herself that she was turning into Shannon. She then forgot about the stranger, pulled up at Jake’s, returned the saddle for the time being, and told him what they had talked about as far as selling items was concerned. Annie was a practical woman.

Jake said he would work out a sensible price for the saddle.

“Would this place be any use for the sale once a week?” he asked and pointed to a shelter to one side. It had a back and sides but no front and had been intended originally as an animal shelter. It had not been used as that for years and was a storage unit for his leather pieces. Annie walked over to it and pretended she was in a store.

“If we had a big table here. Folk could come without getting in your way.”

“And I am not completely innocent here. They might buy things from me as well.” Annie laughed and said that it was a great idea, and she would find out what the others thought. She left the horse and carriage with Jake and hurried up to see Missus Carstairs.

The older woman had heated some vegetable soup with her home-baked bread to mop up any remains. There was a fruit pie with some fresh cream.

“That was delicious, thank you,” Annie told her and asked what she thought about having a weekly sale at Jake’s.

“I think that is a great idea. It is close enough for me to walk down there and help out.”

“Shall we make a start on those weeds?” Annie suggested, and Missus Carstairs took out a chair so that she could work on the pots and tubs without trying to kneel down. She had a table at the back door with pots and heaps of soil that she used to pot up plants she wanted to keep. It was not long before the two had worked out a system. Annie was on hands and knees putting weeds into a big basket, but when she found a genuine seedling or plant that could be used elsewhere, she took it to the table, and Missus Carstairs potted it up.

“I’ll fill the watering can,” Annie said and brought it over.

“I am worried about you getting dirty. Your mother will not be pleased.”

“I can always get past her,” Annie said with a grin. “Don’t worry about it. She knows I learned how to look after a garden at the very posh school they sent me to.”

“What was it like, the school?” Carrie Carstairs asked. As she worked at the weeding, Annie told her that she had enjoyed the school. 

“Girls from all sorts of families were there, and we were encouraged to learn about anything that we found interesting. I still write to my two best friends from those days. One of them is helping to run a hospital.” 

Both Annie and Missus Carstairs found it pleasant to chat and work in the garden. Shannon arrived and did the same.

“I have some ideas from the deputies and dad as well,” she said.

“Jake suggests using his shelter with a big table in front as the place to sell.” Annie carried the basket of weeds to the compost heap and came back. 

“You have lots of old baskets and pots out back, Missus Carstairs. I have spare plants in my garden. Do you think people would buy tubs or baskets to stand at their door?”

“I do, my dear. Let’s have a look at them.” Once she was standing, the older woman could walk quite well, and the three of them sorted through the containers.

“If I take these and clean them up,” Shannon said, “would the two of you be able to plant them up?”

When they agreed, she said that she would take them with her. The three women were pleased with the effect an hour with three people working had achieved in the garden. Missus Carstairs thanked them, and the girls said they would call back and keep her up to date. Annie added that she would bring plants for the containers. 

“I will walk down and talk to Jake when I go to the store,” Carrie told them. “Helping will let me get out once a week and talk to people.”

Annie helped Shannon carry the containers down to the sheriff’s office and mentioned seeing a stranger in town.

“Tall blond?” Shannon queried. “I saw him as well. Nobody knew who he was.”

“But you will find out.” Annie smiled and dumped the baskets beside the door. “See you tomorrow.” She went off with a spring in her step that the thought of helping the orphanage and starting the sale idea had put there. Her little carriage was waiting as Jake had kindly put the horse between the shafts. She told him about the new ideas and climbed onto her driving seat. As she drove away, she passed the tall, blond man walking over to meet Jake.

“Mmm. We will find out who he is,” she said out loud.

Back at the ranch, she turned the horse over to one of the hands. Her mother was looking out of the doorway, and she ran up the steps and kissed her cheek.

“Sorry to be so late, but Jake had to do a lot of stitching to mend the reins. He says he will send a bill.” 

“You need to go and change. What on earth have you been doing?”

“I helped that lovely Missus Carstairs with her weeding. She loves her garden, but if she kneels down now, she cannot get up again.”

“She is not young any more,” Annie’s mother agreed. “Go and get changed, or your father will not let you sit at the table.”  Annie ran up the stairs and quickly tidied herself. She put on a different dress and brushed her hair. Downstairs she found her dad had arrived, and she went and kissed his cheek.

“Jake is sending a bill for the repair. Sorry, Dad.” Annie said that she would go and look at her own little garden, and then she stopped to tell them about the idea of selling some things to make some money for the orphanage. “Have we got any small things that we do not use anymore?” This last question was directed at her mother, who nodded and said she was sure she would find something.

Her dad surprised them both by offering some steaks from the ranch.

“The cookhouse won’t miss a couple,” her dad reasoned, and he did not have to make any actual effort himself.

“That is wonderful. What a good idea. Jake suggests that we use his shelter as a sort of store for the time we want to sell things. People can bring their cakes and vegetables and things and buy things as well. It sounds a really good idea, and I have plants that can go into Missus Carstairs old containers, and we can sell those as well.”

“Why do you like rooting about in the garden?” her father grumbled. “We sent you to learn to be a young lady. It cost a fortune, and you like gardening. Humph.”

“So, it is all your fault that I like flowers. Thank you,” she joked with him and then was saved by the lady who helped in the kitchen carrying in the cold meat for dinner. She went back for the roasted vegetables.

“Thank you, Margie.” Ellen Mayfield was gracious to her staff unless they made mistakes. Margie was a very loyal friend to Ellen and knew the woman’s life was not easy. Bartholomew Mayfield took no notice of the serving woman at all and took his seat. His wife served him slices of meat and offered him the vegetables. He waved his hand to his wife to put them out for him, and she did that. 

When he had eaten some of the food and found it was to his taste, he told them they had finally found another man to work on the ranch.

“Been a nightmare trying to find somebody, but Weatherby says his cousin recommends this man, and he is an experienced ranch worker.”

“Thank goodness for that,” his wife said. She knew how to sympathise with her husband, a bad- tempered man at the best of times. “You will be able to ease off.”

Bartholomew nodded and wiped his lips. Margie put a delicate dessert in front of him, and he spooned it into his mouth before the other two were even served.

“That is delicious,” Annie said as she tasted the pretty pudding. “f you will excuse me, I will go and inspect the plants I have in the garden. She left the room and went out of the living room doors that led into the garden. Her father employed a man to keep the place tidy, and she passed over the neatly trimmed pathway behind a hedge to where her own little piece of tranquillity was waiting.

She looked at all the plants and checked to see if the planters needed water. She always gained satisfaction from seeing things grow and thrive. At the edge of the plot was a white painted metal garden bench. It even had a small step that dropped down to keep a lady’s dress away from the dirt. She took no notice of that and sat back to survey her own little domain. The dress was not a real concern of Annie. She would have much rather been on hands and knees looking for seedlings. Annie liked to do things rather than sit and look dignified.

Glancing sideways across the ranch’s open yard, she saw the tall, blond cowhand close the gate without leaving his horse and walk it across to the barns. Carl Weatherby came and shook hands with the man after he dismounted, and she could see him introduced to the other hand called Morrison.

“So, he is coming to work here. I bet Shannon does not know that yet.”  The thought brought a smile to her face. She saw Weatherby bring the new man to the house to meet her father.

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“Her Heart’s Inevitable Fate” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Annie Mayfield, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, was taught to be independent from an early age. Helping others is her passion, and her efforts are greatly appreciated by everyone in town. Unfortunately, her father’s reputation stands in the way of her own happiness when she finds out he hurts people she cares about. Will Annie find a solution to her difficulties or are all the rumors true?

In search of answers she may not have, her past comes calling…

Buck Avery arrives in town and begins working as a cowboy on Annie’s ranch. Nobody knows, however, that Buck is determined to get revenge on her father, who wrecked his parents’ livelihood a long time ago. Despite his growing attraction to Annie, their relationship becomes more complicated as he is trapped in a painful dilemma… Could he possibly consider following his heart for once?

Revenge begins to seem like weakness as he feels the need to come clean about his past trauma…

With their relationship growing stronger, Buck fears that if he hurts her father, Annie will suffer as well. In an attempt to uncover the truth together, they discover that there is a greater danger. Is it possible to save both their relationship and their lives if they work together for a common cause or are they doomed to failure from the start?

“Her Heart’s Inevitable Fate” is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

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