Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Read Free Book Online

seeking a woman with a strong sense of faith. A woman who isn’t afraid of hard work and who would like to be a mother someday. I am willing to pay all traveling costs, and room and board, if you would be willing to come to Texas, in hopes of turning this acquaintance into a marriageable relationship. I kindly await your response.
    Kale Preston,
    Westin, Texas.
    Mercy couldn’t stop her heart from practically beating out of her chest. Her hands were shaking and a smile had, at some time during her reading, fixed itself on her face. She was going to use the little money she had to send a reply to Mr. Preston. God willing, he’d choose her. Perhaps there was a light at the end of the dark tunnel of her life after all.
    ***
    Kale poured a second cup of coffee and sat back on his porch. His ranch hands were just waking up to start the day as the sun streaked hot across the sky, like it had to race the horizon to the other side. He stared across his thriving land. It had been a lot of hard word but was definitely paying off and worth all the sweat, and still worth it every day.
    “Mornin’ boss,” Jose Pena said. Kale was pulled from his reflecting by the greeting. He smiled at his most-trusted ranch-hand, Jose. He had been with Kale and Jack, his childhood best friend, since the beginning when all they’d had was a dream and a couple thousand dollars. The money had bought the land, but there’d been nothing left over. Jose, desperate for a job, had been willing to work with Kale and Jack for no pay. He lived on the promise that they would, with a lot of help from the Almighty, would make it up to him.
    Sitting here now, Kale was eternally grateful he’d been able to do that. It was a testament to God’s faithfulness and Kale never wanted the young man to forget it. “Mornin’ Jose. You get those young bucks up and moving yet?”
    Jose nodded. “Yes, sir. They’re finishing breakfast as we speak.”
    Kale nodded. “Excellent. I want you to bring Dolly to Sioux today. She’s ready and they’ll make a good match.” Dolly was heading into her fourth year. She was in her third day of the Estrus cycle and this was when she would be most receptive to mating. Kale was hopeful for a first foal on the farm.
    Jose took his hat off, wiped his brow and re-affixed his hat. “Anything else sir?”
    “Their mating it of the utmost importance so I want to make sure it’s done right. Just the usual chores for the boys will do for the morning.  But if you find they need a distraction, send them out to mend the fences. That should take them the rest of the day.”
    Jose grinned and turned to head toward the corral to turn Sioux out. Kale knew the stallion would need to be relaxed to approach Dolly. It was the young mare’s first mating and Sioux would need all the help he could get. The horse snorted and galloped around the corral. His pleasure at being loose was evident in his grunts and speed.
    Kale had decided that he was going to put the horses’ together and let nature take its course. When Dolly was released into the corral with Sioux, she galloped around and snorted. Sioux immediately approached her. They sniffed each other’s noses and Sioux stomped his front hoof. Dolly whinnied and turned away from Sioux. She began urinating near the stallion. Sioux grunted and stomped his hoof again. They seemed to be getting along just fine. Kale waited around and oversaw their first joining and relieved that it had gone so well. Only a few more times and she could be pregnant. Kale smiled.   “I’m gonna head into town Jose. Give Sioux and Dolly an extra portion tonight.” Jose nodded. “Sure boss. See ya later.”
    Saddling Mack, Kale headed into town to see if any replies had come in for the advertisement he’d put in the papers back east.
    “Good Morning Mr. Preston,” Billy Buckley, the post office worker greeted him.
    “Mornin’, Billy.”
    “You have a parcel of mail. If you will wait right here, I’ll get it