Brickmaker's Bride (Refined by Love Book #1) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Judith Miller

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158 pages

English

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Description

In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business.Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job. But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

Sujets

Historical fiction

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	30 septembre 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441264756
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0432€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 2014 by Judith Miller
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www . bakerpublishinggroup . com
Ebook edition created 2014
Ebook corrections 11.11.2014, 03.20.2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6475-6
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by LOOK Design Studio
Cover photography by Aimee Christenson
Author is represented by Books & Such Literary Agency.
For Jessa: A special joy in my life.
A nd they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Genesis 11:3 KJV
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
1
2
3
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About the Author
Books by Judith Miller
Back Ads
Back Cover
Chapter 1
Along the banks of the Tygart Valley River, West Virginia September 1868
A n unexpected rush of sentiment caught Laura Woodfield by surprise. She tightened her grip on Winston Hawkins’s arm as she stepped down from the carriage. Why did entering the brickyard, even the one established by her father, provoke such an awkward show of emotion?
Winston patted her gloved hand. “You have more strength in that small hand than I would have ever imagined. Don’t falter now.”
“I’m sorry.” Laura loosened her grasp and forced a smile. “This place holds many memories, and I haven’t been down here since . . .” The final words caught in her throat.
Her father hadn’t returned from the war. Still, the Tygart River continued to flow, and the seasons still changed without fail. Fall had arrived and the ancient trees that surrounded the Tygart River Valley were already bursting with color. Her father had often declared that God had given him the most beautiful place in the world to perform his labor, and Laura agreed.
While her friends had longed to move to Wheeling, Allegheny City, or Pittsburgh, Laura remained content, feeling more at home in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. Though she enjoyed occasional visits to the city, she was always happy to return home. Over the past week, she had wondered if her feelings about this place would change once they sold the brickyard. Surely not. Surely she would never want to leave the valley.
She removed a lace-edged handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes.
“This isn’t a time for sadness. You and your mother should be delighted that someone has finally shown interest in purchasing this place.” Winston’s words were firm yet kind. He gestured toward the huge kilns in the distance. “It’s been more than three years since the war ended. Your father would want you to ease your burdens and sell the business.”
A brown curl escaped Laura’s bonnet as she tipped her head to one side. “I don’t know how you can speak with such authority when even I don’t know what my father would have preferred. He always spoke of this business as something that would sustain our family for the rest of our lives.”
“I’m not attempting to speak for your father, Laura, but when he told you of his dreams for the future, he had no idea the country would go to war.” Winston removed his black felt bowler and traced his fingers through his thick sandy-brown hair. “Where are those two Irishmen?” The corners of his lips drooped into a frown as he settled his hat back atop his ruffled hair. “I dislike tardiness. If a man can’t keep on schedule, how can he expect to succeed? I’ve been told the Irish are prone to drinking. I do hope they’re not sitting in a saloon somewhere.”
“Only yesterday you told me they were excellent prospects, industrious and financially stable. Today you believe they are sitting in a saloon rather than coming here to discuss a contract?” Laura arched her eyebrows. “I wouldn’t want to deal with men of ill repute, and I certainly do not wish to sell my father’s business to men who won’t be good employers. Father prided himself on treating his employees with respect and paying them a fair wage.”
Winston straightened his shoulders and appeared to immediately grow several inches taller, his lanky frame towering over Laura’s mere five foot two inches. “Forgive me. My words were spoken out of frustration, but I detest tardiness almost as much as I dislike surprises. I suppose it’s the lawyer in me.”
There was a strained note in his voice that deepened Laura’s confusion. She wasn’t sure what to expect from these prospective buyers. Were they good, industrious men who could be trusted, or were they drunken immigrants to be avoided at all costs? Surely Winston wouldn’t have presented the offer to her mother if he didn’t have confidence in the men.
Unable to remain still for even a moment, Winston pressed his spectacles onto the bridge of his nose. If the men didn’t appear, he likely feared her mother would consider him a lackluster representative.
Moments later he turned his head and gazed toward the road. “Ah, I believe I hear hoofbeats.” He pointed toward the path leading down to the brickyard. “Here they come.” Heaving a relieved sigh, Winston folded his arms across his chest. “You would think they’d urge their horses to move with a little more speed. I’m certain they can see us waiting on them.”
Turning aside, Laura surveyed the vast expanse that had been her father’s pride before he’d marched off to war. He’d worked so hard to create this business, determined to make it a success. And he had. Their home and financial security were a testimony to his resolve.
Even his departure had been filled with optimism. The day he and many of the local men had headed off to war, he’d spoken of the future. And his subsequent letters had revealed no fear. Instead, he wrote about the new machinery he would purchase when he returned and how he planned to expand the brickyard. Of course, none of that would happen now.
Winston placed a steadying hand on her arm. “If this is too difficult for you, please tell me. It’s my intention to achieve the highest financial gain for you and your mother, but if you appear weak in front of the prospective buyers, it could hurt our chances.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “I’ll be fine as long as I can rely upon you to take the lead.”
“Of course, my dear. That’s what your mother hired me to do. I wouldn’t consider anything less, but please try to appear strong—don’t let them see any hint of tears.”
She’d momentarily forgotten Winston was performing a duty for his client. Fortunately, he possessed no personal attachment to the brickyard and could remain firm and detached as he conducted the business at hand.
“I plan to put all of my negotiation skills to good use so that you and your mother will receive the highest possible price for the brickyard.”
Laura didn’t doubt his word. Winston was considered one of the finest lawyers in the area, and though there’d been no mention of fees, her mother would expect to pay Winston. The fact that he’d been courting Laura would not deter her mother. She would insist upon compensating him for his time and services.
Laura appraised the two riders as they approached. Winston had revealed the men were related, an uncle and nephew from Ireland who were in search of a fully operational brickyard—one that would turn a generous profit in a reasonable amount of time. They claimed to have had years of experience making bricks back in Ireland and believed a brickworks best suited their capabilities and would provide a sound return on their investment. Winston seemed certain the Woodfield Brickworks would meet their requirements. Laura wasn’t as sure. Much depended upon what these men considered a generous profit and a reasonable amount of time.
The younger of the two men cut a fine figure, with broad shoulders and a muscular build. Laura leaned a bit closer. “The younger one looks like he’s worked in a brickyard all his life.”
“Either that or digging potatoes.” Winston grinned and tugged on his jacket sleeves. “His physique would put most any man to shame, but I suppose he has manual labor to thank for his muscles. I do wish the buyers weren’t Irish, but we’ve had no other offers.”
The men had dismounted and were walking toward them, but Laura silently reminded herself to inquire later about Winston’s dislike of the Irish. Many people still held Irish immigrants in low esteem, but she didn’t realize Winston’s negative feelings ran so deep.
The older man extended his hand to Winston as he neared. “Mr. Hawkins. ’Tis a fine day we have for our meeting. A wee bit of sunshine with the smell of autumn in the air.” He dropped his hold on Winston’s hand and nodded at Laura. “’Tis a surprise to see a woman in the brickyard.”
“Miss Woodfield is more knowledgeable about her father’s brickmaking operation than I am, and it was her wish to be here.” Winston turned toward Laura. “Miss Laura Woodfield, let me introduce you to Mr. Hugh Crothers and his nephew, Mr. Ewan McKay.”
Laura dipped her head. “Women and children were never an unusual sight in this brickyard, Mr. Crothers. They often brought lunch to their husbands and fathers. During the summer months