A Dry Creek Courtship

A Dry Creek Courtship
Janet Tronstad

Charley Nelson wants a change.He wants more than just breakfast and banter with longtime friend Edith Hargrove. Charley wants, well… he wants romance. Somehow, Mrs. Hargrove has gotten under his skin and into his heart.But the no-nonsense widow misunderstands when he confesses he'd like to settle down. How can he convince a woman set in her ways that change is good–especially if it means a future with him?

A Dry Creek Courtship

Janet Tronstad

“I have some roses for you,” Charley said, holding the bouquet out to Edith.

Unfortunately, she had a potted plant in her hands, so there was no way she could accept them.

Charley pulled his arm back. “I’ll just hold them for you.”

“Thank you. They’re lovely,” she said.

“Not as lovely as you.”

“That’s so kind.”

Charley took a deep breath and made his dive. “It’s not kind. I want to marry you,” he said, all in a rush so he could breathe again.

“Marry me? Marry me?”

“I know it’s unexpected,” Charley said, “but I just had to—“

“It’s very gallant of you, but there’s no need. I don’t feel bad at all anymore.”

“You think I’m proposing to make you feel better?”

“That’s why you’re so special,” Edith said before she turned and walked up the street.

Charley had no idea what to do now.

JANET TRONSTAD

grew up on a small farm in central Montana. One of her favorite things to do was to visit her grandfather’s bookshelves, where he had a large collection of Zane Grey novels. She’s always loved a good story. Today Janet lives in Pasadena, California, where she is a full-time writer.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

—Proverbs 18:22

This book is dedicated with a thankful heart

to my wonderful editor, Joan Marlow Golan.

She is the best.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Questions For Discussion

Chapter One

The disturbing letter was safely hidden in the pocket of Edith Hargrove’s apron. It had arrived along with the rest of her mail in Dry Creek, Montana, early last week, but it had not seemed right to stack a letter like that with the regular mail on the sideboard in her dining room. It wasn’t a bill or a reminder for an appointment or even a notice from Social Security. So she kept it close to her, as though this might in some way tell her more about the woman who’d had the astonishing nerve to send it.

Edith had read the letter so many times she could almost feel the texture of the paper against her fingers even when she wasn’t holding it. She kept wondering if she’d overlooked some clue.

She was still thinking about it as she sat on a stool on her front porch waiting for her recently married daughter, Doris June, to cut her hair. The morning was overcast and a bit chilly. It was quiet in the small town of Dry Creek. Edith shifted on the stool and heard the faint crinkle of paper in her pocket.

She couldn’t tell anyone about the letter, of course. The scented envelope had been hand-addressed to Mr. Harold Hargrove, her deceased husband. At first, Edith thought it was one of those letters that had been lost in the mail for a decade. She’d heard about letters like that and, since Harold had been dead for fifteen years, it seemed like that was the only possible explanation. But this letter had been postmarked in Los Angeles just a few days before she received it.