Witty, heart-wrenching, compelling romance.
Eloise Davidson struggles to find peace after her husband's death. Obviously, God messed up. When she meets a traveler who falls down the creek bank at her feet, she is more than willing to forget the whole embarrassing thing ever happened. Eloise has enough to worry about without entertaining silly daydreams. But when Zeke threatens the safety net sheâs built around herself, sheâs not prepared for how her world will change.
Ezekiel âZekeâ James is on the adventure of a lifetimeâriding horseback all the way to California. Heâs used to making his own way. What heâs not used to is the urge to stay put, especially when the object of his distraction is off-limits. The memory of Mrs. Davidson dressed only in a wet chemise in the creek proves difficult to ignore though. Amid their awkward firstâand secondâmeetings, false assumptions, and a salty soup, Zekeâs plan to venture west begins to unravel.
Will Eloise and Zeke find their happily ever after or will their own plans and limited understanding of one anotherâs past tear them apart?
Witty, heart-wrenching, compelling romance.
Eloise Davidson struggles to find peace after her husband's death. Obviously, God messed up. When she meets a traveler who falls down the creek bank at her feet, she is more than willing to forget the whole embarrassing thing ever happened. Eloise has enough to worry about without entertaining silly daydreams. But when Zeke threatens the safety net sheâs built around herself, sheâs not prepared for how her world will change.
Ezekiel âZekeâ James is on the adventure of a lifetimeâriding horseback all the way to California. Heâs used to making his own way. What heâs not used to is the urge to stay put, especially when the object of his distraction is off-limits. The memory of Mrs. Davidson dressed only in a wet chemise in the creek proves difficult to ignore though. Amid their awkward firstâand secondâmeetings, false assumptions, and a salty soup, Zekeâs plan to venture west begins to unravel.
Will Eloise and Zeke find their happily ever after or will their own plans and limited understanding of one anotherâs past tear them apart?
Ockelbo, Nebraska
April 1879
The thick darkness of her bedroom pressed in until she cried out. She was suddenly awake. And alone.
With a gasp, she sat up in bed. Drenched in sweat with her legs tangled in the sheet, Eloise threw her pillow against the wall. Nausea rolled in her stomach. Scrambling out of bed, she leaned over the washbasin and retched.
At only twenty years old, she felt ancient. She had lived a lifetime already. Eloise Davidson, the widow, had woken up alone for the past fourteen monthsâmonths filled with weeks that felt like years.
The horrid nightmares had returned.
Gruesome though the dreams were, it was his warm arms, to have him hold her again, his kiss still burning her lips, that brought a new flood of tears. She woke to grief as strong as the day he was taken, and knew he was gone forever. Crossing her arms around her middle, she sank to the floor and let the tears run unchecked. She succumbed to the sobs that overwhelmed her.
Oh, Philip.
Her mind clung to the beauty of what was, yet Death tainted the corners of every memory.
A door creaked; a warning preceding the footsteps coming down the hall. They stopped outside her door.
âEl?â The soft voice of her brother called to her.
Chapter 1
Zeke fought to keep his eyes open, though he moved his head in rhythm to the song he whistled. He had memorized all five verses to the new folk song âMy Western Homeâ and annoyed his adopted family with it repeatedly.
The tune did little to pass the time today. Nebraska was endless. Grassland for all eternity. Mile after mile, forever and ever and always. Three weeks had taken him only halfway across the state.
Heâd been advised to take the train.
Three weeks ago, traveling by horse had appealed to him as the adventure of a lifetime. But now the expanse of the endless sky only mocked him. There was a fascinating beauty in its emptiness, to be sure. Moving to the edge of Iowa with the Donnely family last year had introduced him to western lifeâit had also sparked his desire to keep moving west. As far as he could go. He wouldnât stop until he fell into the ocean.
Another yawn stretched his sun-browned and dust-covered face. It was embarrassing how tired a man could be from doing nothing all day. Well, not embarrassing exactly since there was nobody else around. He wondered where Suzy Girl would take him if he fell asleep.
Probably nowhere. She was a lazy horse heâd bought from a farmer in Iowa only four weeks ago. Given the chance, she would find a shaded patch of new grass near a creek and live happily ever after. In hindsight, he should have asked a bit more why she went for the low price.
âSing, Hooooo!â He called out to the prairie.
The prairie didnât answer. He continued singing unchecked.
Oh, give me a home,
Where the buffalo roam,
And the deer and antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not clouded all day.
He drawled out each word and switched to a whistle for the chorus until he lost interest halfway. When heâd imagined his life out west, he hadnât considered the isolation of traveling alone. For three weeks, heâd followed streams, railroads, and bumpy paths from town to town. The next town should be beyond the next rise, or the next one. Three days ago, heâd looked at a map that someone had nailed to the wall of the diner and discovered he could trim five miles if he left the main road and cut straight to Ockelbo, a Swedish settlement with a population near a thousand. A town that size would have employment opportunities. Which he needed since his money and food supplies had dwindled. Again.
There was evidence of smoke some distance beyond the creek where it curved ahead. He would keep heading toward it and hope for the best. This prairie, though, the empty loneliness was enough to drive him out of his mind. Suzy Girl slowed to a plodding pace, but Zeke hardly minded. Grass, grass, and more grass was all he could see.
âHey, horse. Can you imagine living without eyelids?â Anyoneâs voice, even his own, was a pleasant sound these days. A few weeks of travel and he was ready to rethink his whole life plan. âFish donât even have âem. I think. Maybe. Do fish have eyelids? If they do, Iâve never seenâem. Frogs have extra.â Heâd handled enough of those for close inspection.
Suzy Girl dipped her head to snag a bite and slowed again.
Zeke popped open his eyes. âHey! What do you take me for? I didnât say it was snack time. Keep on, girl. Letâs go.â She turned her head to look back at him with one large brown eye. She blinked and snorted before picking up her walk. âSee, if you didnât have eyelids, how would you so expertly express yourself?â
She ignored him.
âI know you can hear me.â He clicked his tongue and slapped the reins, but his heart wasnât in it.
And she seemed to know it.
After another half-mile of silence, Zeke filled his lungs and was about to burst into an encore when he heard it.
Splashing. And . . . giggling?
The noise grabbed his attention, though he wasnât near enough to see the water through the scraggly line of trees. Zeke did not see a settlement nor a homestead, but the sloping hills could hide a town a quarter-mile away if a man didnât know where to look. Which he didnât.
âWeâre not alone, Suzy Girl. Think we should check it out?â
She didnât respond.
âGood plan. Me too.â As he came into the brush where the prairie met the creek, he flipped the reins over a branch of the nearest cottonwood.
The splashing continued, and he heard a womanâs voice. âOpe! Was it cold? Here goes. Weeee!â She laughed again and Zeke wondered if this woman was deranged.
âSuzy Girl, guard my back, will ya?â The horse snorted and picked at the lush green grass. âWonderful. I knew I could count on you.â With a pat against her neck, he left her there. He was pushing aside the low hanging branches when a scream froze him mid-step. Instantly reaching for his gun and searching for danger, he scanned the creek. A steep bank separated him from the sandy creek bed. Other bushes and shrubs grew around the waterâs edge.
Looking below, he took in everything quickly. He was confused by the blue cloth hanging from a tree root waving in the breeze. A woman stood knee-high in the water and held a naked baby as if to use him as a shield. Her arms were wrapped around his middle, hugging him close to her chest. Baby arms and baby legs wiggled, trying to get back into the water to play. Her eyes, on the other hand, large and serious, did not waver. Staring at him, she froze.
Her brown hair hung loose down her back, and her pale arms were bare. The skin of her shoulders was visible through her wet underclothes. The child cried out; he begged to be released from the iron case of her arms. The thin muslin of her shift and pantaloons was plastered tightly to her legs, leaving little hidden. The womanâs face was quickly turning bright red.
Ah, Iâm the reason for the scream.
Apparently, she was not expecting company. She shivered in the Nebraska wind. The sun shone brightly, but spring was still new. The baby was unafraid and continued to windmill his arms and legs all around. One chubby hand flapped up and down at him. Both she and Zeke stood still, staring at each other for a few more seconds. He scratched his scalp under the side of his Stetson. He guessed he did look a little gruff these days. A bath would have been a good idea before entering a town.
âStay back!â She dropped into the water, scrambling away as best she could with the boy in her arms.
Zeke paused and cocked his head at the sight. Good grief. He hadnât meant to frighten her. Here he was, yearning for company, for some other human voice, and the first one he sees screams at him. He holstered the gun. Raising both hands as a sign of peace, he planted his feet. A squall from the child sliced through the air.
âItâs okay!â Zeke said. âIâm terrible sorry to come across you this way, if you wouldnât mind justââ
âGo away!â
Heâd seen that look in her eyes in wild animals before. In startled chipmunks. And rabbits. He had once seen a chipmunk turn so quickly it bounced right off the nearest tree. His laughter rang out when he pictured a half-dressed wet chipmunk holding a naked baby.
She was furious.
âNo! Iâm sorry,â he said. âPlease donât be frightened. Iâll stay over here, promise.â She grabbed a handful of wet pebbles and threw them in his direction. They showered the ground near his feet. Her chin jutted out in defiance. Braver than a chipmunk.
âYou should not be here,â she said.
She was right. What was he thinking? Suddenly he felt like the greatest cad this side of the Mississippi. He spun around and turned his back to her. âHowâs this?â he asked. Another shower of pebbles bounced off his boots. Dutifully, he covered his eyes with his hands and turned slowly back to her. âSee? Iâm not looking. I canât see a thing. Maâam? Miss? Iâm not intruding, but I heard a noise. Just passing through. Funny thing happened, actually, maybe if youâd just like to point me to the nearest town.â
âWhatâs the matter with you!â she said. âLeave me alone!â A fist of pebbles rained on his chest and neck, a few settled on the top of his wide-brimmed hat.
Her aim was improving.
He kept his eyes covered and ducked. âOkay! Okay! Iâm going.â He turned his back to her again, hands on his face, when more pelted him. âWould you stop that? Donât you listen? I said I was leaving.â
His foot slipped off the edge of the bank. Caught off guard and distracted by flying pebbles, Zeke tumbled onto the gravel by the waterâs edge. The girl screamed again as he fell. His arms and legs flailed about and he landed in a heap, headfirst. Cold gravel pressed into his cheek.
He didnât move. Ow! Thatâs one way to get her attention.
If he stood and climbed the bank without speaking, maybe he could forget this whole miserable encounter had ever happened. Slowly, he uncrumpled himself and lay on his back with one forearm tossed over his face. His heart pounded in his forehead. He would get up. Soon. He just needed another minute to catch his breath.
Great. Now Iâve bashed in my head. You really know how to impress the ladies, Zeke. I donât know how youâve remained unmarried this long . . . itâs probably the horse. No woman wants a man with a lazy horse.
More splashing signaled her return across the water. She was no longer running away or throwing rocks.
He groaned. She probably felt sorry for him now that he was wounded, blind, and ridiculous. He didnât need her help. Heâd be on his way. Just as soon as he could get up. He attempted to stand.
âPlease,â she said, âsit and rest a moment. Youâre bleeding.â
âYup.â Zeke slumped back against the bank in a more refined position. Keeping his face downcast from her, he gathered his wits. His head throbbed. And he wasnât sure where the blood came from, but it was on his hands.
Fell off the stupid bank.
Nothingâs broken.
Mostly naked woman standing nearby.
Her bare feet sank into the pebbles, and the water caressed her ankles. Not that he noticed. He didnât know where to look now that she stood right next to him. Suddenly, her face appeared in front of his, and she looked directly into his eyes. She still held the baby close to her chest.
âYou okay?â she said. âYou have blood all over your face.â
Zeke stared at his hands. They were covered in mud, bits of grass, and some blood. âIâm sorry.â He looked at her, then turned his eyes toward the creek, the trees, the bank, the clouds, and anywhere else but her. And then he started talking.
âIâm Ezekiel. Zeke. People call me Zeke. Ezekiel James. Whatever you want. My mother used to call me Zekey James, which is just kinda weird if you ask me. Which you didnât, I mean, you asked me to leave. Earlier. Which I didnât. But I wasâI would haveâI was. Leaving. I was leaving. I didnât mean to, I tried not to, I wasnât even looking. I mean, I looked some, just because I came across you so suddenly on accident.â Shut up, Zeke. Stop. Talking. He squeezed his eyes shut.
âWhy donât you stay here for a minute. Iâll be right back.â She adjusted her shift, pulling at it so it flowed over her backside. She put the baby in the sand a few feet away from the water. Finding the end of a rope, she tied it securely around his waist. The other end was already tied to the nearest tree.
The baby scrunched up his face and stuck out a lip, then noticed a bag near him and began pulling all the things out of it. âNaa? Naa?â
âYes,â she answered. âItâs in there.â By the time she snatched the bag from him, he had dumped half of the contents out. A brush and hairpins lay scattered at the boyâs feet. âHere.â She handed him a large muffin, and he sat down to eat it.
Reaching for her dress and stealing a glance back at Zeke, she hid behind some shrubs. Zeke felt his face warm and pretended to be interested in looking downstream.
âHi!â the baby called to him.
Zeke smiled and waved his hand. âHi.â It was the best he could do while keeping his other hand pressed against the cut on his forehead.
The woman returned, damp but dressed, and leveled her eyes at him with her chin held high. She didnât trust him. He found that ironic, given that he was the one who fell on his face trying to get away from her. He turned his head. How much more could he humble himself in this situation? She swished something in the water and came toward him, stopping a yard away.
âI donât understand you,â she said.
âWell,â he said slowly, âI was just as surprised as you. I need to ask; like I said, Iâm lost, and youâre the first person Iâd seen in a while. When I set off, I was told Ockel-something was only a dayâs long ride.â He waved his hand toward the west. âThat way. And then you and your baby threw rocks at me and pushed me off the bank.â He flashed a cheeky grin at her.
She didnât find humor in it. Instead of smiling, she shoved a wet rag at him. âHere. Letâs see how badly you hit your head. And you look terrible.â
âThank you. The bleeding has stopped, I think. Iâll mend.â He patted his face gingerly and then washed the dirt and mess from the rest of his face, neck, and hands. The rag turned brown.
âThere is a town,â she said in a measured tone, holding his gaze, âdownstream a few miles. Keep following the creek, and youâll find a bridge. You canât miss it. Donât mind the rag; Iâll wash it. You can be on your way.â She took the stained rag from his outstretched hand. âIâm glad you werenât seriously injured when you . . . fell.â
He stood, testing his legs. Everything was functioning again. He tipped his hat. âMaâam.â Without looking at her again, he climbed the bank with as much dignity as the situation allowed. He grappled for roots, and sand gave way beneath his feet. His ears burned, knowing she was standing there watching his backside. Reaching the top, he strode through the dry grass to his horse. She waited patiently where heâd left her. She snorted a greeting as she munched the grass around the bit.
âHey, Suzy Girl, youâll never believe what just happened to me.â She ducked her head and then knocked his hat off with her nose. âReal smart. Clever. Just because you had to stay up here and eat the best grass youâve had all day doesnât mean you can mistreat me.â With a grunt, he swung into the saddle.
âCome on, girl. Weâre on the right trail.â He nudged with his heel, and she walked through the brush into the open prairie again. âWhen you have time later, Iâll tell you all about the chipmunk I met playing in the creek today.â Suzy Girl dipped her head again. The sky was empty and blue. The sun was shining with the freshness of spring. The day was looking up. Despite his humiliating meeting.
He smiled, thinking of the womanâs concern when sheâd knelt in front of him. It was sweet. Unnecessary. But sweet. It had been a while since anyone cared whether or not he had blood on his face. Her deep blue eyes showed strength. Her soft round cheeks held a blush of color on each side. He pictured her mess of brown hair, wet and dripping onto her dress.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts, pushing aside images of the woman. He reminded himself how glad he was to be free, strong, and independent, while shoving aside all other thoughts of her. Especially how her legs appeared through her wet underclothes or the water swirling around her ankles. He thought instead of the ocean and how the waves would look cresting and falling. Heâd read before the waves could be taller than a man.
With the wind pushing at his back and the promise of a bed and real food for dinner, he couldnât help but laugh at the sky for his good fortune. âHy-aw!â he said to Suzy Girl, kicking in his heels.
She seemed to feel his shift in attitude more than his verbal command, and when he urged her again, she leaped forward and they sped across the prairie.
In the town of Ockelbo, Nebraska, 1879, Eloise is a grieving widow who feels responsible for her late husbandâs death. Zeke is a lonely and weary traveler who is passing through, running out of money, and looking for temporary work on his way to California. A chance meeting at the creek under embarrassing circumstances is only the first time they are thrown together, and they continue to run into each other in this very small town. Are the sparks between them anger, annoyance, embarrassment, or something else? Will they find romance, and is Eloise ready to find love again?
This is a sweet Christian historical romance with themes of grief, guilt, loneliness, and starting over anew. There is also a very judgmental and legalistic character who adds great depth to the story. The book is well written, engaging, and hard to put down. The characters are nicely developed and the story was so interesting I finished it in one day. The 19th Century town of Ockelbo came alive and was well described.  I very much enjoyed Zeke's knowledge of scripture and the way God's Grace was expertly woven into the story. The means of death of Eloiseâs late husband is also discussed and could possibly be triggering for some readers.
The only criticism I have is that the two main conflicts in the story are the result of misunderstandings that could have been easily cleared up with one conversation. I would have liked the conflicts to be a bit more complicated.  Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and was pleased to meet the friendly and engaging people of Ockelbo. I hope to meet them again in later books, as this is the first book in the Hearts of the Midwest series. I canât wait to read the second book. I received a free copy of this book via Reedsy Discovery. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.