With his wild heart Sawyer McKettrick isn't ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona so he heads to Blue River Texas to seek a job as marshal But in a blinding snowstorm he's greeted with a gunshot -- and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico The shirtless bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St James's room behind the schoolhouse says he's a McKettrick but he looks like an outlaw As they wait out the storm the handsome loner has Piper remembering longago dreams of ...
Read More
With his wild heart Sawyer McKettrick isn't ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona so he heads to Blue River Texas to seek a job as marshal But in a blinding snowstorm he's greeted with a gunshot -- and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico The shirtless bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St James's room behind the schoolhouse says he's a McKettrick but he looks like an outlaw As they wait out the storm the handsome loner has Piper remembering longago dreams of marriage and motherhood But for how long is Sawyer willing to call Blue River home? As the gray skies clear Piper's one holiday wish just might bring two lonely hearts together forever
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good in fine dust jacket. pages a bit faded. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 280 p. McKettricks of Texas Novels. Audience: General/trade.
Generally, Christmas stories leave me cold; they seem too gushy and unrealistic. However, Linda Lael Miller hit the right note with this tale and I enjoyed it very much.
In the opening pages, Sawyer McKettrick is riding his horse into the town where his cousin Clay is marshal. Suddenly, he is shot and left for dead by an unknown person. Still on his horse, Sawyer gives the animal his head and hangs on for dear life. His horse, Cherokee, moves toward the only light he sees and stops. Sawyer falls off the horse and into deep mounds of snow.
Piper St. James, the new teacher this year, is huddled in a warm spot near the schoolroom?s stove. However, she is getting low on wood and water and bundles up to face the woodshed, well and awful blizzard. As she trudges through winds and snow, she sees a saddled horse at the school?s gate.
She trips over the snow-covered man and staggers to get him into the school before he freezes to death. She has to use the new quilts she?s lovingly made for her hope chest. By dragging him and them through the snow and blood, the quilts are ruined.
As a schoolmarm, she?s in a precarious position. The morals of teachers must be above reproach; having a man staying your room (even one near death) is definitely a no-no. By taking care of Sawyer through the blizzard, she has a tarnished name and reputation.
Realizing this, Sawyer asks Piper to marry him; she reluctantly agrees. It is the only solution for the embarrassing position she?s in now. Thus, Miller begins her tale.
Teachers earned pitiful amounts for their work and Miller makes a point of showing how poor Piper is. I particularly liked the realism of the gifts given the children ? oranges and peppermint sticks. This Christmas story was low-keyed and realistic ? but with plenty of heart.