Shannon Farrington - Handpicked Family

Father by Design

After the Civil War, newspaper editor Peter Carpenter insists he’ll never marry or raise children in such a troubling world. His commitment to bachelorhood only intensifies as he and his lovely assistant, Trudy Martin, search the ravaged Shenandoah Valley for his missing widowed sister-in-law and her baby.

Ever the optimist, Trudy refuses to embrace Peter’s bleak outlook. Unfortunately, that doesn’t diminish her deep feelings for him—feelings she knows he’ll never reciprocate. But when Peter and Trudy become responsible for two war orphans, will Peter still keep his heart closed to his newfound family...or can he find hope in fatherhood?

SHANNON FARRINGTON and her husband have been married for over twenty years, have two children, and are active members in their local church and community. When she isn’t researching or writing, you can find Shannon visiting national parks and historical sites or at home herding her small flock of chickens through the backyard. She and her family live in Maryland.

Also By Shannon Farrington

Her Rebel Heart

An Unlikely Union

Second Chance Love

The Reluctant Bridegroom

Frontier Agreement

Handpicked Family

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Handpicked Family

Shannon Farrington

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08446-8

HANDPICKED FAMILY

© 2018 Shannon Farrington

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused you in coming here, but I promise you my scheming days have ended.”

Peter drew in a breath, hesitant to acknowledge her former feelings.

“It’s over and done with now,” he said. “I have made my position clear. If you will accept it, then we will speak no more of it.”

Accept that he never wanted a family, that he didn’t want her? Trudy would be lying to herself to say his rejection didn’t still sting, but yes, she had accepted it. “Very well,” she said.

He offered her a curt nod. With no further business, Trudy turned and left.

Give her marks for candor, Peter thought as he watched her walk away. And for grit. She was fast becoming his right-hand man—or woman, rather. She was definitely staff material—efficient, freethinking... But it comes at a price. He stopped that thought, reminding himself then that the matter had been settled.

Still, his thoughts betrayed him. In another time, in another place...

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for choosing Handpicked Family , my final book with Love Inspired Historical. Writing this Civil War series has been a wonderful journey, one I could not have completed without the help and support of many people. I am so thankful to my family for their prayers and loving encouragement, and also my church family and friends for their enthusiasm. I am especially appreciative of my extraordinary editor Elizabeth Mazer, who was willing to take a chance on me, all of my readers who picked up one of my books, and Wanda Lee and Melinda, my faithful pen pals, whose kind letters always arrived just when I needed an encouraging word! Most of all I am grateful to the God of Heaven and Earth who holds each of us in the palm of His hand.

Writing may require solitude but it is hardly a solitary process. Each of you has played a crucial role in the crafting of my stories and in my daily life. For that I will forever be thankful! May your lives be blessed as much as you have blessed mine!

I hope you enjoyed Peter and Trudy’s adventure. For information on any of my future writing endeavors, please follow me on Twitter @_SFarrington.

Until we meet again,

Shannon Farrington

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow... and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

—Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

For Erin

A modern-day, mission-minded angel of mercy

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia July 1865

Trudy Martin took one look at the ragtag collection of men blocking the road and pulled the wagon to an abrupt stop. She had not had much experience handling buckboards before. In fact, this was a first, and she had only learned to do so today out of necessity. Her friend Emily Mackay was teaching her because the teamster scheduled to drive had not showed. Neither had their armed Federal escorts, intended to protect this party from any thieves or malcontents they might meet along their journey.

How I wish for their presence now , Trudy thought.

Fear snaked up her spine, for even though the approaching crowd consisted mostly of gaunt-faced, frail-looking war veterans, some missing arms and hobbling on crutches, she saw the expression of determination on their faces.