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    The Wildflower Bride
    The Wildflower Bride
    The Wildflower Bride
    Ebook65 pages59 minutes

    The Wildflower Bride

    By Amy Lillard

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Grace Sinclair's life is all planned. As the eldest daughter to a widowed father, it's her responsibility to help him care for his church and congregation in Calico Falls, Arkansas. It's all part of God's plan. Just as it is part of God's plan for her younger sister Maddie to marry her long-time love Harlan Calhoun. But when Grace catches sight of Harlan's best man, she starts to wonder if working with her father is exactly what God wants from her.

    Ian McGruer is taking a new job as soon as he returns to New York from Arkansas. It's the job he's dreamed of since he became ordained, assistant pastor at one of the largest churches in the state. But one look at Grace Sinclair and he falls hard and fast.

    Can he convince Grace that her place is at his side, or will she remain forever in Calico Falls?

    Two people who fall in love at first sight and who start to question their own dreams. One charming town in the Ozarks.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherA Squared Books
    Release dateApr 4, 2017
    ISBN9781386483625
    The Wildflower Bride
    Author

    Amy Lillard

    Amy Lillard is an award-winning author of over forty novels and novellas ranging from Amish romance and mysteries to contemporary and historical romance. Since receiving a Carol Award for her debut novel, Saving Gideon, she has become known for writing sweet stories filled with family values, honest characters, a hometown feel, and close-knit communities. Born and bred in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma. For more information, visit AmyWritesRomance.com.

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    • 5/5
      The Wildflower Bride was a sweet read. The characters were genuine and the story-line beautiful and simple enough to have me hooked.
      Great Christian read!

    Book preview

    The Wildflower Bride - Amy Lillard

    To my sisters, Sandy, Susan, and Corie.

    And to everyone who has a sister.

    No greater love.

    Chapter 1

    The Ozark Mountains

    Calico Falls, Arkansas, June 1871

    Maddie?" Grace Sinclair poked her head through the door of the downstairs guestroom then stepped inside.

    Her sister whirled around, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling. She ran trembling hands down her pale blue wedding gown. The satin fell in beautiful folds, edged with a cream-colored lace that suited her sister so well. It might be all the rage for the bride to wear white these days, but no one ever accused Maddie Sinclair of being like everyone else. Her younger sister was her own person, through and through. Is it time?

    Grace nodded.

    Is he out there?

    I haven’t looked, but I don’t think Prissy would have sent me to get you if he was missing.

    Maddie nodded and swallowed hard.

    You’re shaking, Grace said, taking her sister’s hands into her own. And cold. It was a beautiful June morning yet Maddie’s fingers were like ice.

    I’m nervous. Maddie warbled out a smile.

    Not about his love for you?

    She shook her head. There had been a time when Maddie had worried about Harlan Calhoun’s love. Or rather, the honesty of that love. But Grace sup-posed that’s what happened when a young woman plied the man she loved with cookies doctored up with a love potion. Suspected love potion, she corrected. It turned out that the herbs Maddie had traded her second-best dress to Old Lady Farley for were no more than ground nutmeg and vanilla bean, with a little cinnamon thrown in for good measure.

    And that Harlan’s love for her was real.

    Then what’s wrong?

    Tears welled in Maddie’s dark green eyes. Nothing. Everything. I’m sad and happy and nervous and. . . She shook her head.

    Sad because Mom isn’t here with us?

    Maddie nodded.

    Grace could only imagine how her sister felt. And it was a feeling that she herself would never get to experience. She wasn’t being pessimistic, just realistic. That was her, Pragmatic Grace Sinclair, destined to be an old maid. Though she preferred to think about it as giving her life to the Lord. Her destiny had been revealed long ago. She would stay in Calico Falls, never marry, and continue to help her father with his church.

    She pushed those thoughts away and lifted her sister’s chin. Don’t cry. It’ll make your eyes all red. That’s not how you want to spend your wedding day, is it?

    Maddie shook her head, her dark brown curls swaying with the motion. Even with tears in her eyes and her lips red from where she had bit them, Maddie was the prettiest bride Grace had ever seen.

    Then come on now. She passed Maddie a handkerchief. Dry your eyes. Harlan’s waiting. It’s time to get married.

    At the mention of her beloved’s name, the sunshine broke free of the clouds, and Maddie’s face lit up with a perfect smile. Harlan, she repeated, her words a whisper of awe.

    She wasn’t jealous, Grace told herself. Envy was a sin. She was glad that Maddie had found the happiness that every woman deserves.

    Then why can’t you have it? That tiny voice inside her asked.

    Because I’m fated to something different. A higher calling. At least, she liked to think of it that way.

    Maddie took a deep breath and smoothed her skirts once again. I’m ready. She smiled and held out her arm for Grace to take, and together the two of them made their way out to the back porch.

    Birds chirped from above, the light wind rustled the leaves in the trees, and sunshine sparkled on everything it touched. God had spared no beauty on this day.

    Across the yard a trellis had been set up, intertwined with colorful wild-flowers and green ivy, the perfect backdrop for the joining of two lives.

    And in front of that white-painted trellis stood their father. Pa blinked back tears. Grace understood. She had already shed a few of her own. But he managed to keep them at bay as he waited to marry his youngest daughter to the newest member of the community, Harlan Calhoun, attorney at law.

    Harlan shifted from one foot to the other as Maddie and Grace approached. He looked nervous, happy, and a little bit sick. And next to him stood—

    Grace stumbled. Beside her, Maddie gasped and clutched her arm a bit tighter as if her grasp alone could keep Grace upright. She recovered quickly, managing to steady her steps, thankful

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