The Doubletree

Jared wasn't particularly interested in a good looking woman, all he needed was a housekeeper...not that he would pass up a bed partner. Coming up out of a hangover, the sombre [yet handsome?] rancher got a bit of a shock when he saw Glenna and she revealed her bruises.Glenna was willing to learn what it took to live on the Kansas prairie if only she could provide the promised home for her blind sister, Mary. But her foiled attempts with her widow's disguise to gain money to support her sister raised many doubts in Jareds' mind. What was she up to??Little by little the generous gestures by Glenna began to make a small impression on Jared. Just don't ask about "Janie".Glenna's conclusion was that Jared had loved Janie very much.Glenna took immediately to Lyden...the twenty month old son of Jared.I loved meeting Jared's brother, Joseph and his wife, Cally. And their eight children, 17 year old John, 16 year old Charity, then 15 year old twins, Matthew and Mark [they picked them up in Topeka on their way to the ranch] then there is 14 year old, Luke who is quiet and musical, like his mother.[grin] Jared figured that his brother must have needed a rest because the next set of twins are 10 year old, Peter and Paul. [chuckle, chuckle] then six years later, little 4 year old Annie is born, "she is a sweetheart" according to Jared and she wants to marry Uncle Jared when she grows up. Oh, yes, and Cally is expecting again. Whee! what a great family.Joseph is 36 and Jared is 33 [boy, does he have a way to go - sibling competition, you know] Of course Glenna is only 24.Glenna, being from Chicago [Jared's nickname for her was "city-girl"]just about had histerics when a rattlesnake appeared up from the floorboards and was heading for the baby. One of the many reasons why Jared kept telling Glenna that it was too dangerous for a blind child to live on the ranch. But Glenna kept trying to think up adjustments to make the ranch livable for Mary.Oh, yes - it did take a while for Glenna to let her handsome husband into her bed.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - thoroughly enjoyable - excellent read and keeps you interest.

I was pleasantly suprised when I picked up the re-issue of this book in the American Hero series(Kansas). I do not usually read to many historicals, but I quickly became involved in the story of Jared and Glenna. Jared who runs an add in the Chicago paper for a wife who is suitable for prairie life. He makes it quite clear that he is not capable of love and his "wife" would simply be nothing more than a hired hand who was also responsible for raising his son. Glenna, answers the ad in the hopes of getting her and her little sister out of an abusive situation. This story did not have any weak moments and because it is not as long as your typical historical novel, reading it in one sitting was easily done. This is a story I would go back to again and again.