Wildwood

Benning Kearney knows trouble is coming when he sees Jess Whittaker step off the stage.Jessamyn Whittaker, at 26, has inherited a newspaper, The Wildwood Times in 1868, from her father, Thad Whittaker and moved herself, lock, stock and barrel from Boston to Wildwood Valley, Oregon.She is a very determined lady and wants to know just what the Sheriff, Ben Kearney is doing to find her father's killer. She is overwhelmed to find out that her father had purchased a house from the widow, Mrs. Cora Boult - who becomes one of Jess's close friends.Jess is determined to go with Ben when he leaves town to go talk to the Indian chief Black Eagle. In getting clothes to ride in at the mercantile Jess meets Ella Kearney and her little daughter Alice, who is 5 or 6 years of age [this is pertinent only to time frame]. Ella is married, most happily, to Carleton Kearney, Ben's brother.Ben Kearney, at 36, is afraid to love and Jess wants only to be a newspaper woman but their trying ride up into the mountains to Black Eagle's holdings starts their bonding and mutual admiration for each other. Jess also meets Black Eagle's adopted daughter, Walks Dancing and they become friends. Jess soon learns that Ben's friend and compadre, Jeremiah Hull is enamored of Walks Dancing.So there is a wedding July 24, 1868 and a birth March 14 1869 and a picture received in 1874 of 3 little girls - Serena, Jessie and Mary Irene - the tallest looked to be about 6 years old - the picture contained only one word "Troublous" [grin]!Definitely recommended as an addition to your library - you shouldn't be disappointed. [dates are only of interest if you are interested in trying to reconcile them with book #2 Lost Acres Bride]!