{"id":6228,"date":"2010-11-02T01:47:01","date_gmt":"2010-11-02T06:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=6228"},"modified":"2010-11-01T22:01:48","modified_gmt":"2010-11-02T03:01:48","slug":"finding-becky-by-martha-rogers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=6228","title":{"rendered":"Finding Becky by Martha Rogers"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

Martha Rogers<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Finding Becky <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Realms (October 5, 2010)<\/p>\n

***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva | Publicity Coordinator, Book Group | Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n Martha Rogers is a former schoolteacher and English instructor whose first book in the Winds Across the Prairie series, Becoming Lucy<\/em>, became an immediate best seller. Morning for Dove <\/em>(May 2010) is the second book in this series. Her book Not on the Menu <\/em>is a part of Sugar and Grits, a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y\u2019Barbo. Rogers lives with her husband in Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $12.99
\n Paperback: 304 pages
\n Publisher: Realms (October 5, 2010)
\n Language: English
\n ISBN-10: 1616380241
\n ISBN-13: 978-1616380243<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Oklahoma Territory, June 9, 1905<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Rebecca Haynes slammed her book shut. If those children didn\u2019t quiet down soon, she would scream. A mother ought to be able to control her own young ones, but the haggard, worn look of the woman across the aisle told Rebecca that the problem was more than unruly children. She was just the type of woman Rebecca hoped to liberate in her efforts with the women\u2019s suffrage movement. The landscape outside the train window sped by, drawing Rebecca closer to home with each clack of the wheels. To this point the journey had been quite pleasant, but when the mother with her brood of three had joined the travelers, all peace disappeared. Not that she blamed the mother, but the commotion was bothersome. Rebecca turned her attention to the youngsters. They had quieted down some, but the two older ones still roamed the aisles while the baby whimpered in her mother\u2019s arms. She loved children, but she preferred the well-mannered, quiet ones like the cousins she\u2019d met during her stay in Boston. A deep sigh escaped. How she would miss the friends she\u2019d made while in college at Wellesley. Her aunt Clara had made sure she would have the best education possible, and Rebecca had loved every minute of it, but it was now time to go home and see what a difference she could make in the world.<\/p>\n

She mused at the similarity of her situation with that of Lucy Starnes, one of her cousins from Boston now living in Barton Creek. Just as Lucy had come to live in Oklahoma Territory to live with her aunt and uncle, Rebecca had traveled to Boston to live with an aunt and uncle there. The difference being that Lucy\u2019s parents had died, forcing her to move out West to live with family. Rebecca had gone back East to further her education and get to know her father\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

Now she was headed home to Barton Creek, where she hoped to begin the steps toward a career in journalism. Mr. Lansdowne, her new boss, had balked at first at the idea of having a female reporter working for him, but then he\u2019d relented and hired her. Her father was bound to have had some influence there, but that didn\u2019t matter. She had the job, and if she did it right, she\u2019d be ready for a larger city paper when the opportunity arose.<\/p>\n

A hand tugged at her skirt. A blond-haired little boy gripped the fabric with grubby fingers. She glanced over at the weariness in the face of the mother and realized the load carried by the young woman was taking its toll. Instead of scolding the child, Rebecca\u2019s heart softened, and she took matters into her own hands. She grasped the boy\u2019s hand in hers and removed it from her skirt, thankful for the gloves she wore. His bright blue eyes opened wide in surprise. \u201cAnd what is your name, young master?\u201d<\/p>\n

At first he said nothing. He tilted his head as though deciding if it would be all right to answer. A grin revealed a space in his bottom row of teeth. \u201cI\u2019m Billy, and I\u2019m six.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Billy. That\u2019s a fine name.\u201d<\/p>\n

A little girl wedged her way next to Rebecca. \u201cMy name is Sally, and I\u2019m six years old too. What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

A smile filled Rebecca\u2019s heart, her previous vexation gone. The two were twins. No wonder the mother had her hands full. Her heart filled with sympathy. \u201cMy name is Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n

The twins looked at each other, then back to Rebecca. As one voice they said, \u201cWe like that name. Can you tell us a story?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren, please don\u2019t bother the young lady.\u201d The mother cast an apologetic frown toward Rebecca.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all right. I\u2019ll tell them a story.\u201d Doing so would give their mother a much-needed break to take care of the baby.<\/p>\n

The mother rewarded her with a relieved smile. Rebecca reached down and lifted Sally to her lap while Billy climbed up beside her. Since she planned to be a writer, Rebecca decided to make up her own story for the two. As she wove the tale of two children on a great adventure across the plains in a covered wagon, Sally\u2019s and Billy\u2019s heads began to nod.<\/p>\n

The young woman across the aisle laid her now sleeping baby on the seat and came to Rebecca\u2019s side. \u201cI\u2019ll take them now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though almost reluctant to let her go, Rebecca handed Sally to the mother, then picked up Billy. She followed the two back to their seats. The mother laid Sally on the seat facing her own, then picked up the baby. \u201cYou can put Billy by his sister.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you mind if I sit here and hold him? You must have your hands full with the three of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

A tentative smile formed. \u201cThat would be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rebecca settled herself and shifted Billy so that his weight was more evenly distributed. Just as she craved to speak with another woman, the young mother might enjoy the same. \u201cMy name is Rebecca Haynes, and I\u2019m going to Barton Creek.\u201d<\/p>\n

The weariness left the woman\u2019s eyes, replaced with a sparkle of excitement. \u201cI\u2019m Ruth Dorsett, and I\u2019m headed for Barton Creek myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rebecca searched her memory for a recollection of a Dorsett family in Barton Creek. Of course, in the four years she\u2019d been gone, many new families had moved to the town. \u201cI grew up there. Are you visiting, or do you live there now?\u201d<\/p>\n

A sadness veiled Ruth\u2019s face. \u201cMy husband passed on a few months ago, so we\u2019re going there to live with my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lump formed in Rebecca\u2019s throat. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry about your husband. Who are your parents? Perhaps I know them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir name is Weems. Ma owns a dressmaking shop, and Pa works in the telegraph office.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I do know them. I remember when Mrs. Weems opened her business. We were so glad to have someone who could keep us up-to-date on the latest fashions. She does wonderful work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. They heard about the opportunities in Oklahoma Territory and moved there when Pa learned they would open a new telegraph office in Barton Creek.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBusiness is doing quite well for your mother. Will you be helping her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost definitely. Ma taught me to sew at an early age, and I\u2019ve been doing it for my family. I was learning to be a nurse when I met my husband, a doctor, and quit to marry him. I helped with his practice until our babies came along, and then gave assistance whenever I could. Henry was killed in an accident with his buggy going out to deliver a baby on a stormy night. After he passed on, I didn\u2019t know where to turn. I didn\u2019t have the time or money to finish my nurse\u2019s training. The people in Glasson, Kansas, were so helpful, but they weren\u2019t family. After a few months, Ma insisted that I come live with her. She\u2019s delighted to have her grandchildren so close.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a small world. Rebecca marveled at the coincidence. The people in Barton Creek were going to love Ruth and these adorable children who had captured Rebecca\u2019s own heart with their big blue eyes and captivating smiles. Now that Aunt Clara lived in town as Doc Carter\u2019s wife, she would certainly spoil them if Mrs. Weems didn\u2019t, and Ruth couldn\u2019t be much older than Lucy. They would be great friends, and Doc Carter could probably use her nursing skills.<\/p>\n

The young woman\u2019s desire to work with her mother in business and her nurse\u2019s training impressed Rebecca. If more women would be willing to take charge and seek careers besides baking, cooking, and taking care of children and husbands, more would be willing to join the movement to secure voting privileges for women. Perhaps she could convince Ruth to join the fight. Women had as much right to have a say in who ran the government as any man.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe twins told me they are six, but how old is the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ruth eyed the sleeping child. \u201cEmma is fifteen months old and just started walking without falling every few steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all beautiful children.\u201d Talking with Ruth reminded her of the story she wanted to write for the editor of the Barton Creek Chronicle. If she were going to be a success at the newspaper, she must show her capabilities right away. \u201cRuth, if you will excuse me, I have some work I must do before our destination. We\u2019ll talk again later, and I\u2019m happy to already find a new friend in Barton Creek.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo am I. It\u2019ll be nice to have someone I can visit with and talk to on occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rebecca placed the still sleeping Billy beside Sally. \u201cI look forward to it.\u201d Someday in the distant future she might have such a family, but at the moment her mission was to become the best reporter in Oklahoma Territory and then on to bigger and better opportunities in a larger city.<\/p>\n

A grin spread across her face. No matter that she\u2019d won the traditional Hoop Race at Wellesley. After her dunk in the fountain, she\u2019d declared she would break the tradition and not be the first in the class to marry. Hoots and hollers from her fellow classmates told her they didn\u2019t believe that. Let them laugh. She\u2019d prove there was more to life for a woman than being a wife and mother. Although nothing was wrong with that, she simply wanted to see what the world had to offer before settling down, if she ever did.<\/p>\n

Geoff Kensington studied the attractive young woman in the seat across from him. She had amazed him several times during this trip. First she\u2019d been reading a book by Sarah Orne Jewett, then she befriended the children who had made enough noise to be heard across the prairie, and then she sat and spoke with their mother. Remarkable! None of the young women he\u2019d known in Chicago would have had anything to with the children, much less their mother. Now the young lady furrowed her brow and stared at a tablet while she tapped a pencil against her cheek.<\/p>\n

The stylish cut of her light brown gored skirt and braid-trimmed jacket was of a fashion he\u2019d seen worn by women in the upper classes in Chicago, and it fit her form quite nicely. Her straw hat trimmed in matching ribbon and braid sat at a rakish angle on her upswept hair. He stroked his chin, trying to decide on the color of her hair. Finally he decided that it reminded him of the fine cherry furniture in his mother\u2019s dining room.<\/p>\n

In the conversation with the young mother, he had overheard her name, Rebecca Haynes. What a stroke of luck. She had to be kin to one of the men he hoped to meet on this trip. Ben Haynes, Sam Morris, and Jake Starnes were three of the most successful ranchers in the state, and he needed their support for the project he\u2019d been assigned. Perhaps Miss Haynes was Ben\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n

Geoff pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. He had two hours to charm the lovely Miss Haynes before their arrival in Barton Creek. If his good fortune held out, the children would sleep until then, and he could have an uninterrupted conversation with her.<\/p>\n

He stood and bowed. \u201cPardon me, Miss Haynes. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Geoffrey Kensington, spelled with a G, and I overheard you tell Mrs. Dorsett that you are going to Barton Creek. That is my destination also.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Haynes\u2019s cheeks blushed pink. \u201cYes, Barton Creek is my home.\u201d She smiled and indicated the seat next to her. \u201cPlease, Mr. Kensington, would you join me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, I\u2019d be honored. I do have many questions about the town.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed. \u201cAsk away, but I haven\u2019t been home for four years. I\u2019ve been at college. Wellesley to be exact.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, Miss Haynes was not only pretty but well educated too. What a stroke of good fortune to have chosen the same train for the final leg of his journey. \u201cThat is a fine school for young women. What are your plans now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her smile only served to accent her beauty. \u201cI\u2019m going to be a reporter for the Barton Creek Chronicle. It\u2019s a weekly newspaper now, but Mr. Lansdowne hopes to publish it more often in the coming year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow interesting. I\u2019ve heard that more women are going into the field of journalism these days. Are you a supporter of the suffrage movement?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes, more green than brown, opened wide with excitement. \u201cOh, yes, I am. I\u2019ve read everything I can about Susan Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Carrie Chapman Catt. Did you know Mrs. Catt has been in Oklahoma, and that women here almost had voting rights granted to them in 1899? And she worked for a newspaper for awhile too. She\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are all fascinating women.\u201d The animation now in her expressive hands and eyes beguiled him and reminded him of his sister, who was near Rebecca\u2019s age. Even if he didn\u2019t support the movement, he could appreciate her enthusiasm. It might even be a help to him in the business he had in Barton Creek. \u201cAre you related to Ben Haynes, the cattle rancher?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am his daughter. His aunt Clara is the one who insisted that I go back East to go to college. Both of my parents are originally from Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never had the pleasure of visiting that city. I\u2019ve spent most of my time in Chicago and St. Louis. But at the moment I\u2019m more interested in Barton Creek.\u201d And the attractive young woman seated with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I shall be happy to share my town with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice had a musical quality that enchanted Geoff. This assignment would be the best one yet in his career. \u201cI have business with your father regarding a cattle purchase. Perchance you will be able to introduce me to him when we arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, I\u2019d be delighted to do just that. Father has some of the best cattle to be found in the Territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I shall look forward to our meeting.\u201d He grinned and sat back to enjoy her description of the people in Barton Creek.<\/p>\n

Rob Frankston paced the platform at the train station. He flipped open his watch and read the numbers. Two minutes since he last looked. The train was supposed to be on time, but he could neither see nor hear any indication of it coming on the tracks.<\/p>\n

The Haynes clan and several friends milled about as a group near the depot, as anxious to see Becky as he was. Of course their reasons were far different from his. He\u2019d waited four years for Becky to return to Barton Creek. He\u2019d loved her since they were thirteen, but she never gave any indication of her feelings one way or the other in those last years of school. Her correspondence with him while he attended the University of Oklahoma indicated nothing more than friendship, and even those letters declined the past year.<\/p>\n

When she had up and proclaimed her plans to go off to college in the East, he had to bite back his own disappointment. Aunt Clara spotted his hurt. She took him aside one day and, without naming Becky, told him that if he loved someone more than life itself and let her go her own way, true love would bring her back. He prayed that would be true with Becky\u2019s return to Barton Creek.<\/p>\n

The newspaper had announced her arrival with bold headlines in the weekly edition. Rob read of her accomplishments and shook his head. Becky had certainly grown up and made her contribution to activities at the college. After reading the account, even his mother had been impressed, and that was no easy task.<\/p>\n

He raked a hand through his dark hair and resumed his pacing.<\/p>\n

Matt Haynes, Becky\u2019s brother, made his way toward Rob. The tall, lanky cowboy had captured his sister Caroline\u2019s heart, but he seemed in no hurry to court her.<\/p>\n

Matt stretched out his hand in greeting. \u201cI see you\u2019ve decided to join us in welcoming Becky. She\u2019ll be glad to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, but she hasn\u2019t written to me much this past year, so perhaps she\u2019s forgotten her friends here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matt laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. She was probably busy with all those things the paper said she did at Wellesley. You know our Becky. When she\u2019s involved in something, she gives it all she\u2019s got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, he did know, and that was one of the things Rob loved about her. Back in their school days here, she had always been a leader and one to speak her mind and do things her own way. She could ride and herd cattle as well as any man on the ranch, but then could appear as a beautiful young lady on Sundays at church.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is really someone special.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI hope your father thinks I\u2019m good enough for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

With hands on his hips, Matt chuckled. \u201cYou won\u2019t have any problem there. You\u2019re gaining a fine reputation in the law firm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rob couldn\u2019t be so sure about that. What with all the run-ins his mother had with Becky\u2019s mother, the Haynes family might not be so interested in letting him become a member, good reputation or not. As the mayor\u2019s wife, his mother may think it her duty to set high social standards and be particular about the people with whom her children associated, but he didn\u2019t intend to let her run his life.<\/p>\n

In the distance a train whistle sounded, and Matt nodded toward his family. \u201cCome on over and join us. Be a part of our welcoming party.\u201d
\n Rob grinned. \u201cThink I\u2019d like that.\u201d He followed Matt back to the group. In the next half hour he\u2019d know whether he still had a chance with Becky. If not, then he\u2019d spend day and night winning her love no matter what anyone may say or do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Becky Haynes returns to Barton Creek after attending college in Boston, she is not the same Becky who left. Not only does she demand to be addressed as Rebecca, she is also determined to succeed at a career in the newspaper business as well as persuade other women in town to become more independent. Rob, Becky’s childhood friend, wants nothing more than to win her love and settle down but new man in town Geoff is horning in on his territory. Becky enjoys the attention of both men but is convinced that she is not ready for love. Geoff’s intentions are suspect and Rob is sure the man is up to no good. Several incidents seem to indicate that his assumptions are correct but are they? Which man will win Becky’s heart?<\/p>\n

Finding Becky<\/a> is a fun book to read with engaging characters and a plot filled with action, mystery, humor, and romance. Several twists and turns keep the story interesting and a surprise or two are just the icing on the cake. It was also fun to renew acquaintance with characters from previous books in this series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,34,41,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-historical","category-romance","category-western"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6228"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6242,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions\/6242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}