Wanted: Carpenter
Silverpines Series Book 15
By Marianne Spitzer
© September 2018
This book is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locations, or organizations is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the written consent of the author.
Acknowledgments
There are many people I would like to thank for their help and understanding while I wrote this book, but first and foremost, I want to thank God for all His blessings. I also wish to thank my family and friends for their patience and understanding when I disappear into my writing world especially my son, Lance, for his unwavering support. Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank my loyal readers who read my books and leave reviews. I couldn’t do this without you. You’re the best.
The cover was created by the talented Josephine Blake. You can find her on Facebook at JBGraphics.
Wanted: Carpenter
Prologue
Katie Deidmann dropped onto the large floral chair in the parlor of The Howard House for Orphaned Girls and let out a huge sigh. It had been a long day made even longer by the arrival of twin infants, Sophie and Josie. When she had looked into the expectant faces of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd when they brought the orphaned infant girls to the door, Katie couldn’t turn them away. The babies’ father died in the mine collapse and their mother giving them life. Katie’s life changed in an instant. She knew what it was like to be raised without parents and the idea of them growing up in a cold orphanage felt worse than a stab in the heart. Her plans for leaving Silverpines changed in a heartbeat and she decided running Howard House was the calling she had been searching for all along.
She had felt the pain of loss when the mine collapse took Mr. Edward from them. Miss Edie and Miss Ethel’s brother took on the responsibility of father, brother, and protector. Now, they were a family of women and girls fighting for survival with the rest of their friends in Silverpines. Katie wouldn’t allow her guardians to take on the care of two infants. They had dedicated most of their adult lives to orphaned girls. It was her turn to take over and help them in any way she could.
Of course, Miss Edie and Miss Ethel insisted they were quite able to care for anyone who came to their door in need of help, but Katie didn’t want to add to their burden by bringing twins into their already full household without making a commitment to help.
Katie dropped her head in prayer asking the Lord to give her the strength and wisdom she would need to protect and guide the girls in her care.
Chapter One
Silverpines, Oregon
Autumn 1899
The scent of cinnamon and baking apples filled the large Victorian house at the end of Adams Street. It was a quiet mid-afternoon at the Howard House for Orphaned Girls as the younger girls read or practiced writing their letters. Katie Deidmann sat at the kitchen table with her guardians, Miss Edie and Miss Ethel Howard, perusing the copy of the Grooms’ Gazette lying in front of her.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” explained Katie as she read some of the ads aloud. “These are all men looking for wives.”
“That’s the reason you need to place an ad in this paper,” Miss Edie explained as she tapped the paper with the tip of her index finger. “Each of these men wrote an ad, but I am sure they read the others to find out what the best ads sound like. If you put your ad in there, men will see it. It worked for Ella Grace and some of the other women in town.”
“But they all had something else to offer. Ella Grace needed someone to run the Inn, Millie needed help at the mercantile, Sarah at the gun shop, and of course, Laura couldn’t run the ranch alone. All the other women had equally as much to offer. What do I have? A large house in need of repair, eight girls that require care including the newly arrived twins, and just a job as a waitress if I’m needed. You know I quit working every day when the twins arrived. No man wants that.” She dropped her head on the table and drew in a deep breath.
“Now, now,” Miss Edie said. “You are a beautiful, caring, young woman. We told you money is not an issue. We have more than enough for years to take care of this place. If something happens to Ethel and me, the money reverts to the care of the house and girls. Our girls will never do without regardless of how many we bring under our roof.”
Miss Ethel chided, “Sit up straight, Katie. Do you need a lesson in correct posture?”
Katie lifted her head to look at her kindly guardian, a few locks of her blonde hair falling around her face. “No, Miss Ethel. Maude is still talking about having to walk around outside with that book on her head.” Katie sat up straight as an arrow. “All right, but what do I put in the ad?”
“What do we need most around here?” Miss Edie asked.
“Help?” Katie offered. “We need a hard worker. Someone who can keep our home repaired and the yard from turning into a barren field.”
Miss Edie exclaimed, “That’s it. Needed Hard Worker. Write that down as the ad’s heading.”
Katie shrugged but did as Miss Edie suggested then added her age, a brief description, and that she needed someone to help with
