Publisher's Synopsis
An anthology of Mail Order Bride & Christian Romance...Caleb Morgan explained that he was on his way back home to the Massen Valley with his daughter following a family visit. Just to fill the anxious silence, Abigail told him about how she had arranged to marry a rancher in Holmestown by mail order, and that she had brought a friend with her in the hopes of finding her someone as well.Fortunately, the man did not ask any questions about Miriam, as Abigail was still not sure how much of the story she was able to share. When they reached the large, wraparound porch of the hotel, the man paused. Abigail halted too, spying a figure sitting out on the grass. In the light of the sunset, she could also see a small child, sitting on the woman's lap."That's my friend," she said to Mr Morgan, speaking quietly without intending to.Perhaps it was Abigail's lowered tone, or perhaps the way that, even from over here, it was plain that the little girl was giving all her attention to Miriam - but Mr Morgan hesitated next to Abigail. In the quiet, they could hear Miriam speaking."...It was the biggest and most beautiful kingdom for miles, and all the people who lived there were happy. And even though there were enemies who were jealous, they never succeeded at trying to take the kingdom, because it was protected.""Protec-ted" repeated the girl carefully."That's right. By... birds. Flocks and flocks of birds, who could fly high and fast and always headed off anyone who wanted to hurt the kingdom. "But then one day, there was a big storm. And the birds couldn't fly, and the enemies saw a chance to attack. And the princess - remember the princess? She was very scared."So she made a wish. Do you know what she wished for?"The little girl shook her head, and Miriam smiled.Abigail felt herself take in a sharp breath. When last had she seen Miriam smile? How many months, years, had it been?"She wished for wings. And the birds came and gave them to her, big beautiful wings that were much stronger than their own. And she could fly right through the storm and escape to safety. And she knew she never had to be scared again.""I wan' wings!" exclaimed the girl, clapping her hands. Miriam was still smiling, and Abigail held her hand to her heart. She turned to Mr Morgan beside her - and was surprised to see that his expression was almost the same mixture of wonder and sadness as her own.
