Chances

Adelida Broussau took a big chance by saying she was Rueben Hamiltons new bride. But even a rat will stand up and fight when its cornered and she was surely feeling the pinch of being pushed in the corner. Her sister, Maria, was dead. Her sorry, Yankee loving brother-in-law, Victor, had issued her an ultimatum to be out of New Orleans by night, or else; then stole the rest of her money so she couldnt leave. Then there was Rueben, hit on the head for attempting to thwart a bank robbery, his memory gone and leaving town that very day. All she had to do was say she was truly his wife. Everyone in the chaos after the robbery already thought they were newlyweds. So she took a big chance and let them go right on believing she was.

Rueben Hamilton went to New Orleans from southern Pennsylvania at the request of the President of the United States to help with the reconstruction of Louisiana after the Civil War. Hed gone into the bank to finish his business before boarding The Queen for the first leg of his journey home. He didnt remember the bank robbery. All he remembered was awaking with a headache, no memory, and a wife fresh from the Acadian bayou country. None of it made a bit of sense.

It was supposed to take a month for them to reach Loves Valley, an obscure little valley near Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania. That was if everything went according to plan and Ruebens memory didnt return; if he didnt toss Adelida off at the next port of call to fend for herself, or worse, throw her overboard. But fate played her hand and dealt the two of them some unforeseen cards that turned their world upside down.

Their hearts didnt care that thered been a war and it was the worst possible time for a Yankee soldier and a Louisiana bayou woman to fall in love. But listening to the stirrings of hearts bound for love isnt an easy thing to do.