Finding Hope (Book 2 In The Finding Love Series)

One: Prologue

Duncan sighed as he looked over his ranch. He smiled as he watched his cattle graze and his ranch hands sitting around the fire. He watched as his foreman's wife, Maggie, pulled up on their small wagon. He walked over and helped her down. She smiled at him and said," Why thank you, Duncan. Now if my husband could learn such manners." He heard a scoff and a chuckle behind him as his foreman, Mark, came to stand beside Duncan. He slipped his hat off his balding head as he said," If you gave me a few seconds I was on my way." He bent down and placed a light kiss to her lips and wrapped a hand in her graying ringlets. Duncan couldn't help but smile at the older couple. Mark pulled from Maggie and picked up a large pot as she grabbed a big basket. Duncan quickly took the basket as she said," Duncan can I talk to you in private?" Duncan quickly nodded and walked with her over to the barn. Maggie sighed and said," I normally never would ask something like this of someone but I just dont quite know what to do. My niece, Lucille, she was married when she was young. Poor thing was thrown into an arranged marriage and she was hopeful but he just up and left her when they found out she was in the family way. The bank took the house and land. She's staying with us and trying to find a job but they're afraid to hire a woman in the family way. I was wondering if you could take her in as a live-in maid. She can cook and clean around the house and do a few simple chores while you and the men are out in the fields. She's a mighty fine cook, she cooked y'all's dinner tonight and a pie." Duncan just nodded not even thinking. He loved Ms. Maggie like a mother and she wouldn't have come to him unless she really needed it. Duncan smiled and said," I've been thinking about hiring someone to help around the house and the cookin'. If she's okay with staying in the house with me. I have a big spare bedroom so it'll fit a crib and everything she'll need." Maggie smiled and brought him in for a long hug. She pulled away and looked up at Duncan and said," Thank you. She'll be here soon. She wasn't feeling too well and didn't think she could take a rocking wagon, so she decided to walk. But I'll warn ya' she's about six months along, please don't fret and worry about her. Lucille is very independent, always has been." Duncan nodded as him and Maggie made their way to the fire where Mark had started heating up a pot of potatoe soup. Duncan couldn't help but moan at the smell coming from the pot. Some of the men moved from their makeshift seats of worn logs and let Maggie sit. She gave them a quick 'thank you' as Mark helped her sit down. Mark looked up to see his niece making her way up the dirt road leading to Duncan's ranch. He walked to meet her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders knowing she was cold. She just like Maggie was when they were expecting their sons, froze even in the hottest weather. Mark helped her up the drive till Duncan came to meet them. Duncan smiled and said," You must be Lucille. I'm Duncan Green, Maggie told me you were looking for a job. I was wondering if you would come work as a housekeeper, I haven't tasted that potatoe soup yet but if it tastes as good as it smells. I'm gonna want to keep ya' around before someone else hires ya'." She smiled up at the handsome rancher and quickly nodded. If he was willing to hire her she wasn't going to miss out. She couldn't help but look him over. He was tall and looked strong as an ox. His short red hair seemed to make his green eyes pop and the scruff that covered his cheeks and chin made him even more handsome. She blushed as she said," I accept the offer sir. You have no idea how much you means to me." Duncan just held out his hand for her to shake as he heard Maggie yell for supper. She quickly shook his hand before they all made their way to fire. Duncan noticed her shaking shoulders and ran inside to grab a blanket. He came back to find that his men had moved for her too and had her sit by Ms. Maggie. He handed her the blanket before making himself a bowl of soup. Lucille couldn't help but blush once again as she wrapped the blanket around herself. Lucille slowly sipped her soup, scared she was gonna be sick again. Duncan looked to Lucille and couldn't help but look at her growing belly. He knew she was six months along but her belly was well rounded and seemed heavy on her small body. Lucille met his eyes and he quickly looked away, dipping a biscuit into his soup. She sighed as she put her bowl to the side, her belly suddenly turning. She guarded her belly and looked into the fire, hoping the nausea wouldn't get worse. Maggie gently rubbed Lucille's back, knowing she still had morning sickness troubles. Lucille closed her eyes, feeling the ranch hands eyes burning wholes into her. Lucille quickly stood and began jog off towards the barn. Everyone grew quiet as Maggie followed her. Mark shook his head and said," Poor girl is still having her morning sickness and it's never in the mornings. Maggie's was over before she ever started showing, but every woman is different." Duncan nodded as looked over to find Lucille ducking behind the barn with Maggie on her heels. Duncan thought of sister and said," I have to go into to get supplies tomorrow and I'll pick her up some tea. My sister always said it always helped her when she was in the family way." Mark smiled and nodded as he took a bite of soup. Mark knew Duncan would take care of his niece and happy Maggie made the right choice of asking him for help. He loved Duncan like a son and hoped deep down that maybe he'll be Lucille's saving grace.

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Tanaya Beatty as Lucille Johns

Chris Pratt as Duncan Green

Bruce Willis as Mark Johns

Ellen Barkin as Maggie Johns