Daughter of the Gorge
by
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"Mom, how can you do this to me?" Throwing my purse against the just slammed door, I turn and propel my body onto the bed. My heart bursts; the tears cascade down my cheeks. My mother has betrayed me. "Jamie, you open this door right now!" My mother’s voice sounds shaky and a little desperate. "If I have to bust down this door to have you listen to me, I very darn well will, Young Lady." My Mother knocks again harder this time. "Oh, all right. The door is not locked." I speedily brush away the tears and sit up in bed. I wish not to have her get the satisfaction of seeing how hurt I am. "Jamie Dear, I need to let go of the house. There are too many memories here of your father. Please try to understand." Mom sits down on the bed and reaches for my hand. "But Mom, you told me things would not change for us. You said that I could pay you some rent and stay on with you, and we could keep each other company. If you sell out and you want me to go, what are you up to?" I withdraw my hand from hers, slowly placing my hands in my lap, and adding a little sniff to keep from crying. "Others have told me I can’t just sit alone in this house. You have your work and your youth. I’m doing you no favors by monopolizing your life, too. I’ve made up my mind, Dear; I want to try a life... I want to live again. Your father’s death was hard for both of us. I really did not know what to do or where to turn. I now have a better grasp of where I stand finance wise than a few weeks ago. Though I’m not left wealthy or wise, if I sell the house and move where it’s not so expensive to survive and use your fathers retirement to supplement, maybe I can find something to fill my time." Mom looked up at me with such sad eyes and with such a heavy expression, I could not yell at her anymore. I was beat. I could not argue anymore. She had to look out for herself. I know my mother well enough to know this was settled. What about my plans? There really weren’t any. Did I think I would live the rest of my life with Mom? I don’t think I ever thought that. To be honest, I was just accessible each day. Go to work, and then go home. Repeat each day. I think now that I have been pretty self-consumed, not giving any thought to my newly widowed mother. "Jamie, what’s going on in that head of yours?" Mom pulls back to look me square in the eyes. "Guess I’m moving on, Mom. Got any ideas?"
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About the Book
Following the death of Jamie’s father, her mother decides to sell her house and start a new life elsewhere, forcing the nineteen-year-old to uproot, move on, and find a new path. She goes to stay with her beloved grandmother on a rustic ranch deep in the Columbia River Gorge, hoping they will be enough to heal her torn heart. Returning to her childhood sanctuary seems the perfect prescription for Jamie to discover who and what she is made of. But a chance meeting with Lance—a stubborn and extremely handsome rodeo cowboy who confuses Jamie at every turn—upsets her isolated hideaway. The two are undeniably drawn to each other, and their relationship blossoms into an old-fashioned romance that complicates and yet enriches Jamie’s future. Eventually Jamie’s experiences allow her to branch out on her own terms, armed with her grandmother’s unconditional love and ageless wisdom. She finds a new apartment and an exciting, fulfilling career—so why are her heart and soul yearning for the majestic Columbia River Gorge? In this novel, a young woman seeks a new start following a tragedy and finds healing and romance in the refuge provided by her grandmother’s ranch.
About the Author
Barbara Twibell lives in Aberdeen, Washington, with Douglas, her husband of fifty-plus years, and their Sheltie, Rusty. She was born in Vancouver, Washington, and was raised by her parents and grandparents in the Columbia River Gorge area. She has two sons and five grandchildren.