Prairie Hamlet: Molly's Place
by
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In the boarding houses’ cozy kitchen, Molly and Hugh were the only ones still sitting over coffee, talking about the upcoming festival. Josh ambled into the kitchen. "Am I hearing plans being made?" Molly was so excited she looked like a schoolgirl, the lilt in her voice revealed her enthusiasm. "Well Josh, there's about five, no, Brian's coming too, isn't he?” Hugh hadn’t a chance to nod in agreement before she rushed right on. “I thought so.” She looked at Josh as he lowered himself into a chair. “So, there'll be six of us going to the Harvest Festival, oops, I mean Oktoberfest, in Bridgeport this coming Saturday. We’ll spend the afternoon and evening. Why don't you bring that pretty lil’ niece of yours, and Miss Nora too." "Well, I don't know. I suppose I could bring Julianne, she'd probably enjoy it, but I don't know about Miss Nora. She's mighty busy and I don't think she'd uh, I um, uh, I, uh..." Josh’s face was beet red. Hugh, burst out laughing. “You great clod, are you afraid to ask the gal if she’d like to go to a street fair with you? All she can say is no." "No! No, is it? Are ya thinking she wouldn't want to be seen with me? Is that it, now? Well, a fine friend you are, me bucko. I'll ask Miss Nora and her friend Maggie Sullivan too. I know Julianne will come. Can they stay here Saturday night, Molly? Then we won't have to leave when everyone's having a fine time." Josh was an easy mark, anyone could set him up and he'd never suspect a thing. Molly nodded her head, brushing imaginary crumbs from her apron. "That will be fine. We'll move a couple of the boys down from upstairs and the ladies can share their room. It will be all right for one night." She looked at Hugh, her eyes twinkling. She hadn't missed any of the undercurrents. Soon after Josh left, Molly and Hugh shared another cup of coffee and a good laugh. “Seems someone has a heart problem, don't you think Hugh?” "I agree Molly. He's not been himself for a while now. No tellin’ when he'll come out and say it, but it sure is fun watching, isn't it?"
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About the Book
Molly’s Place is the first book in the Prairie Hamlet Series.
This is the story of a the tenants in a rooming house owned by Molly Hartnett. They begin as strangers lodging under a common roof and through the challenges and obstacles that affect their members; they evolve into an extended family.
The story takes place in the fictitious neighborhood of Canalport, a small township adjacent to Chicago, within the Northwest Territories, from the fall of 1860 through New Year's Eve, 1865. Although the book is a historical romance novel, the characters drive the story, not the historical period in which they live.
The book is regional in its presentation, it’s similar to the regionality of Sarah, Plain and Tall, Anne of Green Gables, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Ice Palace (Alaska), Giant (Texas).
About the Author
Kate McKenna is the author of the first novel in her Prairie Hamlet Saga - Molly's Place. This is the first novel in a planned series of five. She lives in Arizona with hubby Cal.