The Randolph family moved from Virginia to Texas with 7 sons when the father of the family lost their home due to gambling. The oldest son George resents his father for the way he treats him and his 6 brothers as well as their mother. When the Civil War starts, George and the next brother Jeff go off to war and their father follows soon behind. The third brother Madison runs away shortly after that, the mother dies. That left now seventeen old twins Monty and Hen, 12 yr old Tyler and 6 year old Zac to have cared for the ranch for the past 4 years until George and Jeff come home from the war. The boys have been so busy keeping the ranch from falling into the hands of bandits, Indians and other crooks that the small dog trot home they live in is filthy - no one wants to clean or do laundry. Tyler tries to cook but no one really likes it. In steps George the self appointed keeper of the family who decides to go to Austin and find a housekeeper.
He finds one, a strong willed girl named Rose that all of Austin calls a hussy because although she was born in Texas her dad was a West Point graduated and fought for the north so she is a YANKEE. Fired from her job after George steps in to defend her from a bully, Rose applies for the housekeeping job he has advertised. As other try to talk him out of hiring her for reasons he does not want to explore, he hires her.
Rose is horrified by the conditions of the home when she arrives and is met with open hostility (especially Jeff who lost an arm in the war) and none, except little Zac after some coaxing, are willing to help. Rose sets some ground rules which all but George balk at and when she is disobeyed she gets their attention by overturning the dinner table with their dinner on it. The boys slowly start to come around and accept the house rules Rose puts in place all except Jeff who is bitter and angry and gets even more so when he finds out her dad was a Union soldier.
This is a romance so of course Rose falls in love with George but he wants nothing to do with love or responsibility, or so he says although he accepts the entire responsibility for the running of the ranch and caring for his brothers. Rose soon determines that she can't live there and have her feelings for George be unreturned so she goes back to Austin. When George hears how people are talking to her and about her he makes a spur of the moment decision to marry her but only on the condition that she know he will never love her and there must never be children. A bitter pill for Rose to swallow but she loves him enough to marry under those conditions.
The ranch is attacked by bandits and cattle rustlers but thru it all Rose stands with George to help keep the boys safe and to lead the family. She helps him to realize that he has the capacity to love if he will just allow himself do do so. The boys over time come to respect Rose and love her and will do just about anything for her. They find out what happened to their father although that brings a new set of problems for the Randolph Ranch.
This is the first of a 7 book series and I can't wait to read the stories of the other 6 brothers as they each find their own strong willed woman.
He finds one, a strong willed girl named Rose that all of Austin calls a hussy because although she was born in Texas her dad was a West Point graduated and fought for the north so she is a YANKEE. Fired from her job after George steps in to defend her from a bully, Rose applies for the housekeeping job he has advertised. As other try to talk him out of hiring her for reasons he does not want to explore, he hires her.
Rose is horrified by the conditions of the home when she arrives and is met with open hostility (especially Jeff who lost an arm in the war) and none, except little Zac after some coaxing, are willing to help. Rose sets some ground rules which all but George balk at and when she is disobeyed she gets their attention by overturning the dinner table with their dinner on it. The boys slowly start to come around and accept the house rules Rose puts in place all except Jeff who is bitter and angry and gets even more so when he finds out her dad was a Union soldier.
This is a romance so of course Rose falls in love with George but he wants nothing to do with love or responsibility, or so he says although he accepts the entire responsibility for the running of the ranch and caring for his brothers. Rose soon determines that she can't live there and have her feelings for George be unreturned so she goes back to Austin. When George hears how people are talking to her and about her he makes a spur of the moment decision to marry her but only on the condition that she know he will never love her and there must never be children. A bitter pill for Rose to swallow but she loves him enough to marry under those conditions.
The ranch is attacked by bandits and cattle rustlers but thru it all Rose stands with George to help keep the boys safe and to lead the family. She helps him to realize that he has the capacity to love if he will just allow himself do do so. The boys over time come to respect Rose and love her and will do just about anything for her. They find out what happened to their father although that brings a new set of problems for the Randolph Ranch.
This is the first of a 7 book series and I can't wait to read the stories of the other 6 brothers as they each find their own strong willed woman.
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