Her parents have passed, they are poor and she must provide for her siblings. The family is going to split up if she doesn't come up with a plan. The plan will hurt Moss Collier, it will embarrass herself but the family will stay together and that is all that matters. Moss Collier will get over it in time, but she will have to make up for lost time or everyone is going to know she lied....

Moss Collier is a farmer, but a farmer with dreams. Once he has saved enough money he is going west and to start his own cattle or horse ranch. That is where the excitement and money is in ranching...not farming. However he wakes up one day with a shotgun pointed at him and a town of people waiting for him to make Eulie Toby an honest woman.

Moss marries Eulie and continues to go west. He plans on not touching her (hmmm) so the town will know she lied. He doesn't want a ready made family - there is barely enough room for him and his uncle and food to boot.

Well this is a romance so you suspect the ending, however through the book Eulie tries hard to be a good wife and tries to make it up to Moss, Moss fights his attraction and is angry that he was forced into the marriage. However time heals and people change and what one thinks important and life ending may not be so important and there may be a better life down a different Road. I felt this story was slow in some places but it was enjoyable.

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This was a very enjoyable book. It was not your typical storyline. Couldn't put it down.

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Moss Collier, a hard-working man who has never lied or cheated, is suddenly convicted (without a jury) of using and abandoning Eulie Toby. The story opens in the hills of Tennessee, with a shotgun wedding (complete with a loaded gun at Moss back) and a very happy bride (Pollyanna could take lessons from Eulie).

After their parents died, the children were parceled out to various farms to live. Eulie made the claim that she was with child because she was desperate to gather her brother and sisters together safe under a strong mans wing.

However, farmer Moss had other plans; he was saving and preparing to become a cattle rancher out West. The only fly in the ointment was Moss uncle, an ex-soldier who had lost his legs during the Civil War. Moss promised his dying mother that hed care for Jeptha Barnes for the rest of his life. The soon-to-die uncle was still alive 20 years later.

The hermit (Uncle Jeptha) and confirmed bachelors (Moss and Jeptha) were horrified by the arrival of the children and Eulie. The son, Ransom, was belligerent and hostile; while the youngest girl (Minnie) was a certified screaming brat. The twin girls, Nora May and Cora Fay, were the real bright spots; they were kind and helpful to all. Clara was dreamy and in her own world, a quiet compliment to Eulie.

Eulie got to be tiresome after awhile; she decided that Moss should just get over it regarding her deception. Of course, she did not know about Moss long-held dreams of moving west to Texas.

Eulie also was rather controlling about her brother and sisters. Shed decided that they all would live together happily ever after. Her siblings had other ideas and didnt take long to put them into practice. Fortunately, Eulie grows through the pain she experiences with her siblings and Moss plans to move to Texas.

Moss was truly the rock upon which these 8 people could meld into a family. Eulie, Ransom, Jeptha and Moss grew tremendously during the course of this story. This was a very satisfying book!

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