Mountain Sweetheart — Florence Stuart

How much would she sacrifice to help the man she loved? Even Faye didn't know -- until she promised to marry someone else…

Contest of Wills...

One week a year, during its Ozarks Folk Festival, Midwell Springs becomes a 19th Century town again -- the men in beards, the women in poke bonnets. As Girl Friday to Jeff Nichols, editor-owner of the Sentinal, Faye Jackson is responsible for most of the details -- which brings her the unwelcome attention of Mrs. Grace Curtis, Midwell's most prominent -- and least popular -- citizen, The festival's biggest event is a beard contest. This year the winner will get a cash prize and a chance to appear on national television. Grace Curtis wants that chance for her son, Monty, and asks Faye to get Jeff to "rig" the contest. Faye's reward: marriage to Monty. Shocked, Faye refuses, but Grace isn't through. When Faye learns that the woman is prepared to put the Sentinal out of business and bankrupt Jeff -- whom Faye loves -- to get her way, the girl makes a desperate decision...

MOTHER LOVE...

Faye started to get up, but Grace Curtis pushed her back--with a none-too-gentle shove.

"I have something to say to you, Faye, and you're going to listen... I'll put it bluntly. I'd like to see my son, Monty, married to a girl like you. In fact, I'd like to see him marry you."
"You don't mean that, Mrs. Curtis." Faye stared at her, incredulous.
"I mean exactly what I say...Monty is the only person in this world I care about. When I die, he will get everything I have. His wife will share in it--not to mention having as handsome and charming a husband as any girl could hope to find. Wouldn't you like to be that lucky girl, Faye dear?"

I certainly wouldn't, Faye thought...