Johnathan's Girl — Brenda Maxfield

Leora King's life boils down to two things: running her parents' farmhouse and trying to keep her cranky father happy. Both require all of her energy. She's all but given up on finding true love; she's all but given up on a home of her own. Johnathan comes to Green Valley for the express purpose of finding a wife and settling down. His first choice is Mae Gross. She is a pretty, nice, friendly girl, who just happens to be Leora's best friend. When Leora's buggy slides off the road in a harrowing ice storm, Johnathan finds her, and together, they make their way to an abandoned farmhouse where they stay the night, weathering out the storm. Leora falls hard for Johnathan, and when she discovers that he's courting her best friend, she's devastated. But didn't she sense affection in Johnathan's gaze? Didn't she feel that he might be falling for her, too? But what does it matter...? Mae is her best friend, and Leora can't even entertain the idea of betraying her.