Charlotte's Gamble — Mildred Colvin

In 1851, Charlotte, alone for the first time in her life, needed a distraction. Her parents were in Heaven now, and her best friend, Oliver, was at seminary, studying to be a preacher. When a letter from him arrives shortly after her mother's funeral, she is thrilled, but his news turns her world upside down. He wasn't coming home, He was going to Oregon to plant a church, and he needs a wife. That's when the idea came. Why not meet him in St. Joseph and offer her services? They are first and always best friends, but maybe they could be husband and wife, too. At least then, she wouldn’t be so all alone.Charlotte hurries to pack for the journey to St. Joseph where Oliver will join a wagon train to begin the long journey across the Oregon Trail. The idea is exciting, and she looks forward to surprising her old friend. Mostly, she can't bear the thought of never seeing him again, and she doesn’t want to stay home alone.But one surprise may lead to another. When she arrives at camp and finds Oliver, he is kissing another woman! Seems he married before starting out. To say Charlotte is embarrassed as she explains she couldn't bear for Oliver to leave without a goodbye, is an understatement, so she's glad for the interruption of another man.Peter is Oliver's friend and fellow minister also on his way to Oregon to help start a church. He's been told he needs to marry, but he's in no hurry as he'd like to find love in his union. Is God leading Peter and Charlotte by bringing them together in this way? Neither are sure, but they have Oliver and his wife to help them consider the very thing which could be a wonderful blessing, or the worst mistake of their lives.Follow this couple who want to do God's will as they face encouragement and obstacles in a relationship they hadn't planned. Will they join forces to accomplish the tasks set before them, or turn aside when all is not as they think it should be? Most important, will love catch up with Peter and Charlotte as they travel the Oregon Trail?.