Saturday Snippet- Do You Think That Could Be Him?

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

Sue

Prairie Roses Collection, Book 55

by Zina Abbott 

 

          “Still don’t understand why you thought it so important, lass. Life would have been a lot safer and far more comfortable if you had stayed with Lucy and Malachi. Then again, you begging to go to cook and be everyone’s nursemaid helped stop most of Caroline’s fretting. That woman was itching to come but knew she couldn’t. The worry tore her in two directions.” Robbie shook his head. “Hope you don’t end up being frightened out of your wits before this is all over.”

          “I won’t be, not with you along. And you don’t scare me, either.” Grinning, Susan gave Robbie a sideways glance. “Papa Jack sometimes joked about you being grumpy, but you were always nice to us children.”

          “When I start tossing out insults, that’s how I show folks I like them, lass. Have a tendency to cuss a blue streak when working with an ornery mule. Had to start watching my language once I married Caroline, though. Life for this old bachelor sure changed, especially once I realized I’d suddenly inherited more family than I thought.” Robbie shook his head.

          “I don’t recall you using bad language around us those times you came to the farm to transport Mama’s and Papa Jack’s apples.” Wearing a hint of a smile, Susan bent her upper body forward and craned her neck to study Robbie’s face.

          “Knew better, lass. It was a trial, but I wasn’t about to say anything in front of your ma and the wee ones she’d take offense to. And here you all end up as family—in a roundabout, step-relation sort of way.” Robbie looked down and met Susan’s gaze.

          “You aren’t sorry about it, are you?”

          “No, lass. After the time of it I had in the war with Mexico that left me with this bad knee, I wasn’t fit to be around neither man nor beast, let alone sweet, young women like you. Well, like I’ve been known to say, I get along with mules okay because we both share the same temperament. I’ll always be grateful that, in spite of it all, the Lord sent Caroline my way. Now, I can’t get away from family. Looks like another livery there, lass.” Robbie pointed. “Let’s hope he’s here so we don’t have to search through every stable in Omaha.”

          “If Thomas is waiting there, then you will soon be meeting one more family member.” Pressing her lips together, Susan turned her gaze forward. “Aunt Caroline told me about some of the difficulties Thomas endured because of the last war. Do you think he has gotten over the worst by now?”

          “Don’t know, lass. It’s different for everyone. My experiences kept me angry with the world and everyone in it for years. Others get past the worst of it sooner, even if they still have nightmares now and again. Hopefully, Thomas has mostly recovered.”

          “For his sake, I hope so.” Catching sight of a man walking out of the livery barn, who turned and stared at her and Robbie, Susan jutted her chin forward and squinted. “Do you think that could be him?”

          “Have no idea, lass. Just before I left Genoa, Caroline showed me the daguerreotype of him and Frederick they had taken once they received their uniforms. She described him to me more than once. Keep in mind, lass, she’s relying on memory, and the last time she saw him was almost six years ago. With him being her own son, she might recognize him, no matter how much he’s changed. I’ve never seen the lad. With that hat on, I can’t even tell the color of his hair.” Robbie inhaled deeply and puffed out his chest. “One way to find out. We’ll go ask him.”

          Glancing at Robbie, Susan suspected that for all his bluff and bravado, he felt uneasy about this first meeting with Caroline’s son—a man who was his stepson, as well as a stranger. 

 

My most recent book in the Prairie Roses Collection, Sue, is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

Coming on August 7th is my book, Mail Order Barber,  the final book in the Hopeful Husband's series. It is currently on pre-order. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

Hal's Lucky Escape is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

My book, The Mine Owner's Rescue,  Book 7 in The Rich Man Takes a Bride series is also available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

Watch for Anthelia Yosemite Bride, coming soon. No link yet.

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Christian and Clean Western Romance

Includes my own MINE OWNER’S RESCUE, A WATCHMAN FOR WILLOW, and LAUREN

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Saturday Snippet- I Am a Married Man? At Least, On Her End?

Featuring "Christmas in July" Books 

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

A Surprise for Christmas

Confederate Widows, Spinsters and Proxy Brides series

by Zina Abbott 

          Pouring out the last of the coffee, Jeffrey placed the cup on the table before he hooked the cane on the top rung of the ladderback chair and eased his body into the seat. He stretched out his leg and shifted it to find a comfortable position. Then he opened the letter. 

 

          Jeffrey read with sorrow that the doctor assured Analia that her mother had less than a month to live. His grief was not for his own loss, but for that of the woman whose hand he intended to ask for in his next letter. However, when he read the next paragraph, his brow scrunched.

 

          “It is with gratitude that I read your agreement to a proxy marriage to be completed prior to my departure. Upon receiving your letter, I took it to my pastor and made arrangements. I look forward to the time I am able to travel to Kansas and meet you in person. I will explain the reason behind my haste once I arrive in Topeka.

 

          “The marriage ceremony on my end took place this past Friday with a church deacon standing in as proxy, and the pastor’s wife and the church groundskeeper serving as witnesses. I am including a duplicate copy of the marriage certificate, which the pastor so graciously provided, and the witnesses agreed to sign in triplicate. According to him, he will file the original with the county clerk. I have one copy, and the third is enclosed. The marriage is now valid and binding. At least, it is upon me. I do understand and accept your opinion shared in your last letter you prefer the idea of us having a second ceremony once I arrive to reaffirm our vows before those of the society in which we will live. However, I ask that you have your proxy wedding performed in advance of my leaving Baltimore so the marriage is legal and in full effect.

 

          “I anxiously await your reply, which I trust will include funds for my travel and the date your proxy wedding took place.”

 

          As he stared at the second sheet of paper he pulled to the side to view, Jeffrey felt a surge of emotion well up within. He was unable to determine if what he felt was amazement, anger, or indignation—or a combination of all three. All he knew was, it almost took his breath away. There it was—a marriage record including his name and that of Analia Cantrell—signed with a signature along with a notation that the officiator held the position of pastor. The signatures and spelled-out names of two witnesses were also present. I am a married man? At least, on her end?

 

          Although he wrote he was agreeable to a proxy marriage, what had prompted the woman to conclude that amounted to a proposal? He did not recall actually asking her to marry him. Why did she have the proxy marriage performed so quickly?

 

          It was good he already decided she was his choice for a bride. After draining his coffee and shoving his cup to join the other dirty dishes on the table, Jeffrey pushed himself to his feet. He turned toward the desk. It was time to write a letter officially asking for her hand in marriage. Since he planned to go into Topeka for a haircut, anyway, he might as well follow through with everything. Before he sealed and mailed it, he would visit the bank and withdraw enough money to purchase train tickets from Baltimore to Topeka, plus enough extra to provide for travel expenses. 

 

          After walking to his desk in the corner of the small room—an oversized closet with a window—that passed for his office, he sat, pulled out a sheet of paper, ink, and writing nib. Shaking his head, he began his response. He hoped the woman was not this impulsive about everything. What am I getting myself into?

 

A Surprise for Christmas is currently on a Kindle Countdown sale through Sunday, July 20th. Customers in the U.S. and U.K. may purchase the book for 99c. It is also available at no extra cost for those with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE  

Coming in August is my book, Mail Order Barber,  the final book in the Hopeful Husband's series. It is currently on pre-order. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

Hal's Lucky Escape is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most recent book in the Prairie Roses Collection, Sue, is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

  

 

My book, The Mine Owner's Rescue,  Book 7 in The Rich Man Takes a Bride series is also available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

A Holiday Christmas in July

Includes my own VINEGAR PIE BY VARINIA, LEMON COOKIES BY LISBETH, MARIGOLD, and PHOEBE

Please CLICK HERE 

 

Watch for Anthelia Yosemite Bride, coming soon. 

No link yet.