Saturday Snippet: He Intended the Discomfort to Get More Intense

The following is from my third book, Bargain Bessie, Book 7 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          Zeb eased down into his wooden office chair with its contoured wooden slats holding up the back rest. He laced his fingers together as he placed them in front of him on the desk and leaned forward. He deliberately did not invite Eddie Joe to sit in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. He felt somewhat mollified when he saw his foreman had the sense to remain standing rather than assume he had an open invitation to sit.

          Zeb studied Eddie Joe’s face and suppressed showing his satisfaction over the man’s discomfort. For, if what Rusty had told him was true, Zeb intended the discomfort to get more intense before it got better.

          Zeb kept his voice quiet and void of emotion. “Have a good time in Jubilee Springs yesterday?”

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I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: I Hope It Won't Come to That

The following is from my second book, Cat’s Meow, Book 6 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          After the meal ended, Arnie rose to his feet and heaved a sigh as if preparing himself for facing an unpleasant task. “Catherine, once you and Caroline are finished washing the dishes, I need to speak with you in the parlor.”

          Catherine noticed he only said he needed to talk to her. He must intend to already discuss the terms of her caring for the house. She wondered if he expected rent from her, or if keeping up the house and property until he was ready to live there would suffice.

          The two women washed dished and cleaned the kitchen mostly in silence, although little Emma crawling around on the floor kept them both busy. After they finished, just as Caroline picked up her daughter, she turned to her sister, keeping her voice low enough their cousin in the parlor wouldn’t hear. “Catherine. I hope he lets you stay.”

          “I don’t know why he wouldn’t. Someone needs to look after the house, and he and his wife have their own home back in Kansas City.”

          “Just so you know, if he asks you to leave, you can come live with us until you get something settled for yourself. It’s only a one-room soddy, but we’ll make do.”

          Catherine grabbed her sister’s arm and squeezed it in gratitude as Caroline rocked a child that obviously needed a nap but was fighting sleep. “I appreciate your offer, Caroline. I hope it won’t come to that.”

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I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: PLEASE, I NEED TO GET AWAY

The following is from my first book, Aaron’s Annulment Bride, Book 3 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          Her eyes wide with awe, Andrea stepped back and studied her friend. Catherine had found a way to escape her problem of having nowhere to live and no way to provide for herself. Could this be the solution for her?

          In desperation, Andrea grabbed Catherine’s forearm. “Cat, please, I need to get away. Does this woman in Colorado need more brides for those miners? Is there any way I can get signed up so I can go with you? I…I have some money tucked away. I don’t know if it would be enough for a train ticket, but I really want to go.”

To see all five of my books in this series, please CLICK HERE and follow me on Amazon.

I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: You Plannin' on Keepin' Her?

The following is from my third book in my Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Her Independent Spirit.

          “Wasn’t nary no bother. I was right pleased to do it. You still got Sophie Ann with you, then?”

          “Yes. Yes I do. Although…” Lulu’s voice faded as she searched in her mind for the best way to bring up the subject she really wanted to discuss with this woman. She blurted out, “Mrs. Dodd, did you mean what you told me the day Sophie Ann was born? If I keep my baby and leave the Blue Feather, will you help me?”

          “You plannin’ on keepin’ her?”

          “I want to,” Lulu forced the words out with a hoarse whisper as she fought back tears. It annoyed her that she still easily erupted into crying jags like she had while she was pregnant. “I can’t bear to give her up. But, I have to have someplace to go and a way to take care of her. Not-not everyone in this town is willing to give me a chance, and Miss Flora is serious about me not being able to keep her here.”

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Saturday Snippet: What Exactly Is There to See?

The following is from my Lockets & Lace novel, Otto’s Offer. Enlisted in the Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, Otto an two other soldiers take a few days leave and visit St. Joseph, Missouri.

          When they stopped midday to rest the horses, Otto quizzed his companions about the city. “What exactly is there to see?”

          Ellis spoke first. “The city itself. It’s up on a bluff overlooking the river. Quite a scene.”

          Carter interjected. “You see a lot of that kind of thing up and down the Missouri and Mississippi.”

          “Ho! The world traveler, are we, Carter?”

           Carter shrugged with nonchalance. “I’ve been around a few places—before the war, of course. However, St. Joe is close enough for us to see the bluffs without getting shot at for our trouble.”

          Not to be outdone, Ellis jumped in. “They say it’s the farthest point west you’ll find a railroad. In fact, there are several that all meet up in St. Joseph.”

          Otto raised his eyebrows with a questioning look. “What about the transcontinental rail they are building out of Omaha? That’s west of the Mississippi.”

          Ellis nodded. “That’s just it, Atwell. They’re still building it. Planning to build it is probably more like it. Of course, I’ve heard there are railroads out west in California and the like. They ship those big engines and the rails around the Horn, if you can believe that. However, there is nothing yet that connects those western states to the East. St. Joseph is the most westerly point you can travel by rail if you are coming this direction from the East.”

          “That’s why the Pony Express had its eastern terminus in St. Joseph. Once the rider took the ferry across the river, the mail could go by rail from there.”

Today, Saturday, May 12th, is the last day of the Lockets & Lace Mother’s Day special where I am offering Otto’s Offer at the sale price of $.99.

Saturday Snippet: She Said No Matter What

The following is from my third book in my Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Her Independent Spirit.

          Albert, the muscle Miss Flora hired to enforce order in the brothel, entered the room holding what appeared to be a small folded bundle of flannel. “Miss Lulu, this is for your baby.”

          “Who would bring the baby a gift? Not that many people know me, let alone know I have a baby.”

          Bewildered, Lulu reached for one edge of the fabric and shook it free of its folds. One side was solid white flannel. The other side had a checkerboard patchwork design of striped blue blocks and red flannel blocks alternating with white flannel blocks. It was a quilt with a thin fabric center instead of heavier cotton filling. It was not the most artfully designed quilt Lulu had ever seen, but the corners of the squares matched up and the stitches that held all the layers together were neat and even.

          “It was the midwife. She said no matter what, baby Sophie Ann needs a blanket.”

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Saturday Snippet: He Was Her Younger Brother

This excerpt is from my last year's Grandma's Wedding Quilts series book Kizzie's Kisses. This offers some insight into how well Kizzie deferred to male authority:

Kizzie could tell packing the wagon had used up what little reserve of energy Mima had still possessed. She had watched as her mother had crawled into her wagon box next to Meredith and, with a sigh, had leaned back against a stack of bedding. Jessie had climbed into the seat to drive the wagon, settling the shotgun at his feet.

Kizzie gritted her teeth as she recalled how he had barked an order at her just as she had finished handing the jug with the willow bark tea to Grandpa. “Kizzie, make sure the barn and corral are clear then catch up and get in the wagon. We’re leaving now.”

Jesse was her younger brother. Who was he to give her orders?

If you have read Kizzie’s Kisses, please leave a book review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.