Saturday Snippet: He Came for the Gold

The following snippet is from 

 Madeline 

by Zina Abbott 

Cupids & Cowboys Book 14

 

Madeline studied James’s expression. Based on his grimace and the way he looked off to the side once more, she suspected she must have brought up a sore subject. Did his community face the same problem? She cleared her throat. “Once your family decided to give up mining, why did they stay in the foothills? I know many people who originally came to California for the gold ended up going back to farming, which was what they knew from living back east. Most moved here in the valley, where the land is flatter.”

 James blinked and snapped his gaze back to Madeline. “I’m sorry. My family, and many others from the same region who came here, found that the foothills were much like the land they left in Liguria. Once they realized the days of placer mining were mostly over, most chose other occupations. There are businesses run by Italians all through the foothill cities and towns, but most are farmers. They cultivate vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, and vineyards.”

“And your father, did he also farm, or was he a miner?”

“He came for the gold.” James flashed her a grin and nodded. “Also, the Irish found they did not run into the same level of discrimination in California that they did back east. Eventually, he and several other Irish moved to the valley and started a hotel and livery at Twenty-Six Mile House. That was after he met and married my mother. In case you’re wondering how my Irish father and Italian mother met, it was at church.” James’s eyes crinkled as his shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Both are Catholic. That doesn’t mean, though, the families of either were overly enthusiastic about their union.”

Madeline offered a gentle smile. It did not occur to her to question how parents newly-arrived to the United States from two different European countries met, but she did find it interesting. She also found rather intriguing that this man was so quick to share many details about himself. He knows so much about his family, yet I know very little.

 

My second Cupids and Cowboys book, Madeline, is now available for both purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. It will soon be available in print.

You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

 A Bride for Devlin is now available in both ebook and print formats. To find the book description and purchase link, please 

CLICK HERE. 

 

 

All of the books in The Sheriff's Mail Order Bride series have been published. Please CLICK HERE to find the series page on Amazon.

 

My second Christmas book for the year, Mail Order Letitia, is scheduled for release on December 7, 2021. It is now available on pre-order. To find the book description and link, please

CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

My Old Timey Holiday Kitchen romance,

Figgy Pudding by Francine

will publish on November 22, 2021. It is available for preorder. Please CLICK HERE 

 

 

To find the Old Timey Holiday Kitchen series page on Amazon, please CLICK HERE.