Saturday Snippet: You Are Here Without Your Usual Shadow

 

Today's snippet is taken from

Vinegar Pie by Varinia

Old Timey Holiday Kitchen, Book 25

 by Zina Abbott 

 

Varinia Jewell clutched her plaid wool cloak beneath her chin as she rushed toward the mercantile. Her steps slowed only as she approached Dickens Livery. She stretched her neck to see if anyone—a particular someone—was working in the corral that housed the horses during the daytime when the weather allowed. Other than trampled mud between clumps of dirty snow, she saw nothing except a few horses and one burro, their heads down and their backsides turned toward the prevailing wind. Arnie must be working inside. She had admired the man from a distance ever since she met him at church the first September she taught school. This past Independence Day—and again during the harvest celebration—he danced with her several times on both occasions. Since then, she suspected he made a point to seek her out whenever he could. Unfortunately, beyond that, nothing more serious had developed.

          Varinia stepped close to the board-and-batten wall of the stable with the hope it might block some of the wind. As she approached the corner, she slowed her steps and released a breath. Will he be in front? She realized she was acting like a young teenage girl—someone closer to her sister, Betsy’s, age of seventeen, or like some of her older students. She chastised herself to remember she was twenty-three—far too old to be caught up in silly infatuation games. She must be patient, mature, and—above all—professional. As one of the city’s two schoolteachers, she could do no less. If she did not see him this afternoon, perhaps he would attend the Christmas program. If so, she would see him then. She must be content with that hope. She passed the front edge of the building, determined not to look.

          “Miss Jewell, how delightful to see you.”

          Upon hearing the familiar voice, Varinia inhaled as she spun to look in Arnold’s direction. “Good afternoon, Mr. Dickens. In spite of the wind, it is a good afternoon.” Gazing at the man with his dark blond hair, blue-gray eyes, and long arms that typically hung loose at his sides, she found it impossible to keep her smile from blossoming.

          “And you are here without your usual shadow, it appears.” Arnold walked several steps closer to Varinia. He bent forward and turned his head to look in the direction from which she came. He straightened and, sharing a smile full of warmth, his gaze met hers.

 

 

My Old Timey Holiday Kitchen book this year is

Vinegar Pie by Varinia. 

The ebook is now available for purchase or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.  To find the book description and link,

please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

  A Watchman for Willow, the fourth book in the Mail Order Papa series, is available for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. For the book description and pre-order link, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

Beulah, Christmas Quilt Brides Book 25, is currently on pre-order and due for release on December 8, 2023. To find the book description and pre-order link, please CLICK HERE

November's Fresh Friday

Newer books in multiple genres and various heat levels.

Please  CLICK HERE

Clean and Christian Romance Books

Includes my own A WATCHMAN FOR WILLOW and DEAD SET DELPHINIA

Please CLICK HERE

 

 

Clean Historical Romance - November 2023

Includes my own A WATCHMAN FOR WILLOW and LOVING LILA

Please CLICK HERE

 

 

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