Saturday Snippet - She Told Him She Is Coming

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

Hal's Lucky Escape

Rejected Mail-Order Grooms, Book 9

by Zina Abbott 

… Back to Kurt’s situation. Even though I cannot go, you, on the other hand, will be off a stage route for over a month while that arm heals. I’m sure, once I send Kurt a telegram explaining you will go in my place, he trusts you enough to—”

          “Whoa, whoa!” Hal threw up his hand, palm toward Ash. “Go in your place where? He trusts me enough to escort his cousin—two of them—by wagon train or steamboat where?” He rubbed his temples with his fingers and thumb of his right hand. “You know neither one of those options appeal to me.”

          “Hal, do I have your word you will not discuss this with anyone?” Ash sighed. “No one at the stage company. Not your landlady or the other boarders—no one?”

          “You have my word. But no matter what I decide, I will not commit to anything unless I know what I might be getting myself into.”

          “Think of it as doing security work—about the same thing you do for the stagecoach company. Only, this will include an all-expenses paid, three-week steamboat cruise up the river.”

          “Steamboat?” His mouth hanging open, Hal dropped his right hand to his side. “Where did Kurt move that it takes three weeks on a steamboat to get there? And what do you mean by up the river?”

          “I’m getting there. That’s three weeks after you travel by train, stagecoach, or riverboat—your choice—to get to the point of departure. Kurt already sent round-trip tickets for Cheyenne to Omaha and back, so I’d choose train, if I were you. Not only that, he sent a third-class ticket for passage on the Far West.”

          “Far West…” His gaze unfocused as he stared across the room, Hal slowly muttered the words. “Isn’t that the riverboat we boarded that took us to Fort Leavenworth to get discharged?”

          “The same.” Ash slowly nodded. “I don’t think it’s contracted to transport men and supplies for the Army anymore. I think the boat was sold to another company last year, and it has a new captain.”

          “It’s still the Far West. I have no love for that particular vessel.”

          “I know, but everyone says it’s one of the fastest steamboats on the river. Kurt sent a draft, which I will get cashed. You can use the money for food, ammunition, extra supplies, and to get yourself from Omaha up to Sioux City.”

          “And why would we be leaving from Sioux City?” His brow furrowed, Hal again faced Ash. “The only place I know the Far West steams to is along the mountain route of the Missouri River. Ash, you know I hated the time we were stationed at Cantonment Tongue River. And that winter campaign against the Northern Cheyenne and Sioux just before they finally issued our discharge papers…? I never was so cold in my life.” Staring straight ahead, he shivered. “When we left two years ago, I swore I’d never go back.” His face scrunched into a scowl.

          “I know. My thoughts exactly.” His eyelids half-closed, Ash sucked in a breath and nodded. “But, that’s where this lady and her daughter are going.”

          “How far up the river?”

          “Final port of call.”

          “Are you joking? Way up there?”  His mouth hanging open, Hal stared at Ash.

          “Way up there. They will still have a two-day stagecoach ride from there. You know as well as I do, it would not be safe for two females to travel alone in that country.”

          “Kurt should have known better than to invite her to live there.”

          “I don’t think he invited. I think she told him she’s coming.”

          “Oh.” One of those women. Hal groaned as he leaned his head back and rolled his eyes. Then he straightened and met Ash’s gaze. “Are you serious?”

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

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

Saturday Snippet - I Sure Know What THAT Feels Like

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

Hal's Lucky Escape

Rejected Mail-Order Grooms, Book 9

by Zina Abbott 

…Still, I suspect, even though you cannot return to guard duty on the stage route any time soon, you could manage the job Kurt needs doing.”

          “Which is…”

          “After his aunt died, his cousin and her daughter were booted off of the family farm by the brother who inherited.”

          “Bad break, to be driven from home like that. I sure know what that feels like. Wait! You said her? As in, a woman? What does he want us to do about it?”

          “Yes. The cousin is the oldest daughter. A war widow. Her late husband lived and worked on his family’s farm, so he didn’t have his own property to pass to his wife and daughter. And it’s you, Hal, not us. I’m not in a position to do anything other than act as a go-between. Since she needs to find a new home, she wants to live near family. She wants to move close to Kurt.”

          “Humph.” Hal twisted his lips as he turned his head aside. After his brother, Neil, pushed him out, he left all his family behind. He had not seen nor written to any of them in two years. “Why not take the train?” Hal returned his gaze to Ash. “If the brother wants her gone, he should scrape together the money for tickets and send her on her way.”

          “She’ll have train tickets to the end of the line. I gather the older of the two brothers is seeing to it the younger one will pay his fair share. But, where she wants to go beyond that requires either a long covered wagon trip or a ride in a steamboat.”

          “Sounds like some of those months-long military campaigns the Army sent us on.” Hal rolled his eyes.

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

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

Saturday Snippet: Just the man I want to see

Today's snippet is taken from

The Bride Who Invades Saloons

by Zina Abbott

The Bride Who series

 

          Exiting the depot, Anthony posted his hands on each side of his waist. Train on time. What should he do for the next almost thirty minutes? After close to three hours of sitting on a wagon bench, he did not feel like finding a seat inside the depot. Although he doubted the same old man who always seemed to claim a spot on the far end of one of the two outside benches placed on the platform on either side of the depot entrance would pester him with small talk or ask for a handout, he chose not to sit outside. He did not want to pace the platform next to the depot. Yes, I am anxious, but no point in advertising it.

          Anthony decided to check the horses one last time and then cross First Street, which fronted the depot, to walk a couple of blocks into town. His excuse would be to learn the day’s specials at the restaurant on Second Street. Laramie City had lost most of its wild ways after a vigilance committee late in 1868 hanged thirteen of the worst thieves and murderers and convinced many more to leave town on their own. It was a shame that so many saloons—frequented by the railroad maintenance employees who still populated the city—existed within the first block east of First Street. In order to take his new bride to the restaurant he had in mind, he needed to guide her past a couple.

          As he quickly strode across First Street and began walking north on the boardwalk, Anthony felt the weight of a hand clamping down onto his shoulder. He stopped and stiffened his body.

          “Tony Bellamy. You’re just the man I want to see.”.

 

The Bride Who Invades Saloons, in the Bride Who series, is now for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

For the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

My next scheduled romance, 

The Mine Owner's Rescue, is currently on pre-order and scheduled for release on 3/26/2025. 

To find the book description and pre-order link,

please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 Sue, Book 55 in the Prairie Roses Collection, is now on pre-order and scheduled for release on 5/05/2025. 

For the book description and pre-order link, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 Historical Romances

Includes my own The Bride Who Invades Saloons, Jocelyn’s Wedding Dilemma, and Clara

Please CLICK HERE

Heartwarming Historical Romance

Including my own The Bride Who Invades Saloons, A Bride for Quentin, and A Watchman for Willow

Please CLICK HERE