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?”
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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,
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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,
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