Saturday Snippet: You Sure You Ain't Fixin' to Condemn Her?

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

“You sure you ain’t fixin’ to condemn her? What if one of them women from one of them brothels yonder was to show up here lookin’ for work, Gus? What if she ain’t goin’ to go sinnin’ no more? You reckon you’d still condemn her?”

Gus threw his hands in the air and rattled off a string of German too fast for Beth to follow. He turned to her and yelled. “The Arcade no brothel is. No upstairs girls!”

“So you’d up and condemn her? Reckon a passel of them men out there you dish vittles to go whoremongerin’ at them brothels most every week and I can’t recall you condemnin’ them. But if a woman who don’t want to do no more whorin’ was to come here, you’d get all uppity and condemn her?”

“Nein! Ich nicht condemn!” No! I don’t condemn! “Vork, herrisch Witwe!” Bossy widow. “No more stories. Make biscuits!”

Beth motioned Gus aside so she could slide a sheet of biscuits into the oven.

“That’s mighty fine, Gus, ‘cause I done found us another cook. What with all these here miners comin’ into Lundy, we’re slap-full busy. Friday I’ll start her learnin’ how things is done. She’ll be right smart help in the kitchen.”

Gus, his stubborn jaw jutting out, squinted his eyes with suspicion.

“Who? Vat voman?”

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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: 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: Just Leave Her On The Doorstep

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

          As she gazed down at the child now sleeping peacefully in her arms, her mouth occasionally moving in suckling motions as if she continued to nurse, Lulu realized she needed to decide what to do about Sophie Ann. Did the baby’s future belong with her? Or, was it best for her daughter if she heeded Miss Flora’s directive to find a home for the baby so she could resume working by the end of the month?

          In spite of the money she would earn, Lulu cringed at the thought of once again subjecting herself to being pawed—and more—by men.

          Flora had offered to let Albert drive her into Bridgeport during the next week so she could leave the baby on the doorstep of one of the local churches. Flora insisted that someone would find the baby, fall in love with her, and the child would be well cared for as she grew in her adopted family.

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

You may read the book descriptions and find the purchase links of all five books in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series by CLICKING HERE.