Millwright's Daughter has been part of the anthology, Under a Mulberry Moon, since July. If you have already read Under a Mulberry Moon, you have probably already read Millwright's Daughter. For the time being, you may still purchase the anthology and enjoy Millwright's Daughter as one of nine stories.
However, Under a Mulberry Moon is scheduled to be unpublished and the full rights to the stories will revert to the authors at that time. When that happens, I will be writing two more books in this series, Kerr's Ferry Mill -- one to cover the time before the Great Flood that wiped out the first mill, and one after as California enters the age of electricity.
Here is an excerpt from Millwright's Daughter:
hoebe’s steps slowed as
she spotted her husband talking to a man, probably a customer, just outside the
mill office door. She waited several feet away and studied her husband with his
tall, barrel-chested form and shoulders still wide in spite of now being
middle-aged. Unlike her mousy brown hair that had started to grow gray hairs
all over, gray streaked the temples of his otherwise dark hair, adding to his
distinguished appearance rather than making him appear old.
Phoebe watched the two men shake hands. She did not
recall having seen before the young stranger with his light brown hair and eyes
about the same color. Judging from his collarless work shirt of plaid homespun
woven of different shades of brown and madder red and the medium-brimmed slouch
hat he wore, she now guessed him to be a laborer looking for a job. From the smiles and nods, she guessed her
husband and the stranger had come to an agreement. She noticed the shine on the
seat of his pants as she watched him climb into the bench of a freight wagon
pulled by two mules.
As the young man raised his hand in farewell, Phoebe, her
hand in her pocket, took that as a sign she could approach her husband without
interrupting his business. Even as he turned his blue-grey eyes to study
her—the eyes a Wells trait which had been passed down to Lydia and Joey as well
as Eliza, while poor Julie had inherited her own non-descript hazel
eyes—his expression changed from a
smile to a scowl at the sight of her. In spite of his demeanor telling her he
did not welcome her presence, she approached with confidence. She knew he would
want what she brought him.
“Get everything you need from town? No one gave you
trouble about putting it on the account, did they?”
Phoebe shook her head. She nodded towards the departing
wagon. “Who was that?”
Joseph assumed a smug expression. “New man to help haul flour
to the railroad. Ol’ Jensen said he’s raising his prices as of the first of the
month. Kit Halsey said he’ll do the job for the same price per sack I’ve been
paying. When I gave him a quote, I shaved a few cents off what I usually pay,
and the kid didn’t know the difference.”
“I see.” Phoebe understood more than her husband thought
her capable of. He not only drove a hard bargain, he would take advantage when
he could get away with it. However, she knew now was not the time to comment
about it. She pulled the two letters out of her pocket and handed them to
Joseph. “One is from Eliza’s grandmother.”
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| Mill office and at one time the Superintendent's residence-Knight's Ferry |
