How Charity Sunday works: for every comment made on this blog post, I will donate money to the charity named. The same promise is made for every blog site listed in the group–click the Linky Links link at the bottom of this post to see the list of participants and read/comment on any of them to see a donation go to that blogger’s charity. We’re all different! Thanks for your help and your participation!
Sometimes overlooked when talking about the missions our service members perform is the role of animals. So, this month I’d like to feature Paws of War (https://pawsofwar.org/). Their mission is: “To honor and support our veterans, active military members, and first responders with services that enrich their lives through the rescue and training of service dogs for independence, adoption of companion animals, rescue of overseas animals in war zones, and other essential services to assist our heroes in need.” To fulfill this mission, Paws of War brings military service dogs back to the U.S. and finds them homes, and they provide veterans with rescue cats and dogs—some saved from kill shelters—in order to “help a vet and save a pet.” It’s a great cause! Please comment and I’ll send a donation to this wonderful organization. Thank you!
Blurb: Regan, Book 1 of the Sisters O’Ryan series.
Joining in the westward migration, Davey and Regan O’Ryan Stone bought an Oregon farm sight unseen, hungering for adventure. Davey regretted the impulse far past the point of no return, and then he died. Now, unskilled and alone on her farm, Regan fears going home a failure—as a daughter, a wife, and a farmer. With money quickly running out, she gladly accepts the offer of help from Seth Pratt, an acquaintance from the wagon train, and his friend Haywood Lawrence.
One-armed Seth seeks work at the remote farm at the end of an Oregon trail with low expectations. When he finds Regan, alone and widowed, he tamps down desire. She deserves better than a man handicapped in war, searching for his soul. She’s worthy of someone like his Shakespeare-spouting, best friend, Hay. Nothing could have prepared Seth for Regan’s simple solution—that both men stay. On the farm and in her bed.
Buy links:
Amazon Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Regan-Sisters-Publishing-Menage-Everlasting-ebook/dp/B008MOOYC6/
B&N Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/regan-jenna-stewart/
Excerpt:
“I might not have recognized her right off, but I sure haven’t ever forgotten her, Koda,” Seth whispered. “She’s alone out here, and she needs help.” The horse nodded his head and then whinnied. “You’re right,” Seth conceded. “It’s too much to think there’s a place for me here.”
Koda stomped his front left hoof and shook his mane, before calmly munching on another mouthful of hay.
Seth clicked his tongue. “I know. There’s no need my arguing with the notion.”
“So you do carry on conversations with your horse, Mr. Pratt.”
Seth spun around, dropping the brush. “Mrs. Stone. I didn’t hear you.”
She smiled. “I only came down to make sure you found everything to your satisfaction.”
“The bunkroom is nice, and Koda is very happy with his stall.”
She stepped forward and stroked the Appaloosa’s nose. “He’s beautiful. What does Koda mean?”
“It’s Sioux for friend.”
“Well named.” Regan took a carrot from her pocket and fed it to the horse. She gestured toward the pinto in the neighboring stall. “That’s Twinkle. It’s Carolinian for she makes my eyes shine. At least according to my daddy. He says when he gave her to me for my fifteenth birthday, my eyes lit up. He named the horse on the spot.” She strolled over to feed Twinkle a carrot, too.
Haywood came around the stall and leaned on the post. Seth didn’t care at all for the familiar way his eyes followed Regan Stone’s every movement. Then Seth leaned against Koda and gave in, watching her graceful walk. Her voice fell on his ears like a melody. Auburn tendrils escaped from a loose bun and framed her small, round face. Her father had named the horse aptly. Her eyes did twinkle, but not just when she looked at the pinto. Her height lent her a regal air. He longed to hold her against him. With her slender frame and unusual height, they would fit perfectly.
Don’t think about it. It will never happen. Daydreams aside, the differences in their social stature and culture leapt out at him. Still, arousal struck just watching her stroke her horse’s nose. He imagined her stroking him and gasped at the flame of desire that struck. When she swung back toward him, he thought she must have heard.
“I almost forgot!” She smiled over Seth’s shoulder to the next stall. “Here’s a carrot for your horse, too, Hay.” Then she walked to the end stall where another horse stood quietly. “And one for you, Jethro.”
Seth didn’t think to wonder about the fourth horse in the barn. His conscious thought stopped when she called Hay Hay. Seth knew her first, or knew of her, more accurately, and that scoundrel had worked his charm on her to the point she already used his nickname. Good thing he was leaving. The knowledge that Hay would soon be far from Regan took the sting out of the fact that he, too, had to go now that there was no job.
“…I’ll see you then,” she said.
What had she said? His indignation over her use of Hay had waylaid his mind. “All right,” he replied, hoping he wouldn’t end up making a damn fool of himself.
With another smile, she strode from the barn leaving Seth in more emotional turmoil than he’d known in years.
“Now there’s a nice lady,” Hay said.
“She’s awright.” Seth vigorously set to work on Koda’s coat, not wanting to talk to Hay about anything right now, but especially not about Regan.
“All right? Bullshit, my taciturn friend. Too bad there’s no job after all. I might have considered staying on for awhile myself.”
“Right, too bad.”
Hay’s laugh came through the wooden slats. “I think she likes you.”
“Sure. Talk about bullshit.” Since coming home from the war, Seth made a habit of not meeting people’s eyes. Pity filled others’ expressions all too often and he didn’t like dealing with it. His heart had stuttered when he took a good look at the woman standing at the foot of the porch steps. Regan Stone had made an impression that one, brief time they’d met, but he’d kept his distance after that.
“She remembered you. She didn’t remember me. We were on that wagon train together, weren’t we?”
She had remembered him, hadn’t she? “Not hard to recollect a man with one arm. As for you, too bad you’re so damn forgettable.”
Hay laughed again. His laughter was one reason Seth enjoyed his company so much. Though he rarely engaged in the activity, he couldn’t help thinking his soul benefitted from the sound.
“You and I both know too many ladies along our path who disprove that theory,” Hay taunted.
“You have left quite an impression on the women of the west. Not all of it favorable, I might add.”
“Still, I wouldn’t mind rolling around the bed with our lovely widow. I wonder if she would consider—”
Before he could utter another word, Seth had Hay pinned to the stall. “You will not touch her in a frivolous manner. She’s no light skirt, you bastard.”
Hay’s face split into a wide grin. “I knew it. You like her, too.”
Author Dee S. Knight:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.
After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website (www.nomadauthors.com). Fortunately, Dee’s high school sweetheart is the love of her life and husband to all three ladies! On the last Sunday of the month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. Sign up for her newsletter for exclusive access to free novellas, poetry, and stuff.
Author links:
Website: https://nomadauthors.com
Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749
Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K
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Wonderful cause and great excerpt!
Thanks so much for joining me today, Dee.
Aw, Paws of War – what a great name. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people were like these service dogs?
Interesting excerpt. I like her solution to her problems–both can help her around her farm, and both can enjoy “relaxing” time in her bed!