It’s #bookqw and Rivley might want to ‘kick’ himself!
I have a short story in this anthology! Look for Falling into Place, a prequel story in The Luminated Threads saga, featuring the ‘meet cute’ of Mary Clare and Rivley.
A farm emergency brings together an ambitious Victorian witch and an honor-bound shapeshifter, while shadows from their pasts threaten to keep them apart.
More from Chapter 5:
They’d just met, but Mary Clare clearly felt the same about not keeping secrets. “I like you, too, but I have to tell you—”
Her bucket clunked to the ground, her arms wrapped him, and her lips demanded Rivley kiss her. His bucket followed, and they clung together, tongues feverishly exploring.
“Hello?” someone called. “Rivley, are you there? We’ve a smudge pot out.”
“Oh, lands!” Mary Clare flung herself back. “My sister.”
He snatched up the buckets and strode forward, breathing deeply to clear his head. Mary Clare followed a few paces behind. After they refilled the pot, someone reported another sputtering.
Mary Clare returned from checking around the next tree. “A number of these are low and should be filled now.”
She and Mary Beth frowned at each other, then at two growers. One female kicked at the ground. “We didn’t want to be burned like Iris, so we kept the coal level low.”
“Eyeball the measure,” Mary Beth said. “The depth you’d plant squash seed.”
The growers eyed Rivley instead. The same looks as when the females brought in their purposefully damaged spider machines. Sheepish. Great Creator. He knew what this was about. But accusing them aloud of doing this to get his attention sounded like putting on airs.
Mary Beth looked between them and him, then snapped her fingers. “See here. We are not compromising the cherry crop so new workers can get a closer look at the cute mechanic’s assistant. These trees are our responsibility, not his.”
Rivley’s ears burned while the females scampered to fill their smudge pots.
“Mary Clare, check the other team’s pots.” Mary Beth jabbed a finger. “Tell them I sent you. I’ll survey my rows, then talk to the other leader about this…situation.” For the first time, she glanced at Rivley. “Sorry to call them out in front of you, but I promise I’ll put a stop to these antics. Could you bring more coal?”
“I’ll bring the wheelbarrow.” He handed the lantern to Mary Clare.
Mary Beth took the bucket from him, but as she marched away, Mary Clare caught her arm and leaned in to whisper.
Rivley turned and walked off. They’d agreed to keep things secret. So what could she be telling her sister?
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All proceeds from the sales of Love at Dawn: A Romance Anthology go to World Central Kitchen, a charity that supports families in need – please support this wonderful charity with your purchase of the ebook or paperback from your favorite retailer today!
And read my newest story!
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On a personal note:
We’re at our cabin for a while, at various family events and cleaning up from the town wildfire mitigation. Spring in the Rockies is very unpredictable. We had a 9 inch snow last week that has now melted and taken much of the prior snow on our north-facing slope with it.
We hadn’t had any snow in Virginia this year, and we discovered our rescue dog from North Carolina was not a fan.
He was still willing to walk, so that’s a win.
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