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                                                     LORD ESTERLEIGH’S DAUGHTER 

(Book 1 of “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy

 by Kathy Fischer-Brown

From the moment her father announced his plans to be gone for a few days on business, she anticipated his departure and the prospect of a long awaited tryst. The day and the time had been mutually arranged. But now the rain threatened to be her undoing.

“If ’ee had need of it,” Hetty Powell said, sliding the bench to the table, “I’d give ’ee a penny for thy thoughts.” She laughed softly when Anne looked up from her musing.

“I wish it would stop raining!” She struck the table with her fist and rose in the same motion to resume her fitful pacing before the window.

“Wishing won’t make it so. Come, or the tea will grow cold.”

Anne drew aside the tattered, dusty curtains and peered out into the gloom. The rain continued unabated. She closed her eyes and held her breath. I will count slowly to ten, and when I open my eyes, he’ll be there. If he’s not there, then I’ll…. She would not permit herself to finish the thought. He simply had to be there!

She counted slowly. Even more slowly, she opened her eyes and focused through the downpour where the lane joined the footpath running along the edge of the wood. Nothing moved save the wind through the tall grass and the clusters of wild flowers bending under the rain.

But you didn’t count slowly enough! she admonished herself. Once more she prepared herself for the ritual, and began to count. Before she had reached five, a rapid knock on the door shattered the hush that had fallen over the room.

Anne opened her eyes in surprise. Spinning around, she bumped into the cupboard, sending a shower of cutlery falling to the floor from the open shelf.

Smiling broadly, Hetty stood. “‘Knife falls, gentleman calls.’” She winked. “He’s come, My Lady!”

Suddenly, Anne could not force herself to budge. Thoughts racing, pulses quickening, she felt suddenly lightheaded with exhilaration and, oddly, with fear.

“Hadn’t ’ee best open the door?”

“Open the…? Oh, no!” She moved in a daze to the table. “I couldn’t. I can’t!”

The knock sounded with renewed urgency, shaking the flimsy door on its hinges. “Hetty!” It was Peter’s voice. “Are you in there?”

Anne swallowed hard and stared at Hetty, who took her gently by the hands and led her to the chair. “Sit ’ee down and calm thyself. I’ll let the poor soul in afore he drowns out there!” Laughing softly, she padded to the door over the sweet herbs strewn on the earthen floor.

Her head down, her gaze centered on the tea in her cup, Anne listened as Hetty lifted the latch and threw open the door. Rain beat the roof with a steady cadence and whistling wind. The door closed and the latch dropped back into place, and Hetty, with padding footsteps, made her way to the hearth, a dripping cloak and hat in her arms.

“And thy shoes and stockin’s, too,” Hetty said. “Bring ’em here. There’s a dear!”

He stood over her. Warmed by the unseen smile radiating from his eyes, still she could not look up. After so long living with her dreams and memories, the thought of confronting him at last gave her pause.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ve kept My Lady waiting.”

Buy Link:  http://amazon.com/author/kathyfischerbrown

Sunday Sampler

Sunday is almost over.  I totally zoned on what day it was until bedtime last night when I set the alarm for church.  It's so danged hot here.  Tennessee is setting all kinds of heat records.  I blogged about it being 111 day before yesterday, exceeding any record since records have been kept about weather.  Today, we're already at 104, but that's supposed to be as high as we get.  I suppose the heat will eventually end, but luckily, and I'm knocking on wood here, we have power to run our AC which is better than some poor folks in VA and the DC area.  

Anyhow, better late than never, I wanted to share a sample from the awesome book I'm reading at the moment, Winter Fire by Kathy Fischer-Brown.  This is my first novel by this author, and I promise it won't be my last.  I've loving her descriptive talent


Blurb:

When Ethan Caine pulled the unconscious woman from the half-frozen creek, he had no idea that his world was about to explode. Dressed in quilled doeskin of Iroquois design, she stirred up dark secrets from his past. At the same time, she was everything he desired. But she was more Indian than white, and on the run for murder. He needed to know the truth. He needed to find it within himself to trust her.

Banished by the Seneca Indians who had adopted and raised her, ostracized by the whites in the settlement, Zara Grey wanted only to be accepted. “Ethancaine” treated her with kindness and concern. It was easy to trust him. But her Indian ways disturbed him, and her heart she would always be Seneca.

Excerpt:

Rufus dismounted, pulling Zara down after him.  "See to the horse," he called abruptly to his son.  Without a word, Jabez led the animal to the barn.

"Oh, Zara!"  Ginny strode toward her.  In the pale lamplight, her aunt's face bore signs of strain broken by a smile.  "Thank the Lord you're safe!  What a fright you gave us."  She moved to take Zara under her arm.  "Come inside.  You must be cold..."

"She's coming with me!" Rufus turned and shoved Zara before him.  She feel hard into the snow.

Ginny bend to help Zara up, but Rufus blocked her.  "Oh, no Rufus, please...!"

"Stay away, Ginny!"

His wife took a step back, her eyes wide, a hand to her gaping mouth.

"Gi'me that lamp!"

Lying in the snow, Zara felt him step over her.  She jammed her eyes shut.

"Get up!"

She would not obey.  She would not so much as look at him.

His foot grazed her side, not forcefully, but enough to make her flinch.  "I said, get up!"

"Rufus, don't!"  Ginny cried. "I'm begging you, please.  Leave her be!"

"Go inside, Ginny!  Now!"

"I cannot allow--"

Her aunt's words were cut short.  Rufus struck her a resounding slap across her face.  Zara winced at the sound.  Then came an explosion of breath, a moan, and the hasty retreat of  her aunt's steps crunching over the snow.  Zara pulled herself up on hands and knees.

But before she could summon the will to move, Rufus hauled her up under the shoulders, and half dragging, half pushing, propelled her toward the tool shed.  "Next time you'll think twice before you make a fool of me!"

He slammed the door open.  The murky light of his lamp caused the cramped space to jump at her from the darkness.  Shapes and shadows loomed up like ghosts, and she clutched at the doorjamb with both hands.

"Go on, Git inside!"  He pushed her in and closed the door behind him.  The moldy, dusty smell made her eyes sting.

Rufus hung the lamp and his coat on pegs by the door.  From the darkened corner, he took a long, slender birch rod.  As the turned slowly, he flexed it in his hands, his face distorted by shadows.  "I'll teach you to run away from me."  Drawing a small knife from his belt, he stepped toward her.

***

Okay...I'll bet I got your attention.  If you want to read more, you can get a copy on Amazon by clicking here.

If you're an author, or even a reader who has a book you'd like to share, please leave a blurb/teaser and the buy link in the comment section.  Thanks for stopping by, and stay cool!