Ginger's Sneak-Peek-Sunday #SPeekSunday.

Welcome to Sneak-Peek-Sunday.  If you want to join in the fun, the rules are simple:

1. Sign up in the Linky List on the hosting site by clicking the banner.. The Linky List will go live 12:01AM Monday and will close at 11:59PM Saturday night every week.
2. Post 6 paragraphs (no more, no less) from either a WIP or a published work. The post must be live by 9:00AM Sunday.
3. Open to both un-published and published authors.
4. Post the link back to Sneak Peek Sunday so that others can hop along.
5. HAVE FUN!!

This week I'm sharing six paragraphs from Sarah's Heart, the predecessor to Sarah's Passion.  This is the main story and one I loved creating.  The ending, although typical for the time and era, escaped the imagination of those who only enjoy happily-ever-afters, so I wrote Sarah's Passion to tie everything together in one neat little bow.
There is no need to set up the story as I'm sharing from the opening scene.  Hope you'll want to read more:

Sarah Collins struggled to open her eyes against the glare, but the pounding pain in her head urged he to keep them closed. She swept the tip of her tongue across cracked lips, her mouth as dry as the feathers in her pillow—yet she felt no downy softness beneath her, only an uncomfortable jabbing in her back. Her palms groped along something gritty. Where was she? 

Suddenly patchy memories flooded back. The taste of bile filled her throat. She struggled to sit, groaning as she pushed herself up from the dusty ground and the offending stone stabbing at her spine. Her eyes misted with tears, and fear clutched at her chest as she surveyed what remained of the wagon train. 

Grasping her constricting throat, Sarah stood, scanning the eerie site. The bodies of her new friends lay scattered amongst the smoking ruins, some oddly contorted and others positioned just as they’d fallen. Her heart ached for the mother who sat propped against a wagon wheel, clutching her baby to her breast—both obviously dead. Sarah covered her mouth to stifle a scream. Oh sweet Jesus, why kill a defenseless infant? 

Was she the only survivor? As evidenced by an attacker’s body lying a few feet from her, someone had interceded and saved her life. There had to be someone else alive. There had to be! The hair on the back of her neck bristled. 

If not for the carnage, the day would be beautiful—wispy clouds floated in a powder blue sky, and an endless sea of waving prairie grass announced the arrival of spring. The only sound came from water bubbling in the nearby stream as it traveled over a rocky bed. 

Sarah remembered everything now. They had just made camp when war cries sliced the air. A few hours of daylight remained, but one family’s illness prompted the wagon master to halt travel for the day. Supper fires hadn’t even been lit when a band of whooping Indians with painted faces stormed the group. There must have been twenty or more on horseback. The last thing Sarah recalled was running to fetch her rifle. 

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Sneak-Peek Sunday with Ginger

This week my offering is from Sarah's Passion, the  shorter sequel to Sarah's Heart.  Just a short setup so you'll understand.  Sarah has just endured a nightmare in the old west and now she's back in New York, face-to-face with the very man who saved her life and led her to safety in the 1800s (Nathaniel Elder, AKA Wolf).  Strange, but the friend she tried to save after the wagon train massacre, Molly, is now his sister...alive and well, and not dead as Sarah thought.  She's invited her new neighbors to dinner with hopes of getting some answers.  Enjoy:

As the word ‘wine’ passed her lips, her gaze rested on the two bottles Wolf clasped. He thrust them toward her. “We weren’t sure of the entrée, so we brought both red and white.” 

She accepted his offerings, noting the labels: cabernet and white zinfandel. After carrying them to the counter, she put them down and returned to where her guests stood. “That’s very nice of you…and I hope you like chicken because that’s what I’ve prepared. Lemon chicken to be exact.” 

Molly stepped forward, her familiar green eyes sparkling. “We haven’t met yet. I’m Molly Landers, Nathaniel’s sister.” She offered her hand. 

Sarah locked palms with her. “Your brother mentioned you were sharing the apartment. How very nice to meet you, and I’m so glad you accepted my invitation, Molly.” 

The name echoed in Sarah’s brain. How many times had she called out to Molly…made sure she still breathed after removing the arrow from the injured woman’s shoulder? Happiness warmed Sarah’s heart at seeing the woman she’d called, ‘friend’, alive and well instead of pale and gasping for breath. She willed the bad memory away, released Molly’s hand, and motioned to the sofa. “Please, sit down and be comfortable. I have only to whip the potatoes. Wine anyone?” 

“I’ll wait until dinner, thanks.” Molly took a seat next to her brother.

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/author/gingersimpson

Now hop back to Sneak Peek Sunday for more six paragraphs from other authors.

Sneak-Peek Sunday with Ginger

Today, I'm offering a sneak-peek at my latest release, Culture Shock.  I hope you enjoy it The video is the best way I can think to set up the scene:

My six paragraphs:

The flushing of the toilet caused the ancient water pipes to groan, waking Cynthia. Her pillow on the floor explained why her neck ached. For a moment, she remained, head resting against the hard sofa arm, and stared through blurry eyes at the faded paint on the ceiling. The events of the past evening replayed in her mind. A glance at her newly-acquired, hairy knuckles proved what had happened was all too real.

Her bladder screamed to be emptied, and something strained against the front of her jeans. She reached to adjust her crotch and grimaced. "Oh sheesh!" Her fingers found the morning "woody" guys always talked about.

She yanked her hand from beneath the blanket like it was on fire. Covering her face, she bemoaned her fate. The bathroom beckoned, but she wasn't ready for what else awaited her. The idea of touching Alex's penis was bad enough; she wasn't sure she knew how to aim one.

Unable to stand the growing discomfort, Cynthia passed Alex on her way into the bathroom. The sinister grin on his face told her he had already been. She glared at him. "I don't want to discuss it," she spat, and slammed the bathroom door behind her.

In front of the toilet, she inched down the zipper on her Levis. Scrunching her eyes closed, she gingerly reached inside the open fly, took hold of the engorged member with two fingers, and pulled it free. Opening one eye, she looked down at the toilet and calculated a line of fire. The stream of urine seemed never-ending, but brought immediate relief…and ended the erection.

She tucked the flaccid penis back inside, closed her zipper and washed her hands. Alex's face stared back from the mirror, and despite her present traumatic situation, she almost laughed. Five o'clock shadow was nothing she ever expected to have, but fretting about such a minor thing seemed ridiculous. She had bigger worries to deal with. Much bigger! 

Now, jump back to http://sneak-peek-sunday.blogspot.com/ and enjoy offerings from other participants.  Be sure and check back next week here at Dishin' It Out.

Sneak-Peek-Sunday with Ginger

How fun.  Someone has created a promo opp for authors to showcase a portion of their work.  People, can hop back to the main site and click on the other participants' links to find more that might interest them.  It's sort of a "free sample Sunday."

Set up:  Cecile Palmer and Walt Williams have just married after a very short courtship and she's accompanying him to the ranch he's bragged about endlessly.  Purchasing the land was the reason he came to Silver City in the first place. She's extra anxious because of their pending wedding night and seeing her new home. This spoiled, only child is not at all prepared for what lays ahead...oh and the last paragraph...her mind has wandered which is why he snaps his fingers.  Without further stalling, here my six paragraphs from Destiny's Bride:

The soothing sound of running water beckoned her, and she knelt in the grass and dipped her fingers into it. Beyond her fading reflection she gazed at the myriad of stones and pebbles long ago polished smooth by deeper and faster running water. While fingering one, she thought of all the things for which she was thankful, the primary being water to wash up for her wedding night. She rose and joined Walt and the horses in the walk back to the wagon.

While he searched the perimeter of the camp for fuel to build the evening fire, Cecile spread the checkered cloth from Aunt May’s basket on the ground and laid out the food she had provided. The newlyweds sat next to the blossoming fire and enjoyed their first meal as husband and wife.

Impending ‘bedtime’ was all Cecile thought about. She had mixed feelings. Her stomach twisted in a knot. What would lovemaking be like? Would it hurt? She’d heard it did.

Intimacy wasn’t something people openly discussed, so she really had no idea what to expect. Bits and pieces of conversations she’d overheard between married women at various socials sounded conflicting. Some liked sleeping with a man, some didn’t. Anything remotely close to intimacy was not something her mother talked about, so what little Cecile knew, or thought she knew about the mating ritual, she learned from gossip.

She tried to concentrate on eating, but her nervous stomach churned each time she swallowed a bite of bread. She pushed on her tummy and took a deep, calming breath as Walt hungrily devoured his sandwich. If he was nervous, he certainly didn’t show it. Tonight would either prove or disprove the questions in her mind, and she really hoped the love she felt for her new husband along with his patient demeanor would sustain her.

 “Cece, wait till you see the place.” Walt broke the silence. “You’ll love it. I can’t wait to get started fixing it up. I’ll bet you’re as excited as I am, aren’t you? Well, aren’t you? Cecile…!” He snapped his fingers.

If you like what you read, the western historical romance is available on Amazon.  Now hop on over to the hosting site and enjoy:  http://sneak-peek-sunday.blogspot.com/