Sunday’s
Spotlight
I first want to apologize for not posting Friday’s
Frank Talk & Saturday’s Signature Author blog spots. With the recent horrific
trauma in Connecticut, like most people, nothing mattered more than hugging
your children, spending time with them, telling them that you love them and that’s
exactly what I did. I promise that next week, I will be back on track.
So, since I had no author scheduled for this Sunday’s
spot, I thought, I would treat all you Rebecca Joyce fans to a little sneak
peak of "The Texas Rebel". Due for release Dec 20th, this is the
second installment of The Armstrong Brothers.
Chapter
1
Washington
State, October 4th
The
house was bustling with somber activity when she walked in.
Trying
to avoid the stares from his family, she quietly walked up the
stairs
to their bedroom and shut the door. Her only place of serenity
awaited
her. Everything was as it should be.
His
bed lay in the middle of the room, and his uniform hung
neatly,
still on the arm of the chair against the wall. His dresser, still
standing
in its place, held their engagement picture. All of his
belongings,
his watch, his brush, his wallet, his cologne—nothing had
been
touched. The closet still held all of his clothes. His scent
engulfed
her as she walked through, heading to the bathroom. She
stopped
a moment to take everything in.
Today,
she would bury her fiancé. The thought of putting him in
the
ground infuriated her. He would not want this. He wanted to be
cremated.
His ashes were to be spread into the Bering Strait. That was
what
he had asked of her, and she had promised.
Neither
of them had ever counted on his mother. The woman was
mad.
The moment her mother-in-law arrived, she commanded
everyone’s
attention and took over. She demanded that her only son
be
buried in the family plot, and she would not listen to reason. She
took
over all the arrangements, even refusing the traditional military
burial
that the Army was going to provide. She wanted nothing to do
with
the military. She blamed them as much as she blamed Sarah.
Looking
for some solitude, she walked in to the bathroom and
started
the shower.
*
* * *
“I
don’t even know why we are waiting for that girl. She isn’t
even
family,” the overweight woman complained.
“Catherine,
enough,” her husband quietly scolded. Swiftly
turning,
she shot daggers at the man she had been married to for the
last
twenty-six years. Huffing, she walked into the kitchen.
“Maybe
someone should go up and check on her,” the older man
asked
the room of family members and friends. When no one offered,
he
turned to the only person in the room who was ignoring the drama.
He
walked over to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Steven.
Would you, please? I don’t want Catherine making a big
fuss.”
Steven
turned to look at his father. He knew his father was still as
young
and virile as he remembered last month. But also it looked like
he
aged twenty years in the last few weeks. Who wouldn’t when they
received
news that their youngest son was killed in battle. Steven still
had
a hard time wrapping his head around it. But no matter how he
felt,
because he really didn’t know, he was damn sure of one thing.
That
fat bitch could go to hell.
“You
have to be joking. I wouldn’t walk five feet to help that
bitch,”
he said, staring his dad in the eyes. The old man looked toward
the
kitchen and sighed.
Turning
back to his son, he pleaded, “Steven, please not today.
Don’t
talk about your mother that way, she’s—” he started, and
Steven
interrupted him. “She is not my mother.”
“All
right, Steven. Please go check on Sarah,” his father asked.
Steven
just shook his head and walked toward the stairs.
He
didn’t want to do this. He really didn’t want to do this.
Slowly
making his way up the stairs, he looked at all the photos
that
lined the walls.
Smiling,
he remembered how the three of them had taken off for
some
adventure on the Mountain of Mount Rainier. It took them two
days
to climb that damn mountain, and there at the top, William asked
Sarah
to marry him. He remembered how loud she had screamed as
the
echo vibrated of the mountain. His brother was elated, as Sarah
jumped
into his arms, kissing his face and yelling yes, yes, yes.
Neither
of them could wait, so once they made it back down, they
quickly
wanted to find the nearest justice of the peace, but it was him
that
stopped them, telling them that Pop would be upset if he wasn’t
there.
Of course they moaned and complained, but all it took was a
little
reasoning on his part and mentioning their father, and he knew
Sarah
would wait.
That
was William and Sarah, always living in the moment. They
never
thought of consequences or the future. All they knew was as
long
as they were together they could do anything. Steven smiled,
remembering
the happiness of that day as he walked into his brother’s
bedroom.
“Sarah?”
he quietly spoke as he walked over to the bed and sat.
Looking
around the room, he noticed mementos of their travels. Items
from
Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, India, and their last trip to
Great
Britain were all spread throughout the room.
William
had found Sarah’s family crest and tartan, purchased
replicas,
and brought them back. The crest hung on the wall above her
dresser.
A bold statement, the crest was made of gold and silver, with
ivy
wrapped in a circle surrounding a sword through a dragon’s head.
The
family motto, “Never Surrender,” was etched through the blade
of
the sword. The tartan was made of the finest wool, in colors of
green
and red, and hung in a frame that he designed for his brother.
Together,
he and his brother owned one of the finest carpentry
mills
on the west coast. Catering to the wealthy, the brothers had
made
a name for themselves.
When
William was back east and had befriended a man by the
name
of James Abernathy, the CEO of one of New York’s best
trading
companies, the two hit it off instantly. When William invited
him
on a simple weekend excursion, James was impressed with the
brothers’
skills and ordered a desk for his office. It didn’t take long
before
James started giving out the brothers’ names, and soon their
small
business turned into a company that employed over fifteen
hundred
men and women, with two mills and three stores in Portland,
Los
Angeles, and New York City.
Steven
walked around the room, looking at all the pictures and
memories.
He took a photo off of his brother’s nightstand and held it
in
his hands. Looking at the photo, he smiled. It was of Sarah sitting
on
top of a hill overlooking the country hillside of Scotland. It was of
their
last adventure together. Her silky auburn hair had been blowing
in
the wind, and when she had turned, he snapped the photo. The
expression
on her face was one amazement and wonder. Love filled
her
beautiful blue eyes.
Those
eyes still today did something to Steven. So much life in
her,
he envied his brother. The smile on her face warmed his heart as
he
remembered that day.
It
had been cold, and Sarah had been determined to reach the top
of
that damn hill.
“Sarah,
come on. It’s cold, and I’m hungry. Baby, let’s go back.
We
can try again tomorrow. Please, honey. My stomach needs food,”
William
begged her. She turned and smiled at him. Sticking out her
tongue,
she continued on, laughing.
Steven
looked at William and laughed. “You brought her here.
You
should have known better.”
“That’s
it. I can’t go anymore,” William said, sitting down on the
damp
hillside and reaching in his backpack for a power bar and a
bottle
of water. Steven sat next to him and took the water his brother
handed
him.
“She’s
is trying to kill me,” William said, looking at his brother.
“I
think you will live.”
“Easy for you to say. You haven’t married the
indestructible
woman.”
“I
could always take her off of your hands, little brother. I always
told
you she was too much of a woman for you,” Steven said, teasing
his
brother. William just smiled and punched his brother in the arm.
Together,
they sat there admiring the beauty of the countryside.
Everything
was so green and alive. The cool air blew through the
hills,
with the sounds of whistles and chimes. Birds flew overhead,
and
the sound of water rolling through a brook made the whole scene
picturesque.
Steven took in a deep breath and inhaled the smells
around
him. The smells of morning dew, poppies, and evergreens
touched
every nerve in his soul. The place welcomed him home. He
had
never in all of his thirty-one years felt at peace, but sitting on this
hill
in this magical place, he had the feeling of contentment and
oneness
with himself.
Breaking
the silence of his wonderment, he heard Sarah. “Come
on,
you two. You have to see this. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
The
brothers turned to find her sitting at the top of the hill, some
hundred
yards away. Steven looked at William, who just hung his
head.
“Please, Steven. I can’t move.”
“Wimp!”
Steven said, getting up and walking toward Sarah.
“Hey!”
William said, yelling for his brother, throwing the camera
at
him. “Take a picture for me, will ya?”
Steven
caught the camera and headed toward the top. Walking
toward
her, he watched her hair blowing in the wind. She sat there
peacefully,
overlooking the countryside. Taking the camera lenses off,
he
hit the power button and focused the frame. As he moved closer, he
whispered,
“Hey, beautiful, smile.”
Sarah
slowly turned and smiled. Steven looked through the lenses
and
froze. Feeling as if something had punched him in the gut, his
breathing
started to race. His hands were clammy. His heart began to
ache.
He slowly lowered the camera and looked at her. Her eyes,
those
magnetic sapphire-blue eyes, were looking at his soul. Steven
stood
there staring at her. Oh, God, he thought to himself as the
unfamiliar
feeling hit him.
“Steven,
are you going to take the picture?” she asked, smiling at
him.
Trying to shake off the feeling, he fumbled with the camera and
hit
the button.
“Come
here and sit with me. You have to see this. It’s magical up
here,”
she said, raising her hand toward him. Steven slowly walked
toward
her, feeling the pull of her moving his legs forward. If he
wanted
to turn and run, he couldn’t. He was being drawn to her. As
he
reached her, his hand raised to place her small hand in his, and he
felt
the warmth of ten thousands fires burn through him. He sat next
to
her as she showed him the beauty of the hillside. He listened to her
talk.
Her voice sounded like angels as he stared at her. The wind blew
and
surrounded him in her scent. Dear God, he thought to himself.
Take
me now, for today I will die a happy man. She smelled of
lavender
and chamomile. Together they sat there on that hillside and
looked
out toward the beauty of Scotland.
“Are
you two done? I’m starving over here. I need food!” William
yelled,
breaking the magical moment Steven was having. Sarah turned
and
laughed at her future husband. Getting up, she smiled at Steven
and
ran down the hill into William’s waiting arms.
Sitting
there with the camera in his hands, he shook his head.
“Stupid,
stupid, what are you doing? She is your brother’s. You’re an
idiot,”
he muttered to himself.
“Steven?”
she whispered.
Quickly
brought back to the present, he turned to find her standing
there
with a towel wrapped around her. Her hair was still wet as she
emerged
into the room. Walking over to the bed and grabbing a pair
of
stockings she had laid out for the occasion, she returned to the
bathroom.
“Sorry,
Sarah. Pop wanted me to come get you,” he said, turning
around
to give her some privacy.
“I will be down in a minute,” she muttered.
“Okay,”
he said, getting up and heading for the door.
“Steven?”
He
froze. “Yes.”
“Please
stay,” she whispered, walking toward the walk-in closet.
“Sarah,”
he said with his hand on the doorknob, looking at the
white-paneled
door that he made for his brother.
“Steven,
please. I don’t think I can do this without you. Please
stay,”
she quietly said. He took a deep breath and turned. He found
the
room empty again. Hearing her move around in the bathroom, he
went
back to the bed and sat. Trying to think of anything to say to
take
his mind off her, he asked, “Did you make it to the top?”
“No.”
“How
far this time?”
“I
had about another ten feet till I tripped and fell.”
“Are
you okay?”
“Just
some scratches. I will survive.”
“Okay.”
The silence in the room was deafening. He sat there
waiting
for her to emerge, and when she did, his heart skipped.
She
emerged wearing a soft-blue dress that fell to her knees. Her
hair
was swept up atop her head. She wore no makeup, but she really
didn’t
need any. Her soft porcelain skin glowed. Her rosy cheeks
shimmered,
and her plump, pink lips looked as soft as rose pedals.
She
was a beautiful woman, curvaceous and sensual. Sitting there
staring
at her, he couldn’t help but be amazed.
“You
think she will have a cow if I wear this?” she said, turning to
him.
“That
bitch can burn in hell.”
“Well,
yes. I agree with that. I just don’t want any more
problems.”
“There
won’t be.”
“Steven,
I—” she started, but he stood, interrupting her.
“Sarah,” he said, putting his hands on her
shoulders. She had to
raise
her head to look at him. “I give you my word. If that hell bitch
says
or does anything, I will take care of it.”
She
smiled at him, and then she raised her arms and wrapped them
around
his waist, hugging him. He didn’t know what to do. She had
never
hugged him before. Yes, they kidded around, but never had she
been
this close to him. Her head lay against his chest, and her arms
slid
around his waist. He felt the warmth of her all over again, as the
memory
of that day on the hill flooded back into him. Her arms
moved
up his back, holding him tightly. She laughed a little. “Steven,
it’s
a hug. You can hug me.”
“Sorry,”
he said, coming to his senses and wrapping his arms
around
her. He closed his eyes as he held her. She fit perfectly in his
embrace.
She
never did belong to him, and he knew it. But he was there, in
his
brother’s bedroom with his brother’s girl. In a room that William
had
wanted to share with her as they started their life together, Steven
felt
like an intruder.
He
knew she loved William. He was her whole life. She was
devoted
to him and everything they were. He sighed, resolved to the
fact
that she would always love his brother. Even though his brother
was
no longer alive, he could not have her. He loved his brother that
much,
and respected the bond the two of them had. Resolved to being
her
friend and friend only, he broke the embrace.
“Are
you ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Let’s
go say good-bye.”
Together
they walked out of the room.
Well folks, that's all the teaser your gonna get today! If you want to read more, The Texas Rebel will be released December 20th, 2012. Also, "Janie's Tempting Submission" will soon be available January 22nd, 2013!
Janie Marie Potter is the shy librarian of Treasure Cove. Avoiding all contact she lives her life as quietly as possible, but when she inadvertently checks out a book that is beyond her comprehension, she takes the intoxicating trip into a world that awakens her soul.
Jeff and Caleb Hicks are the owners of the JC Ranch and they have a problem. They have fallen for the most introverted woman in Treasure Cove. Not sure on how to approach her they are given an opportunity when they find out she has a secret desire.
Jumping at the chance they move forward to seduce and capture the shy librarian praying their dominant personalities are enough to win her heart, but when they discover there is more to the woman they love, can they stay the course and have her soul submit to them forever.
Well Folks, thats all for now. Stay tuned for tomorrows, MONDAY MORNING NEWS where I will give you the low down on this weeks NEW RELEASES from SIREN.
Till then, KEEP READING!!!
