The stories of the Stevens began on the Oregon Trail with the march west that so many made to find a new life on the West Coast. In the case of the Stevens, it was Oregon and an offer of land, this one the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850. The farm we own in Oregon was part of that claim. It stayed in the same family until we bought it. We're planning it'll long stay in our family too.
When writing a series, many authors do know what is to come. I think I mentioned this before that I did not for this Oregon Historical Series. One book though led to another with romances for the sisters and surprisingly, their mother. I was writing other stories during this time. By the time I got to the youngest of the sisters, Belle, who had been in two books and referenced through letter writing, it was her turn for her romance.
I wrote the first chapter but then felt stymied and put it aside for other projects. Almost a year passed when I finally knew where it would go. In a month, I had it all written, ready for editing.
Belle had long been gone from her family, first with rich friends, who invited her on trips. Then as the Civil War came along, she helped there, learning medical help from Clara Barton (if you don't know who she is, look her up as it's worth your time.)
That attack led to her seeing again her love of 10 years before, who had rejected her advances due to her youth and his own military career, He had been chasing the Indians and then could thwart their attack on the stage.
When he sees Belle again, he can see she didn't want him to speak of her family. The attraction is still there with more violence to come but also a ball organized by the man Belle and her only love, Rand, are mutually but secretly seeking to find evidence of his plots.
Lots goes on, but I thought it'd be fun to share a clip from the book and that ball.
“Now, don’t forget,” she said before she left him, “the last dance is mine.”
He bowed his head and smiled. He forced himself to look away from her. From then on he forced his concentration on locating and not losing track of Forester. The man seemed to drift from group to group but not long with any. If this gathering had an ulterior purpose, it was more likely establishing him as a power in the community than it was plotting with a subversive group.
He had nearly forgotten the ball would end. Belle would return for that last dance. Then, there she was. “This song was requested for you specifically, Captain Phillips,” she said with a smile as she put her hand out for him.
When he heard it start up, he understood why, Garryowen, the fighting song of many a soldier. Some regarded it as an ending song as well. He swept her into his arms and began the quickstep that was best danced to it. They spun around the dance floor, this time with no chance to talk. He realized as they danced that others had stepped aside. They were in the center of the floor and then they were the only dancers. When the music ended, the others applauded and Belle laughed.
“You look at little stunned, Captain,” she said as the left the floor.
“Custer has claimed that for his Seventh Cavalry.”
“Does that mean no one else may claim it?”
“No, but do you know it’s a drinking song?”
“Actually no... but I did know about Custer. Miles Koegh actually claimed it first.”
“How did you know that?”
She smiled. “Well, don’t tell anyone, but I did happen to have met General Custer once.”
For those who don't know the song, I found a link for it with the images from the movie about the Spanish American War in Cuba: Garryowen
If you play it, can't you just see a woman in a flowing ball gown, being spun around the floor by a handsome cavalry officer.
So, the book is called Love Waits, because that is just what happens in this adventurous romance with two warriors. It is wide, and you can find more links in my website, but below is its link to Amazon where you get a free sample, the blurb, and the link to buy it there.
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