L is for The Lawman's Lessons with Patty Devlin

The much anticipated Sons of Johnny Hastings boxed set has arrived, and I will be featuring each or the author and their contribution to this compilation of wonderful western romances each Thursday for the month of June (and 1st week of July).  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I will. 



We are on tour the month of June and into early July.  Drop in and comment on the tour blogs to register for prizes at the end of the tour.  The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. 
The Sons of Johnny Hastings Blog Tour


The set up...

Five illegitimate sons of a profligate gambler; these half-brothers learn of their father's death, some learning for the first time that their brothers exist.  These rugged, handsome men, despite their unfortunate beginnings, grow to become strong, upstanding men (for the most part) in their own right, no thanks to their father. Still, from across the country they embark on a journey. Along with their sassy and sometimes mischievous brides, they travel to Denver for the reading of the will. For most, the will is the least of their concerns.  Instead, they have a burning curiosity to meet the other sons of Johnny Hastings.

Available for individual sale or as a boxed set which include five brand new stories by some of your favorite authors: Patty Devlin, Patricia Green, Renee Rose, Maddie Taylor (yours truly), and Mary Wehr.

 

First up...  Patty Devlin with

The Lawman’s Lessons 

 

Choose one of the two men, or take the return ticket and head home. It wasn’t much of a choice. Celia had worked and studied so hard to have a school of her own. And she had known that they might be a little upset. She knew exactly what they had wanted. It was stated very clearly in the advertisement and she could probably read and write better than anyone one of them.

Jackson sure never planned to marry, and how could he when his name would be a disgrace to his bride? So why had he fought so hard to keep her from marrying the other man? He could have shrugged it off and gotten out of there, but he just couldn’t do it. The new school teacher needed someone who would stay on her tail and teach her a lesson or else she’d run right into danger.

But, he’d have to be honest with her and tell her about that no good scoundrel who had sired him. She at least had a right to know he was a bas—illegitimate, that the man who fathered him had left his mother alone to fend for herself. Then if Celia could handle that, well, they could work the rest out. Besides, there weren’t any other good choices and she simply couldn’t be without a husband.

 

Excerpt:

Jackson turned slowly back toward her; his boots making a lonely echo on the old wood floor as he closed the distance between them. Her board-stiff back, while she grabbed the broom and pretended to sweep, told him she was not as unaffected by his presence as she let on. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him, but a great deal of respect was born out of fear.

He gently removed the broom from her hands, and she didn’t put up as much of a fight as he thought she might. She stood frozen on the spot with her back to him, while he leaned the broom against the wall again.

“Miss Whitman, if there is anything you’d like to take with you I recommend you kindly fetch it so we can be on our way. Every minute you waste here now is another minute my mama is worrying about you. If I have to wrestle you out of here, I will. But I won’t hesitate to warm your seat first, something you’ve obviously been lacking.” He braced himself as she spun around. He expected her to take a swing at him. She surprised him by stomping past him and almost out the door of the school house, but she stopped just inside.

 

Here's a little fun Q&A for the author...

MT: If you time traveled back to 1872 which modern convenience or invention would you missed most? Toilet Paper, A/C, birth control, automobile, cell phone (or any phone for that matter- it wasn't invented yet). Rank and tell us why...

Patty:

TP—1, Do I really need to say why???

Cell phone—2, Yes, communication would be a big loss to me.

A/C—3, I do love to have the windows open with a fresh breeze blowing through, but when it is humid I just can’t stand it, so I’d probably miss this.

Automobile—4 I think I’d much prefer the horse and carriage any day.

Birth Control—5 I really don’t like because and there are many options for this that were used back then anyway.

 

 

 

Next week I'll feature Mary Wehr with

To Have and to Scold. 

What a great title and another GORGEOUS cover.

Stop by on June 19th to see more.