Cora Seton's Blog, page 12

Teaser Tuesday – An Excerpt From The Cowboy Rescues a Bride

It’s Teaser Tuesday – time to share a tidbit from my next release – The Cowboy Rescues a Bride! The Cowboy Rescues a Bride is Ned and Fila’s story. Here are Ned and his father, Holt, talking about Fila:

“I don’t see the problem,” Holt Matheson said. “I’m as partial to a pretty face as the next man, but it’s time to send that particular filly back to her stable.”

Ned looked up from the lawnmower engine he was reconstructing. “Fila’s not a horse. And she’s not leaving.”

“Ethan told me his guests have all gone home. He and Autumn want Fila back.”

“Too bad.”

“Now, son—I know you’ve got it in your mind you care for her, but she’s not the woman for you.”

“Why not? Because she wasn’t born and raised in Montana?”

“She wasn’t born or raised anywhere near here.”

“For God’s sake. Connecticut is still part of the United States last I heard.”

“She might have been born on US soil, but that doesn’t make her like you or me.” Holt crossed his arms. “You know exactly what I mean.”

Ned set his tools down. “No, I don’t. What exactly is it that bothers you? That she has brown eyes and we have blue ones? Or that she’s seen more of the world than either you or I ever have? Or that she might talk to God a little differently? I know you’re a religious man and might get offended at that.”

Holt bristled at his sarcasm. “I’m a religious man, whether or not I go to church on Sunday. And that’s part of it. Who knows what she got up to among those people?”

Ned sighed. “Dad. She’s twenty-two. She’s an American. She’s been through a hell of an ordeal. All she wants is the chance for a normal life. To feel safe. To feel like she belongs somewhere.” He didn’t mention the restaurant fiasco. He hoped no one ever found out about that. “She wants to belong here. I don’t see why we wouldn’t let her.”

“So you’ve made up your mind on the matter, have you?”

“For all the good that it will do me.” Ned turned back to his work, a muscle working in his jaw. He hadn’t slept the previous night after Fila’s bombshell. Bad enough his gift had fallen flat. Bad enough his kiss had terrified her. Now she was leaving him. He’d never get a second chance to make it all right.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hasn’t it ever occurred to you, Dad, that it doesn’t matter whether we accept her or not? She might not accept us.”

Teaser Tuesday – An Excerpt From The Cowboy Lassos a Bride

It’s Teaser Tuesday – time for me to share another excerpt from The Cowboy Lassos a Bride, which released to days ago! This time Holt’s unleashing his evil plan on poor Hannah:

“I’ll let you keep your bison on this ranch for the rest of its natural life if you’ll do one thing for me.”

He had Hannah’s full attention. A place for Gladys forever? She’d been searching far and wide for a suitable home for the animal, but no one within a hundred miles had a place for her. There were a few ranches far to the west who might take her, but the cost was high and she’d rarely get to see the bison, and… well… she’d gotten a bit attached to her.

Okay, a lot attached.

“What would I have to do?” Holt’s weathered face was angular, his eyes bright with intelligence and cunning. She wasn’t sure she could trust him, but his offer intrigued her.

“Sleep with my son for two weeks.”

Hannah’s jaw dropped open. Her cheeks flushed to what she was sure was a brilliant red. Had Holt lost his mind? Had she? He couldn’t have said that out loud.

Could he?

“You heard me right, but you can get your mind out of the gutter.” Holt’s laconic tone was shaded with a hint of laughter at her expense. “I said sleep with him, not screw him. What you two get up to is on your conscience. All I ask is that you share a bed.”

“I… what…?” She glanced around wildly, wondering if anyone else had overheard him. Surely this had to be a joke. Would Holt’s youngest son, Rob, come rushing out with a video camera? He was always playing practical jokes.

“Sleep with my son for fourteen consecutive nights. All night. That’s it. Your bison gets a pasture, food, and shelter for the rest of her life. What do you say?”

Follow that Trail

We have a tiny patch of woods at the back of our acre which I insisted we keep when we cleared the rest of the property. Behind us is a light industrial area I did NOT want to see from my back windows. Besides, a family of crows lives in the far right corner and I couldn’t bear to cut down their home.

The woods came complete with pathways and even a troll bridge. I’ve shown these images before but the forest is on my mind for several reasons right now. One reason is that I want to make more use of them this year. I’m going to add some bulbs along this pathway that enters the woods and in a few other areas, as well. I’m thinking crocuses and maybe some other flowers. I want to add a bench in a little clearing in there, too.

The menfolk have other ideas. They’re going to build an obstacle course for the teenagers that will figure-eight around the outskirts of the woods. I’ve given my okay as long as I can call the shots about where they can and can’t run.

The fact that they’re building an obstacle course in the woods is comical because just such an obstacle course exists in one of my upcoming books – The Navy SEAL’s E-Mail Order Bride. Life imitating art, indeed.

A Map of My World

I inherited my love of maps from my mother. She has told me the story of how a map of the world (and one of the United States) hung on the wall of the hallway in her home growing up. Every time she walked the hall, she looked at the map and that informed her of the layout of the world a little bit at a time.

We had maps in our basement playroom growing up. When I had children, I duly bought maps and hung them in various places in all the houses we’ve lived in.

When we moved into our new house I wanted to take things up a notch, so I purchased this beautiful map from National Geographic. It currently hangs (surprise, surprise) in our hall, and one or the other of us often stops and searches around to find locations.

There is always something new to see on a map. I don’t know why, but I’m always surprised to see where New Zealand has gotten to (for some reason I envision it on the other side of Australia). There are so many islands whose names are familiar, but whose locations are a little bit sketchy to me until I see them on the map again. It’s fun to see the names of places on all the fringes of continents – places you know are way too darn cold to live.

If a get-together ever gets awkwardly quiet, I’ve found it helps to pull out an atlas and hand it to someone. You won’t be able to shut people up after that. Stories about trips, ancestral homes, and more will spill out of even the shyest guest.

Do you have maps in your house? What kind?

Local Art, Part 2

This plate is another of my favorite things and I’m showing it to you because it makes me think of how important details are. This blue handmade pottery plate has an impression of lace that was pressed into it before it was fired. I love the deep, rich blue and I love the delicate lace imprints, too.

For several years it sat on my hutch near my dining room table and often became a receptacle for mail, barrettes, rubber bands, and other miscellaneous stuff that people deposited on their way past. I would clean them off, dust the plate and hope that people noticed it’s beauty (rather than it’s usefulness as a hold-all), but soon it would get buried again.

It took me several years to finally procure a hanger to get it up on the wall where it belonged! Years! Now everyone can see how beautiful it is and notice the lacy impressions and gorgeous color. It is displayed as a work of art, but remains perfectly handy should I ever want to use it as a serving platter.

When we leave small tasks undone (like buying a hanger), they build up in our minds and clog our creative energy. The antidote is to set a day aside every season to “get things done”. I’ve gone even further and started enlisting others to help me. I didn’t actually buy that hanger – I put it on my Christmas list and made my husband buy it for me (and then attach it to the wall). Every time I see that plate I get the double pleasure of its beauty, and the knowledge that one particular “detail” has fallen off my list.

Local Art, Part 1

Part of what makes my home feel like a creative space is the local and handmade art I showcase within it. I have never had a large budget for art, but the our local farmer’s market and craft fairs have made it easy for me to fill the nooks and crannies of my home with beautiful, locally made objects.

Since in many cases I know the artists personally – and have gotten to visit their studios during the open studios tour held here each year – the art itself becomes much more meaningful. In some cases, artists have created things specifically for me!

This mobile was made by Joan Conway and I love both its delicacy and the bright oranges and reds – two of my absolute favorite colors. Joan is both an artist and a poet, and has been an inspiration to me over the years. In the last couple of years she dreamed big and built an actual studio cabin in her backyard to host workshops in – something that blew me away, given the huge permitting process you have to go through to make that happen. It’s a beautiful space. Check it out here. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Joan made me a large mobile, too – to put outside in my garden. Once I have it back up in the spring I’ll have to take a pic! The little mobile hangs in my bedroom window and gives me a shot of color and good feeling even on the gloomiest winter days.

Teaser Tuesday – An Excerpt From The Cowboy Lassos a Bride

It’s Teaser Tuesday again – time for another excerpt from my upcoming release – The Cowboy Lassos a Bride. Uh oh, looks like Jake has gotten himself into trouble:

Holt squared off against Jake in the loft, his face like thunder. “You think you’re so smart? I’m sick of your guff and I’m tired of your inability to follow orders.”

“I’m tired of you giving me them!”

“Are you saying you’re ready to leave?”

“No.”

“I’m not sure I want you to stay.”

“Dad—”

“Don’t Dad me.” Holt put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “I’ve had it. I’m going to give you one last chance—get married within the next thirty days or get out.”

“What?” Jake cocked his hat back. His father had to be joking.

But the old man looked dead serious. “Do you need me to write it down so you can read it?”

Jake wanted to kick himself. Teasing his father and Ned about their dyslexia was a low blow at the best of times. Today he’d stirred up a hornet’s nest.

Let’s Redesign This Blog

When my house needs an update or I’m struggling with my wardrobe, I like to invite my girlfriends over to take a look and help me brainstorm. That’s what I’m doing here today.

Come on in, look around, poke your noses into things and then let me know what you think? How can I shake up this website? What should I rearrange? What would you like me to post about? Got any ideas?

How does the site look on your computer, phone, or tablet? Is anything falling off the sides or going wonky?

Do you like excerpts, posts about life, advice, photos?

I’m setting out the virtual appetizers and wine – mill around, think for a bit and let me know your ideas!

Ask the Universe

I’m a huge believer in “Putting things out to the Universe” or “Calling things in”. People of other faith traditions might word these ideas differently, but the idea remains the same – that when you express what you’re aiming for and ask for help in getting it done, outside forces can end up working with you in ways you never imagined.

There are a hundred ways this can work. This idea came from my good friend Lois:

1. Take a small piece of cardstock, colored pencils, paints, crayons – whatever you like to work with and draw an image that represents your goal.

2. Write clearly what it is you want: “Dear Universe, I would like….”

3. Attach it to the mirror you look into every morning – your bedroom mirror or bathroom mirror, or the one by the front door if you have one. At first you will see it and read it each day – and receive both a visual and written reminder of your goal. After several weeks you won’t even notice it. At some point you’ll realize you’ve achieved that goal.

Magic!

Cora Recommends – Teaching the Cowboy, by Holley Trent

If you like cowboy romances, you’ll like this one! Here’s the blurb:

She’s a Carolina beauty queen, not a cowgirl, but one Wyoming rancher thinks she’s perfectly qualified for the job that matters most.

A year in godforsaken Storafalt, Wyoming? No big deal…or so traveling tutor Veronica Silver tells herself. She needs hands-on experience with a special group of students to qualify for a grant, and her assigned passel of ranch kids are special cases, all right. Ronnie loves a challenge, but pitted against a small town’s far-too-active grapevine and a woeful lack of amenities, she worries she won’t be able to hack it.

With the education system in Storafalt sorely lacking, rancher John Lundstrom thought hiring a private tutor would ease some of his considerable stress. What he didn’t expect was a powerful mutual attraction with Ronnie or her steadfast refusal to let him properly court her. She’s on a one-year assignment and wants no entanglements when it’s time to go home to North Carolina.

An unplanned pregnancy and Ronnie’s ensuing deception spins the Lundstrom ranch into a major upheaval. John refuses to let Ronnie run away with his daughter, but he may be forced to compromise when her homesickness threatens to drive a wedge between the two lonely hearts once and for all.