Six Lines on Sunday 5-6-12 - Something NEW!
This Sunday's excerpt is from one of the new chapters in Calico.
Alexander walked out of his bedroom, grabbed the rifle from over the fireplace and stumbled to the door. His head pounded, sweat trickled into his eyes. He hoped the trader would take the warning and leave. He was in no condition to fight or give medical attention to anyone. Alexander walked out of his cabin and closed the door behind him. He swayed to the left and braced himself against the wall of his home. Oh, this was going to be harder than he thought. The crisp morning air burned his lungs. He clutched his shaking hands on his rifle, leaned his back on the wall and closed his eyes. Whatever happened to him didn't matter. He had to protect Chief Little Owl until help arrived. Alexander inhaled a deep breath. He grunted with pain as his chest fought the intake of the cold, fresh air. He continued to breathe deeply until he had forced his body to accept the fresh air in his lungs. He concentrated on the noises to his left. The woman was speaking to the children in French? He shook his head. That must be his imagination. Unless! He opened his eyes and grasped his long rifle with a tighter grip. Unless the woman had been related to the man he had murdered. Perhaps the man wasn't her husband but an official from the Spanish-held territories come to arrest him! Oh, they definitely had to die. If the British ever learned he hadn't given them Pierre's head then he would be sent back to the Tower of London. He didn't want to lose his head.
Alexander gathered his strength. He quickly crept along the side of the house with his rifle extended and scanned the barn. The man had disappeared. The French woman stood with her back to him in front of her children. He aimed the rifle on the seven-year-old's head with a plan.He'd take the children out first—that should get the man's attention. Then when the man came out, he'd have the rifle on the woman. When the man protested he'd shoot the man then the woman. But Alexander was going to need more ammunition for his plan to work. He peered at the board on the bottom of his house then at the covered water barrel beside him. Alexander kicked the base board of his house. It fell to the ground, revealing another rifle, ready to use. He backed up against the house, lowered his body, and retrieved the extra rifle. Alexander carefully positioned it behind his back then flipped the lid on the rain barrel. Two Irish flintlock pistols with a bag of shots and a powder horn lie in the secret compartment. He heaved, clenched his teeth, pushed past the pain, and then aimed at the young boy. Alexander slowly began to pull back the trigger.
"Alex! Stop," Doctor Ephraim Garrick yelled, running from the barn beside him.
Calico is available at http://www.amazon.com/Calico-Children-Shawnee-ebook/dp/B007Z8V982 and has received 12 five star reviews.
What reviewers are saying:
I truly enjoyed reading Calico. The professional way in which the book is written makes for an enjoyable read. Allison's way of staying true to the languages is great and makes for an authentic feel. I also enjoyed the adventure of the characters and the time of the world. She made me feel like i was back in the day. A very excellent book! Read It! You wont be disappointed. Lets get the second one already! (Jon Pew)
Calico has a strong cast of characters that Mrs. Bruning manages quite well. The story simmers along, gradually picking up speed and drawing you into the world just a little bit more with each event that takes place. Allison represents the Native Americans in a genuinely respectful, entertaining way that I found most humbling. As an author, I respect her ability to adhere to their ways and portray them so fearlessly. Her facts are stated with enough clarity and confidence that readers of any age can follow them. Calico is full of people dealing with real struggles, living real lives and loving in real ways. There is an element of romance that I found surprising and sweet. (PrincessJen)
Alexander walked out of his bedroom, grabbed the rifle from over the fireplace and stumbled to the door. His head pounded, sweat trickled into his eyes. He hoped the trader would take the warning and leave. He was in no condition to fight or give medical attention to anyone. Alexander walked out of his cabin and closed the door behind him. He swayed to the left and braced himself against the wall of his home. Oh, this was going to be harder than he thought. The crisp morning air burned his lungs. He clutched his shaking hands on his rifle, leaned his back on the wall and closed his eyes. Whatever happened to him didn't matter. He had to protect Chief Little Owl until help arrived. Alexander inhaled a deep breath. He grunted with pain as his chest fought the intake of the cold, fresh air. He continued to breathe deeply until he had forced his body to accept the fresh air in his lungs. He concentrated on the noises to his left. The woman was speaking to the children in French? He shook his head. That must be his imagination. Unless! He opened his eyes and grasped his long rifle with a tighter grip. Unless the woman had been related to the man he had murdered. Perhaps the man wasn't her husband but an official from the Spanish-held territories come to arrest him! Oh, they definitely had to die. If the British ever learned he hadn't given them Pierre's head then he would be sent back to the Tower of London. He didn't want to lose his head.
Alexander gathered his strength. He quickly crept along the side of the house with his rifle extended and scanned the barn. The man had disappeared. The French woman stood with her back to him in front of her children. He aimed the rifle on the seven-year-old's head with a plan.He'd take the children out first—that should get the man's attention. Then when the man came out, he'd have the rifle on the woman. When the man protested he'd shoot the man then the woman. But Alexander was going to need more ammunition for his plan to work. He peered at the board on the bottom of his house then at the covered water barrel beside him. Alexander kicked the base board of his house. It fell to the ground, revealing another rifle, ready to use. He backed up against the house, lowered his body, and retrieved the extra rifle. Alexander carefully positioned it behind his back then flipped the lid on the rain barrel. Two Irish flintlock pistols with a bag of shots and a powder horn lie in the secret compartment. He heaved, clenched his teeth, pushed past the pain, and then aimed at the young boy. Alexander slowly began to pull back the trigger.
"Alex! Stop," Doctor Ephraim Garrick yelled, running from the barn beside him.
Calico is available at http://www.amazon.com/Calico-Children-Shawnee-ebook/dp/B007Z8V982 and has received 12 five star reviews. What reviewers are saying:
I truly enjoyed reading Calico. The professional way in which the book is written makes for an enjoyable read. Allison's way of staying true to the languages is great and makes for an authentic feel. I also enjoyed the adventure of the characters and the time of the world. She made me feel like i was back in the day. A very excellent book! Read It! You wont be disappointed. Lets get the second one already! (Jon Pew)
Calico has a strong cast of characters that Mrs. Bruning manages quite well. The story simmers along, gradually picking up speed and drawing you into the world just a little bit more with each event that takes place. Allison represents the Native Americans in a genuinely respectful, entertaining way that I found most humbling. As an author, I respect her ability to adhere to their ways and portray them so fearlessly. Her facts are stated with enough clarity and confidence that readers of any age can follow them. Calico is full of people dealing with real struggles, living real lives and loving in real ways. There is an element of romance that I found surprising and sweet. (PrincessJen)
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