Her dream is him.
God's plan is bigger than them both.
Vadom’s
Journey
The Heart’s
Journey Series Book 2
By Sara J. Walker
Genre: Sweet Historical Romance
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The Grumpy
Guardian’s Redemption
The Heart’s
Journey Book 1
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Excerpts for blog:
Vadom’s Journey
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Lightning,” Shorty said, shifting so Vadom could see inside the stall. “This is her first foal, and it don’t look good. Walker isn’t happy.”
Donnel raised his voice. “Do you want me to ride for the veterinarian? I hear tell they have one in Sommerville.”
Walker shook his head. “That’s twenty-five miles away. This will be over before you get back. One way or another.”
The mare groaned in agony and tried to wallow in the straw, but Petey lay across her neck, holding her on her side. Walker had discarded his jacket and had his shirt sleeves rolled up.
Lightning moaned and thrashed.
Vadom’s heart clenched in sympathy for the mare. “Mr. Walker,” he said softly.
“Don’t bother me unless you can help,” Walker snapped.
“I can.”
Five sets of eyes turned to stare at him.
Walker pointed at Vadom. “Tell me what you can do.”
Vadom swallowed hard. He didn’t want to expose his talent, because he couldt explain what he could do with horses. He could be labeled a heathen. “My father was a horse master on the estn’ate we served in London. He taught me a great deal, and I helped with many foalings.”
“We should get the boy’s father,” Petey said from where he crouched over the mare.
“No time.” Walker motioned for Vadom to enter the stall. “Her name is Lightning. I would choose her over the foal if it comes to that.”
“Shorty said it’s her first?” Vadom asked as he assessed the situation.
“Yes. By Duke, my Palomino stallion.”
“I haven’t met Duke,” Vadom said, not realizing that sounded odd.
The mare groaned, and he felt her pain to his bones. “You poor girl,” he murmured, pressing his hands to her cheeks as he attempted to quell her panic and help her find calm. The pain was another issue.
“What do you need?” Mr. Walker asked.
Vadom never took his eyes away from the mare’s wide gaze. “Does your wife have any willow bark? It would be good to dull the pain.”
“She does. I’ll get it.” Walker rushed from the barn to retrieve the painkiller.
“Shorty, will you do something for me?” Vadom asked.
“Sure thing.”
“Boil some water for the willow bark and steep a small amount. Put a generous amount of sugar in the water and bring it to me. She’ll take it better if sweetened, and she could use the energy,” Vadom instructed. “Petey, I need you to move to the other side and lean forward on her neck so I can reach her belly.”
“Why do you need to do that?” Donnel asked.
Vadom finally felt he had a connection with the mare and could look away from her eyes. He glanced at Donnel. “I will palpitate her side to see how the foal is positioned. I’ll show you.” Lightning was still in terrible pain but breathing easier. The willow bark would help if he could get her to take some of it.
Petey shifted above her, keeping pressure on her neck so she wouldn’t stand, and Vadom ran his hands over her belly, maintaining a steady stream of low whispers all the while, making sure she could hear him.
“She wants to stand,” Petey said, “but the pains were so bad her knees gave out the last time. She don’t need to be fallin’.”
Vadom nodded as he pressed on her belly with gentle fingers. The life inside was … two. “Twins,” he said aloud.
“Now, how would you know that?” Jacob asked, his voice thick with skepticism.
Vadom thought fast. “Hooves,” he quickly offered. He couldn’t tell them he knew any other way. “I feel more than four hooves.”
The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption
Excerpt # 1
Liam walked home from the general store with only a few pieces of peppermint in his pocket. He hoped to sweeten Millie up a little with the candy.
When he got back to the house, he decided to draw up some of his plans to show Sheriff Smith. At the table, he spent the next few hours outlining everything he had in mind: the school building, housing for a teacher, school supplies, how to approach the people so as not to offend them, along with separate lists for each heading. By the time he finished his notes, he had a terrible headache.
“Millie,” he called.
“Yes?” She stuck her head out from the kitchen.
“Do you know what I should take to get rid of a headache?”
“You shouldn’t be working so hard with that pen. You aren’t accustomed to labor, so you must be exhausted,” she said, her scolding ruined by a teasing grin. “Let me get you some tea and a wedge of sweet cake. That will be just the thing.”
He chuckled, thinking he’d planned to sweeten her with peppermint, and she seemed to have the same idea. “Are you bribing me with sweets?”
She smirked and disappeared into the kitchen.
He checked the time on his pocket watch. Scooter should be returning soon.
Millie reappeared with a tray and deposited it on the table at his elbow. “There you go.”
He looked from her to the tray. “Tell me the truth. Will this help my headache?”
“Eat the cake, drink your tea, and get some rest in your chair. Take a little nap, so I can have some peace in the house.” Her tone was chiding, but she gently brushed some lint off his shoulder as she spoke. He enjoyed the contradiction. She fascinated him.
EXCERPT #2
Liam held up his hands. “That’s all. You can cook and care for the sick, and I don’t have to worry about conversing with you. I was afraid you would be looking for a husband, and I wanted to ensure you understood that I’m unavailable.”
She visibly shuddered and made a scoffing sound. “I’m glad yer pleased, but believe me, if I was lookin’ for a husband, you’d be my last choice.”
His pride made him ask, “Why do you say that?”
“’Cause yer a hermit and don’t like people. I almost didn’t come when Sheriff Smith asked, but you don’t seem so bad.” She gave him a side-eye and stood. “I like your kitchen.” She picked up their empty bowls and left him sitting there.
Her matter-of-fact attitude was refreshing. He found himself grinning when he called after her, “Leaving the table before everyone is finished is impolite. You’re breaking an etiquette rule.” He held his breath, waiting to see how she would respond.
She stuck her head back in the room and simply glared at him.
He had to hide a smile behind his hand while he watched the muscles in her jaw work. This was very out of character for him, deliberating aggravating a lady, but he found he enjoyed riling Millie. “What?”
Her teeth clicked as she stepped fully into the room, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s etiquette? If you continue to use your highfalutin words, I’m going to believe you’re an ignoramus spy trying to steal our freedom. We don’t have much up here on the mountain, but it means a lot to us.”
He coughed and wiped his mouth with the napkin to keep from laughing out loud. She was adorable. “Millie, etiquette is how you behave around other people. Now, where did you learn about an ignoramus spy?” This was the most fun he’d had talking to someone in years. Maybe he’d write Dr. McMahan a thank you note for sending Millie Norton to him.
Longtime puppeteer and dramatic story teller, Sara loves both the spoken and the written word. She has two grown children and resides with their husband of 57 years in a small Georgia town.
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