If you’re not horsey, but those of you who ARE will completely understand this.
XX
Just when I thought it was safe to get in the car and drive.. and this comes up. 🙂
Riders, read it and weep… oh, it’s for their partners to weep.. DRIVE!
Even better in a combined drive carriage behind warmbloods!
🙂
Good evening, all!
L
Check this out…. (click on the “this” link…. :P)
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She saw the men exchange glances over her head.
‘Aleksandra, is that safe? You know about the unrest between the Pah-Utes and the settlers’ army, don’t you?’ Xavier brushed his hair back from his face with his hand, the light reflecting off the signet ring on his middle finger.
She scowled at the dark Californio. ‘My father is blood-brother to the ShoshoneChief,’ she tossed her head at him, ‘of course I’ll be welcome in their village.’
Xavier’s face shadowed and his lips tightened to a fine line. ‘It’s your funeral.’ He turned from her and moved to stand just outside the door, staring off into the distance.
‘Children, children,’ Scotty muttered under his breath and shook his head. ‘Aleks, I’m sorry to remind you of him, but who’s this “Vladdie”? We need to get word ’round so we kin bring ‘im to justice.’
She dragged her gaze back to Scotty from where she found it, perusing the handsome stranger’s broad shoulders and trim hips in snug leather leggings.
‘That’s the scary part, Scotty,’ she paused and looked back at Xavier. Despite her anger, she had to admit he was a fine figure of a man, with raven blue-black hair past the collar of his buckskin shirt and sparking brown eyes, nearly black when she fell into them as she awoke…
She shook her head and refocused, turning to Scotty.
‘Vladimir Chabardine. Cossack arms master, servant of the Tsar, armed and extremely dangerous. Papa’s nemesis.’ She looked down at the ground, pausing until her voice returned.
‘OKyy….’ Scotty ventured, eyebrows raised. ‘How will we know ‘im?’
‘Unfortunately, I don’t know what he looks like. He’s Russian or Ukrainian. Papa said he had blond hair, probably gray by now, and a strong accent. He’s ten years older than Papa. He’ll handle a horse and a shashka like a Cossack, but further than that, I know nothing,’ she said, dropping her eyes to the floor and looking away.
‘Sure that’s all y’know?’ Scotty raised his eyebrows at her.
Why do I get the feelin’ there’s somethin’ she ain’t tellin’ me?
‘Well, Rogan’s missing,’ the trader saw Aleksandra bite the side of her cheek, ‘so I imagine he’ll have taken him. He’s an unusual horse for these parts, wouldn’t you think?’ Aleksandra’s eyes seemed to hold a challenge and this time she didn’t look away.
Scotty tilted his head sideways and pursed his lips. ‘What else, girlie?’
Aleksandra squirmed and was silent for a moment before she burst into action and spun toward the door. ‘Well, gentlemen, thanks for the shut-eye, but it’ll be dark before I get home as it is, so I’d best get going,’ she said, then stopped short.
‘Oh no, the Furs! And Dzień!‘ she wailed and turned back to face the men.
‘Dinna fash, mo nighean. I kept the buyer here since yeste’day ’cause I knew ye were comin’. He’s paid fer yer pelts ‘n gone.’ Scotty rumpled her hair.
She smiled her thanks, color returning to her cheeks.
‘And that pony, he’s got a heart o’ gold. Ye dinna need to go, yon wee man’s in the stable, munching’ away with me old geldin’.’
Aleksandra’s chest heaved in a deep sigh. ‘What would I do without you, Scotty?’
‘It’s the least I kin do fer you and yer da,’ Scotty remarked, his voice becoming gruff as he spoke, and a tear glistened in his eye.
‘Papa wouldn’t have been pleased to see Dzień abused so, but there was nothing else for it. He never even slowed down.’ She looked at the floor.
‘Aye, but he’s a bonny one.’ Scotty smiled.
‘It would’ve meant the world to Papa, knowing we made it on time and our year’s work wasn’t for naught.’ Scotty was pleased to see a hint of the girl’s normal glow showing in her eyes, beneath the wet lashes.
‘Right ye are, missy.’ He raised his brows at her. ‘Now, d’ye want me to hold some o’ the money fer now so it canna be taken off ye by highwaymen?’
‘Thanks, Scotty, please keep it all here. I don’t need it yet.’
‘Are ye sure ye need t’leave tonight?’ Scotty was unconvinced. ‘It’s getting’ mighty late, we could make you a bed o’sorts.’
Aleksandra’s eyes narrowed at the dark man still standing in the doorway.
‘I’d rather risk the highwaymen and the wild animals for tonight, thanks. I’ve got my shashka and bow.’
There was a choking sound from the entrance, then Xavier mumbled something about checking the horses and disappeared outside. Scotty turned away and coughed to hide his chuckle from the pair.
Xavier was harnessing Dzień to the wagon when Aleksandra came outside.
‘I can do that,’ she snapped, rushing to the side of the pony, her blue eyes icy and cheeks flushed pink. Xavier smiled at her back as she hurried around to the pony’s other side to finish.
‘I’m sure you can, Querida, but I’m happy to help,’ he said, wrapping a breeching strap around the shaft and buckling it snugly.
‘Thanks,’ she gritted out, looking away as her hands slid down Dzień’s rump towards the crupper.
‘Any possibility you might tell me just why you went loco on me back there?’ Xavier watched her brows drop as she stared at a strap she’d just buckled too tightly. Her lips tightened further as she readjusted it.
‘I want nothing to do with people who insult my friends.’
‘Como, what?’ He shook his head and blinked at her.
‘My friends, the Shoshone, the only friends I have left alive, other than Scotty,‘ she said from between clenched teeth, and then slumped, sobbing, against Dzień.
Cautious of her all-too-effective looking sword, Xavier slowly approached her. He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him, watchful for any fast moves on her part, not caring if her tears soaked his shirt. How long they stayed like this, he neither knew nor cared. Once her sobs quieted, he slipped his fingers under her chin, lifting her face to stare into the watery depths of her blue eyes.
‘OK now, Querida?’
‘As OK as possible, I guess.’ She dropped her head again. ‘The Shoshone are like family to me, especially since Mama died,’ she murmured into his shirt.
‘Are you sure you won’t stay here? I’ll sleep in the stable, if it would make you happier.’
She closed her eyes and was still.
‘No, it’s OK. I’m sorry, Xavier. I’m upset, but that’s no excuse for my nastiness. Thank you for this.’ She nodded her head at his tearstained chest.
‘De nada. It is nothing.’ He smiled. ‘May I accompany you to your home, at least?’
‘No, really, I’m fine, thank you again. I’d better go farewell Scotty, it’s getting late.’
‘If you’re sure…’ Xavier shook his head and followed Aleksandra back inside.
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The Kiwi Care Team is carrying my books (via their website) and we’re making a donation to the team from every book sold.
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(I contacted PaperPlus head office yesterday… seemed a good idea… 🙂 )
Farmlands Horse of the Year Show is the largest equestrian event in the Southern Hemisphere hosted annually at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds in March, which has been held for 16 years.Equestrians from 17 Equestrian Disciplines compete for the title of Farmlands Horse of the Year within their Section. Both equestrian and non-equestrian people can come and experience the excitement of the Showjumping and Eventing competitions with the beauty of the Showing and Dressage classes, the delicacy of the Miniatures with the might of the gentle giants, the Clydesdales. There are over 200 trade sites to satisfy all of your retail therapy needs from saddlery and farm equipment to clothing and jewellery, and there are fri/sat night shows to entertain the crowd with tough competition and action and displays very rarely seen in such a setting.
Hello All!
I’ve been head-down, bum-up with distributing A Long Trail Rolling, its NZ Launch, and getting The Hills of Gold Unchanging back on track for its debut in May!
I’ve revamped the website and I think it’s better, but then I would, wouldn’t I?
Let me know how you find it, please.
Take good care, back to work!
Kindest regards,
Lizzi
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Escaping her father’s killer, Aleksandra rode the Pony Express—full speed into the middle of the Indian Paiute Wars.
She didn’t expect to become a target, but she is one now!
Seventeen year old Aleksandra, trained in the Cossack arts from infancy by her father, finds herself alone and running to prevent her Pa’s killer from obtaining a secret coveted by the Russian Czar, one which could alter the forces of power in Europe. Disguised as a Pony Express rider in 1860’s Utah Territory, she finds herself in even deeper trouble. Her Californio boss Xavier has a strength to match her own, but can they overcome their differences before the ever-increasing odds overtake them?
With this debut Western Historical Adventure, Lizzi Tremayne won the 2014 RWNZ Pacific Hearts Award and was a finalist in the 2013 Great Beginnings A saga of the Old West with a multicultural cast of those who make up America, it would interest readers who enjoy Westerns, horses, American Indians, immigrants, and the Pony Express. It has a capable heroine, strong historical detail, period veterinary treatment and frontier-pushing characters. It compares to the work of Phillipa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon and Jean Auel, with a little Laura Ingalls Wilder thrown in.
This novel is the first in The Long Trail quadrilogy of historical adventure sagas following her characters from the wilderness of 1860 Utah to Colonial New Zealand.
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Escaping her father’s killer, Aleksandra rode the Pony Express—full speed into the middle of the Indian Paiute Wars.
She didn’t expect to become a target, but she is one now!
Seventeen year old Aleksandra, trained in the Cossack arts from infancy by her father, finds herself alone and running to prevent her Pa’s killer from obtaining a secret coveted by the Russian Czar, one which could alter the forces of power in Europe. Disguised as a Pony Express rider in 1860’s Utah Territory, she finds herself in even deeper trouble. Her Californio boss Xavier has a strength to match her own, but can they overcome their differences before the ever-increasing odds overtake them?
With this debut Western Historical Adventure, Lizzi Tremayne won the 2014 RWNZ Pacific Hearts Award and was a finalist in the 2013 Great Beginnings A saga of the Old West with a multicultural cast of those who make up America, it would interest readers who enjoy Westerns, horses, American Indians, immigrants, and the Pony Express. It has a capable heroine, strong historical detail, period veterinary treatment and frontier-pushing characters. It compares to the work of Phillipa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon and Jean Auel, with a little Laura Ingalls Wilder thrown in.
This novel is the first in The Long Trail quadrilogy of historical adventure sagas following her characters from the wilderness of 1860 Utah to Colonial New Zealand.
ited I am that NaNoWriMo (nanowrimo.org) starts this Saturday, 1 November.NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, which happens every November.
I’ve started a Facebook page for those who wish to be in a NaNo group and support each other. Support… that means kick in the bum when it’s needed, mostly… It’s a secret group, and by invitation. If you wish to join and don’t know me personally, send me a message via this webpage, with your username from NaNo and an email or your FB page link and I’ll join you up!
The more the merrier!
From their page, …..
Your Average Per Day 1,686
Target Word Count 50,000
Target Average Words Per Day 1,667
Total Words Written 50,592 WINNER!
