Christine Young
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 1
REVIEW:
This story is straight from the heart. Told in a
passive voice and as a first person account through Elice and Micha's eyes.
Their thoughts tug your heartstings. Their memory of their past life, the war
and of course the present. They never fell out of love but exhuming those
feelings hurt. They also had to face the consequences of their actions when an
unexpected visitor arrived in their plantation home. Elice and Micha found out
that in war, there is something worst than death and it is cowardice.
BLURB:
A man and a woman on opposite sides of the Civil War
get a second chance at love after one final battle returns soldiers to their
war-torn homes to rebuild their lives.
EXCERPT:
"Get in the house, now!"
"Mama?"
Elice Weld shielded her eyes and
watched the ground fog rising in the distance. She didn't know what was coming
her way, but she could guess. The rumors that a Union cavalry unit was in the
vicinity had spread like a wildfire on a Kansas prairie.
Rain had fallen all morning. Now the
clouds had separated, and the sun heated the earth, causing the evaporation of
the water-soaked ground. The cavalry rode through the mist like dark, avenging
wraiths bent on the destruction of all mankind. She could see seven men
silhouetted on the horizon.
"Izzy, go." Elice didn't
want to frighten her daughter but the urgency of the moment could not be
denied.
"But mama?"
"Go to the cellar. Now."
"It's dark."
Izzy's voice echoed in Elice's head,
filling her with a wild panic she didn't know how to stop. Every time soldiers
approached she was terrified. The last four years had been the longest years of
her life. "Do as I say, quickly." Elice hugged her daughter, turning
her at the same moment and with a gentle shove sent her through the open door
of her house.
"Izzy."
Elice knew the panic in her voice
would mobilize her young daughter. She despised the fear and the terror. She
loathed the war. She looked up. The fog was dissipating, and she could see the
dark blue of the Union coats. She didn't have anything left for the soldiers to
take. Good God, they'd taken everything already--everything save her daughter
and her hope for the future.
She inhaled a quick breath then
stood on the steps, hands folded together in front of her, watching the dark
wraiths inch closer. She knew from experience she couldn't fight these men. She
would do as they said and when they left, she would put the pieces of her life
back together.
Until the next time…
"Mama," Elice jumped when
her daughter tugged on her skirt before looking at her with sorrow-filled eyes.
"Are the soldiers going to take my doll?"
"No," Elice ruffled her
little girl's hair. "Go back inside. Go to the cellar and don't come out
until I tell you it's safe."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine." But Elice
knew she might be lying to her child. She wasn't always fine when the soldiers
invaded their home. "Now go and don't make me say it again. Stay there
until I come for you."
Izzy nodded before she turned and
walked through the parlor to the stairs leading to the cellar.
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