Today I am pleased to share book information from an author I discovered two months ago. I began reading the American Mail-Order Bride Series in November 2015 and loved each book. One of my favorites was Cora: Bride of South Dakota by Susan Horsnell. Since then I have read more of Susan's books and found each enjoyable. I'm happy to introduce you today to Susan's book The Stuck-Up Governess. I'm sure you will also find it an enjoyable read.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Charlotte Campbell
is a beautiful 22 year old who has spent her life, since the age of 6, in
boarding school in Boston. She has been raised as a lady and taught to keep her
nose in the air and her manners impeccable. Neither her mother nor her father
wanted her at home and her father didn’t want her at all!
When her mother passes she returns to the family home in Tulsa in the hopes she can stay and care for her father. Her father has other ideas and Charlotte is forced to leave.
When she answers an advertisement as a Governess on a ranch outside Fort Stockton her life becomes all that she’s dreamed until an unwelcome visitor snatches her from the man that she loves.
The race is on for Charlotte to be found before she perishes in a dark cave outside Lambert! Will Harrison find the stuck up governess he has fallen in love with?
When her mother passes she returns to the family home in Tulsa in the hopes she can stay and care for her father. Her father has other ideas and Charlotte is forced to leave.
When she answers an advertisement as a Governess on a ranch outside Fort Stockton her life becomes all that she’s dreamed until an unwelcome visitor snatches her from the man that she loves.
The race is on for Charlotte to be found before she perishes in a dark cave outside Lambert! Will Harrison find the stuck up governess he has fallen in love with?
Excerpt:
“Do ya know where ya luggage is?” Harrison
asked Charlotte.
“I have five large trunks that the guard
said would be placed in the luggage room to await collection” Charlotte
explained.
“Five! Lucky I brought the buckboard then
ma’am. Let’s go see if we can find ‘em”
Harrison took Charlotte’s arm by the elbow
to lead her to where her trunks should be but Charlotte shook his hand free. “I
am quite capable of walking without your help thank you” she told Harrison
primly.
Harrison; usually a gentle, easy going man;
became annoyed at her attitude. “As ya wish ma’am” he said and strode on ahead.
Charlotte had to almost run to keep up and she arrived at the luggage room out
of breath.
She noticed her trunks stacked against the
wall. “Those are mine” she pointed out as she attempted to catch her breath.
Harrison nodded and, leaving her standing
in the middle of the room, he walked over to talk with the porter. “Could ya
please ask ya men if they could help me get them five trunks onto me buckboard
out front?”
“Certainly sir” the porter replied and
called over three of his men.
The trunks were loaded and Harrison gave
the porter and his men a few coins for their help before he went in search of
Charlotte. He found her sitting on a chair in the far corner of the room and
walked over to her.
“Ma’am; if’n ya ready ya luggage is loaded
and the buckboard’s out front”
Charlotte nodded and stood up. She noticed
Harrison begin to reach out his arm to escort her out to the front but he
quickly thought better of it, lowered his arm, and walked out of the building.
Charlotte was beginning to regret being so rude.
Charlotte followed Harrison as fast as she
could and by the time she got out front she saw him sitting on the seat of the
buckboard with the reins in his hands. She walked over and, lifting her skirts,
she attempted to climb in. She lifted one leg and bounced on the other but she
just couldn’t seem to get her skirts out of the way to get up onto the seat.
Before she knew what was happening she lost her balance, and with a loud thud,
she landed on her backside in the dust.
Harrison watched with amusement as
Charlotte attempted to climb into the buckboard but he knew any offer to help
her would probably be rejected so he stayed where he was. When she landed on
her backside in the dust; it took all of his control not to burst into
laughter. He watched as she sat with a stunned look on her face and then burst
into tears.
“Would ya like some help Miss Campbell?”
he asked gently.
“Yes please” she sobbed as she sat in the
dust. Harrison quickly jumped down from his seat and went to her side. He
lifted her up from the ground like she weighed no more than a feather and held
her to him as she sobbed.
“I’m sorry Mr Tate. I’m tired, I’m dirty,
I’m hungry and I’m scared” Charlotte confessed through her tears.
Harrison pushed her back and looked down
into her face. “Let’s get ya to the ranch and ya can have a bath, somethin’ to
eat and a sleep” He placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up to
look at him. “Ya have nothin’ to be scared of here I promise ya” He took a
handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping away her tears. “Ya ready to go?”
Charlotte nodded and he lifted her up onto
the seat of the waiting buckboard. He climbed in beside her, lifted the reins
and set off towards the ranch; Charlotte’s new home.
I grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney in the 50's and 60's and have always been a fan of Cowboys, Indians and Outlaws.
During my years as a nurse I would write down ideas and when I retired five years ago I finally published my first book - The Glenmore's: Revenge. This developed into a four part series.
Since then I have published a further eleven Western Romance books and one contemporary. My westerns are set in Texas, USA during the 19th century and my contemporary in Sydney, Australia.
When I am not writing I enjoy walking our dogs with my husband and travelling.
Great post. I have read this book and it is a great story. In fact, I have read all of Susan Horsnell's books and have never been disappointed.
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