Today's snippet is taken from

Florence's Good Deed

by Zina Abbott

Rejected Mail-Order Groom series

 

          He might be out of the military, butAsh had not lost all of his stalking skills. He angled his steps so he came upbehind and slightly to the side of the woman, who once again held out her handtoward the man dressed as a laborer. From the grin on his face and the way hisgaze roamed her body from head to her feet, Ash guessed the nature of what theman suggested he receive in exchange for giving her money.

          Shaking her head, the woman quicklydropped her hand and turned away.

          “Hey, don’t play coy with me, woman.”The stranger grabbed the brunette’s arm. “If you’re trying to hold out for morebefore we find a private spot, it won’t work with me.”

          “Let her go.” Using his mostauthoritative voice, Ash stepped next to the pair and glared at the man. “Ifshe said no, the answer is no. Now, leave her alone.”

          “This has nothing to do with you,soldier-boy. I saw her first. She’s with me.”

          Ash’s eyes narrowed as he glared atthe workman. Soldier-boy? You just made abig mistake. Although an inch or so shorter than Ash, the man’s broadshoulders testified he was not a stranger to physical labor. However, Ash wouldput money on the man not having developed the fighting skills Ash had duringhis years in the Fifth Infantry. “She is not with you, either. I’ve beenwatching her, and she’s alone.” He clamped his hand around the man’s wristholding the woman’s arm. Using his full strength, he pressed his thumb on theinside, just over veins and joint. “I’ve spent the last several years fighting theSioux and Northern Cheyenne, better warriors than you’ll ever be.” His otherhand grabbed the man’s shoulder close to his neck. He dug his fingers into thearea just behind the shoulder bone.

          “Ahhh!” The man’s knees buckled. Theman’s shoulder, trapped by Ash’s grip, dipped. He released his grasp on thewoman’s arm.

          As the brunette scurried a few stepsback, Ash slid between the two. Puffing out his chest, he widened his stance witharms akimbo, which placed his right hand next to the sheath at his waist thatheld his seven-inch knife. He hovered over the man. His voice came out as agrowl. “Now, I won’t say it again. Turn around and walk away. Do not botherthis woman again.” He held his position—the fingers of his right hand tappingthe bone knife handle—and kept his focus on the man.

          Scowling, the man glanced at theknife, and then he briefly met Ash’s gaze. He backed away several steps beforehe turned and loped to put distance between them.

          Ash watched him long enough until hefelt confident he would not return. The entire time he wondered if thewoman—the one he planned to speak to and perhaps spend a little time with—hadalso fled. Using his peripheral vision, he watched someone who, withouttouching him, walked around his side. The next thing he knew, the beautifulbrunette, still wearing the straw hat that, even up close, appeared moresuitable for a hen house nesting box or a contribution to the trash bin, stoodbefore him.

          “Thank you, sir, for stepping in. Iwas not sure how I would discourage him without creating a scene.”

          “I’m afraid I ended up creating thescene, but I got the desired results.” Ash smiled. Even her voice is pretty. “You are quite welcome, ma’am. Or, is itmiss?”

          “It’s…missus.” With both hands clutchinga carpetbag that had seen better days, the woman dropped her gaze.

          Ash cocked his head as he studied her.Why did she hesitate? “Allow me tointroduce myself. I’m Asher Henderson, former soldier in the United States Army.You are welcome to call me Ash.” He tipped his hat and then resettled it on hishead at a jaunty angle.

   Florence's Good Deed, Book 6 in the Rejected Mail-Order Brides series, is now for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.For the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 
Lucy, Book 46 in the Prairie Roses Collection, is now available for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.
For the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE


    Jocelyn's Wedding Dilemma, the second book in the series, The Matchmaker and the Mother-in-Law, is now available as an ebook,  is now for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.For the book description and purchase options,
please CLICK HERE




Only one more book remaining to be published in this popular  series.  The rest are now available:
Rejected Mail-Order Brides . To find the links to all the books, Please CLICK HERE    
This fun series started in February and will continue through September:
The Matchmaker and the Mother-in-Law
To find the links to all the books, Please CLICK HERE



  If you love wagon train romances, then you will want to read all of the books in the Prairie Roses Collection ,especially those for 2024, which are found on the second page of the Amazon series page.Please CLICK HERE  
 

Fresh Friday- Newly released books within the last three months. Multiple genres and heat levels.

Please CLICK HERE