Solitary Horseman
by Deborah
Camp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Romance (Western)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The Civil War is over, but the battles
continue.
Callum Latimer returned from the war to a life he didn’t want and with inner battle scars he can’t heal.
Banner Payne clutched desperately to the remaining shreds of the life she’d known, but she is losing her grip.
Brought together by bad luck and cruel twists of fate, Callum and Banner forge a partnership they hope will keep them afloat even as neighboring Texas ranchers go under and their land is snapped up by opportunists.
Fate smiles on them and Callum and Banner find the missing pieces of themselves in each other.
Healing begins as their hearts are awakened. Now they must remain strong in their determination to forge a more peaceful existence and not be poisoned by the bitterness of a country still divided.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
As long as he could remember, the Paynes were the
family everyone in these parts shunned. His pa made noise about Otis Payne
stealing cattle from him, but the bad blood between him and Otis went farther
back than that – years before Callum was born. The Paynes had a good piece of
land and had usually turned out a healthy herd of cattle, but they were a
slovenly lot. The children had always looked unkempt. That probably had to do
with them not having a mother to look after them. Alva had died when Banner was
just a babe.
The war had taken two of her brothers, leaving only
Hollis. Otis had died six months before the war ended. Callum had heard that
Banner was running the Payne ranch, but he didn’t believe it. He figured Hollis
was trying to be the boss and his cowhands were taking advantage of him.
Stealing him blind, probably. That’s what he’d heard from Eller and from folks
in town.
Leaning a shoulder against the porch post, Callum
watched the horse and wagon make its way toward the house. Behind him, the
hound growled. “No, Rowdy,” he commanded and the growl faded to whine.
The sun burned his eyes, making it difficult to
discern any details of the Payne’s girl’s face. She reined the sway-backed
horse in the shade of the house and Callum could finally see her bonnet and
pretty dress. After she wrapped the reins around the brake, she turned toward
him and a smile curved her pink lips as her gaze met his boldly, confidently.
Callum shifted his weight from one boot to the
other as a bolt of awareness shot through him. Damn, she’d grown into a beauty,
he thought, taking in her reddish brown hair and heart-shaped face. And those
eyes – dark gold. The eyes of a tiger.
“’Afternoon to you, Misters Latimer.” Her voice had
a husky quality, as pleasing as aged whiskey. “I bet you’re surprised to see
me.”
“I don’t like surprises,” Seth said.
She swallowed and her smile faltered for a moment.
Directing her full attention to Callum, she took in a breath that lifted her
breasts and the white ruffles covering them. “Your herd looks profitable. Good,
sound stock.”
“That’s what we’re aiming for,” Callum said,
wondering what was going on under that blue bonnet. She was up to something –
but what? “How’s the Payne herd?”
Her smile vanished and she shrugged. “Not what it
should be. I’m missing some. It’s been a bad year for calves, but a good year
for coyotes, wolves, and rustlers.”
“Your pappy stole cattle from me,” Seth said,
repeating an oft-spouted accusation.
Banner’s gaze whipped to the older man’s frowning
visage and Callum could almost feel her fighting back scalding words.
“Sir, my father is dead and can no longer defend
himself.” She squared her shoulders. “And I’m not here to fight old battles. I
have new ones to address. I’ll come right the point as I know you have work to
attend to – as have I. Northerners are sniffing around our place and several
have offered to buy me out.”
“Damn Yankees,” Seth groused and Rowdy growled as
if in agreement.
Banner gave a sniff of contempt. “Of course, they
want to pay half of what it’s worth.” She looked off into the distance and it
seemed that a shadow passed over her face. “Looks like I’m going to have to
sell. I don’t want the Yankees to prosper from what my family bled and died
for, so I’m here to offer it to you.” Her gaze swept to Callum again. “I’ll
sell it to you. All I ask is that you let Hollis stay on.”
What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you?
Years ago I had to have a breast biopsy (it turned
out fine, just a precaution), but it was the first time I’d ever had any kind
of surgery, so I was tense. My guy was in New York on business (he lives on the
East Coast) and he doesn’t do well around people who are sick, grieving, etc.
It’s a long story… Anyway! I figured my parents would be there for me and baby
me the whole weekend after the Friday morning procedure. On Thursday night my
parents said they’d take me for the biopsy and then drop me off at my house
when it was all over because a cousin was arriving for a weekend visit with
them. I tried not to whine too much about it. However, when my guy called Friday
night to see how things were going, I lost it and cried like a spoiled child
about being left to my own defenses after having surgery. Although he had prior
commitments, he hopped on the next plane and rushed to be by my side and pamper
me the rest of the weekend. I’ll never forget that because I never expected him
to do it. It was so totally out of character for him, but it made me realize
that he really, really loves me.
How would you spend ten thousand bucks?
It’s dull, but I’d invest it in my retirement. As
a fulltime writer, I have to look out for myself. Ten thousand isn’t much today
and would be gone in no time should I become ill or whatever. Now, if we’re
talking a million. I’d put some away for retirement and I’d donate some to
charities that help homeless animals and the elderly (organizations that fix up
their homes, bring meals to them, provide air-conditioners and heaters, etc.).
Where do you get your best ideas?
From the news, mostly. Sometimes from other books.
Or from conversations I have or overhear. Writers, you know, are sponges – and
eavesdroppers!
What comes first, the plot or characters?
The plot – or a seed of a plot – usually comes
first and then I think about what type of characters would fit best in the plot
or the world I’m creating. Then I hammer down a main conflict and decide the
conflict would affect and change the main characters. Eery novel is about how
people change – either for the good or the bad. And every novel begins with
“why this day is unlike any other.” Something big and unusual must happen to
your main character(s) within the first pages or chapter to launch a good
story.
What does your main character do that makes him/her special?
Callum Latimer never saw himself as heroic or as a
leader, but that’s what he became during the Civil War. He was raised a middle
child and he liked it. After the war, he’s the only surviving son and has the
responsibility of keeping his family ranch going. He’s special to me because he
has shouldered his duties, even though they have brought him no happiness. He’s
a noble man. Banner Payne is special because she has a good, kind heart even
though the folks around her looked at her and her family as scum. Despite this,
she has held her head up high and gone about her business with dignity, giving
people second chances when they certainly never earned them from her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Author
of more than 45 novels, Deborah lives in Oklahoma. She has been a full-time
writer since she graduated from the University of Tulsa. She worked for a few
years as a reporter for newspapers before becoming a freelance writer.
Deborah's first novel was published in the late 1970s and her books have been
published by Jove, New American Library, Harlequin, Silhouette, and Avon. She
has been inducted into the Oklahoma Authors Hall of Fame and she is a charter
member of the Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of the Author's
Guild.
Lover
of the west and the people who tried to tame it, Deborah likes to write about
strong, independent women and the men who are their equals. She grew up on a
diet of TV westerns which have served her well. Since she appreciates men with
devilish twinkles in their eyes, she likes to mix laughter in with the love
scenes in her books. Also widely published in non-fiction, she writes and edits
for a magazine focused on small businesses. Deborah taught fiction writing for
more than 10 years at a community college. She is currently working on her next
historical romance set in the wild, wonderful west.
Her
books have been re-issued on Amazon for Kindle Direct and have attracted tens
of thousands of new fans. For a list of them, visit her website.
Facebook
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Twitter
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Solitary-Horseman-Deborah-Camp-ebook/dp/B01HFCC2UQ
One randomly chosen winner
via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. use the link below to enter.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteOh I completely agree about putting away for retirement! The cost of living gets higher and higher, so everybody needs to think about the future. Great guest post! Thanks for sharing this with all of us!!! <3
ReplyDeletecongrats on the blog tour and thanks for the chance
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds good. Enjoyed the interview and excerpt. That was so sweet of your guy to come take care of you. He sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteHello, everyone! First all, thanks for this opportunity to feature my book and meet a few readers. Most of you are following along with my tour, which ends tomorrow. :-( It's been fun though. I hope you keep in touch on my Facebook page(s) and website. I'm glad you enjoyed the interview and excerpt. Yes Marcy, it was sweet of him. He's a keeper, although at times, I'd like to wring his neck. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the drawing!
Really great post, I enjoyed reading it - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDelete