“You called me pitiful.”

To read “No Regrets” from the beginning, please click HERE.

Quick Recap: A drunken, disgusting young man — Willie Morse — was caught stealing at the mercantile. A pretty  young woman — Hattie Mae — expressed her opinions of him. As she spoke to the store owners and shared a few thoughts about her decision to pursue a career in nursing, a crowd rushed forward. Hattie guessed at once that an accident had happened…and she figured Willie Morse was probably involved.  Indeed, she stepped outside to a gruesome scene. Willie was lying in the road, bleeding profusely from a gash to his leg. She determined that he was still alive, and then rushed to the hospital. A procession of men carrying Willie followed close behind. 

To Hattie’s dismay, the doctor’s wife — who usually assists him — was away. There wasn’t time to summon her. Although not trained, Hattie would have to step up and help Dr. Kellerman during the surgery to save Willie’s leg. Carefully following the doctor’s orders, Hattie administered ether. As the surgery continued, she founds herself gaining courage and strength.

Willie awakened following the surgery and realized he was still alive. He lamented his pathetic life.  As he lay crying, he realized a young woman — with a familiar voice — was in the room with him.

In today’s “snippet”, the young nurse tends to him. Enjoy!

When Willie opened his eyes, he turned to gaze at the girl’s face. Now that she stood close, and with the golden light illuminating the room, he could see her clearly. He remembered when and where he’d seen her.

“You were at the mercantile.”

“Hush, no need to talk. It’s important you save your breath.”

“You called me pitiful.”

A sigh rushed from her delicate pink lips. “Indeed. In fact, I called you plumb pitiful. I was wrong to speak so uncharitably toward you. You have my apology.”

Her hand still rested on his brow. When she drew back and stepped away from the bed, Willie regretted the loss of her touch.

“You don’t have to be sorry for what you said. You’re right. I’m plumb pitiful.”

“No Regrets” is the fourth book of “The Sunset Series”. It is scheduled for release from Secret Cravings Publishing in July, 2015.

You can find all books in the series at Amazon and other online book-sellers. Each book is a “stand-alone” story — no cliff-hangers, no unfinished endings. Follow the lives and loves of the men and women of Sunset, Colorado.

Book 1 Not the Marrying Kind

Book 2 Keeping Faith

Book 3 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Click HERE for more “Sneak Peeks” from your favorite romance authors!

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A rustle of skirts and petticoats swished across the floor.

To read “No Regrets” from the beginning, please click HERE.

Quick Recap: A drunken, disgusting young man — Willie Morse — was caught stealing at the mercantile. A pretty  young woman — Hattie Mae — expressed her opinions of him. As she spoke to the store owners and shared a few thoughts about her decision to pursue a career in nursing, a crowd rushed forward. Hattie guessed at once that an accident had happened…and she figured Willie Morse was probably involved.  Indeed, she stepped outside to a gruesome scene. Willie was lying in the road, bleeding profusely from a gash to his leg. She determined that he was still alive, and then rushed to the hospital. A procession of men carrying Willie followed close behind. 

To Hattie’s dismay, the doctor’s wife — who usually assists him — was away. There wasn’t time to summon her. Although not trained, Hattie would have to step up and help Dr. Kellerman during the surgery to save Willie’s leg. Carefully following the doctor’s orders, Hattie administered ether. As the surgery continued, she founds herself gaining courage and strength.

Willie awakened following the surgery and realized he was still alive. He lamented his pathetic life.  As he lay crying, he realized a young woman — with a familiar voice — was in the room with him.

In today’s “snippet”, the young nurse tends to him. Enjoy!

A rustle of skirts and petticoats swished across the floor, accompanied by soft, delicate footfalls. Hattie Mae Richards moved through the room like an ethereal spirit. In some mysterious way, her presence seemed to wrap itself about him, comforting him, giving him a feeling of true peacefulness. He’d never known the feeling before.

When the young woman opened the door, a gleam of lamplight from the corridor cut through the darkness. The knife of reality sliced into his brain. Fear pounded through his body.

“No, don’t go.” Willie’s words shot out, taking with them the last of his strength. He sank down deeper into the bed, closed his eyes again, and wondered whether he would live or die.

Which would be worse? He couldn’t be sure. Death would be easier, but he suspected God might keep him alive just to punish him for all his sins.

The dark-haired nurse returned to Willie’s bedside. She placed a hand on his brow.

“Dear me, I’m not handling my duties very well, am I? I should have checked earlier for signs of ague.” Her voice, though still pleasant to hear, sounded apprehensive. As before, it also sounded oddly familiar.

“No Regrets” is the fourth book of “The Sunset Series”. It is scheduled for release from Secret Cravings Publishing in July, 2015.

You can find all books in the series at Amazon and other online book-sellers. Each book is a “stand-alone” story — no cliff-hangers, no unfinished endings. Follow the lives and loves of the men and women of Sunset, Colorado.

Book 1 Not the Marrying Kind

Book 2 Keeping Faith

Book 3 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Click HERE for more “Sneak Peeks” from your favorite romance authors!

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No Regrets – A Familiar Voice

To read “No Regrets” from the beginning, please click HERE.

Quick Recap: A drunken, disgusting young man — Willie Morse — was caught stealing at the mercantile. A pretty  young woman — Hattie Mae — expressed her opinions of him. As she spoke to the store owners and shared a few thoughts about her decision to pursue a career in nursing, a crowd rushed forward. Hattie guessed at once that an accident had happened…and she figured Willie Morse was probably involved.  Indeed, she stepped outside to a gruesome scene. Willie was lying in the road, bleeding profusely from a gash to his leg. She determined that he was still alive, and then rushed to the hospital. A procession of men carrying Willie followed close behind. 

To Hattie’s dismay, the doctor’s wife — who usually assists him — was away. There wasn’t time to summon her. Although not trained, Hattie would have to step up and help Dr. Kellerman during the surgery to save Willie’s leg. Carefully following the doctor’s orders, Hattie administered ether. As the surgery continued, she founds herself gaining courage and strength.

Willie awakened following the surgery and realized he was still alive. He lamented his pathetic life. 

In today’s “snippet”, he realizes someone else is in the room and has most likely heard him crying.

 

 

When he heard shuffling, scraping noises near the bed and realized he was not alone, Willie tried to muffle his sobs. Only women – and the weakest of men – shed tears. Although it required great effort, he managed to lift one arm and drag it across his face in an attempt to wipe the wetness from his eyes.

“Mr. Morse? Are you awake now?”

The voice seemed to come from far, far away, yet Willie could sense the young woman’s presence at his bedside. She couldn’t have been more than a foot from him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, curious about the voice. It was gentle. It was quiet. It was oddly familiar.

In the darkness, he could see nothing more than a vague, but shapely outline.

“Do I know you?” he asked, letting his eyes close once more. “I’ve heard your voice before.”

“I’m Hattie Mae Richards. I’ll be caring for you while you’re here.” A sudden intake of breath followed her words. “You do know where you are, don’t you, Mr. Morse? You’re in the hospital. You were involved in an accident. Do you remember?”

 

“No Regrets” is the fourth book of “The Sunset Series”. It is scheduled for release from Secret Cravings Publishing in July, 2015.

You can find all books in the series at Amazon and other online book-sellers. Each book is a “stand-alone” story — no cliff-hangers, no unfinished endings. Follow the lives and loves of the men and women of Sunset, Colorado.

Book 1 Not the Marrying Kind

Book 2 Keeping Faith

Book 3 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Click HERE for more “Sneak Peeks” from your favorite romance authors!

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No Regrets – Very Much Alive

To read “No Regrets” from the beginning, please click HERE.

Quick Recap: A drunken, disgusting young man — Willie Morse — was caught stealing at the mercantile. A pretty  young woman — Hattie Mae — expressed her opinions of him. As she spoke to the store owners and shared a few thoughts about her decision to pursue a career in nursing, a crowd rushed forward. Hattie guessed at once that an accident had happened…and she figured Willie Morse was probably involved.  Indeed, she stepped outside to a gruesome scene. Willie was lying in the road, bleeding profusely from a gash to his leg. She determined that he was still alive, and then rushed to the hospital. A procession of men carrying Willie followed close behind. 

To Hattie’s dismay, the doctor’s wife — who usually assists him — was away. There wasn’t time to summon her. Although not trained, Hattie would have to step up and help Dr. Kellerman during the surgery to save Willie’s leg. Carefully following the doctor’s orders, Hattie administered ether. As the surgery continued, she founds herself gaining courage and strength.

In today’s “snippet”, Willie awakens following the surgery. 

Damn it, he was alive. He knew because he hurt. All over. Everywhere.

For a long time, Willie lay still, his eyes closed, terrified at what he might discover if he attempted to move. While he seemed to be all in one piece, he couldn’t be sure of it. He’d heard stories of men who’d lost limbs in the war yet who still felt their missing arm or leg. Phantom limbs, they were called. For all he knew, he might be a cripple now, a man with no future ahead of him, confined to live out his days in pain, suffering, and pity.

He stiffened. Wasn’t that the life he already lived?

His eyes remained closed, shutting out the light of the day, and shutting out all the awful truths he wasn’t willing to see. It was only when darkness descended upon him that he stirred in the bed. He moved his fingers first, and then his wrists, his forearms, his upper arms.

As full consciousness returned, pain shrieked through his body, no longer a dull, throbbing ache, but an agonizing fire that burned so hot he wondered if maybe he had died and gone straight to hell after all.

His eyes stung, and a groan crept from his throat. He fought to remain strong. Despite his efforts, one tear slid down his swollen cheek. Another followed.

Yes, he was very much alive. His body hurt and his soul ached. Lying in the darkness, he cried for all the things he should have been, for all the things he should have done, and for all the faults he could never overcome.

 

“No Regrets” is the fourth book of “The Sunset Series”. It is scheduled for release from Secret Cravings Publishing in July, 2015.

You can find all books in the series at Amazon and other online book-sellers. Each book is a “stand-alone” story — no cliff-hangers, no unfinished endings. Follow the lives and loves of the men and women of Sunset, Colorado.

Book 1 Not the Marrying Kind

Book 2 Keeping Faith

Book 3 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Click HERE for more “Sneak Peeks” from your favorite romance authors!

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