E.E. Burke's Best of the West: Award-winning Author MK McClintock

Four courageous women, an untamed land, and the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Crooked Creek, Montana Territory—1865

"Emma of Crooked Creek"
Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, quite literally falls at Emma's feet, she is duty-bound to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected.

"Hattie of Crooked Creek"
Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger,she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again?

"Briley of Crooked Creek"
Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land.

"Clara of Crooked Creek"
No longer willing to allow society's opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost.

The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy The Women of Crooked Creek. MK McClintock delivers another extraordinary western series with more to come.

Special Deal

The Women of Crooked Creek e-book is only $0.99 from January 9 – January 14 at Amazon and Amazon UK.

Kindle | Paperback  Also available at: Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

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Excerpt from “Emma of Crooked Creek”

EMMA JERKED AWAKE at the sound of riders coming toward the cabin. One look told her that the morning sun had barely kissed the mountain peaks. Her guest still slept. Emma slipped a coat over her nightgown and pulled back the curtain covering the window. Two riders and that was one too many. She could shoot what she aimed at but wouldn’t manage more than one before they got her.

“Anybody home?”

The shout came from the taller of the two men. Emma glanced down at Mr. Latimer. “Now would be a good time to wake up.” She returned her attention to the men outside, hoping they would simply go away, but the taller one dismounted. Colt in hand and ready, Emma unbarred the door and opened it enough to look out but not enough for the men to see inside.

“What do you want?”

The man’s eyes trailed her from bare feet to loose hair, and Emma shuddered.

“Blacksmith in town said the doc lived out here.”

She nodded once. “Is someone hurt?”

“No, ma’am. We’re looking for a fellow who might have ridden by here. He’ll be looking for a doctor.”

“Who is the man?”

“That’s not your concern, ma’am. Has anyone come by?”

Emma bristled. “I may have helped someone last night. Knife wound.”

“Did you fix him up?”

“I’m a doctor. I don’t choose who I help.”

“Did he say where he was going?”

Emma smiled. “He didn’t say much of anything.”

The man tipped his hat and stepped forward. Emma raised the Colt. “Keep back. I’m not inviting you inside.”

He laughed. “You won’t have much choice.” The stranger turned and called out to his friend. “Tie up the horses, Jeb.”

“The lady said you weren’t invited.”

Emma stilled as the door opened wider. Her hand dropped to her side, but she managed to keep the Colt steady and pointed toward the stranger.

“Latimer.” The man returned his gaze to her. The noise he made sounded to Emma like the growl of a trapped raccoon. 

“Stay inside.”

Latimer, much like the grizzly bear she witnessed from afar facing down a pack of wolves last winter, faced the two men. Emma ignored his order and pushed past until she stood in front of him. Latimer leaned heavily against the exterior wall while blood seeped through his shirt. Emma held the Colt dead center at the man’s chest. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but you’ll leave now or die where you stand.”

Meet MK

MK McClintock is an award-winning author who has written several novels and short stories, including the popular "Montana Gallagher" series, the "Crooked Creek" series set in post-Civil War Montana, and the highly-acclaimed "British Agent" novels. She spins tales of romance, adventure, and mystery set in bygone times. MK enjoys a quiet life in the Rocky Mountains.

Learn more about MK by visiting her website: http://www.mkmcclintock.com.

MK also writes contemporary romance and romantic thrillers as McKenna Grey.

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Q&A

What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

-       I can get lost simply in the presence of books! Libraries and bookstores are my version of Disneyland. The books I enjoy most all have the same things in common: Interesting and likeable characters, solid writing, and great plots. I like a book that keeps me staying up past my bedtime and takes me away to another time and place without me realizing it. Right now I’m binging on historical romantic westerns by a couple of favorite authors. I’m reading all of Jo Goodman’s and Johanna Lindsey’s books from the genre. A couple of weeks ago I read only contemporary thrillers. Before that I opted to read again Kathleen Woodiwiss’s books. Getting lost in a book is the easy part. It’s finding my way back to reality that is the challenge.

If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

-       1870s – 1880s Montana Territory. I would have loved to have seen it back then, despite all the upheaval in the country at the time. Montana is an incredible place to live in the present-day, but I’ve listened to stories from people who have lived here 50+ years ago and can’t help but wish I’d been alive to see it back then, and much earlier. I set most of my historicals in Montana in part because I know the land, but also because it’s my way of grasping that bit of history I’ll never have a chance to live except through my imagination. Of course, if a time machine whisked me off to eighteenth-century Scotland, I’d be okay with that, too.

What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

-       I always take a week, sometimes two, off from writing. My imagination is still in overdrive, but I know my brain needs a break. I’ll spend one or two full days just reading and ignoring the world, and I love to spend time in the kitchen. I tend to go overboard with the cooking and baking, but then my freezer is always well-stocked!

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

-       I did in the beginning but stopped after book three. I’ll get emails from readers notifying me that they’ve reviewed my book or a family member or friend letting me know about a review, and in those instances I usually read them. I stopped in part because I felt like I was hovering in a place that is meant just for the readers and not for authors. It’s impossible to please every reader and I wanted to spend my time writing rather than worry about reviews. It was liberating when I stopped paying attention and just focused on interacting with readers in other ways.

Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?

-       Almost always! I’ve had the great pleasure of playing the part of every one of the heroine’s I write and most of the ones I read. When I connect with the characters, and especially when the heroine is strong and has a great hero, it’s easy to slip into that role. If the heroine is more on the immature or weak side, I sometimes add a new character, play that part, and steal the hero. Either way, I’m happy!

What sound or noise do you love?

-       The sound of a crackling fire while a thunderstorm echoes through the sky outside. I often listen to a recording of these sounds while I write.

What are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?

This is one of those rare times when I’m reading from different genres. 

-       Never Love a Lawman by Jo Goodman (currently reading)

-       Someone to Love by Mary Balough

-       The Whistler by John Grisham

-       The Magdalen Girls  by V.S. Alexander

-       Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman

MK is giving away two paperbacks: The Women of Crooked Creek and one of the Montana Gallagher series. (US shipping only). Comment and enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

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A Tribute to Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds from the Crew!

Let's face it, 2016 was brutal. Besides having to endure a never-ending, divisive election campaign, we also lost so many great actors and other public figures. I dare you to look up the 2016 celebrity deaths timeline this year—it is staggering. It will also make you cry.  In fact, 2016 was so bad, the media is calling it the year of celebrity deaths.

It all started last January with David Bowie and Alan Rickman. The mid-year brought the Prince shocker along with many more celebrities including Gene Wilder. 2016 ended with the deadliest December ever, which included Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds.

Debbie and Carrie had a tumultuous relationship until they didn't.

We honor the passing of all our celebrity heroes at Get Lost in a Story, but would like to pay a special tribute to Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Each of us have a favorite book or movie of theirs to share with our readers, and we encourage all of you to post your favorites in the comments section.

Carrie never liked her Princess Leia hair.
She called them space buns.

A few words about Princess Leia…I mean Carrie. 

One of Carrie's younger sisters had this say about her in a recent interview. "We had the coolest, badass, gun-toting sister in the world." What I loved most about Carrie Fisher was her honesty and humor, but she was also a kick-ass princess hero and powerful spirit. I loved her as Princess Leia in Star Wars, but I loved her books even more. I particularly loved her up and down relationship with her mother—I could relate, sigh. Mothers and daughters can be complicated, right? In fact, Carrie and Debbie were estranged for a decade before becoming so close they lived next door to each other. And if you've never read Carrie's books—do so—now! We all spark to different people in our lives, there's just something about this funny, complicated woman that will always be with me.  —Jillian Stone

~ ~ ~

"All about a Mississippi gal who taught a sophisticated bachelor about Love."

Tammy and the Bachelor

(Universal CinemaScope-1957)

~Tammy and the Bachelor

One of my favorite movies is Debbie Reynolds in the 1957 movie, " Tammy and the Bachelor." (What a great year that was in many ways!)

Featured opposite of Ms.Debbie, is a handsome Leslie Nielsen and the cantankerous old grandfather played by Walter Brennan whom she lives with in a houseboat along the river in Louisiana. I love the colorful, eccentric variety of characters and the circumstances that bring them all together and how they have to flex and change to ultimately create their happily ever after. Not to mention the lovely Debbie singing, "Tammy's in Love" ~the innocence and purity of the discovery of love amid all the obstacles it must face is the stuff of great romantic storytelling! If you've not seen it, I encourage you to take a few moments and enjoy a story that reminds us that kindness, acceptance, and faith are part of our DNA, oft times shoved under the rug as archaic ideas. Not to this author~ thanks for the reminder, Ms. Debbie. ~Amanda McIntyre

~ ~ ~

The deaths of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds were particularly poignant for me and my mother. We're the same ages. These two stars were women of our eras.

Debbie Reynolds played many wonderful roles in the grand old MGM films. It's hard to name a favorite. The Unsinkable Molly Brown in some ways mirrors her loss of innocence and rags-to-riches rise to fame, as well as her spirit of determination. Debbie gave her all in this role and got an Oscar nomination (but lost to Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins. Here's a clip of her singing, "Belly Up To The Bar Boys."

I'm a big Star Wars fan and have always enjoyed the intelligence and toughness that Carrie brought to the role of Princess Leia. But here's one of my favorite scenes with Carrie, a brief one she has in The Blues Brothers with John Belushi. It always makes me laugh. ~E.E. Burke

~ ~ ~

I loved Carrie as Lea in Star Wars but I thought to share my favorite Debbie Reynolds’ movie: How the West Was Won. In “the Plains” segment, she plays Lilith, who chooses to go to St. Louis, where she finds work performing in a dance hall. We get to hear her sing as she attracts the attention of professional gambler Cleve Van Valen (Gregory Peck) 

After overhearing that she has just inherited a gold mine, to avoid paying his debts Cleve tries to court her. But she isn’t interested. When she discovers her mine is worthless, Lilith returns to work as a singer, first in a dance hall and later, in the music salon of a riverboat. By chance, Cleve is a passenger. When he hears Lilith's voice, he leaves the poker table (and a winning hand) to propose to her. This time, she accepts his proposal. How could she turn away Gregory Peck? ~Regan Walker

~ ~ ~

It is so hard to lose the stars that we watched grow up or grow old. But at least we can go back and catch them in their glory years. 

Since I spend years on stage, singing and dancing, my absolute favorite Debbie Reynolds movie was Singin' in the Rain. (With Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor--love the choreography!) And my morning radio station used to have callers sing along with the broadcasters the Good Morning song. ~Nan Dixon

~ ~ ~

I was lucky enough to catch Debbie Reynold's show in her Las Vegas casino back in the day, and she was more brilliantly hilarious than I could ever have imagined. There are so many moments I could choose as a favourite memory, but I'm going with These Old Broads - partly because Carrie Fisher wrote the movie for her, and partly because it not only stars Debbie Reynolds, Shirley MacLaine and Joan Collins, but also Elizabeth Taylor as a Hollywood agent who once stole Debbie Reynolds's character's husband. 

The movie is about three former Hollywood stars who must overcome their dislike of each other to reunite for a TV special when their old 1960s musical is re-released. Here's the closing number of the movie... ~Avril Tremayne

~ ~ ~

All of the above. Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher are long-time favorites of mine. As Jillian stated, I totally get the up/down relationship with her mother. I'm delusional if I think I can choose just one character they've portrayed over another. I particularly enjoyed Debbie's cameos in several fun films like CONNIE & CARLA.  People.com shared this photo which is particularly touching.

shared on: http://people.com/movies/carrie-fisher-watching-debbie-reynolds-on-stage-photo-story-photographer-lawrence-schiller/
LAWRENCE SCHILLER/COPYRIGHT POLARIS COMMUNICATIONS INC.

I've read so many tributes over the past week and discovered so much trivia about their roles. Did you know that Debbie was a gymnast and not a dancer? After landing the role in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, Fred Astair gave her dance lessons on the movie lot when she wasn't filming. ~Angi Morgan

One of my very favorite Carrie Fisher moments is short, silly, and relatively recent, but it made me fall in love with her ability to laugh at herself and the world and just have fun.  This is Carrie in a cameo on the Big Bang Theory and what was so cool about this is that it was literally the first time she and James Earl Jones had ever met. On the set of Star Wars, JEJ was in a sound booth recording Darth Vader's voice and never appeared on film. In an interview he said it was "very sweet" to finally meet her!  ~Lizbeth Selvig

~ ~ ~

Have a favorite Carrie Fisher or Debbie Reynolds movie to share with us? Please comment while enjoying this little snippet of song:

Day 2 of Nan Dixon's Release Party and Giveaway!

Hi, it's Nan again. I had so much fun with your surprise stories yesterday. Keep them coming. I've included the Rafflecopter again.

Today the paperback version of THE OTHER TWIN releases! So if you

love to hold a book in your hand, you can now order the paperback. There is nothing like getting to cuddle a copy of my book. So much fun.

You can find your favorite retailer here.

SALE

I want to let you know that Harlequin has all four eBooks in the series on sale for the month of January. (Sorry not the paperbacks.)
Here's the link eHarlequin.  On the eHarlequin website, you can receive 30% off on any and all Fitzgerald House series books by using the Coupon Code: FITZH30 
   

And here's another excerpt for your reading pleasure!

A BUMP ECHOED above Nathan’s head. The bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling swayed and dust drifted to the dirt floor of the Fitzgerald carriage house.

What were Cheryl and the kid doing, dropping loaded boxes from the top of the bunk bed?

They’d moved into the carriage house this afternoon, barely a week after she’d let the drunk into a secured apartment building. He’d helped unload the truck.

At least she’d be safer here than walking on River Street when the bars closed.

He checked the time on his phone, but the numbers didn’t make sense—6:08 p.m.? It was after dinner. The sun had set. It had to be after eight—8:06 p.m.?

The kid thought he was a butthead. Hell, maybe he was. He planned to keep his distance from the pair. Kids made him uncomfortable. They guessed they were smarter than him.

Everyone was smarter than him. First-graders could read better than he did. Nathan inhaled and choked on the dust.

He unrolled the architect’s plans and anchored them on his toolbox. Since he’d remodeled restaurants in Atlanta, he was in charge of this project.

Studying the blueprint, he willed his eyes and brain to work together for once. He planned to lay out the footings tonight. No way would he let the crew see him struggle.

His twin brother, Daniel, might think Mom and Pop had scraped the bottom of the barrel asking Nathan to return to Forester Construction, but he would prove his brother wrong. He’d grown up in the five years since he’d been kicked out of the family company. Nathan wanted back in, permanently, not just while Pop went through chemo in Texas.

For a week every month, Pop and Mom traveled from Savannah to Houston. Pop was enrolled in a clinical trial to help him beat back the monster Myelodysplastic syndromes. MDS. Cancer.

The thought of not being good enough for the family business still stung. All his life, Nathan had wanted to be normal. Was that too much to hope for? To read without getting confused? To remember the names of people he’d known all his life? Hell, just reading street signs would be nice.

He shook it off. He’d done okay in Atlanta. He’d coped.

Locating the back door on the plans, he calculated where the first wall support would be and recited the numbers into his phone. Then he grabbed a tape measure and a roll of flagging ribbon. Time to translate the plan into the actual space.

He moved to the kitchen area and tucked the end of the tape measure into a crack between the floor and the wall. Checking his phone, he walked straight back. He needed thirty feet. He looked at the numbers on his phone and the ones on the tape measure. The numbers swam and twisted. He closed his eyes and looked again, but it didn’t help.

He ripped off a piece of flagging tape and placed it on the floor, not willing to commit. Then he worked his way through the plan.

After he’d taken a half dozen measurements, he stepped away, comparing the markings with the drawing. The architect’s plan was a rectangle. His mess of orange tags looked more like a star.

“Damn it!”

He kicked one of the pillars supporting the second story. Why couldn’t he do this? He kicked the pillar again and dust rained down.

He’d be here all night and even then he might not get it right. The crew would show up at seven thirty tomorrow and he’d still be doing effing measurements a ten-year-old could do.

He headed to his toolbox, yanked open the bottom drawer and pulled out a flask.

The door to the courtyard creaked open. He tucked the flask in his back pocket and spun to see who was spying on his stupidity.

“Ooh.” Cheryl filled the narrow doorway. “What are you doing?”

“Working,” he snapped.

She crossed her arms over her chest. Her plain gray T-shirt strained against the swell of her small breasts. Her faded cutoff jeans cupped her ass like a man’s hands would.

He fought to keep his eyes on her face. Her blond hair was pulled into a ponytail. He’d only seen it brushing her shoulders a few times. It was straight and fine and would feel like silk in his fingers. Not that he would ever touch Cheryl’s hair.

“Abby told me the work wouldn’t start until tomorrow. It’s almost ten o’clock.” She hesitated before stepping inside. “Did you kick something?”

He swallowed. “The post.”

Her brown eyes grew as large as dinner plates. She stepped back. Yeah. Be afraid.

“What is that?” She moved into the room, pointing at the orange tape.

“A fucking mess.”

Her shoulders straightened. “I know you’re supervising this project. I’d appreciate you warning the crew that a six-year-old boy lives here. I don’t want him learning words like that.”

“Sure.” He ran a hand through his hair, pushing off his cap. The same kid who called him butthead.

It landed at Cheryl’s feet. She picked it up, batted it against her leg to dust off the dirt and then handed it to him. “What are the orange tags supposed to be?”

He jammed his cap back on his head. “I was marking off the kitchen. We’re pouring footings tomorrow.”

Now he’d have to ask one of the crew to help. Apparently, he couldn’t measure and mark. The other option was to have his twin help. Perfect Daniel would give him the look. The one that said Nathan was an idiot. Besides, he’d lied and told Pop and Daniel he could do this.

Cheryl stared at the mess on the floor, frowned and then moved to the plans he hadn’t rolled up. She carried them to where he’d been measuring. “This is close.”

“Does it look like a rectangle to you?”

Her head snapped up at the snarl in his voice. Her brown eyes flashed. “Do you want help or not?”

She was willing to help him? Relief ran through him like a warm shower, easing the strain in his shoulders. “Yeah, I do.” Then he remembered her son. What the hell was his name? “What about your...kid?”

“Josh sleeps like a rock.” She turned. Clipped to her back pocket was some sort of monitor. “If he wakes, I’ll hear him.”

His eyes lingered on her lovely rounded butt. He wouldn’t mind wrapping his hands around those cheeks.

Too bad she had the kid. Josh. Josh always glared at him. Kids were a deal breaker.

“Let’s start over,” she said. “What’s the scale?”

He knew this. “It’s...” The words slipped away. His fingers formed fists.

She stared at the drawings. “Is it an eighth of an inch equals a foot?”

He nodded, afraid the words would tangle. The story of his life. His fingers flexed against his thighs.

“Wait. They already have the feet marked here. That’s what this means, right?”

She moved close, showing him the blueprint. She smelled like—apples. His mouth watered. When her head turned, her hair brushed against his arm, a silky, soft brush.

He’d known it would be.

She shook the blueprint. Using her thumb, she pointed to a number. “Is that the measurement from one wall to another?”

“Yes.” He choked out the word, hoping he’d answered correctly. Sometimes, as much as he concentrated, everything came out twisted.

“Let’s see where you went wrong.” She set down the plans. “Can you hold the other end of the tape measure?”

He headed to the wall to be a friggin’ anchor.

“This one’s right.” She tapped the first piece of tape he’d placed.

They slid along the wall.

“This one needs to be here.” She moved the orange tape. And kept checking and rechecking each measurement. He’d gotten half of them right. What had taken him thirty minutes took her five.

“That looks right, doesn’t it?” She held the blueprint and compared it with the tape they’d run and anchored.

He stood behind her, inhaling another whiff of apples. “Yeah.”

He could see the space now. There were the doors into the kitchen and more doors into Abby’s large storage area.

Cheryl helped him mark off the walk-in freezer, too.

“Now I can finish running the tape for the footings.” Relief eased out of him like a curl of wood from a plane. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She dusted off her hands. “Anything else you want to get done tonight?”

“I’ll mark the wall and doors.” That way, if the crew moved the tape when they did demolition, he’d know where everything was supposed to go. He’d developed tricks over the years to convince people that he was in control.

“Then I’ll head home.”

“Thank you.” Too bad Cheryl had a kid. Otherwise he would ask her out.

She moved to the door, stopped and turned back. “Do you...have trouble reading?”

Reality slapped him in the face. “I can read,” he growled. Sometimes.

“I could help.” She gave him a small smile. “At the army school, I worked with kids who had trouble reading.”

His face heated with shame. Kids. She’d helped kids. “I don’t need help.”

She jerked back a step at the snap in his voice. The woman was scared of her shadow. “It’s just...”

“Thanks for the help.” He pulled the flask out of his pocket. He wouldn’t admit his flaws.

Her face paled and she crept backward again. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t drink in front of my son.”

“I’ll bet you would.” He took a big swig. Not wanting her to see she’d hurt him.

She dashed outside. Her footsteps pounded the stairs to the carriage house apartment.

He twirled the cap back on. He’d been a jerk. But he didn’t need any help from a do-gooder like Cheryl Henshaw. His flaws couldn’t be fixed.

Keep the Surprise Stories coming!  Here's the rafflecopter again!

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Get Lost with Nan Dixon's Release Celebration and Giveaway

It's a new year and a new release in my FITZGERALD HOUSE Series. THE OTHER TWIN released on New Year's Day.

Since all the Fitzgerald House sisters; Abby, Bess and Dolley, have found their happily-ever-afters, this story is about Cheryl and Nathan. Both characters have been in the series. Cheryl and her son Josh were introduced in SOUTHERN COMFORTS. Nathan joined his twin brother in A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH.

Nathan has always felt inferior to his perfect twin brother, Daniel. He believes he's flawed by his dyslexia. Even kids can read and follow directions better than he can. So he does everything he can to avoid kids. They know they're smarter than he is. 

Everything changes when an ex-girlfriend drops off his four-year-old daughter, a daughter he never knew existing.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Who can resist a neighbor in need? 

Nathan Forester doesn't know the first thing about kids. So when the daughter he never knew existed arrives on his doorstep, he needs help, fast! His unlikely ally is next-door neighbor and single mother Cheryl Henshaw. Nathan and Cheryl don't exactly see eye to eye, but neither can say no to a helping hand. 

Renovating Fitzgerald House is Nathan's chance to finally prove he's no longer the unreliable twin—and it seems possible with Cheryl by his side. Suddenly their practical arrangement has become something much more. Trust isn't easy, but they're stronger when they work together.

I had so much fun writing the kids. Josh is kind of a brat. But Issy is tough. She's been traumatized by event with her mother and doesn't speaks for weeks. It takes Nathan, Cheryl and Josh to break through to the little girl.

Read a little--

CHAPTER ONE

“WE LIVE IN an apartment,” Cheryl said. “We can’t have a puppy.”

“Mom, I’d take care of it.” Josh’s pleading brown eyes were hard to deny. “I promise.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“We can move.” He tugged on her shorts. “All my friends live in houses. They all have dogs.”

“Not all your friends have dogs.”

Dogs were expensive. Where would she find the money to feed one?

Josh’s chin jutted out, reminding her of his father. When Brad had died in Afghanistan their lives had imploded. Now she and Josh lived in Savannah barely making it.

She wanted a better life for her son. That meant finding a better job, which meant training. Culinary school cost money.

Waiting to cross Bay Street, Cheryl switched the box she carried to her other hand and caught Josh’s arm. Mid-May and the temperature, along with tourist traffic, had soared. At Fitzgerald House, where she worked, all the rooms were full. She’d been lucky the day she’d found their ad for maid service. Now she cooked more than cleaned at the B and B.

Once she and Josh crossed Bay Street, he pulled away and ran to the River Street steps.

“Slow down! Hang on to the railing.” She sped up, not wanting to lose sight of his blond hair. “Josh!”

As she descended, the brackish scent of the river mingled with the aroma of onions and hot oil from nearby restaurants. Tourists clogged River Street checking out the shops and pubs.

Josh disappeared.

Her heart pounded. Six months ago he’d rarely left her side. Her life had been easier when he’d still been afraid.

Up ahead, she spotted a flash of blond hair as Josh stumbled on River Street’s flagstones. When they got to the apartment, they would have a long talk about safety.

She broke into a run, jostling a man as he exited a bar. The scent of bourbon washed over her. “Excuse me.”

“Hey, pretty lady,” he called. “Slow down. I’ll buy you a drink.”

She shuddered. Not in this lifetime.

She caught Josh as he stared into the candy shop.

“Don’t run off.” She grabbed his hand, panting from her rush. “I couldn’t see you.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“You’re six.” And next week Josh would finish kindergarten. How had he grown so fast? “You know better than to run in this crowd.”

He pointed. “Can I get candy?”

“Not today.” Not after this behavior.

Scowling, Josh held her hand until they got to their warehouse apartment building.

She dug in her purse for her keys, longing to get inside. Her feet ached from standing and decorating two hundred cupcakes for this weekend’s wedding.

“How was school?” she asked.

“Okay. Tommy threw up.”

She winced. Don’t let Josh get sick.

Juggling a bag, her purse and the box, she unlocked the door. “Can you take the bag?”

They headed down the hallway to their apartment.

“What’s in the box?” he asked.

“Cupcakes.”

“Can I have one now?”

She shook out the apartment key. “Once you finish your chores.”

“Let me help with that.” The bourbon man from the street snatched the bakery box away.

How did he get into the building? She grabbed for the box. “We’re fine.”

He held it above his head. “I’m just being neighborly.”

Josh glared. “You don’t live here.”

The guy laughed, his alcoholic stench washing over her.

She jammed her key into the lock, pushed open the door and held out her hand for the box. “Thank you.”

He leaned close. Too close. He was big. Almost as big as her brother-in-law, Levi.

She shuddered. When Brad had died two years ago, Levi had invited her and Josh to live with him. Moving in with Levi had been a big mistake.

“How ’bout I come in?” His words were slurred.

The odor of cigarettes and booze threw her back to her childhood. The lead weight of memories pinned her in place. She was afraid to move. Afraid to push past him for fear he’d hit her like Mama used to.

“Mom!” Josh yanked on her hand.

“Kid, go inside,” the guy said. “I wanna talk to your mom.”

She inched back, bumping into the wall. No escape. She wanted to duck and curl into a ball. Then when the blows came, they wouldn’t hurt as much as a punch in the belly.

“What’s your name?” He caged her to the wall with his arms.

“Leave.” Her voice was a whisper.

Josh kicked the man’s shin. “Get away from my mom.”

“Cut it out.” The guy pushed Josh into the door.

“Don’t touch my son.” She tried to shout, but the words were as weak as her knees.

“What’ssss your name?” His slur grew.

“Move.” She couldn’t get past him to the apartment.

He sniffed her neck. “You smell like cookies.”

Her skin crawled. Why couldn’t she move? Shout? Save her son?

A door at the end of the hallway opened with a metallic clang.

“Go away,” she said a little more loudly.

“I jus’ want your name.” The man thrust out a finger. “Ya don’t hafta be a bitch about it.”

Josh came at him with a flurry of tiny fists. “Don’t call my mom names.”

“What’s going on?” a deep voice called.

“Help.” She shoved at the drunk’s chest but he was too big for her to move. “Help.”

He shoved her shoulder. Hard.

She smacked into the wall, crumpling to her knees.

Josh kicked and punched. “Leave her alone!”

“Hey!” Boots thumped on the tile floor.

The drunk stumbled away.

Josh’s arms wrapped around her neck and she clung to him. “Mommy.”

“Are you okay?” her rescuer asked.

She stared at work boots and then up a pair of long legs.

Nathan Forester gazed down at her. He was the twin brother of Bess Fitzgerald’s fiancé and Bess was one of her bosses. Nathan had worked in this building off and on since last fall. Cheryl tried to avoid him as much as possible. He was so...large. But since they were connected through the Fitzgeralds, avoidance was impossible.

“We’re...fine.” A lie. Both she and Josh shook like they were standing in a walk-in freezer.

“Who was he?” Nathan peered down the hall.

“Some drunk.” Her voice squeaked.

Nathan held out his hand. His usual cocky grin was missing. A dirty white T-shirt tightened against the muscles in his chest and arms. Sheetrock dust covered his jeans. His ball cap was on backward, but thick blond hair curled on his neck. He was a modern-day James Dean without the cigarette. “Does that guy live here?”

“I don’t think so.” She put her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. “He followed me.”

Nathan’s eyebrows arched. “You shouldn’t let strangers into the building.”

Had she? “Oh, God. I forgot to pull the door closed.”

A door clanged again and Gray Smythe, the building owner, came down the hall. “Something wrong?”

“Some creep hassled Cheryl. I yelled and he hatted.”

Gray studied Cheryl. “You okay?”

She nodded, afraid any words she spoke would come out a muddled mess.

“Mr. Gray.” Josh threw himself at Gray. “I kicked the guy and he ran away.”

Cheryl backed into the apartment. She’d almost mastered not cowering around Gray. She shouldn’t be afraid of him. He was very kind and married to her boss, Abby Fitzgerald.

“I don’t like this.” Gray carried Josh into the apartment and set him down. Nathan followed and shut the door. With two men filling the entryway, she couldn’t breathe.

“He was mean. He pushed me.” Josh hung his backpack on the hook. “Can I have a cupcake?”

She looked around. “I dropped the box in the hall.”

“I’ll get it.” Gray headed for the door.

“What if the man’s still in the building?” Cheryl wrapped her arms around her waist as she headed to her small kitchen.

“He left,” Nathan said. “But I suppose another idiot could let him back in.”

“Idiot?” she gasped.

“Sorry.” But he didn’t look sorry. “With all the bars and pubs on River Street, you need to pay attention.”

“I do,” she protested.

Nathan raised an eyebrow as Gray handed her the smashed box.

With shaking hands, she pulled a plate from the cupboard. Only this time her hands shook because of Nathan. Idiot? She would do anything to protect Josh.

But, just like in her childhood, she’d frozen. Why couldn’t she be brave?

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