For today’s Story Sample Sunday, I asked Rose Gordon if I could post a sample of her newest release, The Officer and the Bostoner. Since she said yes, I’m excited to pass along this really funny historical western romance with a surprising twist toward the end. From time to time, I get asked if there’s a historical western romance I’d recommend. So I thought I’d pass along this book that I had the pleasure of beta reading.
What it’s about:
Basically, Allison Pierson is on her way her meet her intended when her stagecoach leaves her stranded at a military fort. Captain Wes Tucker happens to see the whole thing and decides to do what he can to keep her safe until she can get safely to her intended. And the way he’s going to do that is to temporarily marry her.
I love marriage of convenience plots and know some of you do, too. 😀
Below is part of the scene where Wes proposes:
Wes ran a hand over the gristle that covered his chin, racking his brain for just how to put this so she’d understand the situation, but not panic. He blew out a breath. “Miss Pierson, I do believe you’ll make a beautiful bride.”
She jumped out of her chair. “Mr. Tucker, has the heat gotten to you?”
“No. But if you don’t do as I say, something will be getting to you—and it won’t be as kind as a bit too much sun.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, moving toward the door.
Wes took to his feet and reached for her arm to stay her. “I know. But that doesn’t make it any less true.” He raked a hand through his brown hair. “Miss Pierson, the way I see it, there are three ways out of here.”
She cocked her head to the side. “I’m listening.”
“The first one is the stagecoach.”
Miss Pierson heaved a sigh. “Well, it’s quite apparent I’ve already missed that option.”
“I know, I just wanted to remind you it was an option.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you in a moment.” He flashed her a quick grin. “The second option is not advisable.”
She glared at him.
“You could steal a horse and ride away.”
She pursed her lips and stared at him as if he were addled for suggesting such a thing.
“But I wouldn’t recommend that method, either. People ‘round here take horse thievery seriously. It’s a hanging offense, wouldn’t you know? Just last summer—”
“And what is my third option, Mr. Tucker?”
“You could walk.” He dropped his gaze down to her shoes. They weren’t heeled or bejeweled as he half-expected them to be, but being white leather half boots that couldn’t possibly have more than a quarter-of-an-inch thick sole, they were still unsuitable. “You’ll either wear a hole in the bottom of those or have a nasty blister before you reach the Indians.”
She started. “Indians?”
“Indians,” he confirmed with a quick nod. “I don’t know what that drunkard who was driving your stagecoach told you, but you’re in Indian Territory.”
Her eyes doubled in size. “Indian Territory as in where the government has moved hundreds of thousands of Indians?”
“Very good. You must enjoy reading the newspaper with your morning meal.”
She frowned. “How did we get here? I thought we were in Kansas.”
Wes shook his head. “Your stagecoach driver took a wrong turn somewhere around Freedom, Missouri, and got off of the Santa Fe Trail and onto the Texas Trail. Huge difference.”
“Freedom?” She cast him a dubious expression. “We were in Freedom three days ago. How did he not know he’d taken a wrong turn until now?”
“Don’t ask me, I wasn’t the one driving.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sir, do you have a serious bone in your body?”
“Don’t rightly know. But what I do know is, unless you want to be captured by the Indians, you’re staying right here in Fort Gibson until the next armed stagecoach comes through.”
“Stay in this outlandish place a month? Absolutely not.”
“Oh? Do you think you’ll take your chances against a tribe of Indians, then?”
“No. We’ll take our chances against a tribe of Indians,” she said with a dazzling smile.
“Pardon? Who exactly are you including in this ‘we’?”
“You and me,” she said easily. She adjusted her frilly, pink shawl, still smiling in a way he was certain turned many heads in Boston. But they weren’t in Boston.
“And why should I do that?”
“Because I need to get to Santa Fe.”
“Then you can wait for the stagecoach to take you.”
“What am I supposed to do until then?”
“Marry me.”
***
If you’d like to read more, you can buy The Officer and the Bostoner from any of the links below:
Those are the stores at the moment. I know this book will be at the Apple iBookstore and Sony soon.
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I saw somewhere that someone thought I might be Rose Gordon. I wish that was true because she’s got excellent books out there! But the truth is, we are two different people and to prove it, I have a picture of the two of us taken at the RT Convention. 😀
Ruth Ann Nordin and Rose Gordon
(I’m on the left; Rose is on the right.)
I don’t use pen names anymore. It’s too much work.
Ruth Ann Nordin's Author Blog 
It is a really good book.
I’m currently beta reading the second one in the series and am enjoying it immensely as well. 😀
Thanks, Judy!
Ruth, I hope you’re still enjoying book two just as much as book one.
Yep, though I did get squeemish when I read what caused Ella to itch so badly. Yikes! LOL
Ruth, thank you so much for posting and recommending it (and of course beta reading it for me!). I certainly appreciate it!
I’m happy to recommend it! 😀
I just went over and bought it. 🙂 I’ve loved all the books I’ve read by BOTH of you. And I can’t believe people think you’re the same person. Although I love you both, your personalities aren’t the same. LOL
I’m eagerly waiting for your horror book. No pressure to rush to finish it. 😀 I know you have a lot you’re dealing with.
I know. I have no idea why anyone would think we’re the same person either. Our blog posts and writing styles are different.
Thank you, Lauralynn. I hope you enjoy it.
It was once speculated that I was Ava Stone (which, I’m not). I hadn’t heard that you and I were thought to be the same! I take that as a grand compliment, indeed. We might not see it, but I’ve heard that our humor is somewhat similar. Otherwise, I have no idea why we’d be confused for the same, but like I said, I’ll take it as a compliment.
Judy mentioned that we have similar humor in an email one time. I guess that’s why I enjoy your humor as much as I do. 😀
Back in 2011, I discovered that having more than one name to promote is too much stress. I won’t go down that road again.
Got it! Read it! It was wonderful now I have to sit and twiddle my thumbs until one of my four authors finish a new book. And since you and Rose and two of the four write write write…lol What can I say I love you work. 🙂
Thank you. You’re so sweet. 😀
I told Rose there were some popcorn moments in that book because at one point, no one could tear me away from the book. I just loved it when other people were standing around watching a private conversation. LOL Those were much too funny, but if I was stuck on a fort with no TV and books, I’d be doing the same thing. 😀 I’d say more but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet.
Thanks, Kristin! Ruth should have two coming out very soon to read while I slowly get this next one done.
Oh, you think you had moments where you couldn’t stop reading, I definitely had minutes where my husband didn’t think he’d be able to tear me away from the computer. Dinner? What’s that? Sleep? Who needs it.
Once again, I thank you so much for reading an early copy of this book and offering me invaluable feedback. It was much appreciated.
Dinner? Sleep? Are these words in a foreign language because I swear I haven’t seen them before. LOL