I’m rapt that my latest novel B and B is now live and available to readers!
I look forward to reading what you think!
Equine Excerpt: B and B
Hi everyone! Below is an excerpt for the soon to be released B and B. Below this you’ll find a link for purchase and links to two equine excerpts by other authors. Enjoy!
—
Ben finished his third cup of coffee before heading back out to the mare. He’d checked on her every couple of hours over the course of the evening and although she hadn’t worsened, she’d taken awhile for her symptoms to decline. He’d never been so relieved to see a horse pass manure than at 3:00 that morning. He’d checked her again at 5:00 and been rewarded with a spectacular sunset shortly after.
He fed the horses early, knowing he might as well get it out of the way before it got too hot and then checked on Ellie again at 8:00 and 10:00. The last check he’d been pleased to find that she was eating and drinking quite happily, calling out to her friends in the paddock and her temperature had gone down.
“Just a couple more hours of me observing you before I put you back out to pasture, girlie,” he’d explained as he watched the farm utility vehicle heading down the drive with three females on their way to church.
A couple of hours later and they were returning. Ben was once again checking on the mare, lost in his own thoughts as he watched her methodically chew on another flake of hay.
“How’s Ellie doing?” Brooke suddenly asked from beside him, gaining his attention, “Margaret said she had colic last night?”
Ben nodded.
“Yeah. I think she’s passed the worst of it, though. She started eating normally about six this morning and seems to have her digestive system functioning fine,” he responded with a tired smile.
Brooke returned the smile. Ben noticed that Ella wasn’t with her; he concluded she must have gone inside with Margaret.
“You look beat! Did you get much sleep last night in between checks?” Brooke asked.
Ben shrugged.
“Is there a ride booked this afternoon?” she questioned further.
Ben nodded.
“Yeah, a few experienced riders. It’ll be nice to go for a bit of a run,” he responded, causing Brooke to grin.
“I’ll bet! I hope it’s refreshing for you, rather than tiring.”
Ben glanced at Brooke’s attire as she leant on the rail to the yard Ellie was in. She was dressed simply but beautifully. Suddenly he thought about her comment at Ella’s birthday lunch. Maybe she dresses so nicely for a man at church.
“So does your man go to church?” he asked suddenly, not able to take the question back although he would have liked to.
Brooke looked at him in confusion.
“My man…?”
“I was thinking about your comment to Jake about not being single… and well, there aren’t really many opportunities around here,” he gestured at the property before them, “to meet people, so I wondered if he went to the church you go along to each week.”
Brooke laughed.
“Oh! Honestly the congregation is made up of mainly older people…” her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, “and I just said that to tease Jake.”
Her laughter hit something deep within him. He couldn’t decide what made it beautiful, but was surprised to find that that was how he would describe it. Perhaps it was the fact that it followed a statement of her being available that made it so appealing.
It wasn’t until she turned her attention to him that he realised he must have crept closer. How else was her face now so close to his? She smiled at him, seemingly oblivious to the thoughts racing through his mind.
It wasn’t until she looked up at him in surprise that he realised he had gone too far. He wondered if his gaze mirrored hers. How had he kissed her? Fool!
“I’m… sorry,” he muttered, taking a step back to put some space between them.
“For kissing me?” she asked in confusion.
He frowned. What else would I be apologising for?
“Umm… yeah.”
Eloquent.
“Because you didn’t want to do that?”
He looked at her, struggling to gather his thoughts. He wasn’t sure what she wanted him to say; why he needed to clarify in what way he was sorry for having crossed a boundary that shouldn’t have been crossed.
“I don’t tend to do things that I don’t want to do,” he muttered, taking another step back.
“So you did want to kiss me?” she asked clarifying.
Just get out of here.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you,” Ben responded firmly, turning on his heel and striding off.
He forced himself to not run away, but was sure that his pace increased even as the distance between them did. Why did his cabin seem so far away?
—
If you enjoyed reading a little of this story, perhaps you’d like to purchase the novel! You can stay up to date on Christine’s releases at Amazon.
Why not read some equine excerpts from other authors?
Equine Excerpt: A Dollar Goes a Long Way
Hello! I’m taking part in sharing an excerpt from my latest horse novel and providing links to other equine authors. Read on for an excerpt from A Dollar Goes a Long Way 🙂
—
Jacqui raced in the door that afternoon, eager to make sure she was changed and ready when Geordie’s parents turned up. Jacqui called out a hello to her mother through the back door of the house. She could see her working in the veggie garden.
Once changed out of her school uniform, she decided to head out and say goodbye to Jaq. The idea of not seeing and riding him for a couple of days wasn’t appealing and she suddenly realised why Geordie hadn’t wanted to go to Jan’s place last time.
“But I’ll be back before you know it and I’ll have learnt so much more about horses and caring for them,” Jacqui said to the grey gelding as she scratched at the base of his neck where he liked it.
Jacqui smiled with delight as he curled back his top lip and turned toward her, trying to return the favour.
“I don’t need you to scratch me!” Jacqui laughed, pushing his head away firmly.
With a snort Jaq went back to grazing.
“Who are you?” a voice called out from across the back yard.
Jacqui frowned, not realising they had visitors. She looked up at the young dark haired boy in surprise.
“Who are you?” she asked him, stepping away from her pony and coming to the fence where he stood.
“I asked first,” he challenged, causing her frown to deepen.
“I’m Jacqui King. I live here,” she replied simply.
“Oh,” the boy responded, turning away quickly.
Jacqui watched him go over to the veggie garden her mum was working in. How rude to ask who she was but not say who he was!
She considered climbing through the fence to find out when she heard a car coming down the driveway.
“They’re here!” she said excitedly to herself.
Jacqui raced back into the house to grab her bag and packed clothes. Kate met her inside, double checking that her daughter had everything before seeing her off with a hug and a smile.
“Have fun, honey! Though I’ve no doubt you will. I can’t wait to hear all about it when I come to pick you girls up.”
“Thanks, mum! See you on Sunday.”
Jacqui hugged her mother again before racing out the front door and into the car. Geordie and Hannah were already seated in the back. Geordie moved into the middle so that Jacqui could get in beside her.
The girls started their excited chatter before the car took off. Jacqui forgot all about the brown haired boy.
—
If you enjoyed reading a little of this story, perhaps you’d like to purchase the novel! You can do so at Amazon.
Why not read some equine excerpts from other authors?
B and B Cover Release
Hi everyone! I’m pleased to release the cover of my newest novel, B and B! 71% of people who voted on the covers indicated this one to be their preference!
Have you had a chance to read the blurb yet? As one who likes to play with pictures, I’ve created a graphic in style with the cover that has the blurb on it. What do you think?
An Author Update
Hi everyone!
I thought it was time I posted here, just to show that I am still about! I have been keeping busy in the writing world, having recently finished my next adult horse novel.
As you may be aware, I am also working on the sixth book in the Free Rein series, titled Contagious. It is coming along steadily.
Aside from writing, I have been keeping busy at home with my two gorgeous children – my daughter turns 2 this month and my son has just hit 4 months of age. It sure keeps things busy at home!
Australia is nearing the end of winter and here in the North East of Victoria, we tend to get spring a little earlier. We’ve had some beautiful winter days this week! It’s a great chance to get outside in the garden and go for walks to the park with my kids.
I hope you’re all well and in case you didn’t know, you can follow me as an author on Amazon. If you do this, you’ll be notified by Amazon when I have new books available for sale. This can be a great way to stay up to date on all my writings! 🙂
B and B Cover
Hi everyone!
I have just finished designing some options for the cover to B and B! Why not help me decide on which one to use? You can do so by heading along to http://www.facebook.com/HorseCountryBook
Here’s the blurb for B and B:
Things are changing…
Ben likes his life at Happy Trails. As a trail guide on a property in Australia he doesn’t have to work hard to make friends. All he needs to do is make sure his clients are safe on their horses and have an enjoyable ride.
Ben can manage that. He loves that he can work with horses all day, every day. The humans are an added annoyance but he only has to deal with them in short bouts.
The new cook hired for the farm looks like she could be a complication. Ben is averse to change and he is certain her arrival means change.
Brooke knows the trial position as cook at Happy Trails is a blessing. She needs a job to support herself and her daughter – the fact that she can cook for an income is an added bonus.
If she can just avoid the interest of trail guide and jokester Jake, she’ll be fine. After all, she isn’t interested in a new male in her life. She just wants to focus on her daughter and make a future for them.
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