One of my readers informed me that they could tell a lot about my personality from my book… Ha ha… I think that this is especially true by reading the sections of Shadows with Mark and Seth. I think that my greatest gift in life was siblings.. not only brothers but my sister as well.. Unfortunately, Emma’s story just didn’t lend itself to having a sister in it…

Enjoy the following sample from Shadows….

When the vegetables were almost tender, Emma went out and rang the dinner bell. “Everythin’ will be done by the time they make it in from the field,” she figured.

“I made it in time fer dinner?” came a voice close by.

She turned in the direction of the road to see James walking toward her. Emma laughed at the hope in his expression. “It’s like you’ve a clock in yer belly.”

“Is yer family still in the field?” he asked.

“Yea. I canna leave my bread bakin’ ta take them lunch today,” she explained. “They should be in shortly.”

“Anythin’ ya need help with or should I head out ta meet `em?” James asked.

Emma thought about his question. “I’ve only the wash tub ta refill, if ya want ta make sure my Da and brothers heard the dinner bell ringin’,” she suggested.

“Seth can hear that dinner bell over any sound, no matter how quietly ya ring it,” James said with a laugh. “Let me go check ta see iffen they’re headed in, then I’ll fill the wash tub fer ya.”

“Thank ya,” Emma said. She returned to the kitchen. She could smell that her bread was done baking, so she pulled it from the oven and set another loaf in its place. Then she drained the vegetables, replacing the lid to keep them warm until the menfolk came in. She had just set the plates around the table, when James came in toting a bucket full of water for the wash tub.

“They are headed in. Should be close ta the front field by now,” James reported as he headed out the door with the empty bucket.

“I’ll dish it up when they come in.”

“It sure smells good,” James said eagerly.

Emma laughed softly, “Now ya sound like Seth.”

James laughed too, as he left through the door.

When James returned again, her father and brothers were with him.

“Sorry ta make ya come in fer dinner. I couldna leave my bread bakin’,” she explained to her family.

“We were needin’ a break from the sun, Emma girl,” Da answered.

“This smells better than a picnic lunch anyhow,” Seth decided, inhaling deeply.

Emma met James eyes and they laughed. Seth’s words were almost the same as the ones James had used earlier. Da saw the shared joke and raised his eyebrow at James. Emma had turned back to start serving up the plates and missed the exchange.

Once everyone was seated, her Da blessed the food and everyone started eating heartily.

“We noticed the raccoons are back in the fields. They did a fair amount of damage ta the cornfield by the woods last night,” Da told Emma. “So we’ll probably be sittin’ out there tonight.”

Nodding in understanding, Emma started planning what food she would send out with the boys.

“Ya interested in joinin’ us, James?” Mark added.

James agreed easily. “Wished I woulda known earlier, I could’ve jest stayed on inta the night.”

“We could send Emma inta town with a message fer yer Pa,” Seth suggested.

“I’ll not ask her ta make that trip in this heat,” James said. “Besides she’s bread ta bake.”

Emma gave him a thankful smile. She was already dreading the trip to the mercantile that she knew was coming up. An added trip was not appealing to her.

“Speakin’ of bread,” Seth said suggestively. “Can I have a slice with my dinner?”

Emma put her fork down and pushed her chair back from the table. Reaching for a loaf that was cool enough to slice, she heard a whispered comment that made her smile.

“Rotten kid. Let her eat her food while it’s warm,” James said.

“Jest asked fer bread,” Seth responded confused.

Their father laughed at his expression.

“It’s fine,” Emma insisted. Setting the plate of sliced bread on the table, she sat back in her chair.

Just as she was putting a bite to her mouth, Seth asked with a impish smile, “Could I have butter on mine?”

Emma froze mid-bite, just in time to see Mark smack Seth in the back of the neck. James slid his chair back and retrieved the butter crock before she could even respond. She tried to keep her smile hidden as Seth rubbed the back of his neck. “Never dull at mealtime,” she thought to herself.

**DISCLOSURE*** No brothers were harmed in the making of this book…

(If you would like to read more… Click here for links to BUY Shadows.)