Fools Rush by Ciara Knight
Publication date: April 15th 2015
Genres: Adult, Historical
To avert an impending life of servitude, Bethany Cook seeks freedom on a wagon train bound for gold country. Disguised as a young boy she secures work as a travel companion with Thomas Nolan, a rich New Yorker who is on his own quest to distance himself from the nightmare of a fraudulent marriage.
A cross-country journey by Thomas’ side proves more difficult than Bethany anticipated when he becomes obsessed with her true identity—the golden haired beauty he shared one night of passion with. Bethany attempts to confess the truth, but a bounty hunter exposes her as a devious woman that lied to Thomas for months for her own evil gain. Her life and her heart now rest in the hands of Thomas, who must decide if he can forgive and marry her or leave her to the fate she’s brought upon herself.
He cleared his throat and took on a stern tone. “Listen, I
don’t mean to sour your taste for marriage. All I’m saying is, don’t make the
same mistakes I did. You’ve been a hard worker and you’re probably the first
person I’ve trusted besides Charlie, Henry, and his wife in a long time. Forget
the gold, come work on my ranch. You can live in the main house and cook. I’ll
treat you like a son.”
“No.” Her breath hitched. Lying in this wagon for one night
was enough to melt a girl’s resolve. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to keep up
this deception much longer. “I’m off to make my own fortune.”
“I won’t hurt you. It’s obvious your pa was a drunk and used
a switch often, but I would never.”
Bethany’s head swarmed with images of a happy home, of confessing
the truth and falling into his arms this night.
“What is it? You can tell me anything. I promise. I’ll never
hurt you. Trust me.” His words clutched her heart and squeezed tight.
“You can’t make that promise,” Bethany said while trying to
keep her wits. Everything rested on her making it to the gold and striking it
rich. Not ending up in the arms of some man who had already proven he’d turn to
the bottle when things got tough.
“Bart, I can. We’ve both been through plenty. Perhaps it’s
time for us to trust someone.”
“No. The minute you see that girl again you’ll lose your
head. You’ve already turned to the bottle. I’m going to find gold and start my
life on my terms.” Bethany turned to face away from him. “Go to sleep. I’m not
talking about this anymore.”
She concentrated on steadying her breath and not thinking
about the handsome man at her side in the darkness. He only spoke words. The
first time things got tough he’d turn to a switch or his hand. That’s what all
men did once they owned a woman.
Surely not every man. The
tingling in her stomach urged her to take a chance, to wrap her arms around him
and confess who she really was. Why did this man cause her body to feel these things
when no other man had in the past? She wanted to escape into the cold rain to
cool her burning skin and rid it of all this desire, but she had to remain in
the wagon by Thomas’ side all night. A long and torturous night
Ciara Knight writes to 'Defy the Dark' with her young adult speculative fiction and sweet romance books. Her most recent international best-seller, Pendulum, scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.
When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.
Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She's backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.
Ciara is extremely sociable and can be found at Facebook @ciaraknightwrites, Twitter @ciaratknight, Goodreads, Pinterest, and her website ciaraknight.com.
Bethany Cook must earn her keep by
cookin’ and providing companionship for Thomas Nolan, all while dressed as a
man.
On the trail, she soon discovers
that resources are limited and the customs of cowboys are foreign to her.
One of her everyday food items are
biscuits. She thought she’d share a recipe with you all. You know, in case you
ever have to dress as a man, cook for a hot guy, and all the time mind the ways
of the cowboys.
Soda Biscuit recipe:
Take 1lb flour, and mix it with enough milk to make a stiff dough;
dissolve 1tsp carbonate of soda in a little milk;
add to dough with a teaspoon of salt.
dissolve 1tsp carbonate of soda in a little milk;
add to dough with a teaspoon of salt.
Work it well together and roll out thin;
cut into round biscuits, and bake them in a moderate oven.
The yolk of an egg is sometimes added.
cut into round biscuits, and bake them in a moderate oven.
The yolk of an egg is sometimes added.
Also, she thought she’d share a
few things about proper manners, or lack thereof, while on the trail.
Chuckwagon Etiquette:
The cook is named Cookie.
No one eats until Cookie calls.
Cowboys eat first, talk later.
Hungry cowboys wait for no man. They fill their plates, bellies, and then move on so stragglers can fill their plates
Eat with your fingers, the food’s clean.
Don't take the last serving unless you’re sure you're the last man.
Food left on the plate is an insult to the cook.
No running or saddling a horse near the wagon. And when you ride off, always ride down wind from the wagon.
If you come across any decent firewood, bring it back to the wagon
No one eats until Cookie calls.
Cowboys eat first, talk later.
Hungry cowboys wait for no man. They fill their plates, bellies, and then move on so stragglers can fill their plates
Eat with your fingers, the food’s clean.
Don't take the last serving unless you’re sure you're the last man.
Food left on the plate is an insult to the cook.
No running or saddling a horse near the wagon. And when you ride off, always ride down wind from the wagon.
If you come across any decent firewood, bring it back to the wagon
I hope you’re ready for an adventure full of food, hot guys and
dangerous times. Join Bethany and Thomas for their cross-country adventure in
Fools Rush!
one (1) ebook copy of Fools Rush
Open internationally
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