“Unchained Courage” by MK McClintock
Montana Territory—July 1865
Daniel and Evelyn Whitcomb dreamed of adventure as they made a
home in the Rocky Mountains. Four years after Daniel left Montana, he returns
from the Civil War a man uncertain of where he belongs. Through courage, honor,
and the arrival of an old friend, Daniel finds a way back to the life he once
imagined. Join him in “Unchained Courage” for a lesson in the power of hope,
faith, and remembrance.
MK McClintock is an award-winning author devoted to giving her readers books laced with adventure, romance, and a touch of mystery. Her novels and short stories take you from the rugged mountains of Montana to the Victorian British Isles, all with good helpings of daring exploits and endearing love stories. She enjoys a peaceful life in the Rocky Mountains where she is writing her next book.
If you'd like to know when MK's next book will be out, please visit her website at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can sign up to receive new release updates.
Excerpt from “Unchained Courage”
Whitcomb Springs,
Montana Territory—July 4, 1865
Daniel led his horse over the
familiar two-mile ride up the mountain trail. He reached a small clearing, and
in the center a lake spread out in glistening glory, reflecting the mountain
peaks behind it. He dismounted and stared in awe at the vista as his speckled
horse grazed. Images of Evelyn overlapped his vision until it seemed a
transparent silhouette of her smiling face hovered over the mountains.
A well-kept cabin stood a dozen
yards from the crystal-clear lake. The stream feeding into it from the north
flowed out to the east and created a short waterfall down a slope of rocks.
Cooper McCord, the man who had been by Evelyn’s side while Daniel had been at
war, called this part of paradise home when he wasn’t in town.
Cooper’s friendship had become a
steadying hand in the three months since Daniel’s return. Without speaking of
it, Cooper understood what Daniel had been through. They never spoke of their
experiences: Daniel’s in the war between the North and South, and Cooper’s from
his days serving as a civilian tracker in the army, occupying the West and
witnessing the travesties wrought against the natives.
Cooper first brought Daniel to this
same mountain lake a week after the nightmares had begun. Since then, Daniel
had found solace in this place high above the town, the people, the noise. When
he craved silence, he came here. Daniel had seen the disappointment in Evelyn’s
eyes when he remained quiet about his experiences, but she never pushed.
He heard the crunch of horse hooves
on rocks and twigs covering the trail. Only Cooper came here—it was his home. Daniel
wondered where he had been for the past three days.
Daniel did turn when Cooper said
nothing and saw the extra horse with the large buck draped over the saddle and
covered in heavy canvas. Cooper walked over and stood next to Daniel. The
dawn’s warm sun promised a clear and sunny day.
“Thought you might be here this
morning.”
“The buck is for tonight?”
Cooper nodded. “Evelyn will
understand if you aren’t there.”
“I can’t do that to her.” Daniel
watched the sun inch higher on the horizon. The first Independence Day in four
years without the screams, trumpets, cannons, and muskets echoing in his ears.
Instead of a body-strewn battlefield, Daniel gazed upon the most beautiful
valley he’d ever seen in his life. Instead of cries coming from a hospital
tent, the town of Whitcomb Springs below was a haven for him and anyone else
seeking solace and a peaceful place to live.
Daniel still heard the screams in his
nightmares. Muskets firing, filling the air with the stench of smoke and death.
He relived it often. Most nights, the comfort of holding his wife was enough to
waylay the madness within, but the worst of the memories sneaked through his
barrier.
“The Unwitting Hero of Whitcomb Springs” by Samantha St. Claire
Montana Territory—1884
Drawn by the romantic stories of brave men carving a
home out of the Montana wilderness, Rebecca joins her sister in Whitcomb
Springs to find a real man, a man of heroic dimensions. What she finds is
Roper, a man of dubious dimensions. But looks can be deceiving and Roper may
turn out to be just the hero she’s not been looking for.
Samantha St. Claire was born in 2016, the alter-ego and pen name of an author of historical fiction born a few decades earlier. She may have found her niche in western historical fiction, served up sweet. Never faint of heart, her signature protagonists face the hazards of the frontier with courage, wit, and a healthy pinch of humor.
Follow www.samanthastclaire.com to read more about the research that has helped develop the characters, towns, and stories of the Sawtooth Range Series.
Excerpt from “The Unwitting Hero of Whitcomb Springs”
Roper
stopped midstride, “A looker? My horse is a looker. This woman’s . . .”
Hank
grinned. “I think you said ‘an angel without the wings’. Never knew you were
inclined to poetry.”
“You
can make fun all you want, but when you see her, you’ll understand.”
Jack
piped in, “She sure does smell good.” The boy’s eyes held a dreamy quality
quite unlike the skeptical glint he normally harbored there. “Just nice, a
little like Ma, but sweeter. Not like the fancy ladies over at Sheila’s house.”
Both
Hank and Roper turned to where Jack perched on the edge of Hank’s desk.
Hank
asked in a slow drawl, “And you would know that how?”
Jack
frowned, pursing his lips saying, “You can smell them from across the street.”
Roper
pressed the issue, asking, “You make a habit of taking your route home through
that alley? It doesn’t seem the most direct way from school or the general
store.”
Jack
met the question but neither man’s eyes. “I might’ve been invited in for a
cookie or two—on occasion.”
Hank
lifted one dark eyebrow. “A cookie? They in the bakery business now?”
Jack
squirmed. “I may have run an errand or two for Sheila—on occasion.”
Roper
took his turn at bat. “You’re on a first name basis, too? Is that all you been
up to on occasion?”
“Well,
yeah!” Jack folded his arms and screwed up his face, a picture of disgust.
“What else?”
Hank
and Roper exchanged glances.
Hank
asked, “How old are you?”
“Eleven.”
Jack cinched up his pants and stuck out his chin. “Nearly eleven and a half.”
Hank
narrowed his eyes. “Your mother know you been over there?”
“Nah.”
Jack’s face paled leaving only a smear of freckles to color his nose. “Hey! You
ain’t gonna tell her, are ‘ya?”
Hank
threw up his hands and vigorously shook his head. “Not me.”
Roper
knew Hank’s relationship with Jack’s mother might make him a bit reluctant to
snitch on her son. So, Roper stepped in with a little bit of big-brother
advice. “Seems to me that a boy your age might be better off getting his
cookies from his mom’s kitchen.”
Hank
nodded, suppressing a grin. “Definitely.”
Jack
changed the subject, looking at Roper again. “So, what ya gonna do to get Aunt
Rebecca to like you?”
Hank
answered the question. “I’d imagine he should just be his normal, charming
self,”
“His
charming self?” Jack looked mystified. “Like in Prince Charming? I sure ain’t
seen it.”
Hank
shrugged. “Well, maybe not just like
Prince Charming, but he can be. . .nice.” Hank unrolled from the chair and
ambled back to his desk. He turned an eyebrow on Jack as he passed.
“And
stop saying ain’t. Your mother doesn’t like it.”
“Do
I have to be charming?” Roper scratched the back of his neck.
Hank
pulled a hand down his stubbled cheek. “Well, you know, just pay special
attention to her. The usual things like hold open a door or pull out her chair.
Make conversation ladies like. Talk about the flowers and the weather. Be a
gentleman. You know.”
“I
don’t know.” Roper frowned and returned to pacing.
Praise for the Whitcomb Springs Series
"What a wonderful story of courage and
hope. I loved Evelyn Whitcomb’s story and her love for her town and the
families in it. How courageous she was. I hope we hear more about Evelyn and
Daniel in future stories. I look forward to more short stories from this
post-Civil War town." ~Kindle Reader on "Whitcomb
Springs"
"Samantha St, Claire's HEALING FIRE is
a lovely read! I felt like I was there in the yard, my back leaning against a
fence post, as I watched events unfold. Miss St. Claire writes about choices a
young widow makes for herself and for her son in the face of societal judgment
and familial pressure. I couldn't pull myself away, so I finished it in one
sitting. Especially gripping was the fire scene. Lovable characters left me
wanting more, please." ~Kindle Reader on "Healing Fire"
"Thank you for this story which just
wets my appetite for more books in the future. I've had a marvelous afternoon
reading about the good, the bad and the honorable."
~Kindle Reader on "Retribution
Road"
"Forsaken Trail is another fabulous
read by MK McClintock! I have read just about everything MK has written and I
am never disappointed. This one is no different. It is a short story but it is
packed full of adventure, suspense, love and inspiration. I loved it!
I give Forsaken Trail 5 stars and highly recommend Cooper’s story for all who
love a good historical." ~Kindle Reader on "Forsaken
Trail"
"I feel certain most any reader will
find something in this story with which to resonate. You'll find an offering of
faith in "Tracking Amy." I hope you'll read it and share it with
someone you love." ~The Constant Reader on "Tracking Amy"
"This story is short, passionate and
to the point. It leaves you wanting more from Lynn Winchester!" ~Kindle
Reader on "Walk the Lightning"
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