CHARACTER INTERVIEW -- THE HEROINE

Thank you for stopping by today. My guest is the heroine from GENTRY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Heidi Roth McRae.

Tell me about yourself, Heidi. What is your occupation? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Guten morgan… I mean good morning. I am pleased you asked me here.

Heidi Roth McRae

My name is Adelheid Roth McRae, but everyone calls me Heidi. I lived in a beautiful part of Bavaria before I came to Texas here in America. Now I live in what is called the Texas Hill Country. The hills are very gentle and quite lovely. At first I thought it not as pretty as my homeland, but now I have come to love living here.

In Bavaria my occupation—other than helping my mother keep house—was doing the accounts for the local grocer. I enjoyed keeping the accounts very much, and now I keep all the records for the ranch. I enjoy cooking, but at the ranch Annie Fraser does the cooking.  I never liked doing the laundry. Here at the ranch, a lady comes two days a week to do the laundry and ironing. I feel like a princess!

People in Bavaria told me I am too plainspoken, but I cannot pretend to agree if I do not. Mama told me to just say nothing. To me, that is lying by omission. I must laugh, because no one at the ranch thinks that I should not give my opinion. Everyone here speaks freely. In fact, Gentry asks me what I think about many things. I am a hard worker and believe I do a good job in my responsibilities. From the day I arrived, it seems every day brings new challenges, sometimes pleasant and sometimes danger.

The town where I lived in Bavaria.

 What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My parents taught me to work hard and accept responsibility. I suppose one would say my family life was mostly happy. No doubt it appeared that way to others. Papa always was kind to me. Mama complimented me, but seasoned it with a criticism. My older sister, Willhamina, was mean to me—she was very selfish and lazy.

Always, I have been the tallest of those my age. Now that I am ten inches over five feet, my sister and cousins call me a giant spinster. I did not let them know how much their taunting hurt my feelings. Letting them see that their barbs struck my heart would only have encouraged them.

Now that I am married to Gentry McRae, I am very happy. We are well-matched. Also, he compliments me, and so does our live-in cook, who is like a sister should be. Gentry is several inches over six feet, and so are several others I know here in Texas. Now I do not feel like I tower over everyone. Those on the ranch are like an extended and loving family. I am very fortunate to be here and a part of this group.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

The first thing that comes to mind is sitting around the kitchen table at dinner, listening to our parents talk, and then my sister and I telling them about our day. Recalling at the same time is playing with my friends. Willhamina was six years older than me, and did not play with me. I was very happy growing up, except for comments about my height.

How did you two meet? What was your first impression of heroine?

The trip from Bavaria to Texas was long and tedious. When I arrived at the stagecoach station in Bandera, Gentry greeted me instead of Johann, who was the man I traveled from Bavaria to marry. After we were in the buggy and on the way to Harrigan Springs, Gentry gently explained that Johann had died a few days before I arrived. Gentry then told me I owned a fourth of the ranch and he proposed. I was shocked, so that for a few minutes I could not make a decision. He seemed a kind man and we were business partners, so I agreed to marry Gentry. I am very glad I did.

I admit I felt as if I were cheating Johann's grandmother, who paid my fare to Texas. At the same time, I was pleased that handsome and polite Gentry was my groom. I believe we are a perfect couple. I give thanks every day that I have this life!

 What do you like about the hero?

There are many things I like about Gentry, but I’ll try to be brief. He is decisive and seems to make the right decisions. Neighbors and those in town like and respect him. He is a very gentle and passionate man in private, but perhaps I should not have mentioned that. Thankfully, he is five or six inches taller than me. You have no idea how relieved I am. Not only that, he is handsome and has a fun sense of humor. He’s a wonderful husband and father. He pitches in to help his neighbors when they need him. Oh, I could go on for a long time, but I think this gives you an idea of who he is.

 What is it that you want out of life?

Here at our ranch, I have everything I dreamed of all my life. I’m accepted for who I am and no one makes fun of me. They are patient when I forget the English word I need. Gentry said my English is rapidly improving. You see, no one criticizes me because I sometimes need help with English. Every day I feel as if I am the luckiest woman in the world!

 

If you’d like to learn more about Heidi and Gentry’s life, GENTRY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE is available from Amazon in e-book, print, and is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6YN6QHK

 

Stay safe and keep reading! 

LUCKY COMBINATION!

 By Caroline Clemmons

Sometimes things go right. Six years ago I conceived a series idea for a young widow who brings several young women to the small town of Tarnation, Texas in 1875. Naturally, I needed a name for the series. A writer friend, Kathy Shaw, suggested the Bride Brigade.  

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than seven love stories?

At the first of the initial book, young widow Lydia Jane Harrison hates that so many men are moving away to towns where there are marriageable women. She asks the local bachelors to wait while she brings young women home. Accompanied by her friend, Sophie Gaston, Lydia travels to Richmond, Virginia, with the intention of returning with four young ladies of good reputation. The four will live with her until each selects her husband from among Tarnation’s bachelors.

Plotting and writing this series was such fun. Of course it was work, but work I enjoyed. The first book has Lydia’s plans upset by adding two more women. At a layover in Atlanta, she adds one more. No problem, she has a large home.

On the hill looking across part of 

Johnson's League Ranch

Some time before I began plotting this series, Hero and I had been on a driving tour sponsored by the Palo Pinto County Historical Society. At that lovely event, I found the perfect spot for Tarnation. Originally the place was called Johnson’s League Ranch. In my mind I know exactly where the buildings of the town are located. You probably know that one of a writer’s problems/blessings is that characters become real people. Even if the place has a fictional name, it exists in our heads. We want our characters to have a good place to live.

Because she was a young Southern Belle when they wed, Lydia’s late husband built her a home like the one in which she had lived before the Civil War. While it's true the series does not have to be read in order, it will be more enjoyable if it is. The books’ are in this order: Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, Ophelia, Rachel, Lorraine, and Prudence. Click on the title above to order the book from Amazon. The books are available in e-book, print, and also are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Each woman faces different obstacles. The books are sweet romances, which means no sex scenes. Don't think that means no romance! Each ends with a happily-ever-after and never a cliffhanger. If you haven’t read them yet, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to do so. 

Lydia Jane Harrison's home

in Tarnation, Texas

Josephine believes she doesn't want to marry--ever. She's been working in Michael Buchanan's Mercantile.

To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from JOSEPHINE:

She was exhausted by the approach of closing time. Gunfire cracked and she heard galloping hooves.

Michael reached under the counter for a gun. “Get into the backroom until this is over so you won’t get hit by stray bullets.” He raced out the door and down the boardwalk.

Mrs. Horowitz, wife of the butcher, stepped away from the windows where she’d been admiring a display. “Those awful cowboys have no care for the town’s residents. They must be drunk to act so carelessly.”

“I expect you’re right. If they were intent on robbing the bank, surely they’d come in quietly to evade notice. You can step through the curtain behind you, and you’ll be in the storeroom. There’s a chair you can rest in until those men are stopped.”

Disobeying her employer’s order, Josephine stood at the side of the window so she was protected by the wall but could look out. The sheriff, his deputy, Michael, and a handful of other men with guns drawn tried to apprehend the rowdy cowboys. One of the ruffians darted toward the store.

Dear Merciful Heaven! Terror struck her and her knees almost gave way. The man who’d attacked her had returned with his friends. Was he after her or bent on destroying Tarnation?

Unable to turn away, she watched the man make his way slowly toward the mercantile. This time she was prepared. She raced to grab a skillet intent on cracking the man’s skull if he came into the store.

Mrs. Horowitz peeked through the curtains. “Miss Nailor, come in here with me. You can’t fight guns with a pan.”

“The man who attacked me is headed this way. I’ll dent his head if he comes into the mercantile.”

The other woman inched closer. “Do you see my Claus? Oh, I hope he’s not trying to outgun those men.”

“Besides Mr. Buchanan, the sheriff, his deputy, Mr. Kendrick, and Mr. Evans are there. Mr. Pettigrew also appeared. Oh, no, Tom Boyd is weaving down the road as if nothing is happening.”

“My, my, he’s no doubt so drunk he doesn’t know anything is going on.”

“Run back into the storeroom, Mrs. Horowitz. That man is almost here. He’s likely to shoot you if he sees you when he comes through the door.”

Aleida Horowitz scrambled toward the curtain. “What about you?”

“He won’t see me until too late. Hurry!” Josephine flattened herself against the wall behind the door.

No sooner had the other woman slipped through the curtain than the cowboy rushed toward the counter as if he expected Josephine to be crouched behind the island’s safety. As soon as he was inside, she swung the heavy iron skillet with all her might.

He dropped but not before she heard a burst of gunfire outside. She turned and saw Michael slump in the street’s dust. As her heart dropped to the floor, she screamed, “No!”

 

I’ve already told you that this has a happily-ever-after ending so you don’t have to worry about Michael dying. Still, you have to read the book to find out what happens, don’t you?