ONE OF MY FAVORITE HEROES

 

By Caroline Clemmons

Welome Sheriff Jesse Cameron as our guest character today, the hero of JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. Jesse, thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Thank you, ma’am. I’m honored to be invited, though I dinnae ken why your readers would be interested in the Harrigan County Sheriff.  

I know you’re a Texas sheriff, but I detect an accent in your speech. Would you tell us from where you’ve come?

Aye, I came from Scotland. First, I worked as an indentured sailor for seven years to pay for my passage to America. I started my indentured service at fourteen—almost fifteen—because I could pass for eighteen, you ken? I was that tall for my age.

What was life like growing up in Scotland?

My family lived on a farm not far from Kelso. We raised sheep. Mum also had chickens and a few goats for milk. She made and sold her goat cheese. We also had a couple of cows. You can tell I didnae escape caring for the animals. We lived in a small cottage, but we enjoyed one another. I had a grand time growing up. I didnae mind working with Da on the farm, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

Your leaving must have upset your parents.

Aye, they worried about me leaving so young. Mum and Da are great parents who understood my wish to leave and live in America. In fact, they will join me here after my Gran dies. She’s a grand lady, so no one is eager for that day to come.

What brought you to send for a mail order bride?

Several months back, I helped fight a grass fire on a local ranch. Volunteers barely saved the house, but much of the grass and some cattle were destroyed. A couple of people collapsed from the heat and stress. If not for a sudden downpour, more would have been lost, including men exhausted from fighting the fire. The sudden danger presented to so much land and so many people reminded me how fleeting life could be. I evaluated my life and realized it was time to settle down. I bought a house and sent for a bride. My best friend is my deputy, and he decided to send for a bride from the same matchmaker. Turned out our brides are cousins.

That sounds like a good result. Are you each pleased with your bride?

Aye, the plan worked out grand. My bride, Rosalin, is beautiful, regal, intelligent, and works hard to please me. I couldn’t be happier—except I feel like there’s something she’s hiding from me. I haven’t worked out what it could be, and she insists there’s nothing. She brought her nephew, who’s 8. He’s a good boy, but he has a lot of nightmares. My deputy is sure pleased with his bride, who is a pretty chatterbox.

Ma’am, I appreciate you having me here today, but I have to get back to work. Tell your readers if they’d like to learn more about me, check out my story in JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD64JC1D?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

 

 

HOW IT ALL BEGAN...

 By Caroline Clemmons

 

Ever since my family had a German couple as landlords when I was a little girl in Bakersfield, California, I have been fascinated by the German language—and the country. Our landlords spoke German when nosy little girls were near. I suspect they hoped it would discourage me, but it only caused me to eavesdrop whenever I could. That wasn’t often. Of course, my mother would not have permitted it if she had known.

My fascination didn’t wane after my family moved back to Texas, but I couldn't do much to feed my obsession except read the encyclopedias. I took German 101 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The professor was an  exchange professor from Germany. His stories of his homeland increased my desire to visit there. Finally, after many years, my husband began traveling to Germany occasionally. I was able to tag along several times.

In the meantime, both our daughters had taken German classes. On one trip they accompanied us. Our oldest had her heart set on a genuine cuckoo clock. In my favorite city of Munich, she had practiced how to ask for one in a shop. The first place we tried didn’t have them, but the clerk gave us directions in German to a clock shop not far away. I could tell she spoke English and was humoring our daughter. With only our smattering of German, we were elated when we understood the directions and found the right shop. Sadly, now we couldn’t do it—use it or lose it! We lost it.

When I thought of starting a fresh historical western romance mail order bride series, I wanted the first brides to be German. The area I love most is Bavaria. So, Adelheid “Heidi” Roth became the first mail order bride for the new sweet series, the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides. Her groom is Gentry McRae. (You may notice that is not the name of the groom to whom she commits herself in the excerpt below.)

Heidi

Heidi is a beautiful blond of 25 and is 5’ 10” tall. Without consciously intending it, Heidi’s family takes advantage of her. Well, maybe her sister intends to do so. Although Heidi has a quick temper, she usually keeps it in check rather than create strife in her family. Her spoiled younger sister, Willhamina, makes no attempt to hide her feeling of superiority because she is married and Heidi is not. 

Heidi's Bavarian Hometown

Several times recently, the local matchmaker has invited Heidi to visit her regarding Johann Meyer, a former resident who is now living in America. His mother also calls on Heidi. However, Heidi wants to find a husband on her own. One day, insults go too far and Heidi’s control snaps. She throws her pride and her apron aside and goes to the matchmaker.

Here the excerpt of the result:

Although she hated to leave her parents, she was tired of her family members criticizing her. If she needed to support herself, she could cook and sew and clean and do accounts. Her heart pounded so loud she thought Mrs. Heinz must hear it.

Heidi took a deep breath. “I believe Johann and I can make a good marriage.”

The matchmaker leaned back and clasped her hands to her chest. “Wonderful, my dear! You are a beautiful woman and a good daughter. I know how hard you work to help your mother, and even find time to help Mr. Schneider with his bookkeeping.”

“Thank you,” was all Heidi could say.

“I am so pleased you will have your own home—and it sounds like a very nice one. I have your funds and your travel arrangements. Mrs. Meyer was so sure you would accept that she has given me your tickets and the cash you’ll need for incidentals.”

Heidi cleared her throat to remove the lump that had lodged there. “You mean… you mean I am supposed to leave immediately?”

Mrs. Heinz held up a hand in a motion to halt. “You must get to your ship by the end of the month. To do so, you must leave in fourteen days. Please write Johann a letter today while you are here. I will mail it immediately so he will have it before you arrive.” She handed Heidi several sheets of paper and set the inkwell and pen near her.

Gentry, groom by default

Heidi travels for weeks to reach Harrigan Springs, Texas. When she arrives, huge surprises await her. If you haven’t read GENTRY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, I hope you’ll do so and then follow the series. You don't need to read the books in order, but you'll enjoy them more if you do. Each book is available in e-book and print. They are all enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the Amazon link for GENTRY.

https://www.amazon.com/Gentry-Mail-Order-Bride-Country-

ebook/dp/B0B6YN6QHK

 

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and keep reading! 

ROSALIN AND JESSE PLACE!

 By Caroline Clemmons

What a lovely surprise I had last week! An email notified me that my clean sweet historical western romance, JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 2 of the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides Series, has tied for third place in the National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest for 2023 in the historical short category. That contest is sponsored by the Central Region Oklahoma Writers. Actually, it’s the only contest I entered, which increases the pleasure of being a finalist. At the time I was notified I was a finalist, I couldn’t fully appreciate the honor because Hero was in the hospital followed by rehab. He came home Wednesday, and I am happy to have him home and feeling better. He scared us there for a few days.

JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE is more the bride’s story than the groom’s. Rosalin Arnold grew up very sheltered in a large orphanage not far from the nation’s capital. Although beautiful, she was not adopted—possibly because many people don’t trust a redhead. In spite of her surroundings, Rosalin has grown into an elegant, graceful, and intelligent woman, but she is quite naïve about the world.

After leaving the protection of the orphanage, her first job was as a waitress in a restaurant located in a dismal area of Washington, D.C. Spunky Rosalin wasn’t afraid of hard work, but both her room in a boardinghouse and the nearby café were dismal. She viewed both as stepping stones to a better life. When she’d been waiting tables a year, a charming young man told her he could get her an easier job that paid more. Still naïve, she fell for his lies. Too late, she learned her boss was a devilish criminal who told her she had to pick pockets. After teaching her and others how to succeed at picking pockets, the man said she must bring back her quota each day. He also told her if she tried to leave, he’d find her and she’d suffer the consequences.

Rosalin had been taught right from wrong and hated being forced to steal. Though her boss and his henchmen terrified her, she vowed she would not show that fear. Rosalin also refused to accept that this was her fate—or that she could be transferred to work in the brothel if she didn’t follow orders. She and her roommate wanted to escape, but everyone they knew who’d tried was captured and bad things happened to them.

After biding her time, she felt ready to implement her plan. In addition, she intended to take her roommate and a young boy with her. She convinced her boss to let her and her roommate dress as elegant society ladies aided by the young boy to make a big score. Her boss agreed reluctantly. She chose a politician she saw accept a fat envelope. She speculated the envelope contained a bribe. In fact, the result was a bonanza, which provided enough cash for their escape—if she could evade their boss’ enforcers. Certain the money was a bribe, she didn’t feel guilty about relieving the politician of the funds.

Sheriff Jesse Cameron aimed for Texas when he stepped off the ship that brought him to America from Scotland. Good natured, Jesse is young for a sheriff. He arrived in town in the midst of a battle between the former sheriff and deputies against a group of robbers. He pitched in to help the sheriff. He is capable, well-respected, and viewed as firm but fair. When upset, his Scottish burr thickens his speech.

To learn what happens when a feisty pickpocket bride meets a strict sheriff as her groom, get your copy of JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. Available as an e-book, a paperback, and enrolled in KU.

https://www.amazon.com/Jesse-Order-Bride-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0BD64JC1D/

Stay safe and keep reading!