This is the same
Medieval Monday that features some of the best romance out there but now it’s
with a twist. Each week a different author will be featured here with a “themed
excerpt.” This month, all the excerpts will be about the hero and heroine’s
first encounter. Today’s quest is Ashley York. You’re going to love this
excerpt. Enjoy!
Medieval Monday that features some of the best romance out there but now it’s
with a twist. Each week a different author will be featured here with a “themed
excerpt.” This month, all the excerpts will be about the hero and heroine’s
first encounter. Today’s quest is Ashley York. You’re going to love this
excerpt. Enjoy!
Excerpt
Sean took a few
steps into the woods, allowing his eyes to adjust. The shadowed figure of the
mounted animal became discernible. It whinnied and backed further into the
darkness.
steps into the woods, allowing his eyes to adjust. The shadowed figure of the
mounted animal became discernible. It whinnied and backed further into the
darkness.
“Hold!” Sean
said. He struggled not to let his anger be heard. “Ye’ve bested me. Steal the
horse but I’m for the coast. I need my things.”
said. He struggled not to let his anger be heard. “Ye’ve bested me. Steal the
horse but I’m for the coast. I need my things.”
“’Tis not
stealing it if it’s mine.”
stealing it if it’s mine.”
Not a woman’s
voice. A young lad then.
voice. A young lad then.
“I paid for the
use of it, son.”
use of it, son.”
“I’m not yer
son.” The voice broke, confirming Sean’s suspicions.
son.” The voice broke, confirming Sean’s suspicions.
“Nae. Ye’re not
but I have quite a walk ahead of me. May I at least collect my belongings?”
but I have quite a walk ahead of me. May I at least collect my belongings?”
A loud thud
accompanied the bag that dropped at his feet. Sean stared at the sack. Arrogant
little shite. The few items he’d collected to bring home were no doubt in
pieces now. Anger simmered. He glanced toward the rider.
accompanied the bag that dropped at his feet. Sean stared at the sack. Arrogant
little shite. The few items he’d collected to bring home were no doubt in
pieces now. Anger simmered. He glanced toward the rider.
“My thanks. And
will ye toss the weapons at me as well?”
will ye toss the weapons at me as well?”
“They’re mine
now… the price for the use of my horse.”
now… the price for the use of my horse.”
Sean forced
himself to appear calm. “I told ye I paid for the use.”
himself to appear calm. “I told ye I paid for the use.”
“But it wasn’t
paid to me.”
paid to me.”
Sean moved in
closer but with every step, the rider retreated. If he could get his hands on
him, Sean would teach him a lesson he wouldn’t soon be forgetting. By his size,
the boy looked to be about ten.
closer but with every step, the rider retreated. If he could get his hands on
him, Sean would teach him a lesson he wouldn’t soon be forgetting. By his size,
the boy looked to be about ten.
“But I did pay
for its use. An honest agreement between men. I had nae way of knowing it had
been stolen. I had plans to return it.” Despite the blood racing through him at
being outsmarted by some unknown, he shifted his tactics. He used his
ever-so-amicable tone of voice but would not be letting the horse—or rider—get
away. “When was the horse stolen from ye?”
for its use. An honest agreement between men. I had nae way of knowing it had
been stolen. I had plans to return it.” Despite the blood racing through him at
being outsmarted by some unknown, he shifted his tactics. He used his
ever-so-amicable tone of voice but would not be letting the horse—or rider—get
away. “When was the horse stolen from ye?”
The lad didn’t
respond at first but the beast shifted, indicating uneasiness. “It was taken
without my permission.”
respond at first but the beast shifted, indicating uneasiness. “It was taken
without my permission.”
Sean gave a
small smile, moving closer as he spoke. “That’s what I said.”
small smile, moving closer as he spoke. “That’s what I said.”
“Nae ye asked
when it was stolen from me.”
when it was stolen from me.”
“Is there a
difference?”
difference?”
The lad tipped
his head back as if looking heavenward in exasperation. Taking his eyes off
Sean proved to be his mistake. With three long strides Sean closed in, yanked
at the reins, and ripped them from the rider’s loose grip. Stepping clear, he
waited while the courser jerked against the rope now held firmly in his grip.
The rider, struggling to keep his seat, tossed about with the rough motion.
his head back as if looking heavenward in exasperation. Taking his eyes off
Sean proved to be his mistake. With three long strides Sean closed in, yanked
at the reins, and ripped them from the rider’s loose grip. Stepping clear, he
waited while the courser jerked against the rope now held firmly in his grip.
The rider, struggling to keep his seat, tossed about with the rough motion.
“Arghhh.”
Definitely a
young lad. Not even a curse uttered from the unexpected change of events.
young lad. Not even a curse uttered from the unexpected change of events.
“Damn it.”
Sean smiled and
stepped in to put his arm around the horse’s snout to settle it down. He spoke
in a quiet, calming voice. “Easy now, Roana.”
stepped in to put his arm around the horse’s snout to settle it down. He spoke
in a quiet, calming voice. “Easy now, Roana.”
“Roana! What
kind of name is that?” The lad threw his leg over the far side of its body in
preparation for his escape.
kind of name is that?” The lad threw his leg over the far side of its body in
preparation for his escape.
The courser was
not very tall. Sean wondered why he didn’t just jump off.
not very tall. Sean wondered why he didn’t just jump off.
“The one I gave
it! A handsome beast deserves a handsome name.”
it! A handsome beast deserves a handsome name.”
He grabbed at
the lad’s skinny arm, hauling him across the saddle, flat on his belly, facing
him.
the lad’s skinny arm, hauling him across the saddle, flat on his belly, facing
him.
Sean offered a
contented smile. “Did ye have somewhere to go?”
contented smile. “Did ye have somewhere to go?”
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Blurb: Outcast and alone, Thomasina MacDonell
is hell bent on finding her brother, the only person who can thwart their
father’s latest scheme to offer her as payment for his gambling debts.
Disguised as a lad, she defiantly sets off on foot to locate him—never
expecting to find a handsome, Irish warrior riding her beloved horse. The
warrior’s offer of help and unsolicited advice on how to be manlier sparks an
intimate desire to reveal her more feminine side.
is hell bent on finding her brother, the only person who can thwart their
father’s latest scheme to offer her as payment for his gambling debts.
Disguised as a lad, she defiantly sets off on foot to locate him—never
expecting to find a handsome, Irish warrior riding her beloved horse. The
warrior’s offer of help and unsolicited advice on how to be manlier sparks an
intimate desire to reveal her more feminine side.
Rejected by the
love of his life, Sean O’Cisoghe wants simply to return home and heal his
broken heart. When a young “lad” steals the horse out from under him,
he discerns the spirited woman may be in way over her head against her ruthless
father. Finding her brother while keeping her would-be betrothed at bay, Sean
must confront the fact that Thomasina has stolen his heart. Will Norman
soldiers out for his blood and shifting clan alliances cut short their growing
passion?
love of his life, Sean O’Cisoghe wants simply to return home and heal his
broken heart. When a young “lad” steals the horse out from under him,
he discerns the spirited woman may be in way over her head against her ruthless
father. Finding her brother while keeping her would-be betrothed at bay, Sean
must confront the fact that Thomasina has stolen his heart. Will Norman
soldiers out for his blood and shifting clan alliances cut short their growing
passion?
Thanks, Ruth 🙂
LOVE this encounter, Ashley! I always smile while I'm reading this one. 🙂
I so enjoyed this encounter! Oh, Sean's surprise later 🙂
My pleasure!
Love the excerpt & cover, and good luck with sales! 🙂