“I have never been to a barn dance before. Is it anything like a night club?” Mac asks bewildered. “I mean the dresses are kinda corny, but everyone is wearing dresses like that or jeans and Western shirts.” She points to Lyn who is kicking up her heels on the straw covered wooden floor. “Look at her go!”
Lyn twirls around the dance floor as if she was born to square dance. Her huge western boots, pointed and a lethal weapon on a normal foot, she flies around do-se-doing all over the place. “She shoulda been born in Texas, I swear.” Mary chuckles and turns to Patsy. “Have you done this before?”
Patsy smiles through barbeque sauce spread liberally all over her face. “Mmm, num, ummm.” She nods her head as she reaches for the chili bubbling it’s spicy aroma and competing with the scent of biscuits, fried chicken, cole slaw, roasted pork, slabs of tender beef, and homemade biscuits drizzled liberally with butter so the tops are a golden flaky delight.
“I’ll take that as a no, and by the way, save room for desert.” Mary points to the desert table, where numerous pies, cakes, and sweet confections overload the top.
Mary looks around to be sure no one is looking before she swipes her finger in the buttercream frosting on a coconut cake nearest to her. “Oh my God, this is sooo yummy.”
Lyn wipes sweat from her brow, as she approaches her sister hostesses. “I saw that Mary! And if they see you doing that, they’ll toss you otta here. Those are the cakewalk cakes.”
“You mean these cowboys and cowgirls are going to kick their heels up high and see who can kick the highest. I though they only did that at college fraternities during home football games and such.” Mary eyes the cakes as she drools.
“No silly, this cakewalk is like a game of musical chairs, only you have to stand in a square on the floor when the music stops. It should be fun.” Lyn grins.
“Who ever heard of competing for cake, for goodness sakes there’s plenty here enough here for everyone to have some isn’t there?” Mac asks quizzically.
“There are hunks here and you are worried about cake? Besides, you get the whole cake if you win, dingaling.” Lyn gives Mac a shove on the shoulder.
Mac, not expecting it, falls directly into Mary, who falls into Patsy, who falls just inches from the cake table grabbing a cupcake on the way down. “Are we allowed to eat these?”
Lyn sighs, “Please get yourselves together ladies! Patsy, wait till the cakewalk is over before you snatch the cakes, and stop flexing your muscles, guys don’t want your biceps bigger than theirs. Mary, keep your fingers out of the icing, and try to find a bra that holds the girls in place, before you kill someone when you accidently knock them out as you walk by. And Mac,” Lyn gazes at her with a cheeky grin. “Just try to pretend you know what’s happening even if you don’t.”
“Sure Lyn, if you promise not to participate in the cake walk of the kicking kind. We don’t want to go to the pokey for accidentally blinding someone.” Mary wisecracks and they all start to laugh out loud.
Oliver’s raised eyebrows and muffled chuckle as he watches the girls, makes them laugh all the louder. He is used to the insanity, but it never ceases to surprise him.
‘Oh look, there’s our author, Tessa, and look at the people waiting for her to sign her terrific book, Fiery Texas Rose. They’re dancing as they wait!” All four of the hostesses are spellbound as Tessa signs each one with a flourish, while she dances from partner to partner. “Come on lets go join them. I love square dancing!” Lyn hollers and runs back onto the dance floor.
“I never saw anything like it!” Mac exclaims as she watches Lyn dance. “I think I remember Elaine on an old Seinfeld episode dancing like that!”
Eyes pop out of heads as Lyn takes over the dance floor. Her dress bounces along with every part of her body. “I can’t look anymore!” Someone in the crowd shouts. “She looks possessed!” Suddenly, shouts of fear fill the room. “That woman is possessed! She needs an exorcism!” Another person screams.
Someone knocks over a lantern and fire starts near Lyn, instantly she jumps into action. With her huge booted feet she stomps it out and looks around with shock, as everyone around her loses it. “Heck, I was only dancing geez, what is wrong with these people? The whole place goes nuts!!!"
Pandemonium ensues as some people run one way and the rest, run in another. “Great job girlfriend! Once again we have scared the masses. Have you noticed, the suddenly stunned faces, the wails of terror, the screams for mercy, the crying, the laughing, the complete chaos, the running and confusion all around us?” The other hostesses nod at Mary’s comment, as they gaze around the room to take in the utter confusion.
“This is terrific! My kinda party! YeeHah! Talk about fiery Texas, but without the rose!” Mary yells as she holds her side, erupts with laughter and exclaims, “Ah well, just another roast and toast…”
Please give a welcome to Tessa Berkeley-Costello, and let’s let her know her book, Castello's Fiery Texas Rose, is terrific!
Mary Rose Thornton is the only survivor of an attack that leaves her brother dead. Although investigation suggests he was planning to sell army weapons to the Mexican renegades, she knows he would never have done such a thing. Avenging his death and saving the family business by running it herself are a double challenge, and a lawman with a mistaken sense of honor stands in her way.
U.S. Marshal Trace Castillo is committed to keeping the peace, but no badge can protect his heart when it comes to a fiery Texas Rose. His hands are full with a hotheaded Irishwoman determined to find justice. Can he clear her brother's name and locate the stolen rifles before innocent people are murdered?
Bio:
Tessa loves nothing more than to be immersed in a good story. Growing up, in Tidewater Virginia, she would often rewrite books that didn't end as she imagined. Graduating from Old Dominion University, she taught school for a few years before retiring to her five acre farm where she raises pets that include Black Angus heifer named Esmeralda, a cat name Simba, and a dog named Bandit to round out the menagerie. She loves to hear from readers.
Excerpt:
“Let her go.”
Moe glanced around at the small crowd that had gathered. His hand flew from her arm, as if holding it scalded his palm. Indeed, the big man seemed ashamed and hung his head to study his boots.
“That’s it.” The man’s voice, soothing and calm, seemed to steady the giant. “See, it was easy.”
Moe’s shoulders slumped. He focused on the ground. “They told me she wanted to ride with me. They said it would be all right.”
Mary Rose pulled her forearm close and rubbed where his hands had been. The stranger stepped next to Moe and extended his hand.
“You did the right thing. That’s all that’s important.” Moe glanced back at her. Mary Rose schooled her features and tried to hide her anxiety.
“Mary Rose,” she heard Daniel call from the door of the general store.
Twisting to glance over her shoulder, she couldn’t help but give a sigh of relief as he pushed through the onlookers to her side. “What’s going on?” he asked, looking from her to
the cowboy beside Moe.
“Just a misunderstanding,” the cowboy responded, placing a reassuring hand upon Moe’s shoulder. “Go on and see to your team. I’ll have a talk with those fellows. They won’t give you any more trouble.”
Moe nodded and sent a harsh glare at the men across the way.
“Did he hurt you?” Daniel inquired in a low voice.
“No.” Mary Rose shook her head. “He frightened me. This gentleman stepped in and soothed the situation.”
“Just doing my job.” The cowboy touched a forefinger to the brim of his hat. “If you don’t mind a bit of friendly advice,” he said, looking straight at Daniel,
“Never bring a woman on a run. They’re always a source of trouble.”
http://www.tessaberkley.com/books.htmlMoe glanced around at the small crowd that had gathered. His hand flew from her arm, as if holding it scalded his palm. Indeed, the big man seemed ashamed and hung his head to study his boots.
“That’s it.” The man’s voice, soothing and calm, seemed to steady the giant. “See, it was easy.”
Moe’s shoulders slumped. He focused on the ground. “They told me she wanted to ride with me. They said it would be all right.”
Mary Rose pulled her forearm close and rubbed where his hands had been. The stranger stepped next to Moe and extended his hand.
“You did the right thing. That’s all that’s important.” Moe glanced back at her. Mary Rose schooled her features and tried to hide her anxiety.
“Mary Rose,” she heard Daniel call from the door of the general store.
Twisting to glance over her shoulder, she couldn’t help but give a sigh of relief as he pushed through the onlookers to her side. “What’s going on?” he asked, looking from her to
the cowboy beside Moe.
“Just a misunderstanding,” the cowboy responded, placing a reassuring hand upon Moe’s shoulder. “Go on and see to your team. I’ll have a talk with those fellows. They won’t give you any more trouble.”
Moe nodded and sent a harsh glare at the men across the way.
“Did he hurt you?” Daniel inquired in a low voice.
“No.” Mary Rose shook her head. “He frightened me. This gentleman stepped in and soothed the situation.”
“Just doing my job.” The cowboy touched a forefinger to the brim of his hat. “If you don’t mind a bit of friendly advice,” he said, looking straight at Daniel,
“Never bring a woman on a run. They’re always a source of trouble.”
Buy Links:
Amazon
The Wild Rose Press (e-book)
The Wild Rose Press (print)
All Romance E-books
Omnilit
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