EXCERPT CHAPTER 1 - RUSSELL'S RETURN - A HARPER'S ROCK ROMANCE

         Hi there everybody! Here is a sneak peek at chapter one of Russell's Return that TA and I hope to have out soon! As always this excerpt is unedited but still will be enjoyable.  This book is about Russell Harper who returns to his home town with his troubled daughter.  But then he runs into the girl who used to crush on his best friend. She's all grown up and living in Harper's Rock again.  Well, needless to say, the sparks really fly...Oh and did I mention that she is the School Counselor at his daughter's new school???? Stay tuned!!!

           Despite the late hour the sun was still shining on Harper‘s Rock Wyoming. This was usually Russell Harper‘s favorite time of day in late summer. All the colors of the world around him were rich and deep and tranquil. He should be feeling peaceful, at ease with himself and the world around him.  But not today. Today he felt as if he were about to suffocate.

 “Okay Miranda, what do you think? This is where your ol’ dad grew up.” Russell peeked at the rear view mirror into the perpetually sad brown eyes of his nine year old daughter as they made their way down the main drag of Harper‘s Rock, Wyoming, population 6,114 at last count. Only one hundred more people than when Russell left town sixteen years ago.

          If ever there was a picture perfect small western town, this was it. The cars that were parked along Main Street actually looked out of place; horses tied to the posts that lined the sidewalks would perhaps have looked more appropriate. Mom and Pop businesses, most with apartments above, dotted the streets throughout the oldest parts of town.  Any newer structures were just outside of town, still on Main Street, but far enough away not to interfere with the aura of the perfect small western settlement.

          “That’s the grocery store over there, the big brown building with the blue awning. The second story is an apartment where your Uncle Logan lives.” Russell made an attempt at a contented sigh to help emphasize the statement he was about to make. “That store has always had a fresh bakery that makes the most amazing donuts you've ever eaten, and I know you love donuts. We could probably even get a discount since Uncle Logan owns the store now.” 

          Complete silence enveloped them and another peek in the rear view told Russell that his beautiful, highly intelligent daughter was looking in the opposite direction, paying him and his ramblings absolutely no attention. Her favorite food and favorite uncle hadn’t worked to break the long silence of their two day trip from Las Vegas to Harper‘s Rock. His shoulders sagged as he realized he would have to try something else. Something involving another of her favorite things maybe, but for the life of him he didn’t know… and then he saw it. “Over there is the hardware store. Grandma says they still have a toy section to rival any big city toy store. Maybe we could stop by later. What is it you’re into now, you know, those little talking Critters? Didn‘t they just come out with a new one?”

          But not even the promise of a new toy got him a response from the back seat. So it was on to the next landmark. And he knew the perfect one. Just six buildings down from the hardware store was her favorite place on earth. “Do you see the red brick building over there next to the feed store? That’s the library. I bet you’ll be spending a lot of time there huh? Grandma even said she’ll take you to get a library card after school tomorrow!” If that didn’t get him a response, nothing would. His daughter absolutely loved libraries and books.  She had two tall bookcases packed full, or at least she would again once they were unpacked. And her collection seemed to grow pretty quickly. His wallet was glad that the little town still didn’t have its own bookstore.  He would have been in big trouble if they did. To make up for moving her here he probably would have had to buy out the entire kids’ section.

          But the backseat remained quiet and he didn’t know of any other landmarks on Main Street that might catch her interest. They rode in silence for a while until he just couldn’t stand it anymore. “Sweetie please, you have to talk to me.  Tell me what you really think of Harper‘s Rock, it should be a nice place to live right?  Just look at the beautiful scenery, doesn’t it take your breath away? Plus we’ve got yummy donuts, lots of toys to choose from and a really nice library. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about your Grandma and your uncles.

          “I hate it and I hate you,” she wailed in a high pitched screech that sounded more like someone being murdered than an unhappy nine year old.