THE WOMEN OF CROOKED CREEK by MK McClintock - Excerpt - "Captivating"
Emma, Hattie, Briley, and Clara are the women of a rugged and beautiful mountain town known as Crooked Creek. Set in post-Civil War Montana Territory, the stories tell of women are tender and strong, and men who are are honorable and chivalrous. Together, they all find a way to overcome the obstacles life and the aftermaths of war have thrust upon them.
The Women of Crooked Creek
About the Book
Four courageous women, an untamed land, and the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Meet the remarkable women willing to forge new lives in post-Civil War Montana Territory.
"Emma of Crooked Creek"
Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, quite literally falls at Emma's feet, she is bound by duty to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected.
"Hattie of Crooked Creek"
Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger, she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again?
"Briley of Crooked Creek"
Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land.
"Clara of Crooked Creek"
No longer willing to allow society’s opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost.
If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy The Women of Crooked Creek.
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"MK McClintock knows what readers want. A good collection of short stories." —Readers' Favorite
"I LOVE this book! Each story is captivating. I read the whole book within 24 hours. I am now a fan of MK McClintock. I can’t wait to get more of her books!"—Goodreads review, 5 stars
Enjoy an Excerpt from
The Women of Crooked Creek
From "Hattie of Crooked Creek"
Crooked Creek, Montana Territory
October 1865
HATTIE STARED UP at the early morning rays as they glistened through her watery grave. She should have known better than to ride out before the sun rose above the craggy peaks, but she had to prove herself day after day, if to no one else but herself.
Glen Meek, her foreman, scolded her two mornings ago when he learned that she’d been heading out on her own in the mornings before he and young John, his nephew, had even put their heads on the pillow from the night before.
Hattie had waved off Glen’s concern with a distracting grin and a load of grit. The McBride Ranch was Hattie’s responsibility, her late husband’s legacy, and no one would take it away from her.
Lights swam through the sky above her. If she reached out far enough, her fingers might be able to skim the surface of a star before the sun’s light washed them all away. She must have fallen into the river. Her shift clung to her body as though wet, but she knew how to swim. Why, then, did the black waters of unconsciousness seem determined to carry her away?
The raging fire burned within as her lungs expanded. The pounding on her chest surely couldn’t be good for her ribs.
“Don’t do this. Stay with me.”
Her lungs exhaled, but instead of air, water escaped from her mouth in a frenzy of coughs.
“That’s right, let it all out.”
Twigs and small rocks dug into her back, but she lay flat and ignored them. Sunlight threatened her eyes to open.
“You’re going to make it.”
What was he talking about? The words didn’t make it past her thoughts. Her lips still scorched from the heat, of what she didn’t know. Her body no longer lay upon the hard earth, and her mind began to wake to greater awareness.
“Put me down.”
Of course, the man couldn’t hear her. She barely heard the scratchy whisper.
“I said—”
“I heard you, Mrs. McBride, but I’m not putting you down.”
Hattie’s arm disobeyed her when she tried to reach for the colt strapped to her hip. Her captor, though apparently strong, handled her with great care, but Hattie knew the worst of what could happen to her awaited. “So this must be Hell.”
End of Excerpt. Read extended excerpt >
Excerpt Copyright (c)MK McClintock.
The Author
Award-winning author MK McClintock writes historical romantic fiction about courageous and honorable men and strong women who appreciate chivalry, like those in her Montana Gallagher, British Agent, and Crooked Creek series. Her stories of adventure, romance, and mystery sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles, with places and times between and beyond. She enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains.
MK invites you to join her on her writing journey at mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her many books and series, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog.
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Genre: Historical Western Romance
Type: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Packsaddle Press
Release Date: 2016; new cover released July 2021
Series: Crooked Creek
Content Rating: 1 Heart/PG
Author's note on genre and content: This book is a clean romance, but also contains some elements of western-style action and violence.
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