Saturday, September 14, 2013

Sweet Saturday Samples - September 14, 2013

I apologize that this sample is late. I've been battling some health thingies, and they have sapped my strength, not to mention taken a lot of time out of my schedule for doctor visits.

Anyway, welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. In this tidbit from my work-in-progress, Gone For a Soldier, Mary Owen is nearing the end of her wait for Rulon's child to appear.
~~~

Mary sat at the dinner table at noon, more for appearances than to actually take nourishment. She was so large in the belly that the mere thought of trying to fit food in with the child gave her qualms of anxiety. When would this torture be over? She waddled when she walked. Her arched back ached. Every little occurrance irritated her. A great sense of heaviness lay upon her soul, and she had not heard from Rulon for longer than she cared to think about.

Since entering what Mama had called "confinement" a few weeks ago, she had naturally not been to church services. Mama had tried to bring Mr. Moore around, but Mary refused to see him, begging off with so much force that her mother had given up trying to persuade her that she must needs prepare her immortal soul for her coming journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. She could scarcely stand to be in the company of family members, and entertaining visitors was more than she could support. Her only desire was to build a cozy nest in her bedroom and retreat into it.

~~~

I hope you enjoyed this sample from Gone For a Soldier, set during the American Civil War. Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I eventually read what you write and will reply, if needed. Questions? I'm open to them, too.

Please come back next Saturday for another sample. Thank you!

4 comments:

  1. Love it. I've just started the Owen Family Saga, so can't wait to read them and see what happens.
    Since I was there for the baby's birth, I'd like to see what happens to Mary :)
    Thanks for letting me in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your visit and comment, Susan.

      Readers might take note that Susan means she was at the retreat where I wrote the scene for which I've given the beginning above. I left poor Mary in the throes of childbirth to give a talk to the participants.

      Susan, enjoy THE MAN FROM SHENANDOAH!

      Delete
  2. So Mary's nesting, huh? Poor Mary. I feel for her being alone, without her husband at this time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Mary is close to term. Wartime was a very hard time for women on the homefront, especially when they were pregnant. It would get worse, when the homefront of the Shenandoah Valley became the battleground!

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I welcome your comments.

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