Excerpt from Stone Mountain Reunion

Radford Crossing, Texas, Late August 1874

Hot wind swirled around Gwendolyn Jones as she stepped off the stage and shook her skirts. Someone from the school board was supposed to greet her upon her arrival. Her valise clasped firmly in her hand, she watched the stage driver unload her trunks.

A young man from the hotel rushed down the steps. “Shall I take those for you, ma’am?”

From behind her, a familiar baritone called out, “No need, Hiram. Unless I’m mistaken, this must be Miss Jones, our new school teacher.”

Gwen whirled toward the speaker and stared, unable to believe the man who’d once broken her heart stood in front of her. “Mark? But I corresponded with a man named Joel Stone.”

Color drained from his face and Mark Hardeman gaped at her as if he also had trouble believing they were again face to face. “Gwen? I-I had no idea you were the Miss Jones I was meeting.”

He exhaled and stepped closer. “Um, Joel Stone’s the head of the School Board, but he’s an attorney and is in court today. He asked me to fill in for him.”

She looked anywhere but at him. “Can you tell me where I’ll be staying? I understand there’s a house near the school.”

He shrugged as if shaking himself then moved toward her belongings. “I’ll load your trunks and take you there.” He heaved her things into a nearby wagon.

When he finished, he extended his hand to help her up to the seat. Her fingers twitched and she fought the urge to pull away. Resolved, she allowed him to touch her only to learn his strong grip still sent tingles along her arm.

But this was the man who’d crushed her dreams and she couldn’t help jerking her arm away from him abruptly once she’d sat on the bench.  Barely sparing her a glance, he went to the other side and climbed up into the wagon. Once seated, he turned his attention to the horses without another word.

He was even more handsome than when she’d last seen him in Austin two years ago. His dark blond hair showed beneath his Stetson and his tawny eyes were mesmerizing. He’d filled out and appeared even stronger.

Once again, she wondered what had caused him to leave without a word. She stared down at her hands, her thoughts whirling. Of all the men in Texas, how had she managed to run into Mark? She had questions, but she would bite off her tongue before she let him know she still gave a fig about him.




In addition to her own blog find Caroline at these Team Blogs

Sweethearts of the West        Posting Date: 26th of each month
Cowboy Kisses                          Posting Date:  Fourth Monday
Smart Girls Read Romance     Posting Date:  2nd of each month