Emmeline
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Today there was one difference: Wynonna Smuthers was not inside sitting on a sofa, ready to chat, while waiting for Amos. In fact, Emmeline had no reason to sit on the sofa at all, because right in front of her stood John Farnsworth, handsome as ever, with a smile made in heaven. For a moment she was transfixed. It was as if some famous personage, maybe a Greek God, sculptured in marble, was standing there for viewing. He retained this identity for a second or two, or so it seemed, until he suddenly came to life. Then, in the same melodious voice that she recalled so well, the real John Farnsworth spoke: "Hello, Emmeline! It's good to see you again!"
Later, Emmeline would say to herself, and to Martha, that her subconscious had taken over her entire body. It had put a smile on her face, extended her hand to meet his, and answered his greeting. She couldn't recall any conscious effort at all.
There was no immediate embrace, but small talk and body language soon gave evidence that the magnetism between them still existed. A certain reticence prevailed, however, until things in the dining room started to progress. Emmeline preceded Farnsworth and followed the waiter, who led them toward three vacant tables, each by a window. The waiter stood by the nearest table, waiting for them to be seated. Emmeline turned to Farnsworth for his preference, but he deferred back to her. She glanced through the window at the scenery and then quickly motioned to the next table. She smiled as she looked through the next window. "I had hoped that the lilacs would be here--and so they are."
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Utah Territory—1868
Emmeline Bentley is savoring her freedom from a plural marriage to a Mormon cleric. New clothes and a hair style reveal a long submerged beauty, stimulating her to embark on a journey out of obscurity. She begins by meeting with a banker in Salt Lake City, who merges business with lunch and then the theater.
At home, Emmeline's family presents her with a racing stallion. Totally black, and named Midnight, he becomes a racing sensation. Not being a gambler, however, Emmeline finds racing to be more fun than lucrative, so, with her business sense and courage driving her, she enters the boisterous town of Corinne, looking for a freighting outfit. She buys one, with foreman included, and travels to the Montana mines, looking for business.
Emmeline attends the Promontory railroad celebration with friends. It is a "one of a kind" event, and good for business. She meets California Governor Leland Stanford, a race horse owner, and also finds a business partner. Within three years, she adds a hardware store and a railroad terminal partnership to her growing empire.
While competing with men, Emmeline occasionally finds romance waiting in the wings, but tells her confidante, Martha, that no relationships are pending. Needing a new focus, she designs and has built a railroad coach for humans and animals. With Midnight and rider along, she travels to California, winning races, meeting people, and selling coaches.
Arriving home, richer and rested, Emmeline is eager to see her family, but after a pleasurable period, an unfulfilled longing emerges. Recalling the men she has known, there are two who could make a difference: The Banker and a U.S. Marshal, who once saved her life. Selecting would be emotional, and might result in heartbreak, but Emmeline Bentley has never been a shrinking violet.
About the Author
I wrote poetry, newspaper articles, and many competitive Toastmaster speeches, before writing for a living. It was when I went from an electronic trouble-shooter for AT&T Co. to engineering that my writing expanded. My superior decided that I wrote better technical letters than he did, and retained only the signing for himself. It was then that I realized I had a talent for writing.
Several years later, I retired and moved to Salt Lake City. Having worked over much of the West, I now had time to explore the history of my surroundings. I did this with great interest and passion, absorbing a prodigious amount of history and lore. It was time to write again.
After two plus years of writing, I produced a book titled Silver Creek City. It was a modest success, but within a year I started another novel. This one would be more specific and focused. I chose an energetic frontier woman named EMMELINE to be my protagonist, and bet everything on her.
Emmeline didn't let me down; born to be a success, all she needed was a chance to prove it. She does it against great odds, in an era when women were expected live and work in very strict confines, dictated by the men who controlled them. Romance occasionally encroaches on Emmeline's goals, providing zest to the tale. Yes, you will like Emmeline.
About two years ago, someone asked me about my style of writing. First, I said that I choose my characters with care, because I have big plans for them. They are going to tell me what their next moves will be. Finally, I said that when my book is well along, I get anxious to finish it, because I want to know how it all turns out.