Today, I have the lovely Colleen Hall sharing an exclusive excerpt from her historical Christian romance, Wounded Heart!
And to make today even more awesome, the book is ON SALE for only $0.99. Grab your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Heart-Colleen-Hall-ebook/dp/B081QL76YR/
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Wild Wind came to a standstill a dozen feet from Shane and addressed him in the Cheyenne language. Shane lowered his rifle and replied. A rapid exchange followed. When the conversation concluded, Wild Wind raised one hand and motioned. Half a dozen Dog Soldiers rose from behind rocks and hillocks and converged on the warrior.
Shane pivoted and strode toward Della. She met him at the cleft between the two boulders at the entrance of the cul-de-sac. He brushed past her without a word. She followed him to his gelding’s flank, where he rummaged in one of his saddlebags.
“What are you doing? What are you and Wild Wind up to?” she demanded, fists propped on her hips.
“Wild Wind has challenged me to a fight.”
She caught her breath. She raised one hand and clenched his bicep. “What kind of fight?”
“Knife.”
“A knife fight. Why?”
“The winner gets you.”
Fear and fury boiled in a wild tumult. “The winner gets me! I’m not a prize that you men can fight over. Don’t I have a say in this? I won’t let you fight your own brother for me!”
Shane pulled his moccasins from his saddlebag and faced Della. She glared at him. He stared back at her, resolute and silent.
“I’ll talk to Wild Wind, then. If you won’t stop it, I’ll see that he does.” She spun and took one stride toward the exit before Shane grabbed her arm and whirled her back. She collided with his chest. He held her in an unyielding grip and dipped his head to bring his eyes level with hers.
“Stay out of it. Don’t shame him before his men.”
Della stared back with a determination that matched his and tried to jerk her arm free. Shane didn’t loosen his hold.
“You can’t stop this, Della. This is bigger than you.” With sudden gentleness, he loosened his hold on her arm. Sitting on a rock near the back of the cul-de-sac, he removed his boots and shoved his feet into his moccasins. Shane stood and moved to her side, so close she felt his body heat. “If it makes you feel better, we’ve agreed not to fight to the death. Only to disarm or incapacitate.” He strode out of the cul-de-sac, leaving Della to follow or not, as she chose.
Not wanting to see two men she cared about engage in combat yet unable to resist watching, Della drifted from the protection of the cul-de-sac. She eyed the combatants. The brothers were evenly matched. Both men were in their prime, equal in height and weight. They’d stripped down to their buckskin trousers and moccasins. Now, supple muscle rippled beneath smooth, gleaming skin.
One of the Dog Soldiers stepped forward and threw two knives down between the rivals. The lethal blades sank deep into the soil.
Shane pivoted and strode toward Della. She met him at the cleft between the two boulders at the entrance of the cul-de-sac. He brushed past her without a word. She followed him to his gelding’s flank, where he rummaged in one of his saddlebags.
“What are you doing? What are you and Wild Wind up to?” she demanded, fists propped on her hips.
“Wild Wind has challenged me to a fight.”
She caught her breath. She raised one hand and clenched his bicep. “What kind of fight?”
“Knife.”
“A knife fight. Why?”
“The winner gets you.”
Fear and fury boiled in a wild tumult. “The winner gets me! I’m not a prize that you men can fight over. Don’t I have a say in this? I won’t let you fight your own brother for me!”
Shane pulled his moccasins from his saddlebag and faced Della. She glared at him. He stared back at her, resolute and silent.
“I’ll talk to Wild Wind, then. If you won’t stop it, I’ll see that he does.” She spun and took one stride toward the exit before Shane grabbed her arm and whirled her back. She collided with his chest. He held her in an unyielding grip and dipped his head to bring his eyes level with hers.
“Stay out of it. Don’t shame him before his men.”
Della stared back with a determination that matched his and tried to jerk her arm free. Shane didn’t loosen his hold.
“You can’t stop this, Della. This is bigger than you.” With sudden gentleness, he loosened his hold on her arm. Sitting on a rock near the back of the cul-de-sac, he removed his boots and shoved his feet into his moccasins. Shane stood and moved to her side, so close she felt his body heat. “If it makes you feel better, we’ve agreed not to fight to the death. Only to disarm or incapacitate.” He strode out of the cul-de-sac, leaving Della to follow or not, as she chose.
Not wanting to see two men she cared about engage in combat yet unable to resist watching, Della drifted from the protection of the cul-de-sac. She eyed the combatants. The brothers were evenly matched. Both men were in their prime, equal in height and weight. They’d stripped down to their buckskin trousers and moccasins. Now, supple muscle rippled beneath smooth, gleaming skin.
One of the Dog Soldiers stepped forward and threw two knives down between the rivals. The lethal blades sank deep into the soil.
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Rustlers, Indians, and rattlesnakes add danger to the trek. A persistent cavalry captain who believes Della would make him the perfect wife and a Cheyenne chieftain’s son who tells her she’s brought sunshine to his heart complicate her life. And the handsome army scout who ramrods their wagon train guards a secret from his past that makes him believe he’s not worthy of loving Della. She must meet the challenges of the West and convince the man of her heart that love is worth risking everything to gain.
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Colleen Hall is a displaced New Englander who came South to attend college. There she met and married her husband, who is a Southerner. She never returned to New England and has lived in the Upstate of South Carolina ever since.
In her historical books she combined her love of writing with her love of history. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, horseback riding, reading, and browsing antique stores. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and family, two horses and two spoiled cats.
