Book Blurb:
Six months ago, Anya Fleming's ten- year-old son, Willie-boy, found his father hanging
in the barn. Traumatized over his father's suicide, the boy hasn't spoken a word since.
Now, Willie-boy has come down with a grave, unknown illness and there's only one man
who can save him, Sutter Sky, a learned Blackfoot shaman known as Yellow Smoke—a
shaman who was once deeply in love with Anya.
But Fate had other plans for Anya and Sutter—she was forced to marry Lewis Fleming,
a cruel man who berated her night and day, and brokenhearted Sutter immersed
himself in the mystical customs and beliefs of his People and became a shaman
.
As if Anya didn't have enough to deal with after her husband's death and her son's
illness, an evil, sinister ghost is terrorizing their ranch. Anya is convinced the spirit is
Lewis, who apparently isn't done making her life miserable.
When she turns to Yellow Smoke for help, will he put side his bitterness and save Willie-
boy? And can the renowned shaman dispel the powerful ghost from their lives and send
him back to Hades?
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EXCERPT:
Sutter confronts the ghost.
Chapter Fourteen
"Make my enemy brave and strong, so that if defeated, I will not
be ashamed."
Plains Tribes
Tendrils of darkness breached the room as Sutter slipped
through the window of Anya's room. He didn't want Willie-boy to see him dressed
for war, the ebony handprints –chin to cheek—the tunic and leggings splashed
with blood red paint. If he didn't return, he wanted the boy to remember how he
looked the last time he saw him. A misty cloud of energy trailed Sutter as he
sprinted through the woods, a sign the wraith was on the prowl and primed for
killing. That suited Sutter just fine. He had one goal in mind—lead the ghost
toward the pit. He'd worry about how to implement the second part of his plan
when the time came. An odious stench spiraled up his nostrils, another potent
omen the heavy, scuffing footsteps behind him belonged to Ten Wounds.
Moments later, a cry from the dead and damned cleaved the
dark, chilling Sutter's blood. No wonder Lewis had cracked, no wonder Anya and
Willie-boy were terrified of the evil spirit. No wonder Cobb had said, 'Run,
brother. Take Anya and run.' Close, the Zeuzeu was close now. Sutter imagined
the ghost's rank breath stirring the long, dark hair at the nape of his neck.
The pit loomed ahead. Sutter spotted the pine branches and
broken boughs he'd placed over the illusory grave. "Now or never", he
said to the full moon overhead and came to an abrupt halt. Drawing a deep
breath, he mustered up his courage and turned to face Ten Wounds. A haze of
gray mist swirled around the spirit's form, his human form. If the situation
weren't so serious, Sutter could have shouted with joy.
He took in the ghost's visage. A quiver hung from his
shoulder stocked with sharp, pointed arrows—a sign he'd transformed into the
fierce warrior who once walked the earth. Steeped in blood (no doubt from his
recent kills), his clothing hung in tatters around his massive frame—a vest
made of animal hides, a breechcloth and fringed leggings. Sutter's gaze
traveled to his painted, pock-marked face. Yellow and white stripes marked his
forehead and chin, and black circles blended into his dark eyes. For a brief
second, Sutter's insides quivered and ropes of tension knotted every cord and
fiber of his body. Bleary, unearthly eyes speared Sutter when the wraith raised
a hand of claw-like fingers and pointed at his enemy’s chest.
The wind, much like the sound of a thousand women wailing,
keened into the deafening silence. Fire exploded from the ghost's eyes—flames
the fires of Hell couldn't compete with. Sutter shouted over the infernal noise
and flames. "You are not welcome here! Hear my words, you are dead!"
Like a misty cloud of energy, Ten Wounds lurched forward, a
staccato rhythm of hisses and howls spewing from his foam-drooling mouth.
Sutter had never imagined such a demonic apparition.
Giveaway:
Thank you ladies for sharing such a great post about a wonderful book and author.
ReplyDeleteA great chapter! Thanks for sharing, badasses lol x
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