Title Donald – Sons of Sagamore Book 3
Author Ruth A. Casie
Genre Historical Fantasy, Scottish Highlander, Ancient World
Publisher Dragonblade Publishing
Book Blurb
He surrendered his heart and would give his life for her to succeed.
Andrea Ricard, an inquisitive scholar of antiquities travels with her uncle to help him with his trade business. When she finds her mother’s family name on a piece of a map associated with the location of a rare relic, she is compelled to find it. Nothing will get in her way to unearth its secrets.
Donald MacDougall Tyler Eden has enjoyed a carefree life, but over the last year he has found satisfaction working with his brother Hugh, who has a successful investment business. He has forged a close relationship with one of their business partners, Andrea’s uncle. On a visit to Hugh, Donald meets Andrea and is smitten. When Andrea finds that an antique in Hugh’s collection contains another piece to her mysterious map she is more determined than ever to find the relic. Donald is drawn into her adventure and volunteers to accompany her on her quest.
Andrea has only told Donald half-truths for fear he would not join her. The relic is surrounded by mystery and prophecy. A disgraced soldier with hopes of repairing his relationship with the king has found out about the relic and is just as determined as Andrea to secure it for himself.
Andrea and Donald’s belief in what’s right as well as each other will be tested on a journey filled with adventure and hardships as they race across the vineyards of the Champagne region in France, up the east coast of England to an ancient church in Bamburgh.
Can Andrea and her MacDougall warrior resolve the mystery, face the prophecy, vanquish the villain… and find their happily ever after.
Excerpt:
They had traveled about an hour when Donald turned and looked past her down the trail.
She turned quickly to see what caught his attention and scanned the area as best she could.
She came up next to him. He said nothing. They kept going.
“I felt it, too. Someone is watching us,” she said.
“I think you are over tired and imagining things. If someone was following we would have heard them tramping in the woods or horse’s hooves on these stones. No. There is nobody about. There’s a clearing up ahead. We can stop there.”
They coaxed the horses off the trail to the clearing. While Donald took care of the horses, she went for a bit of privacy.
She came to the bushes and froze at the sound of a low rumble. She slowly turned her head. Her heart leapt into her throat. A wolf with its teeth bared crouched close enough for her to see the spittle dripping from its muzzle.
“Rea.”
She dare not call out. The wolf’s eyes were locked on her.
“Rea, where are you?”
Keeping her head still, she glanced for something to protect her. She found nothing.
Out of nowhere there was a high-pitched whistle.
The wolf turned toward the noise. Donald raced at the animal.
The beast forgot about her and took off for Donald. The animal leaped at him and knocked him down.
The wolf growled and snapped. Donald rolled and got to his feet. Standing his full six-foot three-inch height, he yelled, threw his arms wide, and came at the wolf.
The wolf bared its teeth and hunkered down ready to spring.
Donald was not put off. Was the man crazy, screaming and lunging at the beast? The wolf sprang at him, but he was ready. Donald caught the wolf by the shoulders and kept the animal at arm’s length.
The wolf, on its hind legs, snapped at Donald and tried to bite his arm, but only got a taste or two of his tunic.
Donald kicked the animal’s underbelly over and over until the beast cried out and tried to get free. But he would not let go. The beast needed to be convinced it wasn’t a match for the man. Donald kept kicking until the wolf finally wrenched itself free. Donald stalked the animal as it backed away. Each time the wolf snarled, or growled, Donald came at him.
Cowering, the wolf backed away from him. Still Donald pursued him. The animal still cringing raised its head snarling and growling. Donald rushed the beast. Finally, the animal turned tail and took off back into the woods yelping.
Donald hurried back to Andrea and took her into his arms.
“I’m not hurt,” she said. “Again, you’ve come to my rescue.”
“It is my destiny.” He put his arm around her as they went back to the horses.
“We must leave. This wolf was old and alone. We don’t want him to come back with his friends.”
“Stay close to my side and don’t stop, no matter what you see or hear,” Donald said as they mounted up and raced full out down the trail.
While they rushed down the trail the incident played over in his mind. He was sure the wolf would fulfill the prophecy the sword will fail.
Seeing Andrea defenseless, at the wolf’s mercy, tore at him. Whatever threatened her would have to get through him first. He would always be there for her, with her, or die trying.
They came out of the forest, the horses lathered and breathing hard. He glanced at Andrea. She was made of strong stuff for certain. Her face showed determination. Out of immediate danger, he slowed from a full gallop to a canter and continued the ten miles into Calais stopping only when necessary to rest the horses.
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Amazon KU http://bit.ly/Donald-SonsofSagamore
Author Biography
RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/ marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures. For more information, please visit RuthACasie.com or visit her on Facebook, @RuthACasie, Twitter, @RuthACasie, Instagram RuthACasie, or Pinterest RuthACasie.
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