Coming soon from Barbour Publishing:

TEXAS FORTUNES TRILOGY

Part One: DIAMOND DUO - Fall 2008

1877 Jefferson, Texas
Bertha Biddie’s in love. The fellow seems interested, but something’s holding him back. When a charismatic stranger rolls in on the northbound train offering to teach Bertha the art of wooing her man she leaps at the chance. But when the woman is found cruelly murdered, Bertha realizes their meeting held eternal significance.

Thaddeus Bloom is way past smitten with Bertha. But his father’s determined Thad will be the family’s first college graduate. Thad’s bound for military school and must leave his feelings for little Bertha behind. Trouble is it’s time to leave, and he can’t muster the starch to say goodbye.

Part Two: CHASING CHARITY

1905 Humble, Texas
Charity Bloom’s fiancé jilted her for her best friend in full view of the whole town. Despite her friend's betrayal, Charity is surprised to find she longs to reconcile their friendship. More offenses by the girl soon change her mind though not her heart. To further complicate matters, a larger-than-life oilman plagues Charity’s thoughts more than her fickle ex-fiancé who has decided he wants her back.

Buddy Pierce arrives in Humble hired to scout for oil. A chance encounter with Charity lands him in her backyard wading through an oil-rich bog. Buddy knows his discovery will free Charity and her mother from poverty, but in his zeal, he forgets to ask Charity if she wants freedom. Troubled by her dark, brooding eyes, he tries to understand her. What he discovers proves that while chasing riches for others, he has found in Charity a priceless treasure of his own. 

Part Three: EMMY'S EQUAL

1907 Carrizo Springs, Texas

Emily (Emmy) Dane’s recent decision to trust God with her life has yet to rub off on her stubborn spirit. After eighteen years of catering to unruly flesh, Emmy’s having trouble surrendering her will. When she realizes God is steering her toward marriage to the last man on earth she’d choose for herself, she bucks like an unbroken stallion.

Diego (Isi) Marcelo can’t be labeled a half-breed because there’s more than two cultures in the mix. His father was a Spanish merchant, his mother part Choctaw and part Scottish trader. Isi, his Indian name, means deer in his grandmother’s tongue, but the locals north of the Mexican border allege his name should be El Toro.