An Excerpt from Fancy

FANCY

Love Train Multi-Author Series, #10

by

LINDA BRODAY

Western Romance /Sweet Romance/ American Historical Romance

Pages:          190 pages

Publisher:      Kindle Unlimited

Publication Date:     August 15, 2022

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

EXCERPT from

FANCY

by Linda Broday

A flash of lightning illuminated the dim interior of the tiny two-room dwelling and a second later thunder shook the thin walls. A loud crash nearby said lightning must’ve struck a tree. Or someone’s home although she prayed not. Storms scared her because they often carried destruction and death, but nothing frightened her more than losing the only person she had in the world. Mama had been her strength, her courage, her champion all her life. When she was gone, Fancy would be like a rudderless boat, drifting aimlessly.

Fancy wiped her eyes and pasted on a smile. “Do you know I saw the prettiest rainbow a few days ago over by the town square? It took my breath. They bring such hope.”

Mama grimaced with the pain wracking her body. “When I was a little girl, I thought I could find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.”

“We all want to believe in fairy tales.” Fancy smoothed the soft, worn quilt. It was too bad such things never came true.

A knock sounded, and she went to crack the door open enough to peer out. “Yes?”

A shadowy woman stood in the deluge under an umbrella. With glittering eyes and a dark hood over her head, she looked frightening. “I’m looking for Fancy Dalton.” Water poured off the caller’s umbrella. “I was told she lives here.”

Fancy hesitated for a moment, almost shutting the door. Finally, she spoke. “You’ve found her.”

“Good. I have something to tell you.”

What could this be about? It was horrible weather to go calling. Before she could satisfy her curiosity, deafening thunder crashed around them.

“Won’t you come in out of the storm?” she asked.

“I’d rather not. This is urgent and you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

“All right.” Fancy shivered in the cold, moist air. “I’m listening.” Another flash of lightning illuminated the woman’s face that looked vaguely familiar. “What is this about?”

“I’ve kept this secret long enough and I can’t live with myself anymore.” She hesitated for a second. “Your baby is alive.”

Alive? Could it be true? A ripple of excitement raced through her.

The woman’s anguished whisper raised the hair on Fancy’s neck. “I did a horrible thing.”

A knot formed in Fancy’s stomach. “What do you mean? Because I never got to see my baby?” The midwife had told her that the sight of his little blue body would be too traumatic, so she’d never gotten a glimpse of the child she’d loved with all her heart and soul. Something she regretted to this day. Something she should’ve insisted on but had been too shaken and weak.

Suddenly, she recalled the shadowy face. And a name.

Judith Winters.

“I lied when I said your infant died in birth.” Mrs. Winters pressed a piece of paper into Fancy’s palm. “Here’s the address where you can find him.” The midwife took a deep breath as though to cleanse herself from the awful deed she’d done.

Fancy’s legs tried to buckle, and she gripped the door. “Why? Why did you lie?”

“One of my patients…she’d experienced her third miscarriage that morning. She and her husband wanted a child so badly and could afford to give it a wonderful life. I could see how you loved your child but could give it very little.”

“So you gave them my baby?” Fancy fumbled for words to express her fury. “You decided what was best? You and you alone? You lied to me!”

“Nothing I say will ever make it right.”

“That’s for certain.” Unable to bear the pain of these developments, Fancy glanced down at her trembling hands. After a moment’s silence, she met the woman’s eyes. “Why now? Why tell the truth after two and a half excruciating years?”

“I can’t live with it. Now, maybe I can finally sleep.” Judith Winters whirled and disappeared into the rain before Fancy could ask anything else.

The woman had stolen her son and gave him away? Dear God. Tears ran down her face as she unfolded the piece of paper and read the names “Owen and Madeline Bishop.” They had a Denver, Colorado address.

“Fancy?” her mother called weakly.

“Coming.” She wiped her eyes, laid the precious scrap of paper on the small table, and hurried to her mother’s bedside. “The most unbelievable gift came tonight.” She told her mother about Mrs. Winters’ confession. “He’s alive.”

Her mother clutched Fancy’s arm with gnarled fingers. “You have to go. Go get your baby.”

“How? It costs money. We barely live from day to day. Besides, you’re sick.”

“Don’t worry about me.” She gasped for breath. “My time…is almost…here.” She dropped Fancy’s hand. “Under the mattress. Money. Sell all our…belongings.”

The reality that she might see her son burrowed into Fancy’s heart like a bunny into a safe hole. Was it possible? She didn’t even know the cost of a ticket to Denver. Yet, she’d get the money if she had to beg or borrow it.

Her son. He was alive. Somehow, someway she had to get him back. Her arms ached to hold him. Mrs. Winters had scrawled a name on the note below the address—Daniel.

“Sweet, beautiful Daniel,” Fancy whispered.