The Last Rose Pearl: A Low Country Love Story (Low Country Love Stories Book 1)
Page 41
“Jessamine is a fine lady.”
Tirzah snorted, “She worse than you was at that age. I don’t care if them black crow nuns are trying to raise her. She’s as wild as a buck. She need a hair brush walloped against her backside.”
Rory’s mouth thinned to a straight line. It was true. Jessamine St. John was going to be trouble. Big trouble. But the girl needed a home. And the rough St. John plantations in Virginia were no place for a young lady. Certainly not one as prone to mischief as Jess.
“I ‘spect Mr. Dylan gonna show up any day now.”
“I hope so,” Rory whispered. “The note I got said to expect him this week.”
The tinkling of a set of bells mounted above the door to the main entrance began jangling. Both women looked up expectantly. Neither saw what they expected.
A tall man with long black hair stood there glaring at them. He was dressed outlandishly in knee boots, tight breeches, and a loose white shirt. He had a red kerchief tied around his head instead of a proper hat. A small gold hoop dangled from one ear. His hand was clenched on the butt of a curving saber. It hung from a wide loose belt at his hips. But all those paltry details were put in the shade by the sheer masculine beauty of the man.
“Is she here?”
Rory was a married lady of some years. And she truly loved her dashing husband. But nothing she could have done would suppress the tiny shiver dancing down her spine at the sound of his low deep voice. She swallowed hard. She studied his lethal grace. She prayed.
“Who?” she finally croaked.
“Jess St. John.”
Rory and Tirzah shook their heads in unison. Neither could find the strength of will to speak. They merely watched in a kind of reverent awe as the man frowned down at them.
“She should be here,” he insisted. “Her ship went down off the Outer Banks.”
“Her ship sank?” Rory’s startled shriek interrupted him. Dylan was most likely a passenger on that same vessel.
“Woman,” he fixed her with a stern gray eye. “Calm yourself. Aye, the blasted ship foundered. But my crew and I were hard on its heels. We picked up all aboard. We took them to Charleston. But Jess, that shameless jade, jumped ship. She left me a note saying she’d be in Savannah- eventually.” He put a hard emphasis on the last word.
“Rory!” Dylan St. John thundered into the room, followed by both his brothers. “Is she here?”
Rory shook her head once again. Tears in her eyes, she stood and opened her arms. Her husband walked into them. He lifted her up against his tall length.
“I missed you love,” he whispered into her bright hair. “It seemed a thousand years. I thought I’d go mad before I got back to you.”
“You can never do this again,” Rory murmured up to him. “Next time, you’ll have to take me and the boys along with you.”
“I hate to break up this tender reunion,” the tall pirate said sarcastically. “But does any one of you know where in Hades Jess could be?”
They all turned to look at him. With a wide variety of differing expressions, they all shook their heads.
Recipe for Savannah Orgeat Punch
Syrup Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
6/8ths cup of almond milk
1/8 teaspoon almond extract or 8 drops
1/16 teaspoon Orange Blossom Water or 4 drops
Lemonade
Soda Water
Preparation:
Combine ingredients for Orgeat Syrup together. Store in jar in frig. When you want to make Orgeat Punch, fill a glass with half lemonade and half soda water, add Orgeat Syrup to taste. In Regency times this punch would have been served at Assemblies, Balls, and Ladies’ Gatherings. It would have been served at room temperature. I prefer serving it over ice in a vintage stemmed iced tea glass. . It will look very cloudy which is part of its antique charm. A sprig of fresh mint looks pretty atop a glass of Orgeat Punch. This is a very sweet beverage! It doesn’t take much Orgeat Syrup to prepare this drink. It was a frugal way for ladies to serve something other than alcohol to their guests.
A less sweet version can be made by filling your glass with sparkling water. Stir in a scant teaspoon of Orgeat Syrup and top with the mint.
Book Club Discussion Starters
Who was your favorite character and why?
Who was the character you disliked the most and why?
Did you personally relate to any specific character on a Spiritual level?
Did the Lord speak to you personally in response to something you read?
If you had to describe your take-away from The Last Rose Pearl in one sentence, what would it be?
What is one practical, measurable change you can incorporate into your life as a result of your reading this novel?
About The Author
I’m a forgiven Christian, a happy wife of 38 years, a proud mother of two grown children, and a spanking brand new Grandmama. Over the years God has been so, so good to me. I’ve been a busy public school teacher, a mediocre opera singer, a toe nail painting dog groomer, a bad caterer, and now it seems a hopeful writer. Because God has blessed me, I’ve been published in many genres- newspapers, magazines, blogs, books, and even screenwriting. One of my scripts, ‘Angel in the Aisles’, won a Silver Telly for excellence in cable broadcasting. Another, a modern day version of the Bible story of Esther, was produced into a full length movie entitled ‘For a Time Like This’.
Several of my recent novels have been Amazon bestsellers in their category in the past year.
I continue to be amazed at what God can do with the very little I have to offer.
I’m hoping you enjoyed The Last Rose Pearl. Writing it, I thought long and hard about why we try to be the masters of our lives instead of trusting God with that role. And I also pondered why we judge ourselves so very harshly. If a friend came to me with some of the same issues I have, I would easily forgive them. So why is it hard to forgive myself for things so easily forgivable in others? I know God has forgiven me before I even confess. But I’m stubborn and hold on to selfish guilt over my transgressions. I make life a lot harder than it should be. Do you ever feel this way too? Love Never Fails, Grace Walton
Questions or comments? Contact me at: http://www.gracewalton.wordpress.com
Other Books by Grace Walton
Coming Soon
The Last Broken Promise
Available Now on Amazon
One Nation Under gods
Carried Away
The Giftlings
Mercy’s Heart
Birdie Saves The World
Faith’s Keys
The Last Rose Pearl
More from This Author
I have other novels in print/eBook-‘The Giftlings’. It is a paranormal inspirational romance suitable for all ages. If you liked the Twilight series but want something with a more wholesome Christian message, this might be the book for you. A sample chapter can be read for free by following the link below.
Click here for more details and to buy: http://amzn. com/B0084UZ4SQ
My novel in print/eBook is ‘Mercy’s Heart’. It is a historical inspirational romance set in Medieval England. I call it my Christian Fairy Tale. It’s an amazing love story. So if you like Knights in Shining Armor and love a ‘Cinderella’ heroine transformation you’ll like ‘Mercy’s Heart’. It is available at the following link.
Click here for more details and to buy: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EKVOVTG
My novel ‘Faith’s Keys’ is the sequel to ‘Mercy’s Heart’. It is another Medieval Historical that takes you to the heart of a damaged man’s redemption. And into a woman’s journey for self-worth. Click here to learn more: http://www.amazon.com/Faiths-Keys-ChristKeepers-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00LT6CIOK
‘Carried Away’ is my Cowboy Inspirational Romance. It’s a Contemporary. funny, heartwarming, and a wild ride from start to finish, 'Carried Away' combines all the heart stopping adventure of an action movie with the quirky charm of a romantic comed
y. If you like your Inspirational Romance with an alpha-male and a spunky heroine, you’ll love ‘Carried Away’ Buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Carried-Montana-Miracles-Grace-Walton-ebook/dp/B00H8BPTVO
One Last Thing. . .
When you turn the page, Kindle will give you the opportunity to rate this book and share your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter. If you believe the book is worth sharing, please would you take a few seconds to let your friends know about it? If it turns out to make a difference in their lives, they’ll be forever grateful to you, as will I.
Love Never Fails,
Grace