I
have loved horses since the first time I rode a pony when I was 4 or 5. Riding
around the ring at a snail’s pace, led by a young man wearing a coonskin cap, I
was in heaven. Over the years, I have ridden horses in and around my Long
Island, NY neighborhood, attended horse camp in Connecticut, and even went on a
trail ride with my new husband while honeymooning on Prince Edward’s Island in
Canada. I have collected ©Breyer Horse Models ever since I started earning an
allowance, and now I include horses as characters in my stories.
My
latest release is My Dark Highlander,
a Scottish time travel romance. Two horses are characters in their own right.
Old Balfour, raised in present-day New Hampshire, resembles a stocky Highland
pony and was recently given by his owner to my heroine, veterinarian Jenny
Morgan. Balfour has appeared in my last four books, and I have come to love
him. Falcon, a black stallion, also called a Scottish garron, is a new character. I wanted a beast worthy of Laird Gavin
Sinclair. Falcon is well-trained, a battle veteran, and saves lives. Like
Balfour, he time-travels. In keeping with my article’s theme, today, I will
choose one person to win a Scottish Horse Blanket. (see the photo of my cat,
Blaze, snuggling with mine) Good luck!
Jenny helped Gavin
roll to his side. He was filthy. Sliding her hands over his neck, chest, and
lower, relief swept over her. “I don’t see any wounds.”
“If ye keep
touching me, love, I will no’ be responsible for pulling ye to the ground, and
mounting ye, no matter that ye claim I donno’ love ye.”
“You heard that?
Sorry. I wanted to convince him your father you didn’t care what happened to
me. Are you saying my statement wasn’t true?”
He nodded, but
until he spoke the words, and admitted he was in love with her, she wasn’t
convinced. He claimed he was only here to protect her, then would return to his
time.
“Let me help you
up. Your father could still be close by.”
Groaning, he
pushed to his feet, while she held his upper arm. Unsteady, even together, she
led him to a hay bale, and made him sit. She returned for his sword, then stood
by his side, leaning on the hilt, its tip in the dirt.
“Gavin. Look at
me.”
He raised his head
on a groan.
“How did you find
me?”
He rubbed dirt and
straw from his hair, then looked up at her, grinning. “Balfour.”
“Balfour? A horse
led you to me?”
…and another
excerpt
Gripping Falcon’s
reins, Gavin mounted his steed. Clutching his bloody side, he yanked the
leather straps until Falcon backed from the lean-to. The quivering animal
smelled blood. His beast was aware the battle had begun.
“Steady, my
friend. We have a mission, and I must not fail.”
I
hope I live long enough to complete the task.
Threading their
way through the forest, they reached the dark trail that led them back to the
sea. He slowed Falcon to barely a walk, then released the reins. The
well-trained garron kept moving, and
gave Gavin time to gather his leather bag to his lap. Searching the shadowy
depths, his blood-soaked hand found the potions he needed.
“Trust in me,
Falcon. We must stay together. Never fear.” Pulling to a stop at the edge of
the cliffs, the barest of moonlight caressed the peaks of distant waves. Night
was falling.
Time
passes too fast!
My
Dark Highlander Book blurb
Stranded in 1603 Scotland, veterinarian
Jenny Morgan is eager to get home to New England. Hiding her ability to read
auras, a powerful witch comes to her aid. All Jenny will miss is the man who
stole her heart, one dark night.
Laird Gavin Sinclair has a missing
brother, a murderous father, and a dark-eyed beauty on his mind. When Jenny
returns to a dangerous future, he sets aside his obligations and searches for
her at the New England Highland Games. Jealousy and lust ravage his dark soul,
until he and Jenny fight evil together.
Where can readers
buy your book, My Dark Highlander?
Amazon |Nook | Smashwords|All Romance | iTunes | Barnes
and Noble | Books-A-Million | Kobo | Book
Depository | Powell’s
Books
About Nancy
Lee Badger
She loves chocolate-chip
shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander,
the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing
up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, she
moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of
Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers,
Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers,
and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers.
Connect with Nancy
Giveaway
One lucky winner will
receive a Scottish
‘Horse Blanket’
(actually
a 50” x 60” Fleece Scottish-Flag Blanket)
Winner
will be Chosen Dec. 10th
*Open to
Continental USA addresses. International
winner will receive ebooks
All images in this post were provided by author Nancy Lee Badger.
