Welcome
to Whitcomb Springs! This is a collection of short stories, and the
occasional novella, written by multiple authors. The series is filled
with stories of adventure, danger, romance, and hope, and is set in the
fictional town of Whitcomb Springs, Montana Territory. The stories span
the years of 1865-1885. Although each story may be set during a
different time, they are stand-alone and may be read in any order. While
the first stories will publish on March 15, 2018, this is an on-going
project, so new stories may be published at any time by one of the
participating authors.
For a complete listing of all currently available and upcoming Whitcomb
Springs stories, visit
http://www.mkmcclintock.com/whitcomb-springs-series.
“WHITCOMB SPRINGS” BY MK MCCLINTOCK
In the spring of 1865, a letter arrives in Whitcomb Springs for Evelyn Whitcomb. The Civil War has ended and the whereabouts of her husband is unknown, but she doesn’t give up hope. With courage, the help of a friend, and the love of a people, Evelyn finds a way to face—and endure—the unexpected.
“Whitcomb Springs” is the introductory, stand-alone short story of the Whitcomb Springs series set in post-Civil War Montana.
Excerpt from “Whitcomb Springs”
Whitcomb Springs, Montana Territory—April 25, 1865
The letter fluttered to the table. Evelyn stared at the sheet of
paper but could no longer make out the words as they blurred together.
Surrender. She prayed this day would come, they all had, and after four tortuous years, the war was finally over.
There would be more capitulation on the part of the South, and too
many families who would never see their men again . . . but it was over.
Separated, yet not untouched, from conflict, Evelyn Whitcomb lived in
the same town her husband and their two friends founded one year before
news of the Civil War reached them. By way of her sister, who lived in
Rose Valley, Pennsylvania with their parents, they were kept informed as
often as Abigail could get a letter through. Evelyn often wondered if
she should have returned to Rose Valley to help with the war effort,
much as her sister Abigail had done, yet she found the needs of Whitcomb
Springs to be vast as the town continued to grow.
Many men and boys left, leaving their wives, mothers, and sisters
behind to fight for a cause they didn’t fully understand, yet still felt
it their duty to serve. Others remained behind to continue working in
the mine and watch over those families with or without kin.
Evelyn read over Abigail’s letter once more, letting the words settle
into her mind, for even now she struggled to believe it was over—that
her husband might return home.
Dearest Evelyn,
For too many years now I have shared with you the horrors and
travesties befallen many of the young men with whom we spent our
childhood. News has reached us that on the ninth of April, Robert E. Lee
surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. Oh, sister, I
dared not believe it was true when Papa brought home the news. He tells
us not to become overly excited for there will surely be a few more
battles waged until the news reaches both sides, but we can thank God
that this war is officially over.
Your news of Daniel’s disappearance has weighed heavy on my mind
these past months since we heard, and Papa has attempted to learn of his
whereabouts, to no avail. We have not given up! There is much confusion
right now on both sides and Papa said it could be weeks or months more
before the men return home. Do not lose faith, sweet Evie.
Your most loving sister,
Abigail
Author MK McClintock
MK MCCLINTOCK is an award-winning author of historical romance and westerns, who has written several books and short stories, including the popular "Montana Gallagher" series, the "Crooked Creek" series, and the "British Agent" series. She continues the search for a time machine that can transport her to nineteenth-century Montana or Scotland—either works. MK enjoys a quiet life in the Rocky Mountains where she spins tales of romance, adventure, and mystery set in bygone times.
“HEALING FIRE” BY SAMANTHA ST. CLAIRE
After the death of Nora Hewitt's husband, the citizens of Whitcomb Springs didn't see odds favoring the young widow for holding onto the ranch with only her ten-year-old son to assist. That changes when a gentle giant of a man offers a helping hand.
Motivated by compassion and his own grieving heart, the blacksmith becomes a mentor for the troubled boy and befriends the attractive widow, scandalizing the town gossips. Propriety is wielded like a weapon to separate them, but Providence makes its own plans through fire, loss and redemption.
Excerpt from “Healing Fire”
Sawdust floated into drifts beneath the workbench, swirling in the
cold Montana morning air. His breath a thin fog, Dominik Andris sang to
himself as he ran his palm down the length of the cedar plank. Deep and
resonant, the Austrian’s voice might have suited his appearance had it
not been for its soft timbre. Broad-shouldered, square-jawed, and
generally solemn in bearing, most people avoided him except when his
skills as a blacksmith or undertaker were required.
Today, someone had need of him as the latter. A rectangular box stood
propped against the back wall. Nearly complete, the box lid before him
was carved in designs more suitable for a cradle. Dominik picked up a
carving knife, dwarfed in his hands, and bent to correct a curve on the
delicate vine tracing its way from one end of the lid to the other. He
ran his fingers along its length, testing for burrs in the grain. His
humming ceased and a line formed between his brows, a frown not directed
to his work but to the reason for it.
As he straightened, he rubbed at the back of his neck and a little
groan escaped his lips. He took a sip of cold coffee before crossing the
workshop to the back wall where he picked up the box in one hand. The
weight of it or the absence of weight, struck a painful chord. Just four
feet in length, it was enough. Enough to hold the body of the child,
the woman’s child.
Author Samantha St. Claire
SAMANTHA ST. CLAIRE was born in 2016, the alter-ego and pen name of an author of historical fiction born a few decades earlier. She may have found her niche in western historical fiction, served up sweet. Never faint of heart, her signature protagonists face the hazards of the frontier with courage, wit, and a healthy pinch of humor.
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