Introducing Ada Brownell and something unique to the Journeys To Joy Followers ~
Ada Brownell has chosen to do something a bit different for our week
with her. She's brought along the characters from her latest release.
Come along with me and meet these amazingly developed individuals who make up Ada's novel.
Post One ~Day Five
MEET STU AND THE JUDGE
From The Lady Fugitive
By Ada Brownell
Profile--Uncle
Danforth Schuster—The Judge
The judge is a pompous dome-bellied brute who no longer
deserves to be called “Your honor.” The man’s honor chipped away when he began
drinking, gambling, rewarding crooks while showing the innocent no mercy. He
used a whip on horses and Jenny’s brother, John, and controls every area of
Jenny’s life. He’s decided to take a razor strap to her for talking to some
young men after one of her performances at the Opera House in Peachville. That
likely would make her submissive to him while his wife made a trip to Denver.
The judge knew when Jenny’s father changed his will a few
days before dying in a nearby tuberculosis sanitarium that his luck turned.
After losing his beautiful home one night in a drunken gambling frenzy, the
judge now would have acres of productive peach orchards in addition to a horse
ranch and a fully-furnished gorgeous home. Only thing, he needed to keep his
brother-in-law's kids around until they were 21, and John already ran off.
MEET THE YOUNG ORPHAN IN The lady Fugitive
Stuart Ripley
(Summary and excerpt)
The urchin who lurked around the
stables the previous night had his grimy face against the window, a hand on
each side, peeking at William as he dug into his pancakes. Will shoved his chair back with a loud scrape, went
to the door, and wiggled his finger at the child. “Come in.”
Shyly the boy, who William estimated to
be around age twelve, brought his skinny dirty body toward him.
“Blanche! You have any more pancakes and bacon
back there?”
(Later, Stuart tells William how his
parents died of cholera.)
***
Jenny gripped Stuart’s hand. She smiled
at the boy. “Have you seen a calf born?”
“Nope, but I’m ready to.” Excitement
pulsed from his dirty face.
“I saw one born not too long ago, and
the farmer had to help the cow.”
“Wow.”
Maude, the cow named by Valerie, lay on
the straw, a low moo flowing from her huge mouth. She was pushing already.
A water sack appeared under Maude’s
tail, then broke and fluid squirted. A foot and the calf’s nose followed.
A moo-groan burst from Maude.
Stuart tugged on Jenny’s sleeve, his
little face pinched. “She’s sufferin’.”
Jenny patted his head. “I imagine. But
it will be over with soon, and we’ll have a happy cow.”
Sure enough, soon the head was out, and
then the calf landed behind Maude into the straw.
“Is he dead?”
Maude turned and swiped her baby with
her long, wet tongue. The little one shook his head, wobbled, and looked at Mama. The cow licked the calf all over as the
tiny critter wiggled about.
Stuart gasped. “He’s alive.”
“Yes.” Jenny laughed. “It’s amazing to
me that old girl is giving her baby a bath with the same tongue she picks her
nose with.”
“Eeeeeeuuuuu. I think I’m going to
vomit.”
“Naw.” Jenny rubbed his hair and dust
flew. “You’ll be fine. But you can take a hint here. If a Mama cow
thinks her baby needs a bath, then I think it might be a good idea for me to
suggest one for you.”
“But I don’t have any clean clothes.”
“As soon as we know Maude and the calf
are okay, we’re going to town.
BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR ADA ~ About her Stu and The Judge characters.
Thank you for stopping by Journeys To Joy ~ May your day be blessed!
