Bettys Blogging Place: Today's Excerpt and Recipe

Oh, I am so glad you stopped by. I hope you enjoy your visit. Today it's another piece from The Kincaid Way.

The setup Ellen has been searching for her kidnapped niece. A phony lead has brought he to the town of Paradise. Our arriving yesterday she had a run in with a man she called 'Baffoon'. We pick-up as Ellen tries again to eat at the only place in town. She has already sampled their food and pronounced it inedible...She hopes today will be different.

This morning her hat was pink and had netting with two flowers. As she crossed the dinning room to a table near the window. Brian smiled to himself. Now that's a hat a woman should wear. It was frilly, soft, and pink and no critters.

He had finished his meal and was about to leave when she entered. Tipping his hat to her as he stood, he was sure he heard her say "Buffoon" under her breath.

Disgusting herself, her eyes followed him as his rich deep laughter rang through the air. Then he was gone.

So as not to tempt the fates, she ordered toast and coffee. The waiter smiled sweetly as he placed the toast and coffee in front of her, and then he disappeared as well. This morning she was the only customer left. It did not bother her to be alone. In fact, most times she enjoyed her own company. Maybe enjoy isn't the right word, she thought. Maybe accustomed to being alone was a better fit.

Since yesterday's food was not edible she hoped this would be better she was very hungry. Dainty fingers lifted the toast for her to look at. It was burnt on the underside. She'd chanced it and took a bite. She had no choice, she took her napkin discretely removing the piece from her mouth. The butter was rancid, she scraped it off.

On moving the jelly jar the waiter had brought with the toast closer, it came as no surprise to find two fat flies were having their breakfast too. Unlike her, they seemed very happy with the fare. She dropped the lid back in place.

...Ellen's housekeeper back home always made sure she served Ellen her favorite:

Raspberry Lemon Marmalade

Ingredients

4 medium lemons
1 1/4 cups water
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 cinnamon stick
3 cups crushed fresh or frozen raspberries
7 cups sugar
1 (3 ounce) pouch liquid fruit pectin

Directions

Grate peel from lemons and place in a medium saucepan. Trim white pith from lemons and discard. Cut lemons in half and remove the seeds. Chop pulp; set aside. Add water, baking soda and cinnamon to saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add lemon pulp; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon. In a large kettle, combine the raspberries, sugar and lemon mixture; bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Quickly stir in pectin; return to a bull rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; skim off any foam. Pour hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.
Thanks to: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Raspberry-Lemon-Marmalade/Detail.aspx

Back to our story:

"Argh"." She screwed up her face.

She wondered how long someone could live on coffee alone. It was the only palatable thing this place did right. After morning coffee—for she certainly did not refer to the meal as a breakfast—she strolled down the walk exploring the store window displays.

Matt would not be here for another hour or so. Back at her hotel, she found a newspaper and sat on one of the white wooden rocking chairs that lined the front entrance. The newspaper was from June 23, 1867. The surprise was that she wasn't the least surprised at the outdated paper.

At eleven o'clock sharp she entered the sheriff's office. Matt sat in the chair facing the door. She ignored the man whose back was to her.

"Aunt Ellen, how good to see you. Any word on my beloved?"

"No, Matt and that's why I'm here. The Pinkerton men think someone here might be the culprit."

They exchanged hugs.

"Here?"

"Yes, I explained everything to the sheriff yesterday. Where is he?"

"Ellen, he 's right behind you."

Brian didn't share the events that passed between Aunt Ellen and himself yet to Matt. Gads, this is gonna be good, he thought.

Ellen thinking maybe she missed hearing the sheriff come in, turned. Not seeing anyone she now eyed the man sitting on the desk. It was the buffoon. It was the first time in years she could ever remember that she been stunned speechless.

"Miss. Ellen, I'm Brian Kincaid. Been sheriff of Paradise for over twenty years."

"I...I..."

She watched as he almost fell off the desk guffawing hard at her. It had been a long time any one embarrassed her this badly. He'll pay, she silently swore. Composing herself quickly, she said, "How do you do."

Matt said, " What? I don't get it."

That made Brian laugh harder.

"It seems, Matt, I was led to believe the other gentleman was the sheriff."

"Who... Casey that idiot... sheriff?"

Then he joined his uncle in his merriment. Not happy being the brunt of their joke, she stood there tapping her foot and holding herself ramrod straight, nose in the air.

Brian noticed it and it reminded him of a school teacher impatient with one of her misbehaving students. He admitted to himself he had misbehaved, but she brought it upon herself. He would like to teach her a thing or two. His heart started to pound and he felt the energy surge though him as his blood flowed hot. Maybe?....

What ever Brian Kincaid intends to teach Miss Ellen can only be found at:
The Kincaid Way on sale here:

USA http://ow.ly/4AaCH UK Link http://ow.ly/4FdiZ

De Link http://ow.ly/4Fdms

To continue your Sample Excerpts just make your choice.
This weeks guest for #samplesunday is new Indie writer Traci Hohenstein. #kindle http://ow.ly/4Z1p4

#samplesundaycookoff Third book in the series on hold, read the first chap here http://ow.ly/4Z1sS plus a lovely Pork #recipe. *******Thank for stopping by.******
Libby's
#ss Why does a suburban mom and video producer investigate murders? Sample @libbyfh & the Ellie Foreman mysteries http://bit.ly/gQWt7r
#ss Download a free short story by @libbyfh at http://www.libbyhellmann.com/ . Just click the Pay With a Tweet button.
#samplesunday Lightning & Shadows! Latest FREE episode in A King in a Court of Fools.Audio, too! http://bit.ly/fG5jpu #booklook #IAN1 RT
#SampleSunday.http://bit.ly/elLVfj Who is stalking sexyTilly? Read chilling excerpt from this murder mystery+SPICY CHILLI JAM RECIPE!
#SampleSundayCookoff! The fashion business got deadly with chocolate chip banana muffins! http://t.co/Qr08tfy #recipe #kindle #ebooks #food
Mark
Anatomy of a Tweet by @markadairauthor http://ow.ly/4ZQpW #amwriting #trend #blog #twitter #TheFathersChild #samplesunday Plz #RT
Kristina
Meet the #paranormal flashers. #samplesunday #ghost #flashfiction on @kj_author blog http://ow.ly/4ZUmY PLS RT
Sarah
Sometimes you just need a drink. http://ow.ly/4ZXPN #samplesunday #samplesundaycookoff #scribblers
Lia
Now in #paperback: In Search of Lucy - an Amazon top 100 bestseller in #drama http://bit.ly/jFcBoe