One of my favorite heroes is Robin Pierpont in the
story, FLY AWAY HEART. He loves airplanes, his friends, family, animals, and
the beautiful red haired girl he’s known since childhood, Lilith Wilding. There
is nothing he wouldn’t do for those he loves…even something not quite legal.
Robin was born in England. At age ten he lost his father when he and his parents took the doomed Titanic to find a better life in America. His mother worked in a factory in New York City, but lost her job when the factory burned. Banjo sent Robin and Jane to Hazard, Wyoming to give them an opportunity to improve their lives. In Hazard, Jane fell in love with the Lakota Shaman, gas station owner, and uncle to Banjo Wilding, Teekonka Red Sky. (Their story is in my Christmas story, A HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS).
It was in the
town of Hazard Robin first met the adventurous, willful, and charming Lilith
Wilding. His childhood affection for Lilith grew into a deep abiding love over
the years. But there are obstacles standing between Robin and his happiness
with Lilith…and one of those obstacles may prove fatal.
Who are some of your favorite story heroes from the
books you’ve read? Have you ever fallen in love with a character you created in
one of your own stories? What did you
like best about your favorite hero?
FLY AWAY HEART
By Sarah J.
McNeal
Prairie Rose
Publications/ Imprint: Painted Pony Press
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Lilith pushed
back from Robin enough to see his eyes. “I know you’re dying to ask
Juliet for a dance. You could go over and break in, if you like.
She doesn’t care much for Paul Witherspoon any way.”
His eyes grew
wide and his mouth pulled to one side. “Are you trying to get rid of me,
Lilith?” He quirked a crooked smile at her. “Do I have grease under
my fingernails or something? I swear I took a bath before I came.”
Lilith laughed
as he dipped her low over his thigh then bent over her as if he would kiss
her. “Don’t you dare drop me. I’ll scream bloody murder.”
Underneath her words, her heart thumped against her ribs and her breath
quickened.
Robin laughed,
deep and unconfined. Pulling her up, he brought her close to his chest
and peered at her with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. “Now I want to
drop you just to see if you’ll hold good on that threat.”
Her heart
thudded in her chest like a mad thing. She couldn’t breathe with his
mouth so close to hers. If she could have a wish at that moment, it would
be for Robin to dip his head just a little more and touch his lips to
hers. A tide of heat ran up her neck into her face just thinking about
Robin kissing her with his hands on her bare back.
He lifted a brow
and chuckled. “Are you thinking something naughty, Miss Wilding? I
swear you’re blushing.”
Excerpt:
The
dog drew his attention when it whined pitifully. Its brown eyes seemed to plead
with him. Somehow, he just couldn’t bring himself to walk away from the
suffering creature. If he couldn’t get to Lilith, at least he could get this
dog to safety. He knew, if he left the poor thing here, it would die a slow death
for certain.
He made his way to the shaking pile
of bones that resembled a dog and removed the clamp on the heavy chain. The dog
could barely walk, and it made Rob sick to see the bones protruding from the
animal’s ribs and hips. What kind of
human beings were these two men? Did
they eat babies for breakfast? He hoisted the dog into his arms, walked
back to the car, opened the back door and placed the dog on his jacket on the
back seat. Something in its brown eyes looked like gratitude, mixed with fear.
Rob felt his heart crack.
“Don’t you worry,
little girl, I’m going to see to you now. You don’t need to be scared or hungry
anymore.” Thoughts of Lilith drummed through his mind. Please, please God, look after my Lilith and don’t let them hurt her.
Excerpt:
There was no
choice left. The roaring river was her only hope. To escape these vile men she
would have to take her chances and plunge into the deadly current of the white
water. With a deep breath to gather her courage, she dived into the rapids. The
icy water took her breath. She never imagined it that cold. Helpless to
navigate, the current took her down its dangerous path. The weight of her dress
drug on her as she attempted to nudge her body toward the rocky island in the
middle of the river. Lilith gulped water and fought against the pull of the
current. If she could just get to the rocks, she could keep from going over the
falls. Certain death would take her if she went over, but there was no turning
back now.
Shots rang out
and a bullet whizzed past her ear. As she bobbed for an instant above the
water, she saw that Edgar had a pistol in his hand aimed at her. He mouthed
something at her, but the noise of the rushing water drown out his words. Just as well. She couldn’t get back to
the shore if she tried. The current swept her in its cold embrace. Sometimes it
rolled her under. She took on water. Her lungs hurt for want of air and the
water burned them. Please God, don’t let
me die this way.
The river
dragged her along, pushed her under, and turned her over and over in a mad rush
for the falls and she couldn’t stop it. A picture of Robin came to her. His
voice seemed to command her. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up.
For Readers and Authors:
Who are some of your favorite story heroes from the
books you’ve read? Have you ever fallen in love with a character you created in
one of your own stories? What did you
like best about your favorite hero?
Y’all stay safe
and happy!
Diverse stories filled with heart
