Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon and Luna

 

A while back, I happened upon an image that caught my eye. At the time, I was about to start writing a wholesome historical romance set in 1914. 

Suddenly, I knew I'd found the perfect  image for the cover of  Luna.

I recognized the weed she was blowing on from my childhood on our family farm. I'd blown them a few times myself. It had been so many years since I'd seen one, but I recalled the joy of scattering the oversized "wishes" into the air.

My dad called them something like big fuzz, so I had no idea of their proper term, but a quick search brought up details about the plant.

It has bright yellow petals, with long green bracts. Children might mistake it for a super-tall dandelion, but the leaves more closely resemble grass.

The official name is  tragopogon pratensis, commonly referred to as Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, meadow salsify, showy goat's-beard, or meadow goat's-beard.

Wait. What now? 

When I discovered one of the names for the plants was Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon, I absolutely had to use it for my story.  Can't you just envision fairies blowing the little puffs into the air and spreading the seed everywhere?

The Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon name derives from the plant's tendency to close by the time noon arrives. Goat's beard is from the appearance of the seed head, with the little bit of white fluff poking out.

Oddly enough, despite the lack of them in our area in past years, I was about halfway through writing the book when I noticed a plant growing out by our mailbox, then they popped up in the pasture behind our house. It felt like a lovely sign that I'd picked just the right cover for Luna's story.

She’s searching for peace and grace

He’s ready to step into his next big adventure

Haunted by memories of the fateful day that changed her life, Luna Campanelli seeks a fresh start in Pendleton, Oregon. Life in the wild western town is nothing like she imagined, although the rugged beauty of the area soothes her troubled spirit. An unlikely friendship with one of the area ranch hands lifts her hopes, until she discovers the cowboy isn’t who he’s led her to believe.

Hunter Douglas didn’t intend to hide his identity from the woman he met on the train, but when she assumed he was his sister’s hired hand, he didn’t correct her. He never anticipated forming such a deep connection to her, especially when thoughts of her continue to infiltrate his carefully made plans. As a recent college graduate with an inheritance he intends to use to start his own ranch in Pendleton, Hunter must decide if he is willing to open his heart and include Luna in his future.

Will they embrace the unexpected love that has blossomed between them, or let fear tear them apart?

This sweet and wholesome romance is a story of love, healing, and the power of hope in a delightful western setting. Join Luna and Hunter on their journey as they discover what it truly means to love unconditionally.

     Feeling hopeful and full of dreams, Luna spread out the quilt in a splash of sunshine, unpinned her hair and shook it out, and experienced a wave of contentment. Filled with joy she couldn’t contain, she plucked a large flower with a ball of fluff that looked like a dandelion, closed her eyes, and blew, wishing she could have many more afternoons just like this one with Hunter.

“I should have known if I left you alone for five minutes, you’d find a weed and scatter the seeds from here to kingdom come.”

She opened her eyes and grinned as Hunter hunkered down by her.

“A weed?” she asked, holding the stem out to Hunter. “It isn’t a flower?”

“Nope,” he said, taking the stem, then handing it back to her. “It’s got a fancy scientific name Flynn Elliott could tell you, but most folks call it meadow goat’s beard, or even Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, because the yellow flower buds only open in the morning.”

“What a wonderful name, even if it is a weed.” Luna pursed her lips and blew more of the seed heads that looked like spiderwebs of fine white hairs.

“You little weed-spreader,” Hunter groused, making her laugh.

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.