by Shanna Hatfield
Pendleton, Oregon, is a real place in the west I've used for the setting of a sweet romances that take place in the early 1900s as well as World War II, and contemporary stories. The history of the town goes back to before the Civil War, though.
In 1851, Dr. William C. McKay established a post office on McKay
Creek along the Oregon Trail and called it Houtama. Later, Marshall Station was situated about a
half-mile to the east on the north bank of the Umatilla River. Marshall Station
was then called Middleton since it rested half way between what was then
Umatilla Landing and the Grand Ronde Valley (known today as La Grande).
When a county was created in 1862, the temporary county seat
was placed at Marshall Station. The post office was established there in 1865
with Jonathan Swift as the postmaster.
On October 8, 1869, the name was changed to Pendleton, named for George Hunt Pendleton, a Democratic candidate for vice president in 1864. The county judge, G.W. Bailey, suggested the name and the commissioners decided Pendleton suited the town.
Much
of the town proper at that time was owned by Moses E. Goodwin and Judge Bailey.
Goodwin arrived in the area around 1861. He traded a team of horses to Abram
Miller for squatter rights to 160 acres about three miles from Marshall
Station. Goodwin Crossing was a stop for freight wagons.
In 1868, Goodwin
deeded two and a half acres of his land to the county for a town. A toll bridge
that spanned the Umatilla River was constructed along with a hotel, a newspaper,
and other businesses and Pendleton began to take shape as a community.
Back in those good old days, the community had a well where people would gather of an evening and visit. Pioneer accounts claim it was the sweetest water they'd ever tasted.
That little tidbit of history and others are incorporated into
Gift of Grace, the first book in a brand new holiday series called Gifts of Christmas I'll be releasing next month.
Sometimes the best gifts
Are those freely given from the heart . . .
Ready to begin a new life far away from the sad memories of
the Civil War, J.B. and Nora Nash head west on the Oregon Trail. They settle
into the small community of Pendleton, Oregon, on a piece of land where they’re
excited to build a future and their dreams together.
A devastating tragedy leaves them both reeling as they draw
further and further apart. Nora blames J.B. for her unhappiness while he
struggles through his own challenges. Only a miracle can bring them through
their trials and reunite them for Christmas.
Together, will they discover the gift of grace in this sweet
holiday romance brimming with hope, history, and abiding love?
Excerpt:
Much to her dismay and surprise, J.B. stepped onto the bed
with his damp boots and picked her up, holding her tight against his chest.
Without missing a step, he walked off the other side and toward the bedroom door.
Nora clenched her hands into fists and pounded on his shoulders
as he carried her into the kitchen.
The big galvanized tub they used for taking baths sat near
the stove and she could see steam rising from the water. She had no idea what
J.B. intended to do, but whatever it was she would fight him until her last
breath.
“Put me down, you brute!” she demanded, shoving against his
solid chest.
“Whatever you say, Nora,” J.B. said, dropping her into the
tub.
Water splashed over the sides onto the floor and stung
Nora’s eyes. She spluttered, pushing hair out of her face then rubbed her eyes.
Before she could stand and step out of the tub, J.B. reached
down and ripped off her nightgown, sending buttons flying into the air. Appalled,
she watched in horror as he wadded the ruined cloth into a ball and tossed it into
a basket with dirty clothing sitting on the floor near the stove.
He glowered at her, pinning her in place with an unrelenting
gaze. “You stink and your hair looks like you rubbed bear grease over your
head. Take a bath and wash your hair. Maybe by the time you finish, you’ll feel
better. At the very least, you’ll smell better than something left to rot on
the side of the road.”
Shocked speechless by his actions, she remained as still as
stone as he went into the bedroom and returned with the tray of tea and toast
he’d prepared.
“When you get out of there, you eat that toast and drink the
tea,” he ordered. “If you don’t, I swear I’ll force feed you.”
Defiantly, Nora lifted her chin. “I’ll eat when I feel like
it.”
J.B. picked up a bar of perfumed soap and a wash cloth then
bent down until his nose nearly touched hers. “Either you start scrubbing or
I’ll do it for you.”
Nora grabbed the soap and cloth from him. If looks could
have killed, James Benjamin Nash would have inhaled his very last breath in
that moment.
Gift of Grace releases December 12. Right now, you can pre-order it for just 99 cents!
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to
write. 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.
Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:
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