As I was researching typical homes built in the mid to late 19th century, I came across some wonderful and unusual designs. During the 1850s and 1860s, several thousand octagonal houses were constructed.
At the time it was believed that roundhouses increased sunlight and ventilation. Thomas Jefferson used the octagonal shape for his summer home and many Federal-style designs included octagonal rooms.
 |
| Historic octagonal house built in 1860 located in Fond du Lac, WI. |
Robert A. Terrell built this octagonal home in 1864. It is a recorded Texas Historic Landmark and located on the campus of Southwestern Christian College.
A more modest and common design during the same period is the house with two front doors. At first glance, one might assume these homes were built as duplexes, to house two families.
However, whether for extra ventilation or to provide a formal entrance for guests, these homes were designed for one family. Generally, both doors opened on to a front porch.
In my new release, Garnet's Gift, our heroine is befriended by the sheriff's wife who strategically uses her two front doors.
The left door is the work entrance for the sheriff and his deputies. The door on the far side opened into the formal parlor.
Tw
enty-two-year-old Garnet Adams longs to marry and have a houseful of children. Forced to support her widowed mother, she embraces her role as teacher, although the Carrie Town board of education's rules for female teachers leave no opportunity for a social life. She contents herself to play the violin at church.
Tall, bearded, and rough around the edges, Deputy Noah Scott would rather hunt than socialize. Garnet thinks he’s a rude, insensitive drifter, and Noah's sure the last person he'd want to court is a schoolmarm--especially with her unladylike sneeze. As the needs of her students bring them together, opposites seem to attract until a certain Christmas present derails their future.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
1890 – Rules for
Teachers
You must be home between
the hours of six a.m. and before dark
unless attending church
on Sunday or a school function.
Twenty-two-year-old Garnet Adams loosened the
violin bow hair, deposited it in the wooden case with her instrument and
snapped it closed. She ran her finger along the engraved letters. The violin
once belonged to her father—the last gift he gave her on her fifteenth birthday
six months before his death.
Garnet’s eyes drifted along the white clapboard
walls she’d grown to love over the last year and landed on the darkening
landscape outside the church’s window. She opened the pendant pinned to her
jacket to check the time and blew out a breath.
Garnet’s boots tapped across the wooden floors
of the sanctuary toward the front entrance. Where was Victoria? She’d
agreed to stay after choir practice to give them additional time to rehearse
for an upcoming service. Knowing the time restraint, Victoria promised to give
her a ride home.
A burst of wind greeted her when she stepped out
of the double doors of the church, causing
a dark lock of hair to escape her pins. Garnet forced
the unruly curl behind her ear.
The sound of voices made her turn toward Pastor
Nelson, who stood nearby with a group of children. “Thank you, Miss Adams, for
agreeing to lend us your talent with the children’s nativity drama, and we also
look forward to hearing you play on Sunday.”
“I’m excited about the opportunity. My teaching
job keeps me busy with the children. But it’s wonderful to communicate with
adults even if it’s only for an hour.” The train whistle drew her attention
toward the railroad station. The light shining from the hotel and diner
reminded her darkness would soon descend on the boardwalk.
“I’m looking for Miss Wilson. She was going to
give me a ride home.”
Pastor Nelson gazed in the direction of a retreating
buggy. “I’m afraid you just missed her.” He motioned to the children. “Once
their father returns from the livery, I’ll be happy to walk you over.”
Garnet took a deep breath and gathered her
skirts. “I’m afraid I can’t wait. The school board requires me to be in my room
before dark.” Rule number one, in bold handwriting and underlined,
lest I forget. She frowned and cast a glimpse toward the small town. From
her stance she could make out the hotel, diner and dress shop. The
boardinghouse was about a ten-minute walk. ”It’s only a few blocks. I’ll be
fine.”
Pastor Nelson’s face brightened. He waved his
long arms toward a figure approaching them. “Deputy Scott, we require your
assistance, please.”
The elongated silhouette of a tall man wearing a
cowboy hat ate up the distance. A tin star hung on his vest, reflecting light
from the lantern which hung from the church’s porch. With broad shoulders
and a narrow waist, he sauntered toward her, his Peacemaker resting in a
double-loop holster over his right hip. “What seems to be the problem?” The man’s voice was a rough bass.
“Would you be so kind as to ensure Miss Adams
gets to the boardinghouse? There was a misunderstanding and her escort left
without her.” The pastor glanced toward the lilac afterglow above the fading
light from the setting sun. “She needs to be inside the boardinghouse before dark
to avoid reprimand from the school board.”
The deputy nodded. “We’d best get a move on
then.” He extended his arm and inclined his head toward the boardwalk.
Garnet felt more pulled than guided and
struggled to keep up with the long strides of the deputy. She gasped for
breath. “Could we please slow down a little?”
“Not if you want to make it to the boardinghouse
before dark.” A shadow partially concealed his face, but Garnet could make out
the set in his square jaw.
“Either way, I would like to arrive alive,”
Garnet huffed.
The deputy stopped and pushed his hat to the
back of his head. It was difficult to see his expression under his full beard.
Did his mouth just twitch?
He reached for her violin case. “Ready?”
Garnet laid her hand over her stomach and took a
deep breath. “Yes.”
Deputy Scott offered his arm. “You’re going to
have to make more of an effort if you want to keep your job.”
Garnet gritted her teeth but accepted his
assistance. The nerve of the man. How fast could he run wearing a layer of petticoats and a
corset? “I don’t believe the school board would be happy to see me running
across town either. But I do appreciate the escort.”
Deputy Scott nodded and guided her across the
dusty street, which ran behind the mercantile and the diner. She would have
preferred remaining on the boardwalk but understood the strategy of the
shortcut. The dust kicked up from the deputy’s heavy work boots caused her to
sneeze, loudly and consecutively.
Deputy Scott pulled a handkerchief from his
pocket. “Wouldn’t have expected a sound like that to come from a schoolteacher.
Not exactly prim and proper.”
Garnet felt her cheeks burn and sneezed again, this
time burying her face in the neckerchief. If she weren’t already struggling to
breathe, she would love to give the man a lesson on etiquette.
“But then again, I expect most teachers would
have been more conscious of the hour.” He opened his pocket watch and gave her
a curt nod. “Next time you might want to leave earlier.”
Clinching her skirts, Garnet hurried up the
stairs to the boardinghouse. “Thank you for your help, Deputy.” Their fingers
brushed as she reached for her instrument.
“Ma’am.” He tipped his hat.
Garnet stared into the bluest eyes she’d ever
seen. She opened and closed her fists. “The reason for the delay was to help a
friend. But I’ve learned my lesson and won’t let her talk me into staying late
again.” Why do I feel the need to explain myself?
“Since autumn has arrived, it gets dark early.”
Deputy Scott opened the door to the boardinghouse and nodded toward the train
station. “There are a lot of people coming and going. But even if you didn’t
have a curfew, it’s best not to be out by yourself.” He pivoted and disappeared
into the darkness.
Garnet blinked, her nose twitched and she
sneezed loudly into the deputy’s handkerchief. At the sound of a deep chuckle, heat
rose from her neck to the roots of her hair.
Connect with Kimberly:
Combining History, Humor and Romance with an emphasis on Faith, Friends and Good Clean Fun. Kim's stories are written to remind us how God can use adversity to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him and give us the desires of our heart in ways we may never expect.
W
ebsite: https://kimberlygrist.com/
