Alone, Spring wiped at her wet eyes. She’d cried more in the past week than she had in years, but she felt no shame. She now had her land, her horses, and a man who loved her for herself. He even made tea. She was content.
Author’s Note
A few years ago, as I traveled around the country in support of Regan’s book, Tempest, many readers pleaded for Spring to have her own book. You were intrigued by Dr. Colton Lee’s sister, Spring Rain, and I must agree, I was, too. I loved writing her story and having her fill in the parts about herself I didn’t know. She’s bold and fierce, and my tribute to those women who prefer to be child free. Garrett McCray was fun to write, too. He doesn’t have a lot of swagger nor the overwhelming personality displayed by some of the men in my previous books. Instead, he’s sweet, kind, and yes, bookish, but loves Spring deeply. In romance, we call a man like Garrett a cinnamon roll. He’s probably the first cinnamon roll hero I’ve written. I hope you enjoyed him as much as Spring did.
Back when Garrett attended Howard, the U.S. had no real standards for becoming a lawyer. Men and women did what was called read for the law. It was usually a years long study of English law books under the supervision of experienced lawyers. A small number of U.S. jurisdictions still permit this practice today. A budding Black law student like Garrett may have been taken under the wing of Macon Bolling Allen. His firm of Whipper, Elliot and Allen was one of the first Black law firms in the nation.
When studies are done on the contribution of African Americans to the Civil War, most of the scholarship focuses on the role played by the 179,000 United States Colored Troops (USCT). Less attention has been given to the 19,000 Black sailors of the Union Navy.
Another great resource that delves into the history of Black seamen is Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail by W. Jeffrey Bolster. Also see: The Negro in the Civil War by Benjamin Quarles.
The history of Black newspapers is not well known outside of academia, but during the years between the 1827 birth of the first Black edited paper, Freedom’s Journal, and the end of the 19th century there were over 500 nationwide. Most were sundown papers like the one owned by Garrett’s father, and others only published for a short while. But they were all dedicated to being true voices for the race, especially during the rise of Jim Crow. For more info on these newspapers and their editors, please see: The Black Press 1827-1890, edited by Martin E. Dann. See also: A History of the Black Press by Armistead S. Pride and Clint C Wilson.
In closing, let me thank my publisher, Avon Books, my editor, and my agent. My biggest thanks go out to you, dear readers, for your love and support. There will be one more book in the Women Who Dare series. At this point, I have no idea who she will be, but I’m looking forward to meeting her. In the meantime, happy reading. See you next time.
Sincerely,
B
An Excerpt from Tempest
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TEMPEST
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Chapter One
Wyoming Territory
Spring 1885
Regan Carmichael was tired of riding in the stagecoach. The beauty of the Wyoming countryside with its trees and snow-topped mountains had been thrilling to view at first, but after traveling for three long days in a cramped coach that seemingly had no springs, she longed for the journey to Paradise, Wyoming, to end. Even her excitement at meeting the man she’d come to marry had been dulled by the lengthy trek, and she was certain her bottom would bear bruises for the rest of her days. Her mood was further challenged by having ridden the past day and a half alone. She did enjoy no longer being squashed between the other passengers who’d since departed, but missed the conversations they’d shared. Up top sat the driver, Mr. Denby, and the guard, Mr. Casey, who due to their duties had no time to lighten her boredom with conversation. The wheels hit another rut on the uneven road causing her to bounce, land hard on the thin leather