Linda Shenton Matchett – How We Met & Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Linda Shenton Matchett shares how she met her husband, how her characters meets in her latest Historical Romance, Ivy’s Inheritance. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an ebook copy. Deadline: April 26th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:

Romance and the Meet-Cute

The Oxford Dictionary defines a Meet-Cute as “an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them.” My own meet-cute was a series of meetings because I was so clueless.

My family moved yet again, this time halfway through my junior year in high school. To say I wasn’t happy about the move is an understatement. I was “in love,” or so I thought and angry at uprooting my life for the third time in three years. The church my folks picked had a large youth group, and my first Sunday was a blur, but according to my husband he introduced himself immediately. I don’t remember. I wasn’t interested in meeting anyone.

Through the Spring and into Summer, I attended various group events at the insistence of my parents. (Little did I know they were aware of my husband’s interest and heartily approved.) I was a hanger-on, going through the motions, again not really noticing the “nice young man” who did everything he could to get my attention.

Finally, during the last week in August our church puppet group was participating in the county fair. After our final performance, we broke down the booth and somehow ended up in a water balloon fight. Still clueless despite being hit by several balloons thrown by you-know-who, I was having a great time. Realizing I was never going to “get it,” he picked me up and dunked me under the water pump we were using to fill the balloons. Sputtering and drenched, I was horrified, then intrigued. We began dating a few weeks later.

The meet-cute for Ivy and Slade is a bit “frostier.”

Excerpt from Ivy’s Inheritance:

Another whistle from the train, this time closer. He should have accepted Dinah’s offer to join him in retrieving Miss Cregg. Now, he’d have to fill an hour of conversation with a woman he’d never met.

Several moments passed, and the black locomotive came into view around the curve. A gray cloud poured from the smokestack, swirling around the behemoth. Clackety-clack. Clackety-clack. Metal on metal, the driving wheels squealed, and the brakes shrieked. The platform vibrated under Slade’s boots. Hissing filled the air as the train slowed, passenger cars rumbling past, then finally coming to rest. Porters leapt to the ground, then stood guard at the open doorways. At the far end of the train, laborers unloaded trunks, portmanteaux, and carpetbags. Travelers poured onto the platform, and Slade searched the crowds.

There! A lone woman dressed in a bluish-green dress gripped a small satchel, her neck swiveling as she seemed to be looking for someone. Slade swallowed. He surmised she was an inch or two over five feet tall. Lovely, albeit a bit wan. Understandable after her journey.

He marched forward, then at the last minute remembered to swipe his Stetson off his head. Bowing slightly from the waist, he said, “Miss Cregg?”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded.

With a smile, he nodded, then raised his voice to be heard among the chaos. “Excellent. I’m Slade Pendleton. Welcome to Lincoln. I hope the trip wasn’t too fatiguing?”

She blinked several times, then followed his lead and said loudly, “No more than expected.” She made a vague motion toward the massive pile of luggage. I’ve brought a small trunk. I hope that won’t be an inconvenience.”

“Not at all.” He shrugged. “Is it marked? I can get you settled into the carriage, then take care of your trunk.”

Shaking her head, she pursed her lips bringing to mind one his schoolmasters from decades ago. “I’d like to go with you.”

“All right.” He plunked his hat on his head, then gestured for her to precede him. “After you.”

They threaded their way through the mob until they arrived at the dwindling collection of baggage. At his side, she craned her neck, and Slade placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her around a rather portly man. She flinched at his touch and shot him an icy glare.

He pulled back. “My apologies.” He’d grown too used to the casual atmosphere of Nebraska. A gentleman in Philadelphia would never have been so bold, but his gesture hardly called for such a scathing look. What sort of woman was she? A prima donna? A pill? A shrew? Had Mrs. Crenshaw withheld information about Miss Cregg’s difficult nature? It was going to be a long drive back to the ranch.

Question for Readers: What’s your favorite movie or book meet-cute?

About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. She is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Linda was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She now makes her home in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring the outdoors and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. Learn more & connect:

Linda’s Blog           Linda’s Facebook            Linda’s Pinterest

Linda’s Youtube           Linda’s Bookbub

About the book – Ivy’s Inheritance:

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Ivy’s Inheritance              Linda’s Books

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