"Oh Mr. Russell, I am so sorry." Mirielle crossed herself and bowed her head.
Evan cleared his throat again. "My son was not found among the ruins. I was directed here to ask if any families might have taken him in and registered Joseph with their children."
"Joseph, you say?" Mr. Randolph scratched his head. "We have several by that name, but all have known parents."
Evan's heart sank. Maybe it was true. Maybe Joseph didn't make it through the fire. "Is there a way to question the children? Or let me see them? Maybe one of the boys was taken in or adopted." He knew desperation tinged every word. What else could he do? Where could a little boy wander off to without anyone noticing?
"I realize the dire nature of the situation, Mr. Russell. But there's no possible way we could impose on the families of this school for a search. You're simply asking too much. We know each child here. What would you do if he were found adopted? You certainly couldn't suddenly show up and abscond with a child."
Abscond? "Not just a child, sir. My son!"
The young lady cleared her throat. "May I?" Miss Sheehan certainly didn't wait to be invited as she offered, "What if the child weren't here, but a child here knew of him?"
Hope lit in Evan's heart. He'd have made friends. Of course!
"I do see all the children through music class each week." She rejoined the men. "If Joseph attended our school, I'd know. But, no sir, all of the boys belong naturally to their parents."
The hope dimmed.
"Mr. Russell, we could send out notices to the parents. Then if one of the families knows your son, they'll let us know. But I have another idea for you."
Evan's emotions jerked up and down like the backside of a bronco. "I'm listening."
"As am I, Miss Sheehan." The superintendent raised his eyebrows.
"Come with me to meet the newsies."
"The newsies?"
She held up a forefinger and tipped her head forward as if conducting an orchestra. "I know eleven little boys who would love to earn a penny or two." Her hands gracefully lowered.
The fatigue of frustration set an edge in his voice. " What makes you think a bunch of—" Evan clamped his mouth shut at the sudden fire in her eyes as Mirielle's hands pinched the air punctuating the sign for a dramatic rest.
She gave him a direct challenge, "Do you have a better idea? They can spread out and look in places no adult would think of searching. One might think your love of a few pennies —"
"No, no. Nothing like that." Now he knew how she managed a classroom full of boys. Could a motley cluster of newsboys fan out and find Joseph in Helena?
"You won't know until you try." She looked him straight in the eye, not a hint of falsehood in her voice. "And they're nice boys."
The superintendent added, "They are nice, if a bit unruly. But we have plans to solve that issue."
The teacher's back stiffened. "In the most loving way possible for their future success."
Miss Sheehan's voice softened as she placed fingertips on his bicep. "Are you willing to try?"
The weight of her touch soothed him even through the heavy wool of his coat. Evan nodded and concentrated on the hope she offered. He liked her optimism. Something sorely lacking in him right now. "I'll try anything."
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed book 3 in the Montana Beginnings series, Taking the Plunge. I loved sharing a little true Montana history about our Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium through Delphina's and Hugh's love story, and also introducing the beginnings of my favorite sport, synchronized swimming in its infancy. Sadly, the resort was demolished after a devastating 1935 earthquake and a series of events too much for the grand lady. She just couldn't recover. As I mentioned at the beginning, the 1890s in Montana could easily be compared to the legend of Camelot. "For happily ever aftering is here in Camelot…" Yes, the mists have swallowed up some of our most incredible history, but we won't let it be forgotten.
I wrote another story that tells what happens as Montana becomes a state in The Debutante Queen... which is available on Audible or as an ebook! Taking the Plunge will join the first two books in the series, The Debutante Queen and Eleven Pipers Piping on Audible a month after it releases!
As an author, I love feedback. Candidly, you're the reason I'll continue to explore the debutantes of Helena. So tell me what you liked or loved, what questions or thoughts this book brought to mind, or what made you laugh and cry. You can write to me at: http://angelabreidenbach.com/contact-angela/ I do answer emails personally. And visit me on the web at: http://AngelaBreidenbach.com or tune into Grace Under Pressure Radio on iTunes where I share a weekly show about becoming a woman of courage, confidence, and candor—the very same characteristics I like to write into my heroines in each story. I'd be honored if you'll subscribe, leave a rating, and a review. Regardless, I hope you'll enjoy listening.
Finally, I need to ask a favor. Reviews help books sell. Would you kindly leave a review on your favorite site such as Goodreads, Amazon, or any other review site? Your feedback is important to me! Reviews can be hard to come by these days. You, the reader, have the power now to make or break a book. Here's my Amazon page where you can find all my books: http://amzn.to/1Np7lom or you can type my name, Angela Breidenbach, in the finder if the link doesn't work.
Thank you so much for reading Taking the Plunge, spending time with the people of Helena, and I hope you'll also enjoy the sample chapter of Eleven Pipers Piping, at the end of this story, and my other books in the Montana Beginnings series. But most of all, thank you for spending time with me. I'll see you shortly in 1894, with the next book in this series, Bitterroot Bride. If you'd like to read more Sporting Chances books, I know my sister authors in Forget-Me-Not-Romances would enjoy sharing their stories too.
Love Over Par
The Reversal
Lured by Love
The Skiing Suitor
On Thin Ice
Tobogganning for Two
Appreciatively,
Angela Breidenbach
P.S. Here's a little about Eleven Pipers Piping (book 2) and also, The Debutante Queen, (where the Montana Beginnings series starts in 1889 as Montana becomes a state…)
Eleven Pipers Piping. 1890 Montana historical.
What would you do if you were given eleven rowdy street newsies and told either you turn them into model citizens or they get sold into indenture or sent to the military? Eleven Pipers Piping is the story of a sweet music teacher, Mirielle Sheehan, and eleven boys given one chance or else! Evan Russell lost everything—his ranch, his wife, and now after trusting relatives with his young son, even the little boy is missing. How can a beautiful symphony of the heart come from such chaos?
Did you miss the beginning of Frankie and Joey's story in Snowflake Tiara?
What if you were caught doing something good, but the man you loved didn't see it that way? Meet Calista Blythe and Albert Shanahan in 1889…
The Debutante Queen (Montana Beginnings Book 1) by Angela Breidenbach ~ 1889 (Helena, MT): Calista Blythe enters the first Miss Snowflake Pageant celebrating Montana statehood to expose the plight of street urchins. But hiding an indentured orphan could unravel Calista’s reputation, and her budding romance with pageant organizer, Albert Shanahan, if her secret is revealed. Will love or law prevail?
Thank you for reading the first chapter of Eleven Pipers Piping. If you'd like to read the story or learn about the audiobook version, please click the link below or visit Amazon or Angela's website …
Books By Angela Breidenbach
Romantic Fiction:
(Contemporary)
A Healing Heart http://amzn.to/1jxDvQD
(Historical)
The Debutante Queen, Montana Beginnings book 1 (Kindle or Audibook)
Snowflake Tiara (The Debutante Queen/More Than a Tiara anthology paperback )
Eleven Pipers Piping, Montana Beginnings book 2, also on Audiobook Dec. 2015
Bridal Whispers (The Lassoed by Marriage Ro
mance Collection, Jan. 2016)
Taking the Plunge (Love's Sporting Chance series, coming Feb. 2016)
Bitterroot Bride (American State Flowers series, coming Mar. 2016)
Comedy:
A-Muse-ings (#Muse & Writer — coming by popular demand)
Non-fiction:
Gems of Wisdom
Gems of Wisdom (coming 2016)
Grace Under Pressure (coming 2016)
Creative Cooking for Colitis
Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance
Angela Breidenbach is a #1 bestselling author and the host of Grace Under Pressure Radio on iTunes. Angela volunteers as the Christian Author Network's president. As Mrs. Montana International 2009, Angela loved promoting her state. As a Montana author it's one of her favorite places to write about, whether in an historical or contemporary setting. Books by Angela BreidenbachincludeThe Debutante Queen, Eleven Pipers Piping, and A Healing Heart. Yes, quite a few more are coming including non-fiction based on Grace Under Pressure Radio show episodes helping women become full of courage, confidence, and candor.
Don't miss A-Muse-ings coming soon, fe-lion comedy with #Muse and Writer, by popular demand, but you can catch them now on Facebook or Angela's website.
Listen on iTunes:
Grace Under Pressure—Becoming a woman of courage, confidence, and candor.
http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com
Twitter/Pinterest: @AngBreidenbach
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbachInspirationalSpeakerAuthor
Taking the Plunge Page 7
