What do you get when you pair up a wealthy, well-bred heiress – sheltered
and educated with an impulsive streak – and a gambling, mercenary Texan cowboy?
Double
Crossing is a twist on “True Grit” that takes place on the 1869 Iron Horse –
months after the Union and Central Pacific railroad lines joined at Promontory
Point. Nineteen-year-old Lily Granville is stunned with her father is murdered
and vows to track the killer – her father’s lawyer, who also stole a valuable
deed to a gold mine – across the country to California. After
convincing a good friend to escort her, Lily arrives in Omaha and discovers
that someone is now tracking her. Could it be the killer? And why? Lily decides
to enlist “Ace” Diamond, who agrees to protect her – for a price.
Q
for Lily – how did you first meet Ace?
A – He literally
crashed his way into my life. I was stunned. He’d been brawling in the street and
I felt my Christian duty was to help him when he landed at my feet. But then I
caught sight of his Confederate belt buckle with the Texas Lone Star. Guilt
overwhelmed me. My father would never have approved of such a man, and I was
suspicious of the story he told me about my aunt’s husband. However, I soon
realized I had no choice but to hire someone like Ace Diamond, who had far more
experience with his fists and weapons than the friend who’d escorted me to
Omaha. Ace seemed the most unlikely “angel of mercy” as an answer to prayer! But
I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.
Q
for Ace – what was your first impression of Lily?
Q
for Lily – were you surprised that Ace bargained with you over his fee?
A – The nerve of
that man! He claimed he wanted to go to California, and then he wouldn’t accept
the fair wage I offered. He even demanded an expensive Pullman ticket! And then
I found out he’d been bragging about the bonus I promised once we arrived safe in
California. Really, Mr. Diamond was presumptuous and forward, given his
tendency to—well, I will only say that he’s no gentleman. I shouldn’t have been
surprised at all. He was a mercenary, plain and simple, and I was too naïve to
see it.
Q
for Ace – why did you accept Lily’s offer?
Q for Lily – before the railroad trip, what
was your dream for a happy future?
A – I wanted… well, I hadn’t decided. Charles wanted to marry
me and serve as missionaries in China. We both heard the same lecture in
Chicago. My father wanted me to marry a decent man, a good provider and give
him grandchildren. He did not approve of the idea of me living half a world
away. And while I did want adventure and independence, I wanted to be somewhere
safe and to enjoy long talks with Father, sketch my pet lizard in the lovely
garden or watch the leaves change in fall and the snow fall in winter. Father’s
death changed everything. I blamed Emil Todaro for his greed and betrayal. He
ruined my life and I wanted to see him hang.
Q for Ace – what about you, same question?
A – A good woman in a nice, cozy bed. Now I’m aiming for that
woman to be Lily.
If you haven’t read Double Crossing yet,
here’s where you can find it!
Amazon
