The Rustic Reading Gal: Book Spotlight + Excerpt: Finding You by Tanya Eavenson

About the Book
Can a Texas man wrangle the cowgirl who made him believe in second chances? Or will the wilds of Wyoming keep them apart?

Dallas Campbell expects her seasonal position as a dinner theater entertainer in Wyoming to end within weeks, but when she's given a full-time offer, she accepts. Still struggling with the loss of her husband and child, she's determined to forge a new future, sell her Texas home, and leave the past behind.

Gabe Langston has been a widower for two years and needs a new start with his daughter. He finds the perfect home with a history as big and wide as Texas and located near a ranch that will board his horses. Boxes hidden in his attic point to the ranch and the home’s mysterious prior owner, so he reaches out to her in Wyoming.

Dallas returns to Texas to investigate the contents in the hidden boxes. She plans to stay with her aunt for a few days and then head back to Wyoming. What she doesn't count on is a handsome cowboy and his sweet daughter interfering with those plans.

Determined to help Dallas work though her past, Gabe buckles in for what is sure to be a tough job. He’s up for the challenge, but can he convince the woman he’s falling for to extend her stay, permanently? Or will her new life in Wyoming keep them apart?

Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYWGH2HW

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97907776-finding-you

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Have you ever played BINGO? Have you ever called BINGO?

The writing community says that you should write what you know, and this is one of those instances where fact meets fiction.

For the last eleven years, I’ve been working for a non-profit that focuses on adults 50 and older staying active, healthy, and independent. I’m one of the directors of the organization and my department centers around placing adults within the community to volunteer for different organizations, helping with disasters like tornadoes, working community gardens, and the list goes on. However, once a month, I get to call bingo at a senior activity center. I have to tell you, it’s one of the highlights of my month, and we have such a great time together! And because of this, when I started thinking about writing Finding You, I needed a character who was spunky, says mostly what’s on her mind, is independent, gentle, caring, and tends to be a matchmaker at heart. That’s why Auntie Ruth was the second character thought of for Finding You. She plays such an important role within the story and it wouldn’t have been the same without her. She an accumulation of the many people that I serve who have become more than friends, but family.

I hope you enjoy this small excerpt from Finding You.

EXCERPT:
“It’s a man calling about your aunt.” Frank handed her the phone.

“Hello. This is Dallas. What’s happened with my aunt?” There was a moment of pause, and fear almost tumbled her over.

“Ma’am, your aunt is fine. I’m sorry for the confusion. I never mentioned there was anything wrong with her.”

Dallas bit back tears, and her legs almost gave way. The man rattled on about something as she leaned against the wall and talked herself down from the irrational panic. Aunt Ruth had helped her father raise her after her mother died when she was only five. The fear of losing her was nothing new.

When Dallas’s brain finally shed the panic, she caught the man saying his name was Gabe Langston. “Ms. Ruth is at the senior center now, playing bingo,” he assured her.

She swiped at a tear along her cheek. “Then why are you calling? How did you get my number? How do you know my aunt?”

“I’m the man who purchased your house. She’s my new neighbor.”

She inhaled a long, deep breath and tried to calm the beating of her heart. When she remained silent, he continued, “I found a couple of boxes in the attic, and I thought you should know about them.”

Was that all? He’d scared her to death for some trinkets he found in the attic. “Whatever is there is yours. Have it with my blessing.”

“Are you aware of what’s in the boxes?”

“No, but it’s your house now. I have no claim to what might be left behind.”

“Dallas.” He said her name with such ease, as if he’d said it hundreds of times. “Ma’am, I’ve spoken to your aunt, and I honestly can’t accept. What I’ve found is valuable.”

This was news to her. She’d climbed the attic one final time before she left and didn’t remember seeing any boxes. Was this man scamming her and her aunt? She pressed the phone closer to her ear to make sure she heard him clearly. “What did you find?”

“I’m not certain what all is in the boxes since I’ve not gone through them completely. I felt it was yours to do, but what I did find is very valuable. If you can return to Texas—”

“Texas?” She startled. “I’m afraid not. No amount of money will tempt me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She felt a touch to her arm and turned to see Penelope holding up five fingers and mouthing minutes.

Dallas nodded. “I need to go, Mr. Langston.”

“Is there nothing that can persuade you?”

She chuckled, picking an outlandish amount of money, the same amount needed to transport her horses to Wyoming. “Seven thousand dollars.”

“What you find in the boxes could be worth more. The only thing I can tell you is I found two gold coins and old books. Make your arrangements. Let your aunt know when you’ll be flying in. I look forward to meeting you.” And with that, he hung up.

Dallas stood there, stunned, with the phone clinched in her hand. She immediately dialed her aunt.

“Hello,” Aunt Ruth answered a moment later. A voice in the background called, “O, sixty-nine.” She was at the senior center as Mr. Langston said.

“Auntie, this is Dallas.”

“Hey, honey. Did Gabe call you?”

“B, twelve.”

“Yes, ma’am. He mentioned he found something of value in the attic.”

“He did.”

“I, twenty-four.”

“Have you seen the coins?”

“I have. The boxes were hidden away. He sent me a picture on my phone. There’s more, but he won’t go through the boxes.”

“B, eight.”

“Bingo!” her aunt shouted. “I gotta go, dear. They brought books as prizes this time, and I’m the second to win. I’ll have almost the first pick.”