I’m deep in the Appalachia area again for the new story I’m working on and for the story releasing in May, A Chance for Kallie Mae. So, I might as well be deep in Appalachia here on One Writer’s Journal too. Besides, I do have that Appalachian book giveaway going right now.
I know I shared a winter scene from These Healing Hills last month, but there are plenty of scenes from every book to share. Not winter in this one, but spring. Spring would be a perfect time to come to the mountains. That’s what my character does, but Fran has a lot to learn about midwifery and about the mountain people. She thinks she’s ready, but then she gets there.
May 15, 1945
Francine Howard stepped off the bus into another world. She should have been prepared. She’d studied the Frontier Nursing information until she almost knew it by heart. That should have given her a glimpse into this place.
Hyden was in the Appalachian Mountains, but it was still Kentucky. While she lived in Cincinnati, she had spent many summer weeks on her Grandma Howard’s farm in northern Kentucky. But somehow the train from Lexington to Hazard and then the bus from Hazard to here had transported her away from everything she thought she knew about Kentucky and dumped her out in a place that looked as foreign to her as the moon.
~~~
“She must be one of those brought-in women.”
The man was behind her, but she didn’t need to see him to know he was talking about her. She was a stranger. Somebody who didn’t belong. At least not yet.
First things first. If nobody was there to get her, she’d find her own way to the hospital. All she needed was somebody to point the way.
A man came out of the drugstore straight toward her. “You must be one of Mrs. Breckinridge’s nurses.”
“I’m here to go to the midwifery school.” Francine smiled at the tall, slender man. “Somebody was supposed to meet me.”
He didn’t exactly smile back, but he didn’t look unfriendly. “Been a lot of rain. The river’s rolling. Probably kept them from making it to see to you. Do you know how to get to the hospital?”
Francine looked around. “Is it down the street a ways?”
“It’s a ways, all right. Up there.” He pointed toward the mountain looming over the town.
Francine peered toward where he was pointing. High above them was a building on the side of the mountain.
“There’s a road, but since you’re walking, the path up the mountain is shorter.” The man gave her a dubious look. “You think you can make it?”
Francine stared at what appeared to be steps chiseled in the side of the mountain. “I’m sure I can.” She tried to sound more confident than she felt.
“The path is plain as day. Don’t hardly see how you could stray off’n it. But tell you what. Jeb over there is headed that way. He can take you on up.”
The man he indicated with a nod of his head was the last person Francine would have considered following anywhere. In spite of the warm spring day, he wore a coat spilling cotton batting from several rips. A felt hat perched on top of a tangled mass of graying hair, and his beard didn’t appear to have been trimmed for months. Maybe years. With a shotgun drooping from the crook of his arm, the man appeared anxious to be on his way and not at all happy to be saddled with a brought-in woman.
But what other choice did she have?
In this scene I tried to show some of the challenges Fran would face and how she would have to change to be the midwife she wanted to be.
Remember, a comment on each new post gets you another entry into the giveaway for one of my books set in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. The deadline to enter is midnight EST on March 7, 2026. One winner will get a choice of one of my books. Two more posts before then where I can share something from one of my other books.
Which book would you like me to find another mountain scene to share?
Comments 15
I’d like Along A Storied Trail. These all sound so good! I’ve read The Song of Sourwood Mountain.
I’d like to hear more about “Song Of sourwood mountain” or Along a storied trail. I haven’t read either of these yet, and I have read the other 2 books and enjoyed them very much!
Author
I’ll probably share something from The Song of Sourwood Mountain on Wednesday and then give a peek into A Chance for Kallie Mae when I announce my book winner on Sunday. We’ll see. Thank you so much for giving my books a try, Jolynn.
Along a storied trail
I would enjoy reading another scene from An Appalachian Summer. I haven’t read that book yet, but now it’s on my wish list.
Author
Love being on a wish list or a want to read list, Roberta. Thanks.
The Song of Sourwood Mountain please!
Author
I appreciate your comments. It’s fun sharing a few Appalachian scenes. Thanks for joining in with my giveaway fun. I’m surprised nobody is mentioning The Song of Sourwood Mountain. These Frontier Nursing stories are capturing all the votes. I enjoyed finding out about the Frontier Nurse midwives. Amazing women.
These Healing Hills.
Along a Storied Trail.
I just read “These Healing Hills” and enjoyed it very much! How about “An Appalachian Summer”? That is also on my TBR list!
A scene from Appalachian Summer would be wonderful.
These Healing Hills would be nice to have a scene from.
I would like a scene from An Appalachian Summer!
It’s hard to decide between the books! I love them all!