Bonus Material from the Nebraska Series Read online

  Joel shook his head, but Tom nudged him again. “Say it, Joel. Let’s complete this wonderful event.”

  A gun clicked from across the room where Sep stood, and Joel made sure to groan before he muttered the words that sealed his future for the worst. “I do.” He winced and blinked back tears. He used to be a happy man, and now…

  Rick let out an exasperated breath and asked, “I don’t suppose you’d like to kiss the bride?”

  “No!” Both Joel and April shrieked at the same time.

  “But that’s the best part,” Tom said.

  Joel scowled at him, but Tom’s lips curled up into an amused smirk. “You need a heart, Tom.”

  Sep lowered the gun and relaxed. “It’s done, right Judge Johnson?”

  Rick nodded and placed the marriage certificate on the table. “All I need are your signatures, but it’s a done deal.”

  “Oh good!” Tom rubbed his hands together and hurried over to the table where Rick handed him the fountain pen that was tucked inside his suit jacket. “I’ve been waiting for this day for years! I can’t wait to tell everyone Joel’s a married man.”

  “You live to torture me, don’t you?” Joel called out, unable to believe Tom went so far as to give a little leap before he signed the certificate.

  Interview with Tom Larson

  Ruth: Before I interview Joel and April, I wanted to bring Tom Larson in to discuss what he calls “the blessed event”. Thanks for stopping in to talk about the wedding, Tom.

  Tom: Ruth, it’s my pleasure to be here. I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding scene between Joel and April. Even if I didn’t get to hold the gun, I loved every minute of watching Joel’s agony–I mean, the beginning of Joel’s new life.

  Ruth: Well, you do realize he’ll end up happy.

  Tom: Of course, I do. Why else would I bring Rick out to the house to marry Joel and April? But I admit that after everything he did to me in A Bride for Tom, it’s satisfying to watch him suffer for a little while. Just watching him tear up as he tried not to cry was worth all those times he said I’d never find a woman who’d marry me. But at the end of the day, he’s still my brother, and I know April will make him happy.

  Ruth: So you don’t believe he’s better off single?

  Tom: No way. I’m a married man, and I can say from experience that life is much better with a good woman. Sure, Jessica and I may have our arguments and trials, but the good outweighs the bad because we love each other.

  Tom: Joel’s problem is that he thinks Richard, Dave, and I are miserable. He sees us doing something for our wives and thinks we’ve lost our individuality, better known as our “manhood”. I’m sure he’ll learn that getting married doesn’t mean you give up who you are. It just means you become one with another person. Separate and joined at the same time. If you do your job as an author, he’ll come to understand that by the end of the book, and I have every confidence that you’ll get him there.

  Ruth: I promise by the end of the book, Joel will be glad he was forced to marry April.

  Tom: And he’ll thank me for getting Rick to marry him off.

  Ruth: Probably not. He likes to give you too hard of a time for that.

  Tom: Oh, I’ll recognize it when he thanks me. He won’t come out and say the words “thank you”, but he’ll thank me.

  Ruth: Can I ask why you’re wearing a Santa Claus hat?

  Tom: You can ask me anything you want. You’re my favorite author in the whole world because you put a gun up to Joel. I have the wedding scene posted up on my bedroom wall and read it every time I pass it. But for your question, the reason why I wear the Santa hat is because your writing this book is the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received! I’m reading it right now on this computer in my lap. Hey, I even made up an e-card for Joel to celebrate Joel and April’s marriage. Inside the card, it reads: "Congratulations on your marriage, Joel!" I even made a little heart with the groom’s hands. I’m about to send it to Joel so he can see it on his cell phone. I just know he’s going to hate it! I can’t resist giving him a hard time. What people like Richard and Dave don’t understand is that, at the end of the day, it’s all in good fun. Joel and I give each other a hard time because we care about each other. Why do you think I make sure I have more scenes with Joel than my other brothers? They take life too seriously. Joel and I aren’t afraid to laugh, even if we drive each other nuts while doing it.

  Ruth: Well, it’s been fun, Tom. You’re one of the few characters who never give me a hard time. I’ll be sure to bring in a couple more scenes between you and Joel before the end of this book.

  Tom: Thanks for letting me be a part of this masterpiece! I can’t wait to see Sally drive Joel nuts when she shows up in the book! She doesn’t mean to do it either, which is what makes it so much fun.

  Ruth: Next up, I hope to bring Joel and April in for an interview at the same time to see what their thoughts are regarding their wedding.

  Photo credits:

  Tom Larson thrilled to see Shotgun Groom written: ID 8474443 © Imagery Majestic | Dreamstime.com

  ***

  Interview With Joel and April Larson (Hero and Heroine in Shotgun Groom)

  (Blog post made on 09/06/2011)

  Ruth Ann Nordin: Today, Joel and April agreed to discuss their wedding. Since I’ve been starting off these interviews with Joel, I’ll talk to him first. So Joel, have you sent out that petition for people to boycott all of my books?

  Joel Larson: …

  Ruth: Joel?

  Joel: …. *long and mournful sigh*

  Ruth: Weird. I guess he’s not up for talking today.

  April: That’s how he’s been ever since the wedding, and it’s driving me crazy.

  Ruth: So he’s been staring off into space all day?

  April: And sighing as if his life has just come to an end. It’s annoying. If he lets out one more miserable sigh, I just might whack him over the head with a pan.

  Joel: Great job, Ruth. You see who you set me up with!

  Ruth: So he does speak.

  Joel: As if forcing me into this marriage wasn’t bad enough, an author who had half a heart for her characters would never have posted the wedding scene on this blog for the whole world to see. I’ve never been so humiliated in my entire life. That scene was an utter and complete disaster.

  Ruth: Tom liked it.

  Joel: Of course, he liked it. He’s a moron.

  April: At least I know it’s not just me you’re unpleasant to, Joel. You hate people in general.

  Joel: I don’t hate people. I help the doctor because I care about people. I just don’t like certain types of people, which is something any reasonable man would agree with.

  April: If you were reasonable, you’d be easier to tolerate.

  Joel: Tolerate? Did you just say I’m not easy to tolerate?

  April: Is there something wrong with your hearing?

  Joel: You want to talk about people who are hard to tolerate? How about someone who won’t let you leave their house and points a gun at you? How would you like that?

  April: You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re still ranting on about that?

  Joel: It only happened three days ago in book time.

  April: Well, if you’d only suggested someone else who’d be willing to take your place, I would have gladly married him instead. But no. You just went about the house, pouting like a child who didn’t get what he wanted for Christmas. Seriously, Ruth, I didn’t marry a man; I married a boy.

  Joel: *gasps* The insults never stop with you, do they, April? I can already tell you how this marriage is going to be. Suffocating. Bleak. Wretched. It’s like something out of a horror novel. I can’t believe Rick agreed to chain me to April. I mean, Tom is to be expected. He lives to make me suffer, but I honestly thought Rick was on my side.

  April: Whine, whine, whine. I think I like the blank stare and endless sighing better. You know, I might not be happy with the arrangement either, but at least I don’t
go around moping about it.

  Ruth: Let’s get back to the wedding. April, what did you think of Joel’s family?

  April: Well, I only got to meet Tom and Rick. It’s too bad one of them wasn’t single. I suspect my life would be better right now if I could have married one of them instead. Are you sure you don’t want to give me Sally’s role in Her Heart’s Desire?

  Joel: April, you’re so funny I forgot to laugh.

  April: Who’s trying to be funny? I prefer a hero who is enthusiastic. Hey, I know! I could play Alice’s part in Isaac’s Decision. I hear you’re thinking of doing her romance. Or what about Mrs. Ritter who lost her husband when he fell off the roof?

  Joel: If Tom wasn’t such an idiot and if Dave wasn’t so boring, I’d pick one of them to replace, even if they are married. At least Jessica is always nice and Mary can cook the best meals a man ever tasted.

  Ruth: What about your other brother, Richard?

  Joel: Richard? The one who rarely ever shows up and we tend to forget exists? The guy is like the older brother, Chuck, in the 1970s show called Happy Days where he showed up for the first couple episodes and then magically vanished.

  Ruth: Joel, you live in 1878. What are you doing watching TV from 1974 to 1984? Technically, you’re dead by then.

  Joel: For your information, I am a book character. I live forever. I also have access to your mind and am in tune with the stuff you watched, though I do have to admit, Happy Days was never the same once Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard) left the show. And the Fonz? I don’t know. He was kind of creepy since he was hanging around high school kids.

  Ruth: Well, he was a high school dropout, so he was supposed to be their age…I think.

  Joel: I can’t believe a high school dropout would be portrayed as cool and exciting. What woman is really going to want to date, let alone marry, someone who doesn’t finish high school? Oh, hey. He never did get married in that show, did he?

  Ruth: No, I don’t think he ever did.

  Joel: So that’s the secret to being a bachelor forever. I never should have done my schooling and worked for Doctor Adams.

  April: Is this going to go on much longer because, as interesting as this might be to you two, I am falling asleep. I’m pretty sure some of the people reading this ridiculous interview just fell into a coma.

  Ruth: April’s right. I think it’s time we wrapped this up and went to bed.

  April: When you say, “went to bed”, you don’t mean that Joel and I…? *shudders*

  Ruth: I mean, I’m going to bed. What you two decide to do or not do on your wedding night is up to you.

  Ruth: I’m sure April and Joel will find a way to resolve their differences soon. If not on their wedding night, then some other time. Night, everyone!

  ***

  Brief Interview with Joel and April Larson Since They Have Finally Fallen In Love

  (Blog post made posted on 09/17/2011)

  This might be the last interview I do for Shotgun Groom since I’m well over halfway done with the book. They have finally fallen in love and admitted they want to be together, so I thought I’d bring them in. This time we’ll start with April.

  Ruth: I see you’re still hanging out at the beach.

  April: Yes, I love the fresh air and warm temperatures. I’m not a big fan of winter, which is where you have the setting for my story.

  Ruth: Well, I had to do that so the snowstorm kept Joel at your place long enough to get you two married. Speaking of which, how are things going with Joel? Is he still sighing all the time?

  April: Yes, he has that strange habit, but I actually don’t mind it so much now that he’s stopped complaining about the marriage.

  Ruth: It looks like the turning point was Christmas day for you two. I didn’t plan on it working out like that, but you and Joel had your minds made up.

  April: You were halfway into the book. I figured it was time to stop the drama of not getting along. Besides, I like the fact that he doesn’t run off to a saloon at night, and when Sep hit him but he didn’t strike back… If you understood what my first marriage was like, you’d know those were the best things that a man’s ever done for me.

  Ruth: All I can say is, you can’t go wrong with a Larson. Speaking of which, I believe Joel is here…in swim trunks?

  Joel: Oh hey, Ruth. I’m on my way to the beach.

  Ruth: Don’t you want to pester me about how I’m destroying your life? Or don’t you want to send out that petition you made for all of my characters to give me severe writer’s block so I can never write another book again?

  Joel: *shrugs* Eh. I figure my brother Dave can use the petition. Once he finds you’re going to marry his son off to Emily, he’s going to go berserk. Crazy to believe unemotional Dave can go berserk, but you mess with his family, you mess with him. Anyway, it’s not my problem. I’m going to spend the day with April. My mother’s watching Nora so we can do whatever we want. *wiggles eyebrows*

  Ruth: You better watch out, Joel. You might end up with a couple kids of your own.

  Joel: Which will make my mother happy. Believe me, she has the whole house set up for when her grandkids visit. It’s insane. Twelve grandchildren, and she says she needs more. I’ll be doing her a favor.

  Ruth: So you no longer think I’m the worst author ever?

  Joel: What? That’s silly. You’re a great author. You gave me April. I’d love to stay and chat, but April’s waiting.

  April: Joel and I will get back to Shotgun Groom when you’re ready to write more of it tonight. Right now we want to enjoy the warm weather.

  Joel: And each other.

  April: *giggles*

  Ruth: I think that pretty much sums up on how they’re doing now. See, I knew I could make them fall in love. *winks*

  Bonus Material from Isaac’s Decision

  Description: Isaac Larson's been warned by his father to stay away from "the Craftsman girl" for years. But that's easier said than done when Emily Craftsman is the only one who sparks his passion. Will he defy his father to be with the woman he wants, or will he choose the woman his father wants him to marry?

  Interview with Emily Craftsman (Heroine in Isaac’s Decision)

  (Blog post made on 07/31/2011)

  Ruth Ann Nordin: I’m almost finished with chapter 1 of Isaac’s Decision, and now I have a good idea of where the story is going. So up tonight is Emily Craftsman who is seventeen by the time Isaac’s Decision starts. Emily, I’ll start with a question that is bound to be on people’s minds when they start reading this book. Why Isaac Larson? You have young men falling at your feet to court you. Why not pursue someone who isn’t purposely ignoring you?

  Emily Craftsman: That’s just it. Why is he ignoring me? It wasn’t always this way. When we were younger, he did pay attention to me. In fact, he was the only boy who treated me as an equal. The other boys couldn’t accept the fact that I was as smart-well, smarter than them because I was a girl.

  Ruth: Really? You’d never know Isaac even talked to you back then considering how he goes out of his way to avoid you today.

  Emily: I don’t understand it either. The last time I remember him choosing to speak to me was when we were twelve and his father came to pick him up early from the schoolhouse. From then on, it’s as if Isaac didn’t even know me. I mean, he knew me, but he wasn’t my friend anymore.

  Ruth: Given all of that, why are you in love with him?

  Emily: Because I sense he never wanted to stop being my friend. It’s hard to explain. There are times when he looks at me, and I know he wants to talk to me but can’t.