CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

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ANOTHER CHANCE

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Tallie genuinely grieved Ruby's passing. In the few months Ruby had been at her house, Tallie had moved from resenting the woman and fearing she would take away Marly to admiring her courage and her sense of honor, however late in coming. 

Unfortunately, Portia Stratford seemed to have conveniently forgotten she had disowned Pierce, and wasted no time in expressing her relief Ruby had passed. Portia swept down on Tallie's house shortly after Ruby's funeral, showing up at the traditional O'Shea Sunday dinner. 

"Well, I assume there will be some positive changes around here now that woman is gone, and perhaps Marly will have more time to take on her rightful duties as the Stratford heir." 

Tallie stared at Portia for a moment before she spoke. "I believe there should be some positive changes in a way that would make Ruby proud." 

She stood at the head of the table and cleared her throat to gain the attention of her children and all those in attendance. "I have a confession to make, and apologies to make as well." 

…

Tallie had to admire Pierce for his handling of her confession and for staying in Halo after his mother's latest display of snobbery. He truly was separating himself from Portia and making his own decisions. 

When her household grew quiet for the night, Tallie took the opportunity to sit by the fireplace with cup of tea. She was tired. A relieved tired that perhaps the secrets of her past would no longer haunt her. 

"May I join you?" At her nod, Pierce sat down beside Tallie. 

"I am truly sorry--" 

Pierce held up his hand. "Apology accepted. I forgive you--except for a small dent in my pride. And I hope this clears the way for us to build a relationship." 

Tallie turned back toward the fire and smiled. "All that in one day?" 

"I've learned the O'Sheas do things big. I figure if I want to stick around, I'll have to do things big too." 

...

"A chance, Tallie. Will you give us a chance?" 

Tallie looked into Pierce's eyes, shining with sincerity and hope. This was a side of him she had never seen. Could she love again? After Bernie died, Tallie thought her heart would never want another man. Especially not this man. And yet...hope fluttered with soft butterfly wings in her chest. Could they build a relationship? Was Ruby right it was never too late? 

She would never know if she didn't step into that possibility.

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE TRIANGLE

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

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"We have tourists and townspeople getting restless. We need a wedding." Audrey looked at those crowded into the basement. "Who wants to get married?" 

As Audrey looked at each person in the group, an idea formed in Tallie's mind. "Ruby, how about you?" 

Ruby snorted as her mouth twisted wistfully ."No man wanted to marry me when I was young. Who would want a dying old woman?" 

"Maybe Pierce," Tallie said. As Pierce's confused gaze bored into Tallie's, she continued. "Why wait until we're dying to make amends? I haven't always treated you with the respect I should have given the woman who entrusted me with one of the greatest treasures in my life." 

A flash of understanding registered in Pierce's eyes. "Nor did I. I used you, then made it impossible for you to tell me I had a daughter. I'd also like a chance to make amends." 

"Humphf. You're both acting like martyrs." 

"Goes right along with being a saint," Tallie said. 

"You and Pierce are supposed to get a second chance...I'm trying to fix things, not make them worse." 

"Give us a chance to fix things too," Pierce said. 

"It would make Portia livid." Tallie almost smirked at the thought.

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

SMALL-TOWN COURAGE

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

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EXCERPT from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

October 31 dawned clear and crisp. The thermometer had dipped below freezing the night before, so a shimmer of sparkling white-jeweled frost covered everything in Halo. 

Most of the townspeople showed up at Beth's café in the beautifully restored Waring house to enjoy a traditional harvest breakfast that launched a day-long celebration of Marly and Dawson's wedding. 

...Several hours later, the wedding parties met on the outskirts of town to start the procession to the ceremony itself. The women moved from cars to horse-drawn carriages, while the men unloaded horses from trailers to ride into town.

The bride was being assisted into her private carriage when an explosion rocked the nearest horse trailer. 

For a terrified moment, the wedding parties froze. Then pandemonium erupted. Weapons appeared from boots and holsters tucked under jackets as the O'Shea brothers leaped into action. Dawson, CJ, Thomas, and Grady calmed the frightened horses, then rode full gallop to encircle the area where the blast occurred. The rest of the men hustled the women and children into the vans--maybe the least dangerous place to be when little offered safety from explosions. Rocks could be blown into piercing arrowheads. Abandoned buildings could become flying spears with enough momentum to skewer a person. The vehicles could be blasted to shrapnel as they tried to drive away. But they might at least get out of harm's way until whoever set off the explosion was out of commission. 

"I think there's an accomplice. I'm going after him." Pierce's strong grip under Tallie's arm surprised her. 

As their gazes met for a split second, the noise ceased and the chaos disappeared. Tallie felt only the frantic beating of her heart and the velvet over steel smoothness where she clutched Pierce's forearm. 

Then Pierce winked, breaking the moment when time stopped. "I'll meet you at the church." 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

THE PAST REFUSES TO LIE QUIETLY

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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EXCERPT from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

The ex-police officer who had been stealing babies to sell to wealthy couples desperate to have a child was still lurking about. Still a danger to everyone he thought had disrupted his money-making scheme...Tallie still didn't like it, but she understood why her sons moved forward to eliminate Swaggerty before he could cause more harm. 

...

Aaron Swaggerty's death brought some semblance of peace to the O'Sheas and those connected with them…However, Swaggerty's death also raised more questions...For years, Tallie had heard rumors the Halo Police Department had been deeply corrupt. Bernie had been instrumental in disbanding that department and shifting law enforcement duties to the county sheriff's office. 

However, he also hinted at deeper connections to crime but stopped short of telling Tallie his suspicions. He simply said the less she knew, the better. As with the secret of Marly's parentage, this was one of the few issues on which they agreed to disagree. 

When Marly and Dawson showed up on her doorstep with the news Collin had been shot, Tallie once again felt the dark evil of the past trying to choke off her life. 

"He was only wounded, Mom." Marly took Tallie's hand. "We've already picked up Beth to go to the hospital in Pendleton." 

Tallie forced herself to swallow. Tried to breathe. This wasn't an accident. Just like Bernie's death. 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

FIVE ROSES

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book #5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Burning with curiosity but not wanting to show it, Tallie tried to focus on her daily tasks after Marly left with Pierce.  However, over and over she found excuses to walk by the dining room window that looked out onto the driveway. 

When at last Pierce's car pulled up, Tallie wanted to run outside like an eager child and see what they had bought. Pierce and Marly didn't relieve her curiosity by coming inside. She heard their voices and laughter, though, as they lifted a bag of potting soil out of the trunk and began filling a beautiful blue ceramic pot. From Marly's gestures, she was telling Pierce how to plant a rose bush. 

When Pierce carried the pot onto the broad front porch, Tallie thought she was at last going to have her curiosity satisfied. 

However, Pierce returned to the car, lifted another blue pot out of the trunk and began filling it with soil. When he stopped and looked at Marly, she nodded. He carefully placed another rose bush into the pot, tamped soil around it and carried the finished planter onto the porch, setting it a few feet away from the other pot. 

This continued three more times. Then Pierce picked up the empty bags the soil had been in and gathered up the tools, tucked them into the trunk of his car and closed the lid. He paused, looked directly at her, and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry." 

Puzzled, Tallie frowned. Then her mind started putting together the pieces. 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

PIERCE CHALLENGES BERNIE'S LEGACY

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

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Slowly leafing through a photo album and listening to the O'Shea family, Pierce realized this family was woven together with love and determination and--damn it all--Bernie O'Shea. 

Nearly every photo included the man with an award-winning smile, an arm slung over the shoulder of one or more of the siblings, and pride shining in his eyes as he looked at his kids. He really did love every single one of them. 

However, it was the newspaper articles that shafted envy through Pierce's gut. The photos in those clippings clearly showed Tallie and Bernie were a team. Hand in hand, or Bernie's arm over Tallie's shoulder, or her hand tucked under his arm. 

Strong. Devoted. Totally attentive to what the other was saying or doing. 

Bernie O'Shea was one lucky sonofabitch for the years he had with Tallie, and he obviously knew it. 

Once again, Pierce felt the fool. He used to worry about Tallie embarrassing him in public. Yet she obviously became a very gracious and accomplished public personality. 

Pierce closed the photo album and squared his shoulders. He may have been a fool when he was younger, but no more. 

Bernie O'Shea's legacy was tragically cut short when he died. 

Pierce was still living. With Tallie beside him, he could build a bigger and stronger legacy than Bernie O'Shea ever imagined. 

He simply had to convince Tallie to give him another chance. 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

WINNING TALLIE BACK--BUT WHO IS SHE?

EXCERPT from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

The next day, as Tallie settled gingerly in the contoured leather seat of his rented luxury car, Pierce was once again struck by how uncomfortable she was with him. Their relationship used to be so easy. Oh, she resisted him at times. Challenged him. Refused him just to prove she could. However, there was no doubt in his mind he could win her over to his way of thinking. 

Now he wasn't so sure. 

…

Pierce intended to find a gym or salon where he could get his hair trimmed while Tallie visited with the injured doctor. He had accompanied his mother on many of her charitable visits and really didn't want to witness another display of insincere sympathy. 

However, from the moment they entered the hospital, Pierce realized Tallie did not engage in his mother's style of superficial visits. She greeted the volunteers at the information desk, pulled chocolate fudge brownies out of her tote bag for the nurses, and entered Shiloh's room armed with information about what she needed to help her heal. 

Intrigued, Pierce watched as Tallie moved about the room, chatting to Shiloh as if she was at home resting instead of unconscious from a head injury and recovering from burns to her face and hands. Tallie tidied up the rolling tray that fit over the bed, added water to the plants and flowers on the windowsill, and fluffed the handmade throw pillows--definitely not standard hospital issue--before she sat down with a book and began to read out loud. 

Longing tugged at Pierce's heart. His mother never cleaned anything in their house, let alone with the loving touch Tallie showed. Portia always said that was a job for servants. And she never allowed real plants--too messy. As for sewing a pillow, Portia would be horrified at the thought of doing something so mundane. 

Yet Pierce ached for those simple, comforting touches. Small but powerful ways of saying, "I care about you." Things he had never received from his mother, and Pierce realized Tallie had elevated being a mom to an art form. Not just to her adopted children, but to anyone who needed a loving hand. 

At the end of the chapter in the book, Tallie paused and slipped a bookmark inside. "Sleep well, beautiful Shiloh, and heal. We miss you." 

With a gentle touch to the younger woman's hand, Tallie gathered her now-empty tote bag and left the room. She waved good-bye to the nurses and to the gray-haired volunteer at the information desk. 

All Pierce could do was follow her, amazed at the sincere caring in this woman. Why had he not seen this side of Tallie so many years ago? Was this something she developed since she left him? Or was he so focused only on what he wanted he didn't see Tallie as a person with wants and needs and talents of her own, but simply something else to add to his already overflowing store of possessions? 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

CHALLENGING THE INTRUDER

EXCERPT from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Between her overprotective adult children and the guests in her house, finding time alone with Tallie was going to be more of a challenge than Pierce initially thought. 

So be it. This wasn't the first time he had faced a challenge. 

...

However, Pierce wasn't practiced so much at physical challenges. He worked out at his personal gym regularly, but didn't engage in team sports like the O'Shea's traditional Sunday games. Rowdy, testosterone-loaded competitions that reminded him of the one and only time his mother had allowed him to play basketball with those of a "lower social class." 

He had received a black eye in that game too as a result of a carelessly thrown elbow. 

"Hey, man, sorry. That move never works with these guys." 

"Not a problem." Pierce forced a smile. "I'll just ice it." 

He tried to cover a limp as he left the basketball court, grateful for an excuse to bow out of the game early. He wasn't thirty any more and certainly not used to siblings as physical as the O'Shea brothers. 

Dinner passed with the usual good-natured conversation between the family and their guests, until Marly commented that Pierce's eye was turning purple and asked what happened. 

Silence fell among the O'Shea brothers and Tallie put on her stern mother look as her gaze traveled from one brother to another to another. "Don't start." 

Pierce realized he had stumbled onto an inside family story and pushed for details…

...

From his years as a businessman and shrewd negotiator, Pierce appreciated Marly's ability to work her brothers. Yet he also felt an unexpected envy. For the most part, these siblings weren't related by blood, but they stood united against any outside intruders. 

Right now, he was that intruder. 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

FACE-OFF WITH AN EVIL GRANDMOTHER

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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"Where's my granddaughter?" Portia demanded. 

Magically, Marly appeared and draped her arm over Tallie's shoulders. She surveyed Portia with the same critical eye Portia had directed around Tallie's house. "I'm Marly O'Shea." 

"It will be easy enough to change your name to Stratford, give you a little polish, and bring you into the family business." 

Marly looked deliberately behind her. To the right and left. And above. "Who are you talking to?" 

Portia forced a laugh. "Amusing, dear. You'll of course take your rightful place in our household." 

"Mrs. Stratford--" 

"You may address me as 'grandmother'." 

"Mrs. Stratford, I don't respond well to being ordered to do something. Our town just blew up and we are a bit busy literally picking up the pieces. If you're going to be in the area a few days, please leave the phone number of your hotel and I'll give you a call to go to dinner. If you can't stay, I'm sure Pierce has your contact information and I'll get in touch." 

Then Marly turned to Tallie. "I'm going to take Dawson something to eat, and try to get him to go home to rest for a bit. Call if you need anything." 

With a kiss on the cheek for Tallie, Marly nodded to Portia, smiled at Pierce, and left. 

"The girl obviously needs to brush up on her manners," Portia stated. 

"I thought she told you to go to hell quite nicely." Ruby appeared in the doorway, leaning on a cane for support. "Too bad the years haven't softened more than your jawline, Portia." 

...

Tallie jerked awake, breathing hard. She pushed herself to sit up as fragments of memories warped into dreamlike horror shifted and swirled around her, trying to pull her back into its nightmarish clutches. Tallie reached for the picture of Bernie that sat on the nightstand. She focused on his smiling face, seeking the sense of safety she always felt in his arms. 

Instead, a shiver inched up her spine. Bernie was gone and so was her security. 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

BERNIE'S LEGACY LIVED IN THEIR CHILDREN

 CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Though she regarded news conferences as media circuses, she never imagined this would end in Halo literally exploding with her children right in the middle of the action. Oh, yes, they were Bernie's kids. Even as she worried, immense pride filled Tallie's heart. Bernie's legacy of courage and compassion lived in his children. In their children. 

…

As Tallie watched Grady interact with the citizens of Halo, she was struck by what an incredible man he had become...his job was to dismantle bombs. To stop an explosion, if possible, before it happened. He put his life on the line every time he went on a call-out, and Tallie was so proud of him. 

Any day she could lose him. Or Collin, who was coordinating emergency efforts in Halo. 

Or Jeremiah, who was fighting the fires caused by downed electrical wires and gas lines that had ruptured in the explosions. Or Johnny, who was digging through debris to rescue anyone who might have been trapped. Or CJ, who had flown from Seattle to help comfort the evacuees in her house. Or Marly, who jumped through an old mining dredge to distract a beast-man who blew up their town. Or Patrick, who chased after him. Or Thomas, who was still wandering. 

Tallie surreptitiously wiped the tears from her eyes… 

(EXCERPT from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

EXPLOSIVE EMOTIONS AS A TOWN EXPLODES

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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The sound of cars coming up the driveway registered at the back of Pierce's brain, and he waffled between irritation and gratitude. Irritation because he wanted to sort out Ruby's story, and gratitude because he figured this was going to be the kind of emotional bloodbath he tried to avoid at all costs. 

"Were you expecting someone?" Pierce asked. 

Glancing at the grandfather clock standing in the hallway, Tallie pushed up from the couch with a frown. "It's too early--" 

But a disturbance at the door interrupted her as a young woman with streaming red-gold hair pushed inside and hustled straight toward Tallie. "We need the safe room. Halo is exploding." 

…

As Pierce's normally agile brain struggled to make sense of who all these people were and what was going on, Tallie transformed from stunned woman who had fainted into his arms to warrior woman in charge of a town of evacuees. 

"Alright, let's get everyone in the basement. Marly, help me get the weapons passed out in case he comes here." 

Pierce followed Tallie and the young woman called Marly--his daughter, he realized. 

She was beautiful. Just a few inches over five feet. However, Marly didn't seem small, perhaps because she so expertly loaded the small arsenal of weapons from a gun safe and handed them off to people lined up and waiting, as if they had done this many times before. 

...

Mostly women and a few teenagers, Pierce noted. Where were the men? What had he stumbled into? 

(EXCERPT from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

AN OLD LOVER FINDS TALLIE

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Tallie looked out the peephole. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she blinked and looked again. 

The man on her porch didn't disappear. He simply stood casually with one hand in his pocket, surveying the house and surrounding property as if appraising a potential purchase. 

Tallie stood in front of the elevator doors, clasping a massive arrangement of sunflowers in front of her. The florist shop where she worked part-time had been busy that afternoon. After she delivered these flowers to the third floor, several other arrangements were waiting for her back at the shop. 

The doors opened with a ping and a man charged out. Tallie tried to step aside, but he plowed into her before she had a chance to move. The vase slipped from her hands, scattering yellow flowers and shards of glass as it shattered on the marble floor. 

The physical contact reverberated through her body and settled in her belly as a primal longing. 

The same longing now unfurling at the core of her being. 

The door swung open, surely from Tallie turning the knob. But her brain was no longer connected to any of her actions as she stared at the man she once thought would love her forever. 

His gaze shifted to her, surveying her much as he had the house, from the well-worn slacks she had donned that morning for spit-shining the house to the strawberry blonde hair escaping from a casual chignon at the back of her head.

"So I've found you at last." Pierce Stratford stepped inside…

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel) 

RUBY COMES TO STAY

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

Marly's bio mom becomes
an unlikely ally for Tallie.

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The next time Tallie heard from Marly was via a reluctant phone call from Dawson sitting in his SUV outside a hospital in Boise, Idaho. He explained Marly had decided to look for her birth mother and found her at the hospital. "The doctors say Ruby has cancer and only a few months to live." 

In spite of resenting Ruby for years, Tallie also owed the woman a huge debt for giving her one of the most treasured gifts she had ever received: her daughter. "I'll be there as soon as I can." 

"Marly is determined to take care of Ruby." 

In a heartbeat, Tallie made another decision. "Then I guess I'd better prepare a space for Ruby." 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright by Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

THE FOUNDATION OF TALLIE'S LIFE CRUMBLES

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

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Tallie focuses on family, until a secret revealed in a moment of despair shakes the foundation of everything she holds dear.

"You're not Bernie." Collin blew out a breath as his shoulders slumped. "None of us are. We're all just kids he saved from the streets. Even you." 

"I wasn't a street kid." Marly stared at Collin for a moment, then she turned toward Tallie. "Mom?" 

Stunned, Tallie simply stared back, as the world she had built over the last twenty-eight years began crumbling beneath her feet. How did Collin know? 

(Excerpt from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

LOOK FOR THE LETTER…

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

When her policeman husband is gunned down, Tallie doesn't think it is an accident. Their eight adopted children are determined to continue the legacy, but Tallie retreats from public events, haunted by Bernie's last message, "Look for the letter...if something happens to me, look for the letter." 

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A LEGACY IN SMALL TOWN HALO, OREGON

CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

Book 5 of the Halo Legacy Series

Tallie and Bernie O'Shea built a legacy of compassion and justice in small town Halo, Oregon.

"They don't have anywhere else to turn, Tallie. We're their last hope." How many times had Bernie said those words when a knock came in the middle of the night? How could she turn away these desperate souls when she had once been one of them? 

"Look at all the good you've done and stop beating yourself up for the mistakes you made when you were young. You didn't have to agree to Bernie's proposal. You didn't have to take on eight kids you didn't give birth to. You didn't have to lend a hand to every down and out soul in five counties." Ruby paused. "But you did. You didn't wait until you were dying to make things right. You lived to make things right." 

(Excerpts from Challenging the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

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AUGUST FEATURED TITLE: CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

When her policeman husband is gunned down, Tallie O'Shea doesn't think it's an accident. Then a former lover shows up and secrets from her past are exposed. As danger explodes around her, can Tallie set things right before everything she loves is destroyed?

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