The Highwayman of Tanglewood  

*Purchase one of the first 500 copies of this first printing and Marcia Lynn McClure will hand-number your book. When ordering, please notify us if you would prefer not to have your copy numbered by Marcia.

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As you know, The Highwayman of Tanglewood first appeared in An Old-Fashioned Romance as Breck McCall’s favorite book!  The restaurant scene in An Old-Fashioned Romance where the highwayman appears and sends Breck swooning with an impassioned kiss, was actually based on a real incident involving my husband!  (Be sure to read the Author’s Note in the new novel version of The Highwayman of Tanglewood—much to my husband’s chagrin.)

After being bombarded with inquiries and requests about the highwayman, I wrote an e-book entitled, The Highwayman of Tanglewood.  However, as the years have passed, the story has haunted me…there was so much more to the highwayman than had been told in the e-book!  Finally, I could endure it no longer!  The true tale of The Highwayman of Tanglewood had to be told…in its fullness…the way the story had originally played out in my mind and heart!  And that, my darlings, is what you will find in the rewritten triple-length novel version!  New characters (who were present, but did not make appearances in the original telling) finally come to life in the novel!  Further adventure and deeper mystery are what you will find when you enfold yourself into the highwayman’s world! 

I feel as if I can breathe a much needed sigh of relief now…as if something caged up has finally been set free!  And…just for fun…I’ve pasted a little 1000 word excerpt here.  For those of you who read the e-book…you’ll be able to taste a bit more of the story as you are introduced to Lillias Rockrimmon, a new character.  For those of you who haven’t yet met the Highwayman of Tanglewood (save his fictional appearance in An Old-Fashioned Romance), you’ll be able to have a little flavor of what’s in store from the black-cloaked, steed-mounted, rapier-wielding, kiss-stealing Highwayman of Tanglewood!  I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you!  

Yours,

Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt

Lillias Rockrimmon was the perfect image of youthful beauty.  Eyes like soft green opal, hair as nut-brown as any chestnut—rosied cheeks, rubied lips.  In short, Lillias Rockrimmon was the loveliest young woman Faris had ever seen.  Her heart was good and kind as well.  Lord Kendrick could count himself very fortunate indeed. 

…Lowering her voice she said, “The Highwayman of Tanglewood has been seen!  Only an hour ago—in the broad light of day!”

“What?” Faris exclaimed in a whisper.  Her heart increased the pace of its rhythm, for indeed it was an unprecedented event.  “Surely not, miss!” Faris added. “He has never been seen in daylight before!  Surely it would be too perilous for him to appear so!”

“Indeed!  Yet it is true!  Graybeau saw the highwayman himself!  As did two of Lord Tremeshton’s stablemen!” Lillias explained in an excited whisper.

“Yes!  He’s done it again, Faris!  Our beloved highwayman has bested Lord Tremeshton once more!  And in the bright light of day!”

...Giggling with excitement, Lillias turned and closed the door to her brother’s chambers.  Taking Faris’ hand, she led her to the massive bed before them, promptly sitting down on the sapphire velvet coverlet and pulling Faris to sit beside her.

“The tale was told to me thus,” Lillias began.  “Lord Tremeshton—Kade the Heinous, as I prefer to refer to him…” 

Faris could not help but giggle at Lillias’ favorite title for Lord Kade Tremeshton. 

Lillias smiled and continued, “Kade the Heinous was out with two of his stablemen.  It seems he has acquired a new mount and wished to try it—poor, miserable animal.  Kade the Heinous, being the coward that he is, demanded two stablemen accompany him—in case the new mount was not to his satisfaction, so he said.” 

…“There they were—Kade the Heinous, his two stablemen and Graybeau just a ways beyond them…when from the direction of the meadow he rode…the Highwayman of Tanglewood—his black cape rippling in the breeze, the heated breath of his black steed baring down upon them all.”

Faris smiled, delighted with the light of exhilaration in Lillias eyes.  Lillias loved the tales of the highwayman almost as much as Faris did.  It was one of their secrets together—Lillias and Faris—their love for the tales of the Highwayman of Tanglewood.

…“His steed reared up before Kade the Heinous’ new mount, frightening the poor beast into throwing his new master,” Lillias continued.

… “Kade the Heinous fell flat on his backside, shouting at his stablemen to defend him from the highwayman,” Lillias said.  “They dismounted, drew swords—what Lord provides his stablemen with swords for a daylight ride, I ask you,” Lillias said. 

“Only a coward,” Faris said.

“Indeed,” Lillias agreed.  Both young woman shook their heads, disgusted with Kade’s cowardice.

“Pray go on,” Faris said.

“The highwayman did not dismount, however,” Lillias explained.  “Rather his boot met with the chin of one stableman who then found himself fairly sprawling as he fell to the ground, rendered entirely unconscious.”

“The highwayman’s boot is not to be taken lightly,” Faris said smiling so broad her face began to ache.

“No indeed,” Lillias agreed.  “Nor his rapier—for drawing it quickly he disarmed the second stableman from astride his mount!  Disarmed him, then met his chin with the same boot and sent him sprawling next to the first!” 

Faris laughed and clapped her hands!  What a story!  She thought of her own vision of the highwayman and she could see it all in her mind’s eye—his boot, his cape, the black steed he sat. 

…“Naturally, Kade the Heinous was frightened,” Lillias continued.  “Graybeau says Kade drew his sword, his hand trembling as he wielded it and called out to the highwayman.  ‘Coward! To ambush such as I when no aid is with me.’”

“Ridiculous fool!” Faris breathed.

“Graybeau says the highwayman laughed, dismounted in one swift movement, and stood before Kade with his rapier at the ready,” Lillias continued.  “’To meet you in the broad light of day with two men at your back and none other at mine?’ the highwayman asked.  ‘That is no coward, Lord Tremeshton.  Yet, only a coward would tax his tenants so heavily as to starve wives and children.  It is a coward I see before me and your time has come once more.  Hand over your purse, Lord Tremeshton—or see your blood spilt before me.’  That is what Graybeau heard the highwayman tell Kade the Heinous.”

“Did Lord Tremeshton strike first?” Faris asked.

…Lillias laughed.  “It is even worse for Tremeshton than that!  He surrendered his purse!  Without offering any defense of himself at all!  He simply glanced at the unconscious stablemen about him and surrendered his purse to the highwayman!”

“Are you in earnest, Miss?” Faris asked unable to believe what she was indeed hearing.

“I am!” Lillias answered.  “Graybeau said there was no confrontation beyond that.  Kade the Heinous simply surrendered his purse, mounted one of his stablemen’s horses and rode away.”

“His cowardice knows no bounds!  Even in villainy!” Faris said.

“Indeed.  Kade Tremeshton has ever sickened me and news of this only sours my stomach more at the thought of him,” Lillias said.

“It is no wonder the highwayman dared a daylight ambush,” Faris said.  “No doubt he knew Lord Tremeshton’s cowardice would make the besting easy.”

“No doubt,” Lillias agreed.  She was quiet for a moment.  Faris watched as Lillias glanced away, to the sunshine pouring warm and bright through the window of her brother’s empty chambers.  “Do you suppose, Faris,” she began. “Do you suppose it is possible my own Lord Kendrick is the Highwayman of Tanglewood?”

“What?” Faris exclaimed. 

            “I have often wondered it, for it is on several occasions my Lord betrothed has spoken to me of the highwayman’s escapades with a certain insightfulness I find curious.”

            …“I…I am certain he would have told you, Miss…implied it in the least,” Faris stammered.  The thought was causing her heart to ache the like she had never known.  The Highwayman of Tanglewood—her Highwayman of Tanglewood—betrothed to Lillias Rockrimmon?  It could not be!  

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