Montana Moment in Tizer Gardens with Constance Bretes
Please welcome author Constance Bretes who joins us as part of our Montana Author Month. Montana fiction written by authors who have lived in or spent a significant amount of time in the state.
Constance answers the question . . . What is my most memorable Montana moment?
My husband and I recently moved to Montana last year after I retired from my day job. Prior to moving here, we spent three weeks every summer here visiting this beautiful state of Montana. One of our favorite places to visit when we came here is Tizer Gardens, located in Jefferson. It is like a mini oasis with a beautiful creek that flows throughout the area, and beautiful flowers in bloom all summer long dotting the creek. If you have never been to Tizer Gardens, I suggest you add this place to your ‘places to visit’ list.
Several years ago, we were on a mission and came out to Montana to finalize a deal for some property that we brought. My husband and I decided to stop to visit. As we entered the garden, off to the right, we came upon the creek, with flowers all around it, and it had a little wooden bench, next to the creek. I decided to sit down on the wooden bench and just enjoy the scenery and meditate a bit. As I was attempting to sit down on the bench, my foot slipped straight down on the wood chips, and I went head first into the creek. My husband, in an attempt to keep me from falling into the creek, grabbed my shirt, and the force of gravity brought him into the creek on top of me. We checked and made sure that we didn’t have any broken bones or external injuries, then got up. By this time, we were both soaked. We surveyed the area and could see no easy way to get out of the creek and onto the embankment. So, I said I’d try to climb the embankment where we took the nosedive and see if I could get up and out of the water. I was having difficulty trying to find something to grab to pull myself up and the wood chips were not helping any. My husband decided to get behind me and give me a push. After I finally got on the embankment, I turned around and got up, and was covered with wood chips from head to toe. We left immediately and headed back to the motel, where I picked off the wood chips and took off my clothes and took a shower. We didn’t go back there after that, until the next year when we came out to visit.
The picture of the creek is where we had our misfortune. The second picture is one of many sceneries you would see at Tizer Gardens. Visit the author at http://constancebretes.com.
THE LAST DIG
Bones, Body and a Love Rekindled
Paleontologist Caroline Priest is shocked when she finds a dead body at her dig site. When she calls it in to the sheriff's department, her former boyfriend, Rand Callahan, comes out to investigate. The evidence quickly starts to point to Caroline being the killer, and Rand has no choice but to arrest her. It's clear to Caroline that she's been set up, but by who and for what reason? While Caroline is out on bail, Rand rekindles his relationship with her as they try to solve the mystery before it's too late.
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BOOK OF LOVE
A librarian, a mechanic, and a psychotic ex. What could go wrong? When her marriage came to a devastating end, Janice Meyers moved to Montana to try to escape her past and get a fresh start. She's sworn off men, but she didn't anticipate meeting Chris. After the death of his wife, Chris Jamisen focused all his time and energy on running his auto repair shop and raising his children. He's not looking for love, and when he first meets Janice, the town's new librarian, he never imagines they might embark on a relationship. Sure, he'll admit he finds the smart, sexy blonde attractive, but the frustrating woman expects miracles from him. Her vehicle is practically beyond repair, but she insists he has to keep it running. As Chris gets to know Janice, he begins to develop feelings for her, but he's reluctant to pursue a relationship. He's Native American, and he worries about the complications of a biracial relationship. He's experienced prejudice first hand, so he knows how difficult it can be. When Janice's ex-husband shows up seeking revenge, things could reach a horrible end. Will Chris save Janice in time? And will he and Janice be able to set aside their painful pasts and give their relationship a chance?
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DELAYED JUSTICE
Can two former lovers set aside their differences and work together to bring a criminal to justice?
Five years ago, Sami Parker's life was changed forever when she was injured in a bombing incident which left another young woman dead—a woman who happened to be the fiancée of Sheriff Makeeta Robertson, Sami's former lover. Initially, Sami was a suspect in the crime, but the sheriff was forced to release her due to a lack of evidence. The town, convinced that she got away with murder, turned against her. At last an arrest has been made and the sheriff needs Sami's help to get a conviction, but can she trust him? Although wary and cautious, she wants to see this man brought to justice and wants to clear her own name once and for all. But the awakening feelings she has for Makeeta bring yet another problem. Then there's the secret she's kept for the last five years—one she may not be able to keep any longer, and one that may change the outcome of the trial.
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